"Come at me, Thousand Killer!"
The moment Asuma saw Kakashi's Lightning Blade, he knew something was wrong. Instantly, he adopted a technique taught to him by Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin — a colossal golden figure formed from chakra that appeared behind him: the Thousand-Armed Kannon. Countless golden chakra fists slammed forward, trying to block Kakashi.
Facing the barrage, Kakashi didn't dodge or evade. His gaze remained fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi behind Asuma. The golden fists attacking from the front were instantly shattered by the Lightning Blade, but the ones coming from all directions struck Kakashi, causing blood to seep from the corner of his mouth.
"Kakashi, you!!!"
Seeing him about to break through his defenses, Asuma gritted his teeth and sheathed his chakra blade, a sharp blue Wind Release manifestation taking its place. Just as he was about to unleash it, Hiruzen Sarutobi, slumped on the ground behind him, spoke in a deep, aged voice.
"Enough, Asuma. This is enough."
Hearing his father's voice, Asuma's hand paused. A flicker of relief, a hint of joy, and a touch of sorrow crossed his face. In his memory, the Hokage had always been kind, considerate of others. Even in his old age, as his health declined, he had handled state affairs late into the night. Although all of this had now been exposed—a facade, a pretense—he still hoped his father had truly inherited the Will of Fire, only to have strayed onto the wrong path.
Without Asuma's obstruction, Kakashi's Lightning Blade instantly arrived before Hiruzen. It came to a steady stop right before the Third Hokage's now composed, wrinkled face.
Seeing Kakashi suddenly stop and not kill him, Hiruzen sighed softly.
"Do it, Kakashi. Having lost completely, my life is worthless and will no longer be of any help to Konoha. Afterward, have Asuma announce publicly that the Third Hokage, feeling deeply ashamed of his sins, committed suicide at home."
Hiruzen actually admired Kakashi. He had intended to groom him as Asuma's right-hand man after taking over as Hokage. The incident with Sakumo Hatake had been an accident; he'd only meant to suppress the excessive reputation of the White Fang of Konoha. He hadn't expected Sakumo's mental fortitude to be so weak.
Now, completely defeated, his limbs crippled, and his reputation plummeted, dying under the guise of Kakashi's revenge was acceptable. At least he could leave a good impression on his youngest son.
"Father…" Asuma murmured, but ultimately didn't voice his objections. His thinking had changed; he now felt this ending was better.
Kakashi's icy expression remained unchanged.
"It's not that I'm afraid of the punishment afterward. It's just that I suddenly feel Menma is right—killing you like this is too easy for you."
As his voice fell, two sharp slashes pierced the air. Swoosh! Swoosh!
To Hiruzen's incredulous gaze, two bloodied arms flew into the air. A belated groan of pain finally escaped his lips.
"Hmph! Menma said he'd cripple you, but unfortunately, he didn't do it perfectly. With Tsunade's help, you might still be healed. But now, you're truly crippled, beyond healing."
"Father!" Asuma rushed forward, using chakra to stop the bleeding.
Hiruzen's previously calm expression vanished, replaced by a venomous glare at Kakashi. Having done his work, Kakashi had no intention of staying. He still needed to thank Menma for revealing the truth.
"Third Hokage, you can continue living in humiliation. With Menma's temper, I believe it won't be long before you become like me."
This was Kakashi's most sincere curse upon Hiruzen: a man like a lonely scarecrow.
Land of Rain, Amegakure.
The village where it rained all year round finally had a rare day without rain. On the lake outside the village, Zabuza, covered in blood, and Menma, wearing a mask, were walking on the water.
"Boss, are the people you're looking for in Amegakure?"
Menma nodded. "Yes, but before finding them, we need to prepare a small gift."
"A small gift?" Zabuza was about to ask something else, but his brow furrowed. He drew his Executioner's Blade from his back and vanished.
Just as Zabuza disappeared, beneath the surface of the water surrounding the two, three Rain Ninja wearing scuba masks and wielding kunai emerged.
"By order of Lord Hanzō! Those who trespass into Amegakure will be killed without mercy!"
But the three had barely sprung out and finished shouting their slogan when a flash of white sliced across their necks. Three heads, still bearing angry expressions, flew into the air.
"Amegakure is as xenophobic as ever, and its lackeys are as useless as ever. Can't you tell the difference in strength? Can't you smell the dangerous stench of blood?"
Zabuza, whose body had been imbued with the Nine-Tails' chakra and whose strength had further improved, sauntered around, cracking his knuckles with one hand as he held his Executioner's Blade horizontally outward with the other. After following Menma for so long, he'd learned to pinch his fingers during battle, completely unfazed by the possibility of future bone spurs. Unfortunately, his little fanboy Haku wasn't around, so this act of showing off wouldn't impress him.
On the contrary, it made Menma's mouth twitch, wanting to punch him.
"Nice finger pinching, but don't do it again next time."
As he spoke, golden-red chakra flashed from Menma's body. Then, a giant golden-red chakra hand whooshed outward.
"I forgot to tell you to leave one alive, but luckily there's a little mouse hiding underwater."
Below the surface, the remaining Rain Ninja, who hadn't dared to act, heard Menma's words. His face filled with terror as he leaped out of the water, fleeing without looking back toward Amegakure.
"If you're afraid to die, that's fine." Menma's lips curled into a smile. A giant golden-red chakra hand, like an arrow released from a bow, instantly grabbed the Rain Ninja.
"My lord, spare me!" Sensing the giant chakra hand behind him, the Rain Ninja immediately stopped and knelt on the water's surface.
Menma didn't mince words, threatening directly. "Take me to Hanzō the Salamander, if you don't want to die."
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