Perhaps… for her teacher, death in battle would be the most dignified end.
"Rewrite shinobi history?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face turned grave.
"Lord Kazekage, what is your purpose? To provoke Konoha at such a cost—"
A hoarse, serpentine voice interrupted him.
"Have you grown slow with age… or have you sat in the Hokage's seat so long that you can't even recognize me anymore, Sarutobi-sensei?"
The disguise fell away.
Orochimaru revealed his true face.
Hiruzen's pupils shrank.
"Orochimaru!"
"I didn't expect it to be you. What are you trying to achieve? I know you're not the type to act out of mere personal hatred…"
Orochimaru's lips curled.
"My purpose?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"When things remain unchanged for too long… they become unbearably dull."
"Die, Sarutobi-sensei."
The kunai at Hiruzen's throat slashed down.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed across Orochimaru's pale cheek.
The Third Hokage collapsed—
Only to melt into mud.
"An Earth Clone," Orochimaru murmured, licking his lips.
Hiruzen reappeared ahead of him.
"So… you truly came here prepared to kill your teacher."
"Old man," Orochimaru sneered, "have you chosen the next Hokage yet?"
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
"Ninja Art—Tile Shuriken!"
The rooftop battle exploded into motion.
A Rooftop Far Away
On a distant building,
Uchiha Yusuke watched the clash inside the Four Violet Flames Formation with mild amusement.
He had no intention of interfering.
Once upon a time, Orochimaru had also aspired to become Hokage.
During the selection of the Fourth Hokage, with his strength, reputation, achievements—and with Hiruzen backing him—
Orochimaru absolutely had a chance.
But in the end, the teacher he trusted most chose Minato Namikaze instead.
That decision drove a wedge between master and student.
Eventually, whatever affection had remained between them withered away.
Now—
They fought with lethal intent.
No mercy.
No hesitation.
Only killing blows.
"Yusuke. Found you."
A familiar voice came from behind.
Yusuke withdrew his gaze.
"Tsunade. Finished over there?"
Tsunade nodded.
The enemies she faced were mere fodder. For someone at Kage-level, they were no challenge.
She stepped beside him, frowning.
"Suna and Orochimaru suddenly launching this attack… what are they really after?"
Yusuke gave a light snort.
"You're mistaken. This is entirely Orochimaru's doing. As for Sunagakure…"
He chuckled.
"Those fools are probably still in the dark."
Tsunade turned, surprised.
"You know something?"
"More or less. The Fourth Kazekage has been dead for months. Orochimaru killed him."
He paused.
"And a few days ago, Orochimaru visited me. Said he intended to eliminate the Third Hokage."
Tsunade's eyes sharpened.
"So he asked you not to interfere?"
Yusuke nodded.
She tried to sound indifferent.
"And what did you say?"
But Yusuke noticed it—
The subtle disturbance in her breathing.
He smirked instead of answering directly.
"What do you want me to say?"
Tsunade's expression stiffened slightly.
"That's between you two. What does it have to do with me?"
Yusuke laughed softly.
"My business… isn't your business?"
"…."
She fell silent.
Seeing enough teasing for the moment, Yusuke returned his gaze to the barrier.
Inside, Orochimaru and Hiruzen had entered a heated exchange.
"I told him," Yusuke said calmly,
"I have no interest in meddling in his grudge with the Third Hokage. But I warned him clearly—he is not to touch the Uchiha."
Tsunade's tightened nerves finally eased.
Even if she now stood on Yusuke's side—
Hiruzen was still her teacher.
Outsiders still saw her as the Third Hokage's disciple.
That bond could not simply be erased.
Not "a father for life," perhaps—
But the grace between master and student was real.
Since her return, after everything that had happened—
Her relationship with Hiruzen had deteriorated severely.
If Yusuke truly had joined forces with Orochimaru to kill him—
She would not have stopped it.
But somewhere deep down…
A knot would have remained.
"You, Uchiha Yusuke! Teasing me again? Looking for a beating?!"
Tsunade suddenly swung her fist.
Yusuke caught it instantly.
If that punch had landed with full force, even he wouldn't have enjoyed it.
Though he stood at the brink of demigod-level power, taking a serious hit from Tsunade still hurt.
But to his surprise—
There was no killing intent in that blow.
Her small, fair hand remained trapped in his grip.
After failing to pull free, she gave up.
A faint blush rose along her pale cheek.
Inside the barrier, Orochimaru appeared to be losing ground.
Hiruzen was pressing him.
"Do you think Orochimaru will succeed?" Tsunade asked quietly.
"Most likely," Yusuke replied.
"You're that confident in him?"
Yusuke shook his head.
"It's not about confidence."
"It's because the Third Hokage is old."
That was simply fact.
If Hiruzen were in his prime, Orochimaru wouldn't stand a chance.
But time spares no one.
"After this battle," Yusuke continued,
"Konoha will undergo a reshuffling."
He glanced at her.
"Tsunade. I want you to become the Fifth Hokage."
"As for the ANBU commander—I already have someone in mind."
He watched the teacher-student death match below and added:
"Konoha appears prosperous on the surface."
"But its roots are rotten."
"Only by cutting away the decay and grafting new roots can it truly thrive again."
Tsunade fell silent.
No matter whether Hiruzen survived today—
He could not remain Hokage.
Allowing an enemy nation to infiltrate and assault Konoha without warning—
That alone was catastrophic failure.
As Hokage, Hiruzen bore responsibility.
Even if he survived—
Public pressure would force him to step down.
The most dignified outcome…
Would be retirement.
Or—
Tsunade lowered her gaze.
Perhaps…
For Sensei… dying in battle might be the most respectable end of all.
Want More? Get up to +60 Extra Chapters on Patreon!
➤ https://www.patreon.com/aureliusstudios
➤ +300 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter Drop!
Thanks for the support!