Beta by: OtsutsukiMitra
Konoha Stadium, Start of the Third Round
The Chunin Hopeful were standing in line waiting for the two last competitors to arrive. Genma the proctor had an annoyed look on his face as he looked at his clock. The wind in the arena started to pick up, followed by a leaf twister he standing in the middle where Kakashi and Sasuke were standing smirking. Back to back, they made the biggest impression of "hip attitude" that Might Guy had to comment on while Kakashi looked at Genma. "We are not late are we?"
Genma chuckled. "Nah, Hokage-sama told you the wrong time so you would be on time." Kakashis expression fell after that for a second before Genma continued. "Where is your other Student?"
Kakashi looked at the line to see Naruto was also missing and both Jonin could hear a chime. The signal that the event would start. He just started explaining that he had no answer to Genma's Question as the temperature in the Stadium began to rise. Followed by a loud screech. All the Inhabitants of the stadium looked to the Sky in order to see the biggest bird they had ever seen. The golden feathers and white trails of flame in the air were mesmerizing to most. The ninjas tensed up before a Knuai embedded itself in front of Kakashi and Sasuke. Two Jonin and a Chunin hopeful looked at the form and recognized the form in seconds. The three prongs were just too obvious. With another screech, the Bird vanished in a bright white flame. Followed by a yellow flash standing tall and proud was one Naruto Uzumaki three-pronged Kunai in hand with wings made out of flames and glowing tribal-like markings on his Face and open arms he smirked. Speeding through the required Hand Seals and a poof of smoke later three giant toads were standing just in front of Naruto. The flame wings and markings disappeared before the blonde threw his Kunai in the air to vanish in another flash to appear on Gamabuntas head.
"Told you I would get you the best seats in the house Bunta! Believe it!" He chuckled sitting on the giant toad. The big boss toad had to give it to the boy he had style. Not like his Sensei who seemed to just hunt skirts and not skill. Gamabunta quickly agreed to have Naruto as a summoner after he could beat Ken and Hiro in a spar.
"That you did but I think some of your friends pissed their pants." The deep voice of the boss toad was good to hear as was the honest laugh Naruto let out shortly after.
Naruto gave him a quick look shortly after and Bunta and the two others jumped out of the Arena only two look over it straight back into it. It looked funny as they positioned themselves in a Triangle Formation around the arena just to be spectators. Genma had to be shaken back into working order by Kakashi. "Hey Genma, I think the troops are complete. Our guests are waiting."
"That was the Hiraishin, and the toads and what was that bird." Genma just brabbled out only for Kakashi to bonk him on the head.
"Genma you are a Jonin of the Leaf. Do look and speak like one will you" Kakashi gave an eye-smile before he winked at Naruto and gave a subtle thumbs up before he left the Arena to join the other Jonin Senseis.
At the same time Kage booth
A disguised Orochimaru was seething. This Kyuubi brat again. How could he have been able to learn the Hiarishin? Not that Orochimaru didn't know who that brat's parents were, he was still a mostly loyal Konoha shinobi at that time, but that the brat managed to learn that in one month was bizarre. He was taken out of inner rambling by his old teacher's voice. "Got some sand on your tongue Kazekage-dono?"
"Excuse me Hokage-dono. I was just too excited to see a Yellow-Flash back in Konoha. After the last had sacrificed himself against the Kyuubi." If Orochimaru wanted to rile the Professor he seemed to fail because the Hokage chuckled.
"Well, as the Hokage you will always stand between Danger and your village. I am lucky that I could instil the values the Shodai and Nidaime instilled in me into some of my students. And those in theirs. Minato was a good kid and he will be missed but I think the young Uzumaki will fit in those shoes quite nicely."
Orochimarus's mind was racing. Could he still go through with his plan? All would depend on Suna's Demon. He needed the distraction for his plan. Most of his forces being slaughtered today would be worth it if he finally was able to take revenge on the Sensei who had abandoned him. The one who held him back, who was responsible for his parting of the village. A village he learned to hate in his time part from him. The three toad warriors were also a problem. He needed to buy more time.
"Let us hope but after this excitement would it not be better for our audience to build up to the fight where you new Flash will mess up his strength against my son?"
Hiruzen had no problems agreeing to give the needed commands to his subordinates Genma was shortly informed later.
In the Arena
"Listen up the first fight will be Team Haruno Akimichi versus Team Hyuuga Aburame. Those four will stay the others get to the balcony." The others jumped or Shunsined away and Genma continued with the rules. "The fight will be till both participants of one team are not able to continue the fight. Forfeit or if I deem it over. Are we clear?" Four short nods later he gave the signal to start and jumped out of the way.
Hinata was the first who broke the silence of the Genin looking at each other. "Remind me Sakura, how long was our time in the academy?"
"Err, six years Hinate but why do you ask?" Sakura was looking at her curiously. Choji just munched some Chips to Get the calories for his fight. Hinata looked at Shino and gave a small nod.
"We will start as discussed." was her short words to her teammate before she looked Sakura in the eyes. "Six years of verbal abuse you will have to make up for. You are really lucky that your teammate has this stupid honor that prevents him from paying you back your actions. Luckily he has friends that look out for him" Hinata ended with a smirk before the Veins around her pale eyes became clearly visible. "You are in the Range of my Divination Sakura." were the next words before Hinata vanished in a burst of speed.
The pink-haired Kunoichi wanted to say something but before she could she was hit in the stomach, hard. Choji wanted to help her the moment he recognized the fight starting, even if he had to agree with Hinata. But the wall made out of insects prevented him from even seeing what happened to his partner. He had just enough time to dodge a volley of Shuriken thrown at him by Shino.
On the stands
"Curious" Hiashi Hyuuga had his eyes activated to follow his daughter's vicious assault on the other Genin. Hanabi his younger daughter sat beside him and looked up to him.
"What is curious Tou-sama?" she sounded interested and without taking the eyes of her Sister herself her eyes were just not developed enough to answer the question herself.
"She is using a slightly altered form of the Juuken. But with each hit, she just uses enough Chakra to stimulate the pain receptors of the Genin, not enough to seal her Chakra Points. That is not because she is too weak, no, she punishes her. She wants to drag out the fight. She could end that with her next technique."
"Sister is that strong." The unbelieving voice of Hanabi was telling of her opinion of her nee-san till this day.
"She is." was the simple answer of the clan head. Sure, he could see her movements but to have this precise control over the Juuken only one person was able to do so in the last two Generations of Hyuuga and her name was Hitomi. His wife and the mother to the two daughters of his.
With the other competitors
"Damn Sakura is punched around badly eh Sasuke." Naruto was wincing as Hinata hit another combo that looked painful just from looking at it.
Sasuke was still deep in thought about Naruto's arrival. He just could not catch up to his rival and that deeply frustrated him "Hn"
"Yeah, you are right." Naruto looked shortly at Gaara who looked around like his usual maniac self.
Back in the Arena
Choji was panting. He was the stronger one but his moves were just too inaccurate
to hit the nimble tactics of the Aburame Heir. He could feel his chakra being sucked out slowly. He wanted to help his teammate but each time Shino would run interference. So he could only watch.
Sakura was kneeling before Hinata. The Hyuuga Princess had taken hold of her hair after she had finished roughing her up. Sakura looked terrible at the moment. Busted lip, she could feel the bruises on her body. If there was one part of her skin that would not be the color of Hinata's hair tomorrow she would be surprised. Everything ached, like a surgeon Hinata had carefully avoided critical spots and managed to stack up on her pain preventing her from passing out but Sakura knew when she was outclassed so she looked up into the eyes of the other Kunoichi that held her hostage by her pink hair.
"Do you regret it Sakura?" was the nearly whispered voice of the Hyuuga not out of shyness but so that only the two girls would hear what was spoken.
"I am." was the answer that not even sounded forced just exhausted.
"Good. Forfeit or I will change gears. I don't want to take you into the hospital but let us be clear with each other. If you fall back into old habits I will get you."
Sakura nodded before she raised her voice. "I forfeit!" Hinata quickly disengaged only to switch two her other target who quickly joined Sakura in forfeiting after he recognized that Shino had slowly let his insects suck him dry of Chakra.
"Winners by Forfeit. Hyuuga and Aburame." Genma announced. "We will take a five-minute break before the next Match between Higurashi and Hyuuga against Akadō and Tsurugi"
With the Kages
"Solid strategy but that Hyuuga girl was emotional wasn't she" The Kazekage opened the conversation.
"I agree that could cloud her mind. Have to see if she still deserves a promotion."
The attention of both Kage was drawn to the competitor ranks to witness the bickering between two blonde girls and their respective partners.
"Hokage-dono, pardon my curiosity but would you agree to switch up these two teams a bit? It would like to see if two Kunoichi can stand against those two"
Hiruzen thought about it before he nodded and gave the instruction to one of his ninjas to forward it to Genma.
Ten minutes later both Kages were again talking. This time about the witnessed match. The two members of Team Guy had slapped down their opponents. It looked just so easy. That was till some crazy mutations started to happen and the tables turned. Whatever happened to those two they had beaten Team Guy but died to a malfunctioning explosive note.
"That is why we usually stay away from Fuinjutsu Hokage-dono. I am sorry that you lost two Ninja today." The Kazekage tried to use his best emphatical voice but in the end, it sounded just wrong.
"I really can't say if I would miss them, this mutation shows some experimentations I am not sure if they would have been able to come up with a good reason why you would need to resort to such techniques."
Back in the Arena
"Listen up there is a quick change of teams the Kages agreed on. The Genins Sabaku no Temari and Yamanaka Ino will team up against Nara and Inuzuka. To give them both some short minutes to plan we extend the usual five-minute recess to ten minutes"
"Troublesome blondes" Shikamaru muttered while Kibo looked like Christmas and his birthday were on the same day this year.
"Come on Shika that will be easy, those girls have no idea what will hit them." The Inuzuka boasts. The Nara sighed before he looked at Akamaru and Kiba.
"You know that Ino is my teammate and Knows me very well?" He got a nod to that. "And you remember how that Temari girl wiped the floor with Ten Ten a girl one year our senior?" Another nod. "And that I had exchanged some of my ideas with Temari to prepare against you and Ino?"
"Yeah I get that but why will this be a problem?" came the impatient answer of the Inuzuka.
"Because, you mutt, they know both of our weaknesses and I have to improvise now?"
The smile of Kiba fell after those words, he was not much of a planner. Why? He was an Alpha he could do things his way.
The two blonde girls looked at each other and Ino opened the talk.
"Now that happened. Are you in with slapping them around a bit? I mean Shikamaru is just lazy and Kiba is misogynic."
Temari looked at her for a moment before a big smile graced her face "Alright. But I won't take it easy on you in the next round just because you and I can have some entertainment now"
On the stand for the competitors.
Naruto looked at the match curiously after Genma had started it the pace was slow at first. He knew what Ino was capable of. Well, most of it, and Temari had shown a prowess for wind and her fan. Neither Shika nor Kiba was versed in Katon Jutsu so that was out. Maybe the Nara could outmaneuver them both. Slowly the fight was picking up speed as the blonde looked out. After Kiba got smacked in the face by the big fan he and Akamaru prepared for the famous Inuzuka Jutsu. Shikamaru wanted to warn him off. Naruto twitched as he saw the hand seals Ino was forming.
In the Arena
"Some Wind please" Ino called before using the Hand seals for one of the elemental Jutsu she knew. "Katon: Fireball" The little brother of the famous Uchiha Jutsu rushed at the Inuzuka who was about to charge and could dodge this time as could Shikamaru.
Ino gave a glance to Temari who had positioned herself behind her now. Again the blonde used the same Hand Seals. This time the Fireball was picked up by the cutting winds of Temari's fan.
Using his Shadow Possession Jutsu Shikamaru managed to pull the stunned Kiba out of the Line. Before using Smokebombs to cover their escape.
With the Kage
"Strong Kunoichi and they work well together. Nara and Inuzuka are dysfunctional at best" the disguised Orochimaru commented. Hiruzen had to nod but was not very surprised.
"Ahh but like Konoha the Nara are good at enduring some punishment before they dish out their revenge" Hiruzen sounded a bit too smug for his taste but he wanted to have some fun with his former student.
"That may be the case but the Nara commits to saving his teammate and trying to come up with good counters. A true Leader if you ask me"
"Agreed. Even when he is a solid Chunin prospect let us see how the fight goes"
Back in the Arena
All four competitors looked a bit roughed up. While the girls had minor cuts in their outfits, the boys were singed and Kiba had more than one cut on his body. Shikamaru had lost his Jacket somewhere. The bombardment with Wind powered Fire Jutsu had stopped because Ino wanted to conserve some chakra.
Time was moving forward as Kiba narrowly dodged Temari only to poke his feet on some ninja spikes. Feeling a bit Fuzzy his aim was off and it looked like he completely missed Temari on his next attack only to hit an unsuspecting Ino who lay unconscious. Temari shocked by the event froze up as she could feel her body moving on its own.
"Show Possession Jutsu complete. Well done Kiba. You have to finish her off now." Shikamaru called before the Kiba that had hit Ino transformed into Akamaru. Exhausted and panting laying on the ground. The real Kiba was just about to attack as he stopped in place looked at Shikamaru and slapped him straight in the face.
The audience and the Nara were shocked and Temari quickly moved backwards. Realization hit Shikamaru like Doton Jutsu as he looked into Kiba's eyes and smiled weakly.
"Well played Ino. I am out of Chakra. Proctor, I forfeit."
Shortly after Kiba spoke the same sentence and added some more. "... I forfeit and have to admit that I am a stupid dog most of the time. Have a too-big head and most of the time need to boast about how great I am because I am so insecure. All because my sister…" Genma interrupted him harshly.
"Well, thank you. Winner by forfeit Sabaku Temari and Yamanaka Ino. After the short break of five minutes, we will have the last team battle of the day. Uchiha and Uzumaki against the remaining Sabaku siblings"
In the stands
As Ino joined Naruto on the stand the blonde gave her a high five. "Nice speech Ino-chan. Do you think it helped?"
Ino shrugged. "It was funny and maybe a short time? We can hope. Good luck to Sasuke and you." Ino looked at Naruto who had a big smirk on his face.
"Don't worry I have everything covered." He looked at Sasuke. "You still remember the plan. Sasuke?" The Uchiha smirked and nodded before he let Naruto whisk him away in a flash of yellow.
Ino who was joined by Hinata looked into the Arena. The fight started completely throwing the girls and audience off by Gaara who told his brother to forfeit. He would only be in his way while crushing those two to prove his existence. After that, the two Konoha boys had no trouble tag-teaming the Sand Genin. All looked like a win for Konoha till Sasuke managed to cut Gaara on the arm drawing blood after Naruto held him down with his chains.
Masses of Sand were unleashed by the red-haired boy. Naruto and Sasuke easily evaded them by climbing the walls and witnessing Gaara collecting the sand and getting a demonic presence.
With the kage
Orochimaru smirked and gave the Signal to start. Some of his forces ignited the explosives. While a wide area Genjutsu attacked the stadium.
He had to hand it to the Sand Container. He was a good distraction. Looking for Kabuto he gave the signal. Picking up his former Sensei and putting him in Place for a barrier to be established by his sound four.
Everything looked good till he looked around witnessing as all Oto Nin he had placed in the Stadium chocked to death by hands made out of sand. Looking at the source he was shocked to see the blonde brat fist-bumping the red-haired boy who looked completely sane and concentrating while the blonde had a red chakra cloak around him. Both had their eyes closed but Orochimaru could see that sand was mowing down the Oto Nin in the arena and around.
"Some trouble Orochimaru? Something not going according to your script isn't it." Hiruzen had his teacher voice on him but had changed out of his ceremonial robes and into his black ninja attire. The Snake pondered what had gone wrong he was sure to have fooled Suna after riling them up.
"How? How Sarutobi?" He pressed through his teeth close to hissing the words.
"To be honest I think you got played by Naruto I am surprised myself." The Professor chuckled before he got serious again. "But good of you to provide me with the opportunity to right one of my mistakes." And without further ado Sensei and the former student clashed in midair.
At the start of the invasion in the tunnels below Konoha
Hatsumi and her forces had assembled in the tunnels leading to the root base. Traps and seals sealing of the exits. As they reached the main hall where Danzo had gathered his forces to do his bidding he looked in the face of Hatsumi who was the only person not wearing a mask. Her voice was cold. "Are you ready to pay for your sins Danzo?"
The old warhawk let his walking stick fall to the ground. His root would not be enough for this so he would have to join in this fight. "I did everything for the greater good of Konoha."
Hatsumi huffed. "Yeah, all those political assassinations to destabilize some minor villages so they could not get bigger. Killing whole clans or even stealing their children. All for the good of Konoha?"
Danzo smirked unwrapping his eye that showed a single matured Sharingan. "They were better when dead."
Hatsumis rage rose. "You robbed graves for that eye you monster. You will die today. The Whirlpool will Rise again. Execute the new order" She intoned coldly as some of Danzus Root turned on their fellow root members and slashed at their throats and all hell broke loose.
In the stadium
Kakashi jumped at the side of his students. Looking at Naruto who still looked concentrating on whatever he did. He looked at Sasuke who just dispatched another Oto Nin that escaped the Sand and tried to attack the two concentrating Jinchuriki. "Care to explain Sasuke?"
Wiping the blood of his Kunai at the fallen Ninja clothes to get rid of the blood.
"Well Sensei, you will have to ask Naruto about that. I just know what he told me would happen. So I could prepare accordingly."
"And what did he tell you?" Kakashi asked as he let a Kunai imbed itself into the neck of a Nin that tried to attack one of the Konoha rookies that was standing with the other Jonin Sensei.
"That I would get a chance to get some blood and get stronger today. That I could fight against many strong opponents. That was enough to get me on board, to be honest."
"You were always eager to please if you could fight some people Sasuke." Naruto joined in. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei." Looking at Gaara. "How about you take your team and Sensei and get out before you get caught up in the crossfire? The first wave is down but the Snake had a wish to kill us. Maybe you can save some more Suna Nins before they get slaughtered."
Gaara looked at Naruto with a neutral expression. "If they are dumb enough to not get the message it will maybe be better for them but I will try to pick some strays up. Don't be a stranger Naruto." he ended up joining Baki and his two Siblings before they vanished in a Shunshin.
"Explananaiton now. Naruto." Kakashi's tone was serious now.
Naruto winced a bit before he chuckled and looked a bit embarrassed. "Geez. Sensei alright…"
Meanwhile on the streets of Konoha
Evacuation protocols were in full swing as Iruka lead his class through the academy to the tunnels while they fought back attackers. He was caught off guard as he pushed one child away and nearly was impaled as the Kunai was stopped by a Katana. Shortly after Iruka witnessed Hayate killed the attacker with one precise slash. "Hurry up Iruka. I got them."
"Should you not be in the Hospital?" He looked at the sickly-looking man in Anbu Armor the mask attached to his hip. In each hand, a Katana that dripped blood paired with the pale skin and rings under his eyes gave him the overall appearance of a dying reaper.
Hayate snorted. "I took enough medicine to be able to do this. Now …" He vanished mid-sentence to kill an attacker who tried to sneak up on them. Iruka witnessed that he did not even give the smallest reaction to the Kunai that cut some of Hayates arm open.
".. as I said I got this. Go now! You know the protocols *cough*" He threw some pills into his open mouth before he rushed to the next target. Using the two-sword style of the crescent moon was like declaring your intent to end your life. The style was effective but had open holes in the two-sword variant they were big enough to fit basic attacks through them.
Something he knew, but what the style also provided was the highest damage output you could imagine.
His days were numbered, either way, he had two or three days left. But if he would have to go. He could use his body one last time to defend his home. His love was somewhere doing the same. For the last time, they would be together. Cleaning out the trash. Defending the great tree. The village they held dear. With a Kiai, he turned to his next victim slashing away.
This was his last stand and he would make it count.
In the Arena.
… It all started one week before the event. I got the feeling that somehow I could not let them use Gaara but I needed something to get through him so I sent out some clones maybe get some insights out of his dad. But my Clones found the corpse of the Kazekage on the road between Hin no Kuni and Kaze no Kuni. I sealed the corpse away and got in contact with Gaara one night."
Flashback
"What do you mean my father is dead Uzumaki? I wanted to kill that bastard myself!" Gaaras voice nearly slipped into the demonic before Naruto put a seal on Gaaras stomach without him being able to defend himself.
"Really Shukaku, Sit I will deal with you in a moment. Yes, Gaara. It looks like snake bites but I can show it to you and you can look for yourselves."
The Suna Jinchuriki was now significantly calmer thanks to the seal but remembered that situation from his first encounter with the Uzumaki and his seal gave a short nod. As he inspected the body it was clear that that corpse was his father. Minutes later he had updated his Sensei and Siblings. Baki looked at Naruto uncomfortable.
"You have our gratitude. This snake will pay for that. Can we do something for you?"
Baki spoke out for the group.
"First maybe carefully try to get your troops to back out but mostly I want to fix Gaaras seal and reign in the old Tanuki in his gut."
"You want to fix his seal?" Baki asked His expression mostly covered by the fabrics of his clothing.
"Yeah." He looked at Gaara "You in? We have to stick together you know. We Jinchuriki."
Gaara nodded shortly and Naruto made a clone to hold the seal while he focussed on drawing up the new one. After two hours of sweaty work, he finished the seal and transfer. Garra could for the first time in many years sleep again.
Flashback end
After that, I worked with his Biju and built up a friendship so to speak. Followed by the plan to defend Konoha."
Kakashi sighed. Only his student would come up with something that would save so many lives by doing the craziest things.
"Did it ever occur to you to inform me as your superior or Lord Hokage?"
Naruto looked a bit embarrassed scratching the back of his neck. "Well, there could have been errors and failures and that could lead to more errors if it would have been incorporated into the overall village defense plan."
Kakashi was grumbling something about eccentric blondes. Before Naruto perked up and looked into the distance where the violet barrier was still standing strong.
"Sorry been summoned." with that he vanished in a yellow flash.
Root main base, Konoha Underground
The scene in the main underground base could only be referred to as carnage. Blood was everywhere, and explosions had taken down some parts of the base. Hatsumi was out of breath, her two companions had taken down most of the other root members and secured evidence and scrolls. She was looking at the unsealed arm of Danzo with a hateful glare. "It disgusts me what you are capable of Danzo Shimura."
The other looked very fresh thanks to his Kinjutsu. Five eyes on his arm were forever closed but he was still breathing. "When you are old enough to understand what sacrifices sometimes have to be made to reach security and peace for your people, you will understand. The Uchiha clan was a problem. With Minato dead Hiruzen wanted to give his head to young Itachi to calm the nerves of the elders I had a hard time rile up. As Tombirama-sensei once said if an Uchiha would get the hat Konoha would burn. I did my best to not let that happen."
Hatsumi was speechless in his way Danzo was a mastermind yes. Brutal and unforgiving. yes. But he had a strong wish for his way of peace.
Again Jutsus and Kunai collided, and thanks to a diversion Hatsumi landed another critical hit that forced him to use Inzanagi. Just as he appeared again a Tanto cut off his arm and sealed it away. The arm was made out of Hasirama Senjus cells and his Sharingan was gone. He looked around only two of his root agents were still alive. his best Fuu and Torune standing at his side looking at the others. He could not win this fight. Using the secret seal on the dead root agents he used the poison that was coming out of their bodies to flee.
Hatsumi was furious. He was running and she could not follow. She had her people to protect. Erecting a quick seal to purify the air she directed them out. She would get this hawk another time. "Get out of here people. Regroup on point Alpha in Wave, don't let yourself be seen. Alright," She looked at her two Kinsmen.
"We have the arm and the scrolls, not everything even something Naruto would maybe love to see." Hatsumi just nodded before the three also retreated to the meeting point in Wave. She could feel that Naruto was alright. Thanks to her Seal around her navel.
Danzo was on the run but they could recover four Sharingan of his and this abomination of an arm. She was sure that Karin could make something of it. Mito had told her the girl had special tastes in her research subjects. She would send someone to get her the arm after she had sealed away those eyes.
Inside the barrier, Moments ago
Hiruzen was cursing himself. He should have allowed Jiraiya to be his guard. Now he had to fight the two reanimated bodies of his former Sensei. Even with Enma that was a struggle. He needed to do something against this barrier, end the Jutsu, and even better kill his traitorous student. But how his reserves were slowly declining and his bones made some complaints known. Just at this moment as he dodged another high-pressure water Jutsu, he remembered the scroll Naruto gave him for emergencies.
Unsealing it he poured some Chakra into it and shortly after NArtuo appeared and dodged a blow from Hashrima.
"That is what I call a party Jiji." quickly looked around. "Edo Tensei?"
Hiruzen gave a short nod, not even thinking how he would know one of Konoha's worst Kin Jutsu. "I will deal with that." the blonde said confidently unsealing a three-pronged Kunai.
Without having much alternatives he nodded and engaged Orochimaru. The snake chuckled.
"Now let the young brat fight for you Sensei? I am not surprised. You always let them fight and die for you."
"That is the sour part of being a Kage and leader someone always will have to die to protect. I will happily give my life today if it means ending the danger that you bring into this world"
"Like you send out my parents on a suicide mission right" Hiruzen was caught off guard by that info. What led Orochimaru to chuckle "Oh, you didn't know. Never asked yourself why I decided to betray the village. The prodigy, the favorite?" He sighed.
"You are called the professor aren't you?"
Hiruzen's mind was racing was this true? Orochimaru pressed the issue. "I read the report everything. Luckily I got access to the top secret files as I headed the research department."
Hiruzen closed his eyes for a second before he opened them again using his Staff to pound onto the ground. "I don't know what you are saying. I never send Ninja on a mission that I did not think they could handle. You and I know that sometimes things can happen. The times were rough and your parents knew that. After their demise, I did my best as your sensei to care for you."
"Or to mold me into something you wanted me to be and with my parents missing you had no one that controlled you." Orochimaru spit at him. Before he could talk more he dodged a Kunai looking shocked at Naruto that had appeared. "How did you beat two Kage?"
Naruto ignored him to look at Hiruzen. "Come on Jiji I will look after that barrier but you have to finish him. Hiruzen gave the young Ninja a nod shaking his head only to get another verbal slap in the neck from the monkey king. "Do you need youngster now to get you back on track?"
Orochimaru wanted to say the next thing but his former teacher pressed his attack again.
Meanwhile, Naruto looked at the corners of the barrier. His Uzumaki seal had picked up something in one of them and as he arrived he looked at someone with the Uzumaki red hair concentrating on his seal.
"Hey! You in there. Are you an Uzumaki by chance? My name is Naruto Uzumaki. My blood locator picked something up and is now going wild looking at you."
The girl in the northern part of the barrier looked at him and raised her voice. "What the fuck do you think you are doing. Blood locater seal don't lie to my face you dipshit. If you are getting hard looking at me just admit it!"
Naruto sighed what was wrong with that girl? "Listen, Lady. Not old enough for that yet and you are kind of in the way and presumably family so sorry about that." He ended up unsealing a scroll before he materialized a chain with the Dragon head that shortly bit into the inner barrier.
"Hey! What do you think you are doing?" Screamed Tayuya from the inside as a sealing matrix slowly crawled through the inner barrier that was getting thinner and thinner.
"I would say saving you but that is debatable. We will talk later."
The blonde said still concentrating on breaking down the barrier till an audible crack could be heard at the same time Tayuya disappeared in a puff of smoke while screaming. With only three pillars left the barrier collapsed. Naruto turned to Hiruzen and Orochimaru only to.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
Seconds earlier
Orochimaru noticed the barrier collapsing. "Sound Four!" They appeared at his side. Both Orochimaru looked beaten up and with a last smirk at Hiruzen. "I thought of you as my new father for a time Sarutobi. Looking back I feel disgusted with myself."
That shook Hiruzen to his old bones and his reaction was the blink of an eye too late as the Kusanagi expanded. Only thanks to Enma he was not pierced in the heart but deeper down. Orochimaru pushed Jirobu in the way of the fiery answer of the Hokage that breathed out a point-blank Katon Jutsu without even using Handsigns. Jirobu was consumed in the flames in seconds while Orochimaru and the rest of his guards took off.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Naruto landed at Hiruzen's side unsealing his brush and applying seals in sheer invisible speed holding his breath he drew the seal to extract the venom he knew of. The seal was not fully tested yet but he made it out of his own experience. Anbu landed at his side. Naruto finished his seal activating it with a short application of chakra. He looked at the Anbu. "Why are you not following him?" Naruto exclaimed loudly in a protesting tone. Kakashi and Jiraiya joined him. Jiraiya was the one that answered as the Anbu were about the whisk the Hokage away. "He Reverse Summoned himself and his guards. But we have completely put down the invader. The losses are minimal thanks to your and the Suna kid's plan."
Naruto nodded something in him had cracked as he saw his surrogate grandfather figure lying there broken and beaten. He was sure his time in Konoha would come soon. With a short look at Kakashi silently asking for permission to leave his Sensei gave him a short nod and Naruto vanished in a flash.
Streets of Konoha
In the streets of Konoha Anbu, Chunin and Jonin scanned for survivors and killed comrades alike. After consulting a certain Chunin one purple-haired Anbu was standing in the street of the academy. One lone Konoha Nin lay there. With something resembling a smile on his face, while his clothes were colored in the rusty red of blood. The Anbu kneeled beside the team captain. A lone tear crawled under her mask. She was mourning her love interest but she knew this was the way he wanted to go sword in hand and defending something close to his heart. In the street, he was joined by seventy-two invaders. All cut open somehow. Yuugao took both swords and cleaned them before she sealed them away. Noticing the broken mask where he had fallen.
"Now that have stepped out of the shadow to protect the fallen tree your brothers and sister will continue your watch. Rest in Peace Comrade." Another Anbu Captain had joined Yuugao's Team. speaking the ritual prayer of an Anbu who would lay down his life in the village. Giving up his mask at that to not day as a faceless Anbu and as part of the great tree. As close-knit group as the Anbu were it was something like a final farewell to the former colleagues. Yuugao took her time to seal the head protector away and some other personal things before all Anbu took a step back to burn the corpse on the spot. Every one of the Anbus in attendance knew what medicaments Hayate would have to use to be able to give such a last stand.
Pain Killers, Suppressors, Blood Replenishers. Alone the interplay between those medicaments would have killed him. They also knew that his illness would have killed him either way. For a long time, his death would be a story told to recruits in Anbu to tell them about commitment and the will of fire. Because it was without question that Hayate Gekko, in the end, let his Will of Fire burn so brightly that it burned himself and the enemies of the leaf with him.