"Release the Four Violet Flames Formation, the battle is over."
The Sound Four were fully focused on maintaining the formation when this voice suddenly reached their ears.
"Lord Kimimaro?"
Although they couldn't see Kimimaro's figure, there was no mistaking his voice.
Immediately, the four of them, out of trust and fear for Kimimaro, released the Four Violet Flames Formation.
In the next moment, Kimimaro, having shed his disguise, appeared before Orochimaru.
"Mr. Orochimaru, are you alright?"
"I miscalculated. I didn't expect that old man to have such a technique hidden away. However, he still couldn't escape his fate. This plan can be considered a success. Kimimaro, retrieve my Kusanagi sword, we should leave this place."
"Yes."
Kimimaro walked to the Third Hokage's side, pulled out the Kusanagi sword, and at the same time, with lightning speed, grasped the Third Hokage's hand before releasing it.
Under the cover of his body, even Orochimaru didn't notice.
"Congratulations, tourist, for successfully taking a photo with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. You have received the reward: Bakudō #81, Dankū."
After completing this, Kimimaro quietly returned to Orochimaru's side with the Kusanagi sword.
The Kusanagi sword felt slightly cool to the touch, its blade emitting a blue light, showcasing its extraordinary nature.
The Sound Four rushed over from all sides and directly carried the weakened Orochimaru.
"Let's go."
With Orochimaru's command, everyone leaped up, preparing to leave.
"Don't even think about escaping!"
But at this moment, the Konoha ANBU, who had been waiting for an opportunity outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, immediately pounced.
"Fire Style! Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Earth Style! Earth Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"Lightning Style! Lightning Rod!"
Three ANBU members simultaneously unleashed their ninjutsu. In an instant, a fire dragon, an earth dragon, and a lightning spear attacked!
These were three ANBU members at the Jonin level!
Their attacks at this moment were not to be underestimated.
The fire dragon and earth dragon roared and intertwined, with the lightning spear accompanying them on both sides.
"Oh no!"
The Sound Four's expressions changed. They couldn't block such an offensive.
Orochimaru's gaze turned cold. He hadn't expected these ANBU to act so quickly.
If this continued, it would be difficult for them to leave.
Once they were stopped, the nearby ANBU would all converge.
But at this moment, Kimimaro's clear voice rang out beside everyone.
"Pride of Heaven, Iron Wall, Dragon Path, Lion's Roar, Tiger's Howl, Wolf's Rush, Severing Heaven and Earth before the Collapse! Bakudō #81, Dankū!"
A white, transparent defensive wall rapidly formed in front of Kimimaro.
Boom!
The fire dragon, earth dragon, and lightning spear were all blocked by this Dankū wall.
A loud explosion, and a shockwave erupted!
The three ANBU members fell back even faster than they had come!
Three craters appeared on the rooftop.
"What happened there?"
Kakashi, who was in the midst of battle, was startled by the commotion in the distance.
"It seems the battle is over. Was that technique just now from Kimimaro?"
Kabuto thought to himself, a flicker of shock in his eyes, and then he prepared to retreat.
With a single Dankū, the possibility of pursuit by the Konoha ANBU was completely eliminated. The ANBU could only helplessly watch as Kimimaro and the others left.
The Sound Four looked at Kimimaro in front of them with astonishment.
This person had become even stronger.
Even Orochimaru, who wasn't in the mood at the moment, was also shocked by this technique.
Such powerful defense.
With Kimimaro leading the way, the Sound Four carried Orochimaru, and the group of six quickly left Konoha's sphere of influence.
Not long after, numerous Konoha ninja gathered on the rooftop where the battle had taken place.
There, lay a corpse.
It was an elderly man, the Hokage who had reigned for the longest time in Konoha.
"How could this be... Lord Third has fallen in battle?"
Kurenai Yuhi couldn't accept it for a moment.
Everyone else also showed expressions of sorrow.
"Damn Orochimaru, how much further will you drag Konoha down!"
Anko Mitarashi clenched her fists, her resentment towards Orochimaru deepening.
Kakashi remained silent, lost in thought.
Jiraiya looked at the Third Hokage, who had died with a smile on his face, and sighed softly.
"Old man, I'll take you home."
With that, he carried the Third Hokage's body on his back and turned to leave.
It seemed as if a few more dark clouds had gathered in the sky above Konoha, but behind those clouds, there was brilliant sunlight.
The great war had ended, and Konoha's mess awaited someone to clean it up.
That person wouldn't be Danzo, nor would it be Jiraiya, but the legendary medical ninja who had left the village decades ago.
However, at this moment, thousands of miles away, Tsunade, still at the gambling table, had no idea what had happened in Konoha.
"Squad leader, it's not good, the sealing room exploded!"
Just then, a ninja ran to Shikaku Nara's side and said.
"What? The sealing room exploded?"
Shikaku's face was filled with shock.
Kakashi, who was beside him, also heard the news.
"Yes. We just received the information, it happened ten minutes ago. Judging by the traces of the explosion, it seems to be the result of a sealing technique."
Upon hearing this, Shikaku frowned and looked at Kakashi.
Kakashi understood and said, "Let's go take a look."
Among those present, only he knew sealing techniques.
Moreover, when it came to knowledge and understanding of ninjutsu, besides the deceased Third Hokage, the most proficient in Konoha was Kakashi.
"Alright."
The two of them headed towards the sealing room, one after the other.
Soon, they arrived at their destination.
Kakashi looked at the scene before him in shock.
"Such a large sealing range, only one sealing technique can achieve this."
"What is it?"
"The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing. This technique is considered a forbidden technique among sealing jutsu. It can only be activated at the moment of death. The number of people who know this technique can be counted on one hand. Currently, there's only one person in the village who can use it."
"Shimura Danzo?"
Shikaku quickly guessed the answer.
Kakashi nodded slightly.
"It really was him? Did he activate the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing and perish together with the enemy?"
"Judging by the traces around here, it seems someone came to steal the Scroll of Seals and was discovered by Danzo and his subordinates. The two sides engaged in a fierce battle, and in the end, Danzo, on the verge of death, activated the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing.
To force Danzo to such an extent means that his subordinates and the ANBU guarding the sealing room were all killed, and even Danzo himself couldn't protect himself.
Therefore, what was sealed wasn't just the sealing room and the Scroll of Seals, but also Danzo's subordinates, the ANBU guarding the sealing room, and the intruder."
Kakashi concluded.
The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing activated very quickly. Unless someone recognized the technique immediately or possessed extraordinary speed, they couldn't escape being sealed and killed.
"Who was it? To actually push Danzo to this point?"
The image of the Kaguya clansman who had fought with Gai earlier surfaced in Kakashi's mind.
Shikaku thought the same.
The two exchanged glances, knowing they shared the same thought.
"Was that person really sealed?"
(End of Chapter)