Interlude The God of Shinobi's Stand , The will of fire lives on.
Hiruzen sat quietly at his desk, as the last of the clan heads left his office.
staring nostalgically at a picture on his desk, he smiled grimly. 'Its almost time.'
"is it done Itachi?" he asked one of the two shadowy figures that had just appeared in his office.
"yes, Hokage-sama." Said the boy ," I sent word to Killer Bee in Kumo, and Baki, in Suna, They say that they and the rest of their followers will join your resistance. "
"Excellent, and the other matter?." Itachi paused "it will be done tonight ,sir."
Sarutobi seemed to sadden at this " I hate to ask this of you, but their betrayal.."
".. cannot go unpunished." finished the child genius.
"What about your mission, Kakashi,?" asked the Third.
"it is as you suspected, sir, Danzo has been working with Madara all along."
You know what to do, Kakashi, after the kill display the head and join up with Jiraiya."
Kakashi nodded and as he made to leave, Itachi stopped him." I have a favor to ask Kakashi, I would like you to take Sasuke with you." Seeing kakashi's startled face he continued" the Uchiha clan has fallen into disgrace. Only by joining this resistance and saving the world from an Uchiha's tyranny can we regain our honor. Soon Sasuke will be one of the last surviving members of our clan, as such, it is his duty. Take him, and train him in the way of the shinobi, and teach him to master the sharingan. "
Kakashi looked startled "Why can't you teach him yourself" he asked
" I must maintain my cover for as long as possible. I will do my best to divert the alliances attention and give the resistance time to get strong enough." Kakashi smiled "I'll take care of him then."
Itachi looked grateful before disappearing followed closely by Kakashi.
Hiruzen moved towards the window and stared out at the Hokage monument. ' its almost time,' he thought before turning to his closet and taking out a battle worn set of armor. Moving back towards the window he watched as a small motley group made their way out of the east gate. Turning to the monument he smiled "the will of fire lives on in them" he said to his fellow hokages." Watch over them." He whispered before disappearing.
- In the surrounding forest.-
Orochimaru looked amused at the figure standing so brazenly in front of him.
He had entered fire country with fifty of his best men, intent on obtaining konoha's surrender, and gloating at his former master's fall. "You're looking well Sarutobi-sensei" he said mockingly "have you come to surrender your pathetic village, old man."
Hiruzen looked solemn for a moment " no ,my rebellious student, I have come to do something I should have years ago." Forming handsigns faster than even the Sannin could follow, he slammed his palm into the ground, summoning an enormous Monkey. The gray haired Enma, took one look at the opposing ninja and transformed into an huge black staff. Sarutobi twirled the staff expertly into his hands. " I have come to take your head."
In the history of thee shinobi world, few had ever reached the status of Hiruzen Sarutobi. His immense skill in every aspect of the shinobi arts as well as his encyclopedic knowledge of Ninjutsu had earned him the title, The God of Shinobi. He proved that title now, as he battled his way through orochimaru's men.
His staff flashed with deadly accuracy through the skull of yet another of the sound jounin. Flashing through seals he sent an enormous earth dragon that engulfed five unfortunate sound ninja.
That made thirty , he thought as ,he dodged a summoned snake,
"Fire style- Fire Dragon Missile" he spat a large torrent of fire that consumed the unfortunate reptile.
Forming a cross seal, he summoned ten kage bunshins ,who immediately began to eliminate the rest of Orochimaru's forces.
Turning to his former student, he smiled sadly." this is the end, disciple."
Orochimaru felt a shrivel of fear, as he watched his former mentor rip through his forces. The man was just like he remembered, his staff lightning quick, his jutsus even faster. but there was still that…
He smirked" you've done well to last this long you old fool,'" sending two enormous snakes after him , the evil man formed seals., Summoning three coffins.
Sarutobi, , who had dealt with snakes, looked on in horror , as the first two coffins opened, revealing his former mentors. The Shodaime, and Nidaime hokages. Moving quickly he sent a huge fire dragon to consume the last coffin.
" Your evil and cowardice, has reached new heights, Orochimaru, to resort to this jutsu " spat a reformed Enma
Before orochimaru could reply, Hiruzen moved. *Lightning style-thunder balls" two small ball of lighting shot forward and hit the two former hokages. A torrent of electricity shot through them and they fell forward, grabbing a newly transformed enma he swung his staff at his head, colliding with an hastily drawn Kusanagi" You forget, my foolish student, that I was the one who placed that jutsu on the forbidden scroll. All that is required to disrupt the jutsu is, a powerful lightning technique to before the seals are placed in the body." The two parried each other blade Vs staff, at lightning speeds. Jumping apart they launched a series of elemental jutsu, fire dragons hit earth walls, torrents of water were cut apart by blades of wind. Blocking an incoming sword strike with his staff, the third hokage landed a bone jarring punch to his former students face, sending him, flying. Not letting the opportunity pass, he slammed his staff through the snake sannin's head, causing him to dissolve into mud. From the left, he heard a loud boom and glanced up to see orochimaru standing on top of Manda's head.
" Why have you summoned me.." began the giant snake before he dodged, several blades of wind. Sarutobi ran up the giant snake, dropping explosive tags as he went. He when he reached the head he swung at orochimaru dissolved into mud. Forming the tiger seal, he let loose a modified fire dragon, lighting the snake on fire and igniting the explosive tags, which tore Manda apart . pausing to catch his breath , he quickly dodged to the side, but too late, and kusanagi grazed his side. Grabbing orochimaru's extended arm, he twisted it and with a motion of his right hand slammed the staff into his stomach. Orochimaru lay gasping on the ground. " Curse you, you miserable old man." Sarutobi said nothing but picked up the fallen kusangi and with one smooth motion, sliced off his head. " goodbye, disciple." Falling to one knee he coughed up blood, the poison from the kusanagi making its way through his body.
Enma, caught him before he fell completely. "rest now, my old friend. " he said, laying the old man on the ground. Sarutobi smiled , but said nothing , his eyes seeing not the surrounding forest, but his beloved Village. "When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and one day, once again, tree leaves shall bud anew." He said softly.
Miles away, a shadowy figure watched, his one eye, was red and spinning." A fitting end, for one who had mastered the way of shinobi."
Whew here we are , an interlude chapter. I was watching the anime a few weeks ago and I thought it sucked how such a great ninja died. So I decided to give him a fitting end. , next chapter is ' The path to power'
