A.N. Yay! I kept my promise! It's 10:40 p.m. as I'm writing this, but still technically Friday.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, and liked this story. I'm very excited to be at this point, and I think you guys will be too.

So, without further ado, the conclusion to the Orochimaru vs. Lord Third battle!

WARNING: OROCHIMARU IS CREEPY

NOW:

"Wh—What's going on?!"

Tsukiko stared, eyes wide at the sight before her.

Orochimaru had gained the upper hand in the fight, throwing Lord Third to the ground and gloating about his imminent victory. But the Hokage activated the paper bombs he'd placed on the legs of the Reanimations, momentarily dispatching them for enough time for him to gain the distance he needed to recover. The old man had taken an unfamiliar stance, and Tsukiko had instinctively known that that was her moment to attack, to immobilize the Reanimations in any way she could.

But then...Orochimaru had pulled his face off, far gentler than he'd been with the Kazekage's, and revealed the features of a young woman.

"What the hell's going on?!" The timid Anbu asked, jerking back. "Who, or what is that?!"

Tsukiko took in the new face of the enemy, searching for any resemblance to the snake-like man. The woman was young, a couple years younger than her, if she had to guess, and was beautiful in a delicate sort of way. Those golden eyes though, with their reptilian hunger, hadn't changed.

"What is this?!" Lord Third demanded. "Who the devil are you?!"

"You have lost it, old man," the girl spoke, her voice obviously much higher...but containing that same hissing softness as the man she'd masqueraded as. "Don't you recognize me? It's me, Orochimaru."

With a start, Tsukiko realized it was higher, but very similar to the voice Orochimaru had used during the Chunin Exams when he'd disguised himself as a Grass ninja. Clearly, he, or she, traded voices and appearances with relative ease. They had no way of knowing whether or not this was even his real face, or merely another act.

"It can't be!" Lord Third shook his head. "Then you've mastered even that forbidden jutsu?!"

Tsukiko stepped as close as she could to the barrier, eyes flicking back and forth between the two enemies. 'What jutsu?'

Frozen with a morbid fascination, she watched as Orochimaru smiled grotesquely, the muscles in his face stretched too far, as if used to a wider mouth than he currently possessed. His mirth began as a quiet giggle that raised the hairs on the back of Tsukiko's neck, then exploded into insane laughter as Lord Third continued.

"You're no longer human! You're a demon!"

"Lord Hokage, what are you talking about?" Tsukiko asked, fearful of the answer. What was so significant about Orochimaru taking on a woman's appearance?

Lord Third appeared not to hear her, a horrified expression on his face. Enma's disembodied voice echoed as an eye appeared on his staff. "So, he did it after all."

"This is why I could never choose you to be the Fourth Hokage," the old man continued. "Your mind and soul are twisted!"

Orochimaru seemed to regain control of himself, smiling contemptuously at his former teacher, lips curling. "The Immortality Jutsu, a technique for eternally recycling one's spirit on Earth. In a way, it's a kind of revival jutsu. You find a body, a young body, pour your spirit into it, and make it your own."

Horror-struck, Tsukiko looked at the young woman's features with new understanding. That had actually been someone, maybe a year or so younger than her, and Orochimaru had stolen her body so that he wouldn't age. Sickening. Horrifying. Wrong.

"I was using my old familiar form until now," he continued, giggling in the woman's voice. "Because I wanted our reunion to be a nice nostalgic one, Sensei." He paused smile widening at the disgust on Lord Third's face. "Growing old is a sad, empty thing. I only have to look at you to be reminded of that."

Orochimaru cocked his head slightly, as if studying his sensei, toying with him like a mouse caught in the hypnotic gaze of a serpent. "You will die here, old man, while I move on to another stronger body. But first, I really must thank you," he continued, his gaze sliding over to Tsukiko. "And all the Leaf Village, for preparing my next body so well."

Tsukiko jerked back as if slapped, her eyes widening with fear. 'Sasuke…'

The Third Hokage gasped as it clicked in his mind. "Now I understand," he said, voice filled with quiet fury. "It's Sasuke Uchiha."

"Exactly," Orochimaru smirked, his snake-like pupils elongating with glee. "You guessed it. It's Sasuke I want."

Akio glanced over at his friend to see that her breathing was uneven, and her fists clenched. He felt a faint worry that Tsukiko would forget the plan and use what remaining chakra she had to lash out in fury, but he knew better than that. Even furious, Tsukiko was still logical.

"So you've mastered a jutsu that preserves your soul forever in the bodies of others," Lord Third summed up, stalling slightly. The Fourth Hokage's jutsu needed a lot of chakra, and he needed time to build his depleting stores up. "How many bodies had it been already? How many faces?"

The snake paused, considering. "Two or three, perhaps. But I'll wait for Sasuke until he's ripened a bit. And then when he'd been raised and trained to my liking…" he trailed off, laughing.

Tsukiko's eyes began to change colors rapidly, a sign of her emotions running rampant. The air around her crackled dangerously, and the tiles at her feet split in half. "Over. My. Dead. Body."

"Tell me, which face would you prefer me to wear?" Orochimaru asked mockingly. "Perhaps it would be easier for you to look on a familiar face..." As he spoke, his voice deepened back to a familiar hissing, and his hand rose up to replace the too-pale skin that had been the original face of the enemy. "...as you die, cursing your brief, wasted life."

"You monster…" Akio whispered.

A brief flicker of movement alerted Tsukiko to the First Hokage's movements, and she acted instinctively, finally given a target to direct her rage.

She stomped hard on the tile, then swung her foot around in a pantomime of a kick. The tiled roof inside the barrier followed her action, individual pieces of orange stone flying toward the First Hokage, forcing him back.

Massive tree trunks shot out of the tile, but this wasn't what Tsukiko was trying to prevent. Quite the opposite. Now she had cover for her movements, the entire barrier filled with curved and knitted trees in the space of a few seconds. And the trees had a second benefit.

"Lord Hokage!" Akio shouted, their leader having been grazed by the sharp branches.

The Third Hokage was barely visible through the thick trunks, protected by a cage made from Enma's pole form. The old man was panting, his chakra very nearly gone.

Orochimaru chuckled, flanked by the Reanimated Hokages. "You really shouldn't lower your guard, Sensei. That's your problem. You've always been naive."

The old man's gaze seemed to be focused on something none of them could see, his voice wistful. "You're right. I was naive." His eyes were sad as he looked upon his former student, but hardened as he came to a decision. "Now I'll correct my mistake and bury you once and for all!"

He grabbed one of the bars and Enma disappeared with a puff of smoke, reappearing in Lord Third's hand as the pole. "It's time to end this!"

Orochimaru grinned, eyes alight with malice and excitement, like a predator smelling blood. "I'm afraid it's too late now." At his slight gesture, the two Reanimations leapt into the air.

Two things happened at once. The first was Lord Third taking a familiar stance, his voice ringing out clearly. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The second was Tsukiko raising her arms before sharply crossing them.

As the two former Hokages started making their own hand signs, they found themselves frozen in midair, two trunks simultaneously darkening and exploding as the water within them was ripped away.

"No, Lord Third!" Akio shouted, stepping forward. "He's going to exhaust what little chakra he has left!"

Lords First and Second broke free of the ice, landing light before their target. Tsukiko's eyes narrowed, and cracked her neck. Whatever she had to do, neither of the Reanimations were going to touch Lord Third.

Orochimaru glanced back at her. "How annoying. But it won't matter. You've only shortened your life, Sensei. I think your impatience is getting the better of you."

Lord Third said nothing, and Tsukiko watched him closely. Whatever he was planning, he needed to do it soon.

Spurred on by the opening Tsukiko had created, Lord Third quickly performed a series of hand signs, the order unfamiliar to the young woman. He clapped his hands together...and nothing happened.

At least, nothing Tsukiko could see. But Lord Third looked over his shoulder with a grim satisfaction, so she knew that whatever he'd done had worked.

"Whatever you're planning, it's too late," Orochimaru repeated. "It's over, I've won. The Leaf Village will fall!"

"You're forgetting that the Leaf Village is my home!" The old man declared. "And as Hokage, I am entrusted with my home's protection. I am head of the household, the central pillar! He who would destroy my home must first destroy me, and I warn you, it will not be easy."

Lord Second moved, too fast to counter. "Genjutsu: Infinite Darkness Jutsu!"

Darkness spread across the barrier, at least, momentarily for Tsukiko, whose flickering eyes showed her still rapidly switching chakra styles. She smiled, her teeth bared like fangs. They had just doomed themselves. Reanimations or not, they still relied on their senses. And Lord Second had just blinded not only Lord First, but Orochimaru as well. She had no doubt he had some way to counteract the darkness, but regardless, she still planned to make her move.

"What nonsense." Orochimaru's voice seemed to echo in the black emptiness around Lord Third. "In the grand scheme of time, you're just a trivial footnote in the brief history of a cluster of huts called the Leaf Village."

The old man put up his hands to block the blows he could feel coming, but they never landed. He could hear the sounds of multiple impacts just in front of his position, but nothing struck him.

Lord Third felt his hope flare once more. 'Tsukiko!' The young woman was all but impervious to Genjutsu, and could see her enemies clearly. As Orochimaru's voice continued to echo, seemingly unaware of what was happening, the old man sent up a quick prayer. 'Please, give me the time and strength to do this before Tsukiko can't hold them back any longer.'

"In time, the Hokage Stone Faces will crumble and be worn down to nothing."

The old man laughed humorlessly. "You've never understood that it's far more than a mere cluster of huts. It is a place where every year, shinobi are born, raised, grow old, fight, and die to protect their home." He stood tall, hands coming together. "These people are precious to me. We share a home. We share a life. And though we may not share ties of blood, they are precious to me. They are my family!"

Quickly, he locked onto the sounds of combat, picking out where the cursed Reanimations of his teachers fought against Tsukiko.

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "The pillar of your village. A pillar full of termites and rot. I don't have to knock you down. You're already falling."

"And if I do fall, you still will fail," Lord Third countered, gathering the tattered remains of his chakra. "I am only one of a long line. I carry this title in trust for those Hokage who came before, and those who will come after!" In his mind, he saw the smiling face of the blond boy who had caused trouble for him daily, but carried on with a deep pride and love for his friends and village. The old man smiled. "I am the Third Hokage! You can't stop it by destroying me. A new and stronger Hokage will take my place, becoming the pillar, roof, and walls that defend the village. Now Orochimaru, get ready. For I am about to perform a jutsu that even you haven't seen before!"

He clapped his hands sharply, unleashing the last of his chakra. "Behold! Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal!"

Like before, nothing appeared to be happening. Only the Hokage could see the ogre-like Reaper move, a purple hand opening to release prayer beads as it floated behind him like a white-specter, growling. The old man felt his chakra being pulled out of him, taking his shape and hovering above him.

'I've got to hurry. This darkness is dangerous.' He had no way of knowing how long Tsukiko would last.

"Well, must I make you show it to me?" Orochimaru sneered impatiently.

The Third Hokage flinched as several projectiles slammed into his armor, blocked only by the speed of his reflexes. One caught him in the shoulder, the blow making him fly back as pain flared from the wound, hot blood flowing from the shallow cut.

"What's the matter? Are you planning to let your predecessors pummel you to death?"

The muffled sounds of combat resumed, Tsukiko evidently having regained her hold on her opponents.

"Are you going to show me this jutsu or not?" Orochimaru asked angrily, his voice sounding closer.

'Hurry. Hurry!'

The Reaper, having found his chakra satisfactory, raised its purple arm and flicked the prayer beads up. They curled and wrapped around the proffered limb like a twisting bracelet, dark splotches appearing and flowing down the Reaper's arm. It reached out, latching onto the blue chakra of the Third Hokage.

Pain exploded through the old man's chest, and he curled forward, spitting out blood as the Reaper seemed to rip out his insides. "Finally, it's done," he muttered. "And not a minute too soon."

"Aww, what's wrong?" Orochimaru chuckled. "You're reeling from fatigue already?"

Lord Third ignored him, listening for the faint noises that signified where the Reanimations were. 'Now all that's left is to catch hold of him.'

His clones shot forward, relying solely on their senses and instincts to pinpoint the correct locations. Reaching out, they felt the cloth of their former senseis' robes, and grabbed their shoulders with tightly. "Now I have you!" One shouted, groaning in pain as several sharp projectiles stabbed into him. "I won't let go! I summon thee!"

The Reaper reached through his chakra, his spectral hand appearing from his chest. The only sign of its presence was the physical hole it ripped through his clothing and the searing agony of it tearing through him.

The darkness seemed to freeze, then slowly bled away, revealing two of Lord Third's Clones gripping the Reanimations tightly. Only he could see the hands reaching through him and into his opponents.

"Sarutobi!" Enma shouted.

The Reanimations were in bad shape. They had been encased in a living stone that continued to grow and surround them, faster than they could break free. The rock curled around their limbs like vines, and slowly spread as if to consume the two former Hokages. At Lord Third's approach, however, the rock had fallen away.

Signs of the struggle were evident, several trees smashed or destroyed as Tsukiko ripped their water away, inadvertently clearing the way so that she and the Anbu could see what was happening once the darkness lifted.

Outside the barrier, the young woman fell to her knees, her vision swimming. 'He did it,' she thought gratefully. 'He caught them.' Her breathing was harsh and ragged, and her head was pounding. 'Any more, and I might've been in serious trouble.' Her eyes faded back to black, but she didn't care. The Genjutsu had been broken, meaning that the Third Hokage must have done something significant.

This was further proven by the awareness that returned to the eyes of the long-dead shinobi, who gazed at their former student with pride and sorrow.

"Forgive us, Sarutobi," Lord First said mournfully.

"We made your life difficult," finished Lord Second, smiling sadly.

Lord Third swallowed heavily, eyes watering. "And forgive me, First Lord Hokage, Second Lord Hokage." As he spoke, the life seemed to be literally leached from the Reanimations, and they turned white. "Now, Seal!"

The two clones jerked back as if in pain, and the former Hokages crumbled, their bodies disintegrating to reveal the two Sound genin who hadn't advanced in the Third Exam.

Tsukiko shut her eyes and turned her head away in disgust. 'Poor fools. Following a monster like that, they had no idea that they were merely pawns in a larger scheme.' She had been in their place, once. And though they were her enemies, she mourned the loss of talented shinobi, killed at the hands of their cruel master.

"You sacrificed your people," the Third Hokage growled, tears streaming down his face as he remembered his teachers, and what they had stood for. What they had died for. "You were meant to guide them, not toy with them as if they were dolls!"

"Are you finished, Sensei?" Orochimaru snapped. "Have we had enough of this nonsense yet?"

"The people put their faith in you!" He cried.

Tsukiko watched through blurry eyes as the two clones vanished, black markings visible on their skin where a sudden tear had appeared in their uniforms. She couldn't make it out, but it looked like a seal of some kind. It was vaguely familiar, but her exhausted mind couldn't place it.

Akio crouched next to her, his hand on her shoulder to help her stay sitting up. "Lord Third will be able to beat him now," he said with quiet conviction. "We've done all we can do."

"Enma, come!" Spurred on by his emotions, and the fact that he knew he had little time left, the Third Hokage took hold of his weapon and leapt at Orochimaru, so fast that the snake barely had time to grab his sword and block the coming blow.

After a series of clashes, the sword was knocked out of Orochimaru's hands by a particularly hard stroke, and Lord Third took swift advantage.

"I've got him!" He cried, extending his pole. Enma's hand appeared, ready to latch onto his opponent.

"Striking Shadow Snake!"

Three snakes shot out of Orochimaru's sleeve, wrapping around the pole and stopping its forward assault.

"Damn you!" Enma shouted, fangs embedding themselves painfully in his skin.

But it was merely a diversion.

Lord Third appeared in front of his former student and latched onto his shoulders tightly, half bent with pain. "Now to finish it!" He roared.

The Reaper behind him cackled, reaching through him once more to take hold of Orochimaru's soul.

Tsukiko shook her head blearily, not understanding what was happening. Like the Reanimations, Orochimaru seemed to be unable to move once the Hokage grabbed hold of him. From his earlier words, she knew he was using some sort of seal, but she had no idea what he was sealing or how he was doing it.

Orochimaru's eyes lit up with pain and panic, his fingers curling slightly as he willed the Grass Longsword to rise. Enma appeared behind Lord Third, weak from the snake venom and the effects of his clashing with the sword so many times.

Tsukiko's mouth opened to cry out a warning, and she desperately felt for any chakra, anything at all.

"Now die!"

"Now die!"

'NO!'

"I. Hate. Snakes!" With each word, Masuko landed another blow on the giant scaled creature, using her Racing Rock Jutsu to avoid the lunging fangs that were practically dripping with venom.

Three enormous greenish-brown snakes were working in tandem like one massive creature, destroying buildings and any attempt at an organized attack with their barbed tails and fast-striking heads.

"Now I know why Tsukiko can't stand these things!" She shouted, just dodging a painful death by those powerful jaws. Taking advantage of her close proximity to the head, she stabbed the offending snake's eye with her latest sword, "borrowed" from some of the Sound ninja. The flimsy things eroded quickly, but she had a few spares she'd appropriated from fallen enemies.

The beast jerked back with a loud hiss, head shaking wildly as blood splattered from its once yellow eye. It's tail slammed into the ground, trying to crush her, but Masuko was already gone.

"Where's our backup?!" Someone shouted to her left.

"How the hell should I know?!" She shot back, hurrying to stop the lead snake from getting any further into the village.

"Ninja Art: Summoning! Bring Down the House Jutsu!"

"What the hell?!"

A giant toad appeared, a massive brown and green animal with two swords strapped across its back. Dust and rubble flew as it landed, right on the back of one of the snakes.

Blood shot out of the squashed creature's mouth, and the light faded from its eyes as it fell.

"Whoa!" Masuko grinned, impressed. She looked over at Ibiki, who had been fighting at the front of the defensive line. "Who brought a frog to a snake fight?"

"Long time no see, Ibiki!" A cheerful voice rang out from on top of the toad's head. "My, my, what have they been feeding you?" He teased, his back to them. All Masuko could see were red and grey robes, long spiky white hair in a ponytail, and a large scroll strapped to the man's back. "You used to be such a little squirt."

"Master Jiraiya!" Ibiki's voice held a reverence that Masuko seldom heard in the Leaf, let alone from Ibiki.

'That name does ring a bell…'

"Jiraiya?! One of the Sannin?!" A ninja behind her spoke up.

Masuko's eyebrows shot up. "The Sannin?" She was old enough that she had some experience fighting in the Third Ninja War, where several of the Leaf Village's heroes had distinguished themselves. Of course, she was used to hearing the Sannin cursed, with muttered plans of revenge, so she doubted all she'd heard had been accurate. Still, that name struck several chords with her.

'Now that I think about it...wasn't Orochimaru one of the Legendary Sannin?' The name had seemed familiar, but she'd chalked it up to her old paranoia kicking in. She'd never particularly cared to engage in gossip, as most of the villagers in the Mist had either wanted her dead or working under their control. But Tsukiko had been so worked up about this guy lately, she wondered if she ought to have paid more attention.

'Kisame was more the intelligence-gathering guy,' she admitted to herself. 'I'm more of a "What do I need to hit?" sort of person…'

But Jiraiya, despite being a former teammate of Orochimaru, seemed to be firmly on their side. And now that she thought about it, Tsukiko had mentioned that a "Jiraiya-Sensei" had brought her that news about her clan's shrine.

Masuko grinned, shaking off her concerns. 'Whatever. So long as Tsukiko trusts him, I will too.' Despite her initial misgivings about following someone so...fragile-looking, Masuko had come to respect the white-haired kunoichi. She had been through a lot, and hadn't taken advantage of Masuko when she'd shown weakness over Zabuza. Not to mention, anyone who could fight the way she could deserved to be admired. That girl was absolutely relentless when it came to protecting what she cared about, and had shown a fierceness that Masuko hadn't expected to see in someone who'd lived in a time of relative peace.

If she had to put a name to it, Masuko could conclude that she considered Tsukiko a close friend, a luxury she hadn't been able to experience in the Mist. Relationships and open friendship painted a target on your back there. But here, she was free to feel however she damn well pleased.

And that was a nice change.

"Alright you baby chicks!" Jiraiya continued, obviously under the impression that he looked pretty impressive to those on the ground. "Open wide those beady little eyes of yours!" He glanced back. "Watch closely!"

Turning, he hopped on one sandaled-foot, striking a weird pose. "When it comes to dealing with strange otherworldly freaks and monsters, no one's better than a strange hermit ninja! Thank goodness that Jiraiya's here!"

'He's a strange fellow,' Masuko thought, her fang glinting as she grinned. 'So let's see how well he fights.'

Snakes number two and number three had directed their full attention to the one who'd killed their friend, and hissed menacingly.

Jiraiya was unfazed. "Now, unless you want to make this frog really mad, you'll never bother us again!" His smile dropped as he turned back to the snakes, recognizing them easily.

'So that pain in the neck, Orochimaru, has finally started,' he thought morosely.

Ibiki and Masuko landed next to him, and he glanced briefly at the unfamiliar face of the purple-haired woman before turning to the scarred man. "Where's the Hokage?"

"The battle arena," Ibiki answered. "Fighting Orochimaru."

"Along with Tsukiko," the woman added.

"I see." He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, considering their responses. His sensei could probably defeat the Orochimaru of several years past, but there's no telling what tricks he had up his sleeve. 'Don't die on us, old man.'

Blood burst from the chest of the Third Hokage, and Tsukiko let out a strangled shout of rage as the Grass Longsword stabbed through his chest, Enma holding onto a lower section of the blade. He hadn't been able to stop it in time.

"NO! Lord Third!" She tried to get to her feet.

Akio held her down. "There's nothing you can do!" He said roughly, voice thick with anger. "If you use any more chakra, you'll die."

Helplessly, Tsukiko watched Lord Hokage cough, body shaking with the effort of keeping his grip.

"Old man!" Orochimaru seemed shocked, his face contorted with pain from the Third Hokage's jutsu. "Why didn't you dodge it?"

"Sarutobi…" Enma trailed off, unable to say anything more.

"There was no need," Lord Third said simply. "The one who cast the Reaper Death Seal in order to send his enemy's soul to oblivion must sacrifice his own life if it is to work. It's a jutsu with a heavy price."

"Reaper...Death Seal?" Tsukiko repeated, her thoughts drifting away as darkness flickered across her vision. That sounded vaguely familiar. She'd done a lot of research over curse marks and seals this last month, trying to find a way to cure Sasuke.

The Hokage grinned with satisfaction. "So there was no need to dodge the blade. My fate is sealed."

Orochimaru gasped, trying to make a hand sign. He was, however, unable to use his chakra.

"It is a jutsu of the great hero who once saved this village. Once the seal is complete, I will die."

The snake's eyes narrowed with anger. "So then, this is the jutsu that sealed the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit," he spat.

'Naruto…' Tsukiko's brain finally caught up, and the helpless feeling squeezed her chest like a vise. No matter what she did, even if he received medical help this very second, Lord Third was going to die.

"Inch by inch, your soul will be dragged out of you and sealed forever!" The Hokage promised grimly.

Now there was real fear in the dark-haired man's eyes as he struggled to break the older man's iron grip.

"Another moment or two, and you'll be able to see it. Your soul is nearly halfway out. You'll be able to bid a last farewell to it, but not to your suffering. For those souls that are sealed by this jutsu are doomed to suffer for eternity in the belly of the Reaper, never to rest in peace. There, the souls of the sealed and the sealer are forever intertwined, bound together by hatred, locked in ceaseless combat, until the end of time!"

Behind him, the terrifying specter opened its mouth, using its free hand to remove the sword that had been held between the two rows of sharp teeth.

Orochimaru's head jerked up, his eyes widening. "What is that?!" He demanded, his fearful gaze locked on something Tsukiko couldn't see.

The Reaper's tongue trailed along its grey fangs grotesquely, saliva streaming down its chin. It was hungry, and impatient to take its prey. It moved closer to the combatants.

The chakra-form of the Hokage shuddered, and two light blue forms emerged from it, spectral tails connecting it to the chakra. They were the souls of the First and Second Hokages, wrapped around the partial souls of the Third Hokage's Shadow Clones. Only the heads were visible, moaning in agony as they tried to escape each other.

But the Reaper had them trapped. Slowly, deliberately enjoying this moment, the creature raised his blade. With a quick slice, it cut through the tails grounding the souls to this world, and opened its mouth to devour them.

The souls screamed in horror and pain as the Reaper's teeth clamped down. Gold eyes watched with stunned realization as the creature slowly devoured its prey, the grisly sound of his gnawing echoing as it watched him. It continued to smile as it chewed, eying him hungrily. 'You're next.'

"You old fool!" Orochimaru shouted, enraged. "Do you really think I'll just stand here like a frightened child and do nothing?!" With near manic desperation, he beckoned the Grass Longsword forward, urging it to kill the Third Hokage before he could finish the seal.

Lord Third grunted with pain as the sword slowly moved, draining his already limited strength as it destroyed his insides. He was gasping, sweat beading on his brow as he forced himself to keep standing, to keep going.

"Go on, Sensei," Orochimaru urged, laughing with a relieved madness. "Hurry up and die!" His breathing was harsh, but he could feel his soul slowly being pulled back into his body.

The old man groaned with the effort and pain of clinging to his former student's soul, but he could feel it slipping away, as his vision flickered slightly. He was dying, faster than he could defeat Orochimaru. 'To have come this far, this far…" he thought bitterly. 'To have his cursed soul in my hands, and not have the strength to finish it! This decrepit old body...Is it not enough that I'm prepared to die?!' He cursed his age once more as the blade was pulled further, despite Enma's grip on it. The Monkey King was weakened from his fight, snake venom coursing through him. Inch by inch, Orochimaru was winning.

"Sarutobi!" Enma's voice was deepened with pain, his hand bleeding profusely. "Kill him now! Because if you do not, the village is finished! Doomed! Do you understand?"

"Yes," the old man managed, choking slightly on his blood. "I understand." Ignoring the agony in his chest, he once more gathered the burning will that had allowed him to lead and protect the Leaf these long years. Ignoring his age, Lord Third forced himself to forget the face of his student, seeing only a threat. And finally, ignoring his own fear of his fate inside the Reaper's belly, he pulled hard on the soul, a grunt of satisfaction leaving him as he felt it come towards him.

"Never!" Orochimaru's voice was little more than a strangled hiss. "Foolish old man!"

"Tsukiko…" Akio's voice was low, heavy with the burden of witnessing this battle. "Can you see what's happening? It's unheard of for two shinobi to last this long in single combat, but I don't understand. It looks like they're both just standing there. Lord Third is sealing away Orochimaru's soul?"

"I don't...know," she managed, trying to clear the fog in her mind. "If he dies before he can finish the jutsu, we may still have a fight on our hands."

She studied Orochimaru's face, tight with malice. "I can't tell who's winning."

'Please let it be Lord Third,' she prayed. If Orochimaru died here, everything would be fixed. Sasuke wouldn't be able to leave, the invasion would fall apart, and one of the Leaf's greatest threats would be neutralized.

"Don't you think it's time you took a rest, old man?" The snake sneered, watching the blood leak from his sensei's mouth.

"I won't let this village be swallowed up by your ambition," the Third Hokage growled.

"Nothing can stop my ambition! You are going to die here. I don't care if you are Third Hokage, you're nothing but a withered old fool! Do you honestly believe you have the strength needed to stop me now?" Orochimaru's voice was filled with hatred and rage, having realized that for the first time in a while, he was in danger of being killed. "Have you even the slightest idea what's befalling your precious little village?" He was goading the old man, trying to distract him and stall for time until the sword's damaged overwhelmed him. "Even as we speak, the shinobi of the Sand Village, as well as my own men, have made their presence known."

Orochimaru chuckled. "It won't be long before your people are annihilated down to every last woman and child. The Hidden Leaf Village will cease to exist!" He laughed, a strained cackle filled with madness.

His teacher's eyes closed briefly in acknowledgment of his words, but opened with a steely determination. "For all your cunning, you still don't get it, do you, Orochimaru?" He glared at the startled man, voice heavy with promise. "Do not underestimate the shinobi of this village. Never mind the odds our Leaf shinobi are up against. They'll lay down their lives for this village!"

Tsukiko listened closely, her head bowed. She realized that these may very well be the last words spoken by her leader, and she was determined to commit them to memory.

"How little you understand. Mastering every jutsu will not give you unsurpassable strength. It was one of my first lessons," he continued, his voice strong and unwavering. "It's not until you've protected someone precious to you that the true strength of the shinobi can emerge!"

Lord Third coughed up more blood, but his eyes lost none of their fire. "Alright then. You and I both know I haven't the strength left to rip all of your soul from its shell. You and I both know that...And yet, your ambitions end here and now!"

"This isn't over!" Orochimaru screamed, trying to force his body away from the Hokage's grasp. "There isn't any stopping my ambition!"

"Yours is an obsession!" Lord Third thundered, tightening his grip to a painful degree. "This need to drown yourself in jutsu...And for this transgression, you shall be punished! I shall take away all the jutsu you hold so dear!"

"What did you say?!" The snake snarled.

"Haaaaaaaaaah!" With a loud roar, Lord Third pulled, the Reaper's blade swinging down in the same moment, it's target the blue soul only half removed from the dark-haired man's body.

"Impossible! You wouldn't dare!" His screams turned into a cry of anguish as the blade severed the soul, feeling his arms becoming limp as pain exploded through them.

"The Seal is set!" The old man let out his own cry of pain as the familiar swirling seal appeared on his stomach.

Finally able to move, Orochimaru looked down at his hands with horror as they turned purple, the same sickening shade as the Reaper's own skin. Any attempt to move them was pure agony, but he pushed past it, trying to force the useless appendages to create hand signs, funnel chakra, do anything. "My—My arms!"

Tsukiko's eyes widened at the sight, but she turned her attention back to Lord Third.

Anger and satisfaction warred in his features. "There you have it. Your arms are useless to you now. And without those arms, you will never form another hand sign! Ninjutsu is forever out of your reach!"

Unable to feel anything but the searing pain, Orochimaru allowed his arms to drop lifelessly, his head bowing as the weight of what he'd lost was revealed.

"Your loathsome dream of crushing this village dies here!"

"You feeble old man!" the snake screeched, pure hatred and rage distorting his features into a stretched expression of malice and insanity. "GIVE ME BACK MY ARMS!"

The Hokage stepped back, feeling the relentless tugging of the Reaper as darkness began to descend. He smiled gently, no longer feeling any grudge or regret, save for that of a job left undone. Old as he was, he had won. "Your foolishness is unparalleled, Orochimaru. My one regret is that I couldn't take you with me. Farewell, disciple. May we meet again in the next world."

"You decrepit old man! How dare you! How dare you take my jutsu from me!"

But Hiruzen could no longer hear, and as his eyes closed one final time, the screaming man was transformed into the smiling child who used to look at the world with wonder and curiosity, not hatred and ambition.

'I'm sorry, Orochimaru, for not leading you down a brighter path. And I'm sorry to you Tsukiko, for all that I've done. You will never know the truth now, never know of my greatest moment of weakness.'

He thought of Naruto, of the one who showed such promise for the future. 'Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village...and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew.'

Briefly, the image of a dark-haired boy with red eyes flashed in his mind. One who still fought to protect his village from the darkest of shadows, who would die hated and alone. 'He would have made a fine Hokage.'

And then, oblivion.

"Lord Third…" Tsukiko whispered, tears trailing down her face as the body of the Hokage fell, a peaceful smile on his features as he hit the ground with a dull thud that seemed to echo in her mind.

Orochimaru stared at the body blankly as Enma crawled forward, surprised at the faint sorrow he felt at the sight of his sensei's broken form. But, as his arms flared with pain once more, his hatred ripped that weak emotion to shreds.

"Sarutobi, let me remove the blade," Enma said weakly, his hand shaking as he grasped the hilt. He pulled it out cleanly, head hanging low as he mourned his old friend. 'A fitting end for one who had mastered the way of the shinobi.' Then, he vanished with a puff of smoke, taking the Grass Longsword with him, as a memento of the Third Hokage's last stand.

"My arms...feel as if they're on fire…" Orochimaru hissed with helpless fury.

"Lord Orochimaru!" One of the shield casters, the one with two heads, cried out in concern at his leader's slumped form.

"Our mission has failed," he said simply, voice weak with defeat. "Release the barrier. Take me back."

Tsukiko's eyes shot to the defeated shinobi, and she struggled to her feet.

"Right!" The voices of the four Sound ninja called out in unison. "Release!"

The purple walls shuddered, and momentarily parted and swayed like great flames before exploding, leaving only the tangled trunks to mark the scene of the great battle.

"Stop!" Tsukiko shouted, pushing her body past its limits as she ran towards the man who had to die, couldn't be allowed to find a way to fix himself.

Akio and his team were in better shape than her, and easily overtook her weakened form, chasing after the snake.

As she darted forward, about to leap off the roof, Tsukiko's head swam, and it suddenly seemed like the ground was coming closer, the orange tiles filling her vision.

She was unconscious before she hit the ground.

"Masuko-Sensei!"

The purple-haired woman turned her head to see her two students.

"Hey, you two," she greeted, shielding her eyes from the sun as she watched the Sand and Sound shinobi retreat, most of them badly wounded. "I'm glad you're alright."

Inwardly, she sighed with relief. Right as the battle began, Chiyo had raced off after that Gaara kid, Midori close behind. She had been worried that they were biting off more than they could chew, but had no time to try and help.

Of course, "alright" wasn't exactly the case. Their clothes were torn and dirty, and Midori's head wound had reopened, blood slowly flowing down her face. Chiyo looked worn and exhausted, covered in bruises and cuts. Still, there was something about their eyes, something that told the older woman that the two had seen something that had forced them to grow up a little, to accept new ideas or responsibilities. It was something she'd seen in the eyes of the young Mist ninja after a particularly hard mission or test. And it made her sad, to know that some of their innocence was lost. But this was a cold and cruel world, with many different sides to it. Understanding that was part of being a ninja, no matter which nation.

"Yeah, we're fine," Chiyo said with a tired grin. "Naruto beat Gaara, and he and his pals retreated." She looked like she wanted to say more, but cut herself off.

Masuko cocked her head, eying the young girl speculatively. 'She needs some time to figure it all out in her head.'

"No one was seriously injured," Midori added, swaying slightly. "Everyone is okay."

Their sensei smiled warmly, and in spite of their exhausted states and the pain of their wounds, the two girls felt unmistakable pride.

"Where's Tsukiko-sensei?" Midori asked, looking around.

Masuko's smile faded, and she looked up at the arena roof where the purple barrier had been. "I'm just about to go and check. You girls go find a medic."

Obediently, the two turned and left, and Masuko took off, quickly jumping from roof to roof, her leg muscles screaming in protest. It had been a while since she'd fought that hard or that long in chakra armor, and it had taken its toll.

Landing on the roof, she immediately spotted Tsukiko's prone form, her white hair spilling across the orange tiles like blood.

At the sight of the face-down body, Masuko pulled in a sharp breath, forgetting her pain as she shot forward.

Quickly, she rolled the younger woman over and ripped away her green vest, immediately rewarded with the sight of her chest slowly rising and falling as her unconscious body tried to mend itself.

She didn't have any wounds Masuko could see, which meant that the little fool had used too much chakra. The older woman sighed loudly, her head in her hands. "You idiot," she muttered in a strained voice. "For a second, I thought I lost my only friend."

Sighing once more, she raised her head and steadfastly ignored her watery eyes as she searched for a medic. Scanning the roof, she caught sight of a second body, deep within the tree line.

"Oh, no…"

This time, there was no need for her to make an examination. The pool of blood staining the roof and dark material of the Third Hokage's uniform was more than enough.

Masuko raised the alarm, and it didn't take long for more Leaf shinobi to appear, Kakashi and Guy arriving almost as soon as she called out. Another group found the team of Anbu sent to chase after Orochimaru, tangled in a dense chakra web that prevented them from moving.

A somber crowd had gathered around the Third Hokage's body which Masuko had respectfully turned over onto his back and pulled away from the blood. She felt it the least she could do, for the man who had given her a second chance at life before losing his own.

Hands bloodied as they were, she had been reluctant to pick up Tsukiko. Kakashi has solved that problem, wordlessly scooping her up before taking his place in the silent circle.

No one spoke, each reluctant to break the silence and lost in their thoughts. Anger, sadness, despair, and quiet acceptance darkened many faces, and while others could only stare blankly.

Masuko hadn't known the Hokage well or even long enough to feel more than regret and sadness, but from the people around her, she could tell that a truly great leader had been lost to them that day.

Her eyes once more landed on Tsukiko. She looked small in Kakashi's arms, and Masuko was once again reminded that, strong as she was, Tsukiko was only a few years older than their students.

The older woman felt a surge of affection for her friend. 'She gave it all she had, and more. I just need to make sure she doesn't blame herself.'

Orochimaru had escaped, their leader was dead, and Sasuke was still in danger. These were the facts, and unfortunate as they were, there was no changing that. Masuko had ample practice being forced to accept a shitty situation. Now was the time to be strong and offer full support to the next Hokage, whoever they may be.

'I promise this, old man. I'll repay what I owe. You gave me a home to protect and defend with my life, and I intend to do just that. Konohagakure will remain strong.'

And, looking around at the troubled shinobi, she saw similar resolve on their faces. Guy met her gaze, and a new understanding passed between them, a confirmation of something Masuko had been feeling for a while now.

'I'm not alone here. I have a family. I belong.'

"Are you alright? The doctor said you shouldn't move around that much," Sasuke noted, leaning in the doorframe as he watched Tsukiko getting ready.

"Yeah, well, what does he know?" She countered, straightening her formal robe as she looked in the mirror. "I'm going, and he's not going to stop me."

It was the morning of the Third Hokage's funeral, just a few days after the battle. Tsukiko had woken up after being unconscious for nearly twenty-six hours, and had been ordered to stay in bed for a few days.

She'd complied until that morning, her emotions and body not allowing her to argue. But now, after giving herself time to grieve and process what had happened, she couldn't sit still any longer. She had to properly say goodbye.

Masuko had visited, as had the girls, but it was hard to be cheerful, given the circumstances. Tsukiko had accepted the news of Orochimaru's escape as well as could be expected, and had spent much of her time in bed wondering what she could have done differently.

Nothing had come to mind. She couldn't have broken the barrier sooner, or the Reanimations would've escaped, and by the time Lord Third had cast the Reaper Death Seal, it was already too late.

That was somehow worse, knowing that she couldn't have done anything. Shame and guilt clawed at her throat as she realized that she'd been too weak to have had other options. She'd been utterly outclassed.

"Sasuke…" Tsukiko turned to the young boy who'd been silently by her side the last few days. "After all this is over, you and I are going to start training together."

The young Uchiha looked up, startled. That hadn't been what he was expecting. "What do you mean?"

Pulling her long tresses up into a formal bun, she smiled thinly. "I mean, I hated having to stand by and do nothing while others did all the work. I hated the feeling of knowing I wasn't good enough. And I want more power, enough to not be in that position again."

She was walking a thin line here, but it was the truth. And seeing the same frustration in Sasuke's eyes made her wonder at how similar they actually were.

Sasuke nodded, his jaw tight. He knew that Tsukiko knew about Naruto taking down Gaara, how he hadn't been able to do much against the creature inside the Sand genin. But he also knew that she wasn't lying about her own feelings.

Tsukiko nodded, seeing the determination in his eyes. "Kakashi and I already talked about it," she continued. "We'll both be training you between our other duties and whenever you have time. When you're with him, I'll be working on my own or with Masuko. That way, we'll both grow stronger."

She hesitated then, and moved to sit on her bed, a luxury she'd acquired since they'd moved to this house. Patting the space next to her, she gestured for him to sit as well. "And, I also wanted to talk to you about something."

"It's the curse mark, right?" Sasuke asked flatly, the brief flare of excitement at the mention of training fading.

"Yes," she said simply. "I don't want you to rely on its power."

"I already know about Orochimaru," he said, dodging the issue. "You told me what he said."

"Then you should understand," Tsukiko cut in, her voice hard and unyielding. "Using that thing will only tie you tighter to him, and it won't be your own power. Let us train you, let me show you everything I know. And then..." She closed her eyes in quiet misery. "If you still want to leave the village to train, you can. But not with him. You can't accept what he's offering, because the price of that power is far too great."

Sasuke's eyes widened at her statement. She was giving him permission to actually leave, to seek power wherever he could find it. The young Uchiha watched her face carefully, seeing the truth there and realizing what it cost her to say that.

He swallowed, his throat closing. It was hard, too hard to be what he needed to be around her, especially at times like this. Half of him wanted to dissolve into that little boy he'd been three years ago, to be able to hug her and find comfort in her affection and support. But the other half resented her for making him feel weak when he needed to be strong.

Itachi's face flashed in his mind, taunt ringing in his ears. Sasuke gritted his teeth angrily. He didn't care. He didn't care how he obtained the power he needed, or the risk it came with. So long as he killed him.

'But Tsukiko knows Itachi best, knows his fighting style,' his mind argued. 'And Orochimaru no longer has the use of his arms. What can he offer you that she can't? If I can defeat Tsukiko, I can beat Itachi.'

She sat patiently, watching his emotions play out in his eyes, as his face was the same cold mask he usually wore. Tsukiko could see that he was coming to a decision, and could only pray that, after laying all the cards on the table, he'd choose her way.

"Okay," he said finally, nodding his head. "I won't use the curse mark. I won't go to Orochimaru."

He was unprepared for Tsukiko to throw her arms around him and pull him close, and instantly stiffened. But he relaxed as she started shaking, and he understood how worried she'd been these past few weeks. Guilt briefly overwhelmed his carefully constructed walls, and he awkwardly returned the hug, giving in to the childish part of him that just wanted his big sister.

After a few seconds, Tsukiko pulled back, aware of his discomfort, and gave him a watery smile. "Alright. Let's go."

It was a simple funeral, conducted by Homura and Koharu, but a powerful one. The overcast sky finally released the rain it had been threatening since that morning, the heavens seemingly weeping over the loss of a truly great leader.

All over the village, people mourned not only their Hokage, but the lives of all those who were lost in the invasion, the brave souls who had given their lives to protect the Leaf.

Standing there, placing a flower on a coffin that held a broken body, Tsukiko was suddenly bombarded by every memory she had of the old man. Being brought to the village, hearing him praise her teamwork with Itachi, and her progress with her Gensogan, all the times he'd visited her after the Massacre, making her a jounin, giving her a team, teaching her about Lightning, and so much more. It was all too much, but somehow, not enough.

And yet, none of this showed on her face. Solemn, expressionless, the perfect picture of a shinobi. They could cry in their homes, or behind the privacy of a closed door, but never out where others will see and find something to manipulate. And to respect the memory of Lord Third, one of the greatest shinobi, she didn't shed a tear.

'Thank you, Lord Third. We will carry on your Will of Fire.'

As she stepped back, the clouds parted, and the sun rained down on her face, like the smile of a proud mentor. Tsukiko took one final breath, and released it, along with her remaining sorrows. It was a new dawn. Time to start anew.

And just as she had that thought, she felt someone watching her. Her eyes searched the crowd, and landed on a face she hadn't seen in well over a year.

"Eri?"

"Well, it survived," a gravelly voice noted, overlooking the mostly destroyed village. "But barely. The damage is extensive." He grinned, sharp teeth shining menacingly as he gripped his sword. "Must've been quite the fight. I'm almost sad we missed it."

The two black-cloaked figures stood on the cliffs above the village, wide-brimmed hats and tall collars shadowing their faces. The red clouds on their cloaks gleamed like blood yet to be spilled as the two men took stock of the decimated village.

"Not long ago, it was at the height of its glory," came the cool voice of his companion. "Look at it now."

The first man looked at his partner curiously, hearing a certain strain in his words. It was a tone he'd used only a few times, when talking about his past. "Hmm...you sound almost sad." He grinned, watching closely. "Don't tell me you still have feelings for your old home?"

This was a rare chance indeed. Very rarely did the young man talk about himself, and even more rarely did he mention his ties to this village. Those conversations were strained, brief, and clipped, if not nearly hostile.

"No. None." The quick and proper reply, with no hint of falsehood. And yet…

"I don't know if I totally believe you," the man said, running a hand across his Mist headband, feeling the gouge he'd made in the metal the day he'd left. "I can't say I miss the Mist, but there are a few things I wouldn't mind seeing again."

A purple-haired woman's face floated up in his mind, and the man's grin faltered for a second. "Always a good fight to be had there," he added, recovering quickly.

The dark-haired male next to him didn't seem to notice, but that didn't mean anything. Those eyes saw everything.

But, to give himself some credit, he didn't miss much either. There was an urgency to his companion, and those crazy eyes of his were already moving, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of something.

Or someone.

Kisame grinned wider, feeling his own anticipation surge. 'I doubt he's looking for the target.'

"Let's go, Itachi. I have a feeling this is going to be fun."

A.N. *Laughs evilly* Aaaaand we'll leave it there for now. A couple of cliffhangers, another OC (who's entire creation was based on a request I got a little while ago for a story. No spoilers now, but I'll thank that person later) and a reunion long coming.

Please review and give me your thoughts. I'm constantly tweaking my own ideas, and any input is welcome. Like me adding an OC, something you want or a cute headcanon/flashback idea, I'm all ears.

Also next time: the reveal of why I chose this title and the birth of this story! (Major props to anyone who can guess how the name happened)

Thank you very much for reading!