In the sky, Mamoru looked down over Konoha. He saw smoke rising from multiple locations within the village, three giant snakes rampaging and destroying everything, and even the wall protecting the village had been torn open with a gap.
At this moment, he had no time to worry about anything else. The most troublesome enemies at hand required him and Hiruzen to deal with them with everything they had.
If he hadn't been concerned that there were still Konoha ninjas and civilians inside the arena, he would have long ago leveled this place with a full-power strike. There would be no need to maneuver like this.
His gaze returned to the area below.
Those Oto ninjas had long since tactfully fled elsewhere, and the Konoha Anbu, due to their lack of strength, could only watch from a distance and wait for an opportunity.
Suddenly, a thunderous boom came from afar.
Mamoru turned his gaze, and what entered his eyes was a colossal figure rising from the ground.
"Shukaku." Mamoru's tone carried a rare sense of anxiety. "Of all times..."
...
"This is...!?"
Hiruzen caught a glimpse of that giant monster out of the corner of his eye, and a flash of shock crossed his face.
In an instant, he recognized it as the One Tail, Shukaku!
Those Suna people actually released a Tailed Beast in the village.
The oncoming attack forced Hiruzen to react, hurriedly dodging Tobirama's strike.
He retreated several steps quickly before standing firm.
Hashirama and Tobirama didn't rush to attack either, standing frozen in place.
"Sensei, the village you love so dearly is being destroyed." Orochimaru's voice rang out.
"And you can only watch helplessly, unable to do a thing." He let out a raspy laugh. "Truly pathetic, lamentable, hahaha..."
"Orochimaru, you fool..." Hiruzen stared intently at Orochimaru and Rasa nearby, his heart suddenly tightening.
Where did that boy Mamoru go?
Previously fully focused on dealing with the powerful enemies, he hadn't noticed someone flying into the sky at all.
"Hiruzen, that kid is fine, he's in the sky." Enma's steady voice came from the Adamantine Staff in his hand.
Hiruzen hurriedly glanced at the sky, his tensed heartstrings loosening slightly. That child might be the future pillar of Konoha. If something were to happen to him, it would be a great pity.
However, when he came back to his senses, he found himself surrounded by Orochimaru and three Kage.
"Sensei, you've really grown old." Orochimaru licked his lips, a playful light flashing in his eyes.
"Covered in wounds and in such a wretched state, where is even a shred of the Hokage's majesty left?"
"Orochimaru, your true goal is that child, isn't it?" Hiruzen's gaze was like a torch. "For this, you didn't hesitate to impersonate the Kazekage to attack Konoha and create chaos, just to find an opportunity to capture Mamoru."
"No, that wasn't the plan at first." Orochimaru shook his head gently.
"It wasn't until I saw Mamoru that I changed my plans. To obtain that key to the truth, for this perfect vessel I've been seeking for so long."
"Your ambition is destined to fail." Hiruzen snorted and looked toward the sky. "You can't catch him at all."
"That's not necessarily true." Orochimaru gave a sinister smile.
"As long as I catch you, do you think Mamoru would come with me for your sake?"
"Wishful thinking!" Hiruzen's eyes widened with rage, a look of determination flashing within them. "I will never let you succeed!"
"Then let's wait and see..."
Before Orochimaru could finish his sentence, Hashirama and Tobirama had already pounced toward Hiruzen.
Hiruzen swung the Adamantine Staff, which swept toward the two charging figures with the sound of breaking air.
Hashirama and Tobirama nimbly dodged and launched attacks from two different directions.
Amidst the flying staff shadows, the three figures crossed in the air, the sounds of punches and kicks echoing constantly.
Suddenly, a wave of gold dust surged from the side.
The moment Rasa made his move, Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly dodged to the side, but Hashirama accurately seized this split-second opening.
A series of heavy punches and kicks landed on him, sending him flying and crashing heavily onto the ground. The Adamantine Staff slipped from his hand and rolled away.
The Gold Dust, like a living thing, quickly coiled around Hiruzen's ankles and in an instant enveloped his entire body, lifting him into the air.
"Sensei, it's over." Orochimaru stepped forward slowly, a triumphant smile hanging on his lips.
"Damn it..." Hiruzen struggled violently, but the cocoon formed by the Gold Dust tightened even further, leaving him unable to move.
As the Gold Dust continued to contract, the immense pressure caused him to let out a groan of pain.
"I really want to see your look of agony." Orochimaru chuckled, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his golden slitted pupils. "I've never seen you look so pained and wretched, hehehehe..."
Just as the laughter had not yet faded—
Several figures abruptly appeared in the center of the battlefield.
"You're laughing too early!" A slightly playful voice rang out in the field.
The figures that had appeared were three identical Mamorus.
They spread their arms at the same time, and a massive deep-blue sphere of light took shape in the air.
Terrifying gravitational force instantly erupted, the roof letting out an overburdened groan under the immense pressure as cracks spread like spider webs.
Orochimaru and the three Kage were dragged into the air uncontrollably.
Rasa made a split-second decision, the Gold Dust instantly withdrawing from Hiruzen. He grabbed Orochimaru's ankle with one hand and used the other to control the Gold Dust to firmly adhere to the roof, barely stabilizing his figure.
But Hashirama and Tobirama weren't so lucky. In the blink of an eye, they were sucked into Blue and vanished without a trace.
Just as Hiruzen was about to be swallowed by the gravity, Mamoru's two Shadow Clones dissipated due to their Chakra being exhausted.
The Blue in the sky lost its support and exploded violently, the blue halo spreading out like ripples and emitting a piercing hum.
Mamoru's true body didn't stop for a second, turning into a bolt of crimson lightning and charging straight at Orochimaru. Before the latter could even fully land, that lethal flash of electricity was already close at hand.
At the critical moment, a gold dust wall erupted from the ground, blocking Mamoru's path. However, the crimson lightning actually forced its way through the Gold Dust defense, only coming to a halt barely a foot away from Orochimaru's chest.
Cold sweat slid down Orochimaru's temple as he panted and looked at the flickering electricity before his chest. "Haha... just a little bit short..."
Before his voice could fade, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart. He looked down in disbelief to see the originally stagnant lightning suddenly extend, turning into a crimson lightning spear that pierced through his chest.
"He succeeded..."
Hiruzen slumped on the ground, the intense pain from his internal organs and bones making it incredibly difficult for him to even maintain a sitting position.
Mamoru was about to condense another Blue to finish the job, but a sky full of Gold Dust came crashing down. He had to pull back and retreat, narrowly avoiding this wave of counterattack.
"Waaah—"
Orochimaru knelt on one knee, vomiting a large mouthful of blood, his previous composure long gone, replaced by deep wariness and regret.
Seeing his plan completely fail and his most capable subordinates wiped out, even someone like him who viewed subordinates as expendable couldn't help but feel heartache over such heavy losses. Cultivating a subordinate like Kidōmaru required countless efforts.
Mamoru panted slightly, his peripheral vision sweeping over the heavily injured Hiruzen nearby. At least the most important goal had been achieved—he had saved Hiruzen's life.
His gaze returned, staring at Orochimaru, who was now shielded behind Rasa.
Now he had to weigh the pros and cons—whether he should let Orochimaru escape. This had nothing to do with good or evil, it was purely out of interest.
To Mamoru, Orochimaru being alive was far more valuable than him being dead. There was still too much information he needed to obtain from this old snake.