Death Can Wait

Wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, he contemplated his next moves carefully.

He would remain hidden until things calmed down, allowing the turmoil to settle before stepping back onto the stage he had fought hard to maintain.

He took a moment to reflect on that short battle. Everything had played out so quickly it felt surreal. Even in hindsight, the sheer power and precision with which Itachi maneuvered was truly impactful.

It wasn't merely a display of strength or speed; it was a form of unorthodox combat, wrought from years of training, experience, and an innate understanding of the flow of battle.

It was no wonder that character was highly favoured in all of the Narutoverse.

From the moment Itachi initiated his assault, it became evident that Arthur had stepped into a realm far beyond his typical encounters. Every movement was deliberate and calculated, as though Itachi were not just fighting but also measuring Arthur's own strength.

The way he threw those kunai, the ease with which he blew past Arthur's defenses—it was impressive, to say the least.

While engaged in taijutsu, Arthur could hardly keep pace as they exchanged blows. The disparity in their abilities wasn't merely in physicality; Itachi had almost rendered him.

Arthur's punches felt heavy and clumsy in comparison, and the speed at which Itachi executed his own strikes could have left Arthur dizzy and unable to adapt without his Tamashii.

It was no wonder this same Uchiha was able to go toe-to-toe against Naruto in his Nine-Tails Chakra mode. Itachi made combat look straightforward in a way that made Arthur feel like an amateur.

And it wasn't just the Uchiha; Kisame was also striking. The weight of their teamwork was even better than when Arthur had fought Team 7 back in the Land of Tea, each technique designed to capitalize on his every move.

Their collaboration was almost scary to think about.

The battle ended almost as suddenly as it had begun, leaving Arthur no other choice but to retreat.

In the aftermath of that skirmish, he knew he needed to bunker down and refine his own skills—learn, adapt, and prepare for confrontations like that one.

This was the second time he was forced to use this flying raijin—the first being against Alice and her team. Those two experiences gave him another purpose; he couldn't allow himself to be a mere footnote in someone else's story.

With one last look east, back to the direction of his enemies, he knew what he had to do.

The Leaf Village.

In the hospital, the beeping of monitors accompanied the rustling of sheets as an old man's eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light in the room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi blinked several times, bewildered and unsure of his surroundings.

It took him a moment to comprehend where he was, but the scent of antiseptic and the sight of medical equipment made him understand.

Just then, a nurse entered the room, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Hiruzen awake.

"Sir! You're awake!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side.

Without waiting for a response, she dashed out of the room, calling for the doctor.

Hiruzen attempted to gather his thoughts.

The events that had led him to this point felt like a disjointed nightmare—memories involving the Reaper Death Seal and the reanimated versions of past Hokage.

He struggled to remember the last clear moment before everything went dark, but his body felt oddly foreign to him, heavy as if he hadn't moved in ages.

Soon after, familiar faces began to fill the room: Homura, Koharu, and Tsunade entered with mixed expressions.

"Hiruzen-sensei!" Tsunade exclaimed, breaking into a smile.

"Hiruzen!" Koharu repeated. "You're awake! How do you feel?"

Hiruzen chuckled softly, his laugh sounding more like a cough.

"I'm getting too old for this," he replied in a raspy tone. "But I suppose death can wait a little longer."

Koharu, trying to maintain a semblance of seriousness, interjected and said, "That's not funny, Hiruzen. We were all worried sick!"

A lighthearted banter exchanged between them, but Hiruzen's gaze fell on Tsunade, who wore a look of earnest concern.

"It's good to see you back in the village, Tsunade," he said. He had expected her to be off gambling elsewhere, but seeing her here filled him with gratitude. "I suspect you're the one who helped bring me back to health."

With a nod, Tsunade confirmed, "Yes, I did. I helped as much as I could, but I wasn't sure if you would pull through. It's a relief to see you awake."

"Indeed," Homura added. "We're just thankful you're here with us again."

The warmth of their presence enveloped him, pushing back the uncertainty that had plagued him during his comatose state.

"How long have I been out?" he asked, scanning their faces for answers.

"A few months," Homura replied.

Hiruzen's heart sank at the thought of lost time.

"And Orochimaru? What about the Genin who helped me—are they safe?"

"Orochimaru fled after having his arms sealed," Koharu informed. "William and Margaret are no longer Genin—they've been promoted to Chūnin for their bravery and efforts in aiding you."

Hiruzen felt grateful at the mention of the two young shinobi.

"I'm glad to hear they made it through," he said with a faint smile. "What else has happened while I was asleep?"

As the trio began explaining the recent developments, Hiruzen listened. They shared how Tsunade had taken on the mantle of the fifth Hokage, which he had more than approved of.

"Excellent choice," he said, nodding. "She's the right person for the job."

Lost in the conversation, he steered the topic toward another figure: "What of Jiraiya? Is he still in the village?"

His main reason for asking was because he had also felt that Jiraiya would have also been a suitable candidate for the mantle of fifth Hokage.

"Yes," they chorused.

Tsunade added, "He's taken on two students: William and Naruto."

Hiruzen's brow raised thoughtfully. He felt warmth in his chest at the fact that Naruto had found a mentor, someone to guide him. To think it would be his own student.

"These are all good news," he mused. "Of course, I have no intention of returning to the Hokage seat, and it gladdens me to know Tsunade has taken the lead."

"Don't try to shirk off on duties of being the village elder," Koharu exclaimed. "Now that you're up, you'll be assisting in rebuilding the village's security and helping—all the things you've always done so well."

"Let's at least let the man rest," Homura commented.

Hiruzen pondered her words before saying, "I'm worried about Sasuke Uchiha." They had mentioned that event to him as well. "Since he's left the village, I wonder how Itachi will respond to this news."

Tsunade exchanged a glance with Homura and Koharu, sensing that there was more to the Uchiha's story than she understood.

"Itachi Uchiha?" she wondered with curiosity. "How does he relate to this situation?"

"We've been meaning to tell you, Tsunade," Koharu slowly said. "It's time we discuss the truth about the Uchiha Massacre that occurred so many years ago."

Before they could delve deeper into that conversation, Hiruzen remembered something. Or rather, someone.

"What about Arthur Bennett?" he inquired, the name rolling off his tongue with surprising familiarity.

Hiruzen could almost see Arthur's serious, emotionless eyes staring directly into his soul as he'd proclaimed himself a villain in their world just moments before the invasion.

"Arthur…" Koharu began, shifting her tone. "He tried to go after Naruto and the others during a mission. Thankfully, the boy had help come just in time, and they disposed of Arthur Bennett."

"He died?" Hiruzen asked for reassurance.

"Yes," Homura confirmed.

The revelation struck the former Kage, shocking him to his core. He leaned back against the pillows, struggling to process what he had just heard.

"I had hoped that if captured, I could have guided him back from this dark path. He had so much potential—I believed he could have been a strong force for good."

Koharu and Homura traded somber glances, recognizing Hiruzen's disappointment.

Before things became melodramatic, the door burst open, and a high sense of energy poured into the room. Margaret, Alice, William, Jada, and Naruto stood there in their youthful exuberance.

"Gramps!" Naruto called out, rushing forward with enthusiasm.

The sound of his voice rang through the hospital, breaking the oppressive mood that had settled over the room. Tsunade was slightly surprised.

"How did you all know he was awake?" she asked.

"Alice can sense almost anything happening in the village at any given time when she chooses," Margaret explained, glancing back at her friend.

Alice, sensing their attention, added, "I'm sorry if it seems I'm always spying—I was just surprised when I sensed Hiruzen awake."

Koharu looked at Margaret and then back at Alice, astonished.

"You can sense everything?" the elder wondered. "We had no idea about that."

Those who weren't aware were intrigued; their interest piqued at the unexpected talents of the youngsters who had fought alongside the villagers.

Margaret shrugged modestly and said, "This is just what we do."

"Still," Homura interjected, regaining his composure. "We would appreciate it if you kept this matter hidden for a while. We need some time to get Hiruzen up to speed before announcing his recovery to the rest of the village. It'll surely lift everyone's spirits."

The young group nodded in agreement, fully understanding the plan, and they soon departed the hospital room after asking their former Kage about his well-being.

Hiruzen watched them leave with a sense of hope and much gratitude for having helped him during what was supposed to be his demise.

As they exited, Alice caught Jada's eye and nodded subtly, signaling that they needed to discuss matters privately.

"Hey, Will, you need to be there, too," she said, motioning for him to follow her.

Naruto, his face scrunching up in confusion, spoke up, "Wait! What's going on now? How come every time something important comes, the four of you secretly go off! Are we actually friends?"

His tone was more of a playful annoyance, and he crossed his arms tightly, pouting. Jada giggled at his frustration.

"Naruto," she said, "it's just something you're better off not knowing right now. We're working on some projects at home."

"Yeah, like what?" he pressed, his curiosity piqued.

"To be honest," Alice said, making the main character uneasy, "maybe it's best if you don't worry too much about it. But you could join us next time. Just not this time."

Naruto's eyes widened as if he were about to berate them, but Alice quickly added, "Don't worry! I actually have a job for you. I think it would be safe to let Konohamaru know about Hiruzen. You guys can also hang out together."

"Really?" Naruto wondered. As he began to give thought to that, his earlier expression lighted. Naruto and the third Hokage's grandson had never had the proper chance to bond. "Alright, I'll let him know! But later, I still wanna know what you guys are hiding!"