Chapter 99: The Shadow's Fall

From a third-person perspective, Yuto felt that the "Adamantine Prison Wall" secret technique was quite impressive when used defensively.

Twenty equal-sized Adamantine rods combined into a solid prison, trapping Yagura Karatachi inside.

"Five Release Great Combo Technique!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and his four shadow clones simultaneously performed hand seals, unleashing their deadly attack without hesitation. The surging chakra and agile bodies showed no sign of injury.

Ninjutsu of five different elements exploded in succession, augmenting each other's power. After five iterations, they all blasted into the prison.

A shockwave more exaggerated than Yuto's explosive tags erupted on the battlefield. Many shinobi were stunned, deafened, and left wobbling, staring blankly at Hiruzen in his full glory.

What's going on... The Third Hokage, wasn't he gravely injured from the internal conflict? How...

Before they could figure it out, Orochimaru's figure appeared beside Hiruzen.

Countless snakes poured out from his sleeves. As the Five Release Great Combo Technique completed its mission, these snakes also drilled into the Adamantine Prison Wall, attacking fiercely with venomous bites and constricting coils, filling the prison.

Bang! After the smoke cleared, the Adamantine rods reverted to Enma, who stood behind Hiruzen. Though Enma's arm hung limply at a strange angle, he still looked imposing.

"Cough, cough..." On the ground, the childlike Fourth Mizukage held a broken wooden staff, gazing blankly at the sky.

His right arm was severed at the shoulder, and his body was covered in burns, electric shocks, snake bites, and poison. Not an inch of skin was unscathed.

"...Mizukage-sama!"

"Quick, save him!"

"I'll hold off the Konoha bastards, you go..."

On the battlefield, numerous Kirigakure shinobi, seeing their Mizukage near death, chose not to flee but instead charged desperately towards him.

At this time, Yagura had not yet been controlled by Uchiha Obito. Kirigakure was not yet the dark and oppressive "Bloody Mist." Although closed off and fraught with conflict, they were not indifferent to their leader dying in battle.

"Everyone, stay back!"

Yagura suddenly roared. No one could imagine such a small and near-death body could burst with such strength.

The wooden staff broke in half, and the Fourth Mizukage used it as a crutch to support himself.

"As the Mizukage... I command all of you, leave immediately! Now!"

Yagura stared at Orochimaru and Hiruzen, standing his ground firmly, his chakra surging like a boiling tsunami:

"Juzo! Fuguki! Raiga! Hozuki! If you are still alive... take everyone and leave!"

After saying this, he let go of the broken staff. The one-armed Mizukage began forming hand seals.

Massive waves appeared on the battlefield as Yagura drained every cell, crazily extracting chakra to unleash Kirigakure's signature ninjutsu:

— Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!

A tsunami-like water style attack rushed towards the two Konoha shinobi. Orochimaru lowered his head and pressed his bitten fingertip to the ground.

"Summoning: Triple Rashomon!"

The massive demonic gates collided with the tsunami, creating a stalemate.

Behind the third Rashomon, the powerful master and student pair fell into silence.

"Orochimaru..." Finally, Hiruzen spoke softly:

"Yagura won't last much longer. I will kill him. You go pursue the fleeing Kirigakure and Kumogakure shinobi."

"Yes..." Orochimaru paused before saying the word:

"…Sensei."

"I just heard the name Hozuki. Is he... the descendant of the Second Mizukage? How old is he?"

"He is still a kid, but in the past few months, he has caused significant losses to Konoha's forces. Some say he is a prodigy favored by the Seven Swords."

"Kill him if you see him."

"Yes, Sensei."

They fell silent again.

Both knew that Orochimaru would not return.

Stealing the First Hokage's body and conducting forbidden human experiments were undeniable crimes. Orochimaru could no longer stay in the Land of Fire.

[Spare Orochimaru from pursuit],

[Help Hiruzen set a trap to cripple the enemy's high-level combat power].

The unspoken exchange between master and apprentice was complete.

Upon returning to the village, Hiruzen would announce Orochimaru's permanent exile and expulsion from Konoha. After that, the master and apprentice would part ways, likely never to meet again.

"Sensei, my partner is Danzo Shimura."

"Yes, I know. It can only be him." Hiruzen sighed, it was expected. The number of high-ranking individuals who knew about the First Hokage's grave was few, and Danzo was the prime suspect.

"And... be careful of Aizen Sōsuke." Orochimaru's tone was calm:

"I am confident in my methods, and Danzo's Tongue-Cutting Curse is nearly foolproof. So, I am puzzled as to how that mysterious man knew the location of the base."

"Aizen Sōsuke... is closer than we thought?"

"At least not as far as imagined. The one wearing the impenetrable mask might be someone we both know..."

"Orochimaru," Hiruzen's voice was complex:

"If you became Hokage, you would do better than me."

Orochimaru shrugged nonchalantly and walked away without another word.

From then on, he was no longer Konoha's shinobi.

Watching his beloved disciple leave, Hiruzen rubbed his temples in frustration. The Rashomon disappeared, revealing the panting Fourth Mizukage.

"Yagura Karatachi." Hiruzen spoke softly, looking at the battlefield completely turned around, enunciating each word:

"Choose your fate, die here or live in Konoha's prison?"

The childlike Mizukage smiled, forming hand seals with one hand to buy time for the Kirigakure shinobi to escape.

"Hiruzen, like you, I too bear the village's burden."

"...Very well."

A shinobi may live in ignominy, but a kage can only die in battle.

...

...

In the 57th year of Konoha, the nineteenth month after the outbreak of the Third Ninja War.

A major battle erupted following Moon God's attack on Konoha.

Hiruzen used strategy and himself as bait, luring Kirigakure and Kumogakure to attack. Konoha fought against two villages and won a pyrrhic victory.

In this battle, the total number of ninja deaths from the three sides was 1,172.

Orochimaru was exiled from Konoha, never to return to the Land of Fire.

Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of Kirigakure, "Kubikiribōchō wielder, Juzo Biwa," and "Nuibari wielder, Mangetsu Hōzuki," were killed by Yuto's Explosive Tags.

On Kumogakure's side, the Raikage's son "A" lost his right eye, and Orochimaru's sneak attack heavily injured Killer B, causing a Bijuu rampage and his subsequent imprisonment in the Lightning Gorge for training.

The Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi died in battle.

(End of Chapter)