Inside the barrier, it was a battle of gods.
Outside the barrier, mortals suffered.
Akashi Sora felt quite fortunate to belong to the group that could stand safely on the sidelines, munching on seeds and watching the show.
The purple light curtain stood like an enormous cage, completely sealing off the rooftop of the arena.
And within that cage, a battle that transcended life and death was raging in a way no ordinary person could comprehend.
"That's… the First Hokage-sama and the Second Hokage-sama?"
Nara Shikamaru's throat felt dry. Watching the two familiar yet unfamiliar figures inside the barrier, his usually lightning-fast mind felt, for the first time, like it couldn't keep up.
"Edo Tensei."
Sora's voice was as calm as if he were commentating on some unimportant soccer match.
"A forbidden technique among sealing arts. It summons the souls of the dead back from the Pure Land into the living world, binds them to a living sacrifice, and grants them an immortal body along with the peak power they possessed in life."
On his system panel, a brand-new line of data quietly lit up.
[Recorded Successfully: S-rank Forbidden Technique – Edo Tensei]
Sora whistled inwardly.
What an appetizer. Orochimaru, you really are a good person.
Inside the barrier, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood clad in battle armor, gripping the Adamantine Staff, his expression grave to the extreme.
Facing him were the two legends who had once founded and protected this village.
"You've grown old, Hiruzen."
The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, resurrected through Edo Tensei, wore a helpless, bitter smile.
The next instant, his hands slammed together.
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"
BOOM——!
A terrifying roar erupted.
The sturdy tiled rooftop was torn apart like paper.
Countless thick, grotesque trees grew at a speed that defied the laws of nature, intertwining and twisting into a green tsunami that surged toward Hiruzen Sarutobi!
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, expression cold and ruthless, opened his mouth and spat out an ultra-compressed line of water.
Its sharpness sliced through the very air, producing a piercing screech!
This was no longer ninjutsu.
This was natural disaster.
Sora watched the Wood Release that instantly turned the rooftop into a primeval forest, felt the water wave capable of slicing steel with ease, and a gleam called "excitement" danced in his amber eyes.
[Recorded Successfully: Kekkei Genkai – Wood Release – Advent of a World of Trees]
[Recorded Successfully: S-rank Water Release – Water Severing Wave]
Jackpot!
So this is the weight of a Kage-level battle?
A casual technique could reshape the terrain.
If this were his previous world, they'd be at the level of demolition bureau directors.
Facing the combined assault of two legendary Hokage, the elderly Hiruzen Sarutobi was clearly struggling.
He was tightly bound by the trees, then pierced through the shoulder by the Water Severing Wave. Blood soaked the Hokage's ceremonial robe crimson.
"That's enough, Sensei."
Orochimaru extended his long tongue and licked the corner of his mouth, his golden snake pupils brimming with sickening delight.
Hiruzen Sarutobi panted heavily. Looking at the village he had poured his entire life into protecting now engulfed in the flames of war, and seeing his own student reduced to this state, a flash of determination passed through his clouded eyes.
"Yes… it really is time to end this."
With difficulty, he formed several hand seals.
"Forbidden Technique: Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
Humm——
An indescribable, ancient, primordial chill instantly enveloped the entire rooftop.
The air seemed to freeze in that moment.
All the shinobi still fighting—friend and foe alike—instinctively stopped moving, staring in horror toward the center of the barrier.
A gigantic, white-robed figure with a grotesque face and a short blade clenched between its teeth appeared silently behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Reaper.
"Oh?"
Sora raised an eyebrow, studying the legendary entity with great interest.
Neither his Sharingan nor his Sage Mode perception could fully analyze the makeup of this being.
It didn't belong to chakra, nor to natural energy. It felt more like… the materialization of a rule.
[Recorded Successfully: S-rank Forbidden Technique – Dead Demon Consuming Seal]
Looking at the new entry on his system panel, the curve of Sora's mouth grew wider.
A one-for-one trade — a massive loss.
But as a trump card, the value of this "disc" was immeasurable.
Inside the barrier, the Reaper's arm pierced straight through Hiruzen Sarutobi's body, emerging from his chest and reaching directly for Orochimaru's soul.
The smug smile on Orochimaru's face instantly froze, replaced by unprecedented terror.
He desperately retreated, but that pale hand followed like a shadow.
"No way!"
Orochimaru forced the First and Second Hokage to stand in front of him as shields.
"Useless."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm and old.
The Reaper's arm easily passed through the Edo Tensei bodies of the two Hokage, pulled out two glowing souls, and stuffed them into its mouth.
Then, that hand clamped tightly onto Orochimaru's soul.
"AAAAAHHHH!!"
Orochimaru let out a blood-curdling scream. His soul was being slowly dragged out of his body.
In desperation, he controlled the Kusanagi sword to stab through Hiruzen Sarutobi's body from behind.
Under the excruciating pain, Hiruzen's strength faltered.
He knew he no longer had enough energy to fully extract Orochimaru's soul.
"Then… let it end here!"
With his last ounce of strength, a ruthless glint flashed in the old man's eyes.
"Seal!"
Puchi!
The Reaper's short blade swung down, severing the portion of Orochimaru's soul that connected to his arms.
That severed soul fragment, along with the souls of the First and Second Hokage, was devoured by the Reaper.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's life force completely faded away.
The Third Hokage — the longest-serving leader, known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu" — closed his eyes forever with a faint, relieved smile on his face.
With the caster's death, both the Four Violet Flames Formation and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal simultaneously vanished.
"AH! My hands! My hands!!"
Orochimaru clutched his arms, now shriveled and bark-like, unable to move or form seals, and let out a beastly howl of despair.
The Four Sound Four immediately appeared beside him, protecting him as they swiftly retreated.
On the rooftop, only wreckage remained — and the still-warm corpse of the Third Hokage.
The surrounding Anbu shinobi let out anguished cries.
In this moment, the once-noisy arena fell into a deathly silence.
Sora watched everything calmly.
He felt neither sorrow nor joy.
It was simply like watching a magnificent drama reach its final curtain.
He turned around, looking at Naruto and Karin beside him, both stunned speechless by the shocking turn of events.
"Let's go."
He said lightly.
"Time to get to work."