Inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the battle had reached its final, irreversible moment.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, having activated the Reaper Death Seal, stood at the edge of death.
The Kusanagi blade pierced through his chest. Blood spilled from his lips.
"It seems… I don't have enough strength left to pull your entire soul out…"
His voice trembled, but his eyes remained firm.
"But your ambition ends here, Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru's face was pale, yet his grin twisted into madness.
"It's not over! Old fool—my ambition will never stop!"
Hiruzen's voice dropped.
"You were obsessed with ninjutsu… so I shall take every technique you've mastered."
"Reaper Death Seal!"
Behind him, the Shinigami removed the blade from its mouth—
and slashed down at the soul being dragged from Orochimaru's body.
Outside the Barrier
At that very moment, two figures appeared beyond the violet flames.
Uchiha Yusuke
Tsunade
"Lord Yusuke."
"Lady Tsunade."
The surrounding ANBU immediately approached.
Yusuke nodded calmly.
"Withdraw. Leave this area."
Within seconds, only he and Tsunade remained.
Well—
and the four members of the Sound Four maintaining the barrier:
Sakon and Ukon
Kidomaru
Tayuya
Jirobo
The four felt their stomachs drop.
Things were not looking good.
According to intelligence—
The most terrifying person in Konoha right now was not the Third Hokage trapped inside.
Nor even Tsunade of the Sannin.
It was the Uchiha clan head—
The man who had once defeated the Fourth Raikage and captured the Eight-Tails.
Uchiha Yusuke.
"Isn't that him?!" Sakon hissed. "Yusuke's here! Tsunade too!"
"Didn't Lord Orochimaru say he wouldn't interfere?" Tayuya snapped.
Kidomaru scoffed. "Relax. You think he can break the Four Violet Flames Formation?"
Sakon cursed back. "Idiot! That man fought the Raikage and a Jinchuriki at once!"
Tayuya cut them off.
"Enough. Maintain the formation. That's all we need to do."
Jirobo added quietly, "We hold the barrier."
They steeled themselves.
The Barrier
The Four Violet Flames Formation required four shinobi to maintain it.
A translucent rectangular prism burned with violet fire.
No one outside could enter.
Touching the walls meant being incinerated.
Tsunade didn't care.
She leapt high, chakra concentrating at her heel—
and slammed down.
"Painful Heaven Kick!"
BOOM—
The barrier trembled violently.
Inside, the four Sound shinobi coughed blood from the backlash.
Even so—
the barrier stabilized.
Tsunade clicked her tongue.
"Tough shell."
She raised her leg again.
"Fine! Let's see how many kicks your turtle shell can take!"
Yusuke stepped forward.
"Tsunade. I'll handle it."
She paused—
then stepped aside without hesitation.
She had no doubts.
The Draw
Under the anxious gaze of the Sound Four—
Yusuke took a single step forward.
His hand rested on the sword hilt.
Sakon swallowed.
Sweat rolled down his temple.
Then—
"One-Sword Style—Zanpa."
The blade was drawn—
And already swung.
Too fast.
So fast even Tsunade's eyes lagged half a beat.
By the time she processed it—
Yusuke had already sheathed the blade.
Silence.
Then—
A dark crimson slash tore into existence.
A streak of annihilating sword qi carved through sky and earth—
charging straight toward the Four Violet Flames Formation.
It was like a tailed-beast claw ripping the horizon open.
Like a lightning cleave that split the world in one breath.
Even Tsunade, prepared as she was—
felt her breath hitch.
He was strong.
Absurdly strong.
She didn't even know his limit.
Compared to him—
a Kage-level fighter like herself posed no threat whatsoever.
And for some inexplicable reason—
the thought that such a man stood beside her stirred a flicker of exhilaration deep in her chest.
Impact
The crimson slash met the barrier.
At first—
silence.
Then—
BLINDING LIGHT.
BOOM!!!
THUNDEROUS EXPLOSION!!!
The rectangular formation split apart—
as if tofu sliced cleanly in two.
The violet flames shattered.
Stone and timber erupted outward.
When the dust settled—
The Four Violet Flames Formation was gone.
The Sound Four lay buried in rubble.
Unmoving.
"Let's go."
Yusuke vanished in a flicker.
Tsunade followed immediately.
Her fists were clenched tight.
She had waited long enough.
Orochimaru had dared to defile her grandfather and granduncle—
Hashirama Senju
Tobirama Senju
That sin would not go unanswered.
Now—
It was time to settle accounts.
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