Chapter 13: The Weight of Sins

Hokage's Office

Vergil stood before Hiruzen Sarutobi, his piercing blue eyes colder than the night outside. The office was dim, smoke curling from the pipe on the desk, the air heavy with unspoken tension. He'd just delivered his report, crisp, unadorned.

"Orochimaru approached me," Vergil said, voice flat. "And he killed the ANBU assigned to watch me."

Hiruzen's brows furrowed, deep lines carving his face. His fingers tightened around his pipe, knuckles whitening. A suffocating silence settled, broken only by the faint crackle of tobacco as he lit it with trembling hands. More lives lost. Another failure.

"…I see," he murmured, exhaling a shaky plume. His gaze lifted, meeting Vergil's. "Did you kill him?"

Vergil's lips curled into a faint, frigid smirk. "No."

Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering. "Why not?"

Vergil stepped forward, his aura thickening, cold, oppressive. His eyes gleamed, sharp and dangerous. "Because," he said, voice a blade's edge, "Orochimaru is your mess to clean up."

Hiruzen's breath hitched. Orochimaru's pleading eyes flashed, a chance squandered long ago.

Vergil closed the distance to the desk, his presence a weight. "Every life he's destroyed, every single one, is on you."

The Hokage flinched, pipe trembling in his grip.

"If only you'd killed him when you had the chance."

The room felt like a tomb, silent, crushing.

Vergil turned, coat swaying, and strode for the door. His parting shot was ice: "Live with that."

The door clicked shut. Hiruzen sat frozen, the weight of those words sinking into his burdened shoulders. He closed his eyes, Orochimaru's shadow haunting the darkness.

He knew Vergil was right.

One Month Later

Vergil perched on a rooftop, the village sprawling beneath him. He felt it, a shift in the air. Two familiar presences had vanished from Konoha: Naruto and Kakashi.

His smirk returned. The Wave mission. Today.

He glanced at the masked ANBU shadowing him from a nearby tree. "I'm leaving."

Before they could blink, he vanished. The ANBU scrambled, their report racing to the Hokage.

Wave Country, The Battlefield

Mist clung to the forest thick and damp, muffling the creak of wood and the drip of blood. Zabuza Momochi laid sprawled, his massive blade beside him, chest heaving with ragged breaths. Kakashi Hatake loomed, kunai raised, his Sharingan dimming from exhaustion.

"This ends now, Zabuza," he rasped, arm trembling.

Shhhkk!

Sharp paper kunai sliced through the mist, striking Kakashi's shoulder and thigh. He grunted, "Gah!", staggering as blood seeped through his vest. Too weak to dodge fully, he sank to a knee, vision blurring. Damn it… I am about to pass out.

The air grew heavy, oppressive. Paper wings rustled overhead as Konan descended, her blank expression scanning the chaos. Her amber eyes locked on Zabuza, then Kakashi.

"S-Sensei… who's that?!" Naruto stammered, fists clenched, Not another one!, his gaze darting between her and Kakashi.

Sakura froze, heart pounding. Please… someone… a miracle… she whispered inwardly.

Zabuza spat blood, glaring up. "Tch. Gato hired more?!"

Konan's voice was cold, emotionless. "I will complete the job."

Kakashi's fists tightened, chakra flickering. No time to recover…

Then, a voice sliced through the mist, sharp as steel.

"How troublesome."

All eyes snapped to the shadows. Vergil emerged, arms crossed, his smirk glinting in the faint light. His blue coat swayed, silver hair stark against the gloom.

Kakashi's eye widened. "…Vergil?!"

Vergil stepped forward, gaze lingering on Konan. Another power to measure. Let's see if she's worth it. "Things have taken an interesting turn," he said, tilting his head. "Lucky for you, I'm in a generous mood."

He unsheathed Yamato, the metallic shing reverberating across the bridge. His smirk sharpened.

"Leave it to this devil."