The rooftop, once a silent sentinel overlooking Konoha, was now a charred and broken battleground. The air hung thick with the smoke of destruction, the stench of burnt flesh and chakra a grim testament to the ferocity of the clash. The bodies of slain Anbu warriors lay scattered across the ruined surface, their lifeless eyes staring up at the smoke-filled sky.
Jiraiya, his white hair streaked with soot and dust, stood amidst the carnage. His eyes, usually filled with a playful glint, now burned with a cold, savage fury. In Sage Mode, Fukasaku and Shima perched on his shoulders, their wise, toad-like eyes narrowed in anger. Hiruzen Sarutobi, his aged form radiating a surprising power, gripped Enma, now transformed into a adamantine staff, his expression a grim mask of resolve.
"You will pay for this," Jiraiya growled, his voice a low, threatening rumble.
Orochimaru, his pale face twisted into a sneer, stood amidst his Sound Four, whose bodies were strained and trembling from the effects of Curse Mark Stage 2. "Such sentimentality," he hissed, his voice a sibilant whisper.
The Sound Four, Kidomaru, Jirobo, Sakon/Ukon, and Tayuya, moved with a sluggish, almost desperate urgency, their eyes wide with fear and a desperate determination.
Jiraiya lunged, his movements a blur of Sage Mode enhanced speed. "Sage Art: Goemon!" he roared, unleashing a torrent of boiling oil and flames. Hiruzen, with a powerful swing of Enma, sent shockwaves through the air, shattering the remaining rooftop tiles. Orochimaru, his serpentine eyes narrowed, unsheathed the Kusanagi sword from his mouth, its blade glinting menacingly.
"You will not prevail!" Orochimaru hissed.
Hiruzen, with a swift, decisive strike of Enma, impaled Sakon/Ukon, their two faces contorting in a final, agonized scream. Jiraiya, his eyes blazing, unleashed a torrent of fire and oily flames, incinerating Kidomaru before he could react.The spider-like shinobi was reduced to ash in an instant.
Orochimaru, his eyes wide with a flicker of unease, took a step back. "This is..." he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of surprise.
Jiraiya, his Sage Mode enhanced strength surging, turned his attention to Jirobo and Tayuya. "You're next," he growled. He unleashed a Giant Rasengan, its swirling vortex of chakra obliterating Jirobo in a blinding flash. Then, he turned to Tayuya, unleashing a powerful attack that sent her crashing to the ground, seemingly lifeless.
Kabuto Yakushi appeared beside Orochimaru, his expression grave. "Orochimaru-sama," he said, his voice urgent, "the plan has failed. We must retreat."
Orochimaru, his eyes fixed on Hiruzen, launched a final, desperate attack, aiming to kill his former sensei. Hiruzen, his movements surprisingly swift, deflected the attack, but Orochimaru's Kusanagi sword sliced through his left arm from the elbow down, the severed limb falling to the ruined rooftop.
Orochimaru's expression flickered with a hint of disappointment. "Tch," he hissed, before turning and retreating with Kabuto, disappearing into the shadows.
Jiraiya rushed to Hiruzen's side, his expression filled with concern. "Sensei!" he cried, his voice laced with grief.
Below, in the ruined Konoha, the remaining Shinobi began to assess the damage. The village was a scene of devastation, buildings reduced to rubble, and the air thick with smoke and the stench of death. A bittersweet victory hung in the air, the cost of the battle heavy on their hearts.
_______
From a hidden vantage point, overlooking the ruined Konoha, two figures observed the scene. One, a shadowy, amorphous mass, writhed and shifted, its form indistinct. The other, wearing a swirling orange mask that covered most of his face, revealed only a single, dark eye.
"Such a waste," the dark figure rasped, its voice a low, unsettling whisper.
The masked figure's single eye narrowed. "The pieces are moving as they should," he replied, his voice distorted and cold. "This village... its pain will fuel our plans."
"The jinchuriki…" the dark figure said.
"He is of little concern for now," the masked figure replied. "The time will come."
They vanished into the shadows, leaving no trace of their presence, their words a chilling promise of future darkness.