Naruto: Linked to Kaguya, Corrupting the Ninja World

When Hiroki and Yugao had just returned to Konoha's main road with Hiruzen Sarutobi on his shoulder, Tsunade was already in pursuit of Danzo Shimura.

Tsunade felt puzzled.

How many lives did Danzo have?

From the moment she started chasing him until now, she had struck his heart twice and confirmed twice that he had lost all signs of life.

But each time she let her guard down, Danzo would pop up somewhere else, lively and energetic as ever, running further toward the village's outskirts.

When Danzo spotted Hiroki and Yugao appearing from a certain direction, he panicked even more. He shouted loudly:

"Orochimaru! I know you're here! Come save me! Save me!"

He was just bluffing, shouting in the hopes of distracting them so he could bolt again.

Tsunade had just cost him two of his Sharingan eyes, showing no mercy at all. If he faced Hiroki and Yugao, he might really be out of chances.

Unexpectedly, Orochimaru really was there.

In some shadowy place, upon hearing Danzo's cries, a strange man paused for a moment, then chuckled in amusement.

He casually threw the scroll in his hand onto the ground. A small snake leaped up and swallowed the scroll whole.

Orochimaru was here too?

Upon hearing Orochimaru's name, Tsunade immediately became alert and began looking around nervously.

Hiroki did the same, activating his [Byakugan] to scan the surroundings.

Having successfully distracted them by calling out Orochimaru's name, Danzo made another escape attempt.

Just as Tsunade furrowed her brows and prepared to chase after him, footsteps approached.

A man appeared before them.

Despite some differences in appearance from what she remembered, his aura and demeanor were still very familiar to Tsunade.

"Orochimaru?"

Seeing Tsunade raise her fist, seemingly ready to attack immediately, Orochimaru sighed slightly, saying somewhat regretfully, "Hey, wait, Tsunade. Are you really going to waste your time on me?"

He looked toward Hiroki and Yugao drawing closer, focusing on the unconscious Hiruzen being carried over Hiroki's shoulder. His eyes flashed with a hint of sorrow, "Is that Lord Sarutobi? Judging from his condition, heavy blood loss?"

Following his gaze, Tsunade hesitated, filled with disbelief as she murmured, "...He's dead?"

According to her sensing ability, Hiruzen had already lost all life signs.

Yugao remained silent, wondering inwardly whether this might anger Tsunade.

Hiroki nodded calmly, stating bluntly, "Yes, he's dead."

Orochimaru observed their reactions calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Not necessarily. Losing too much blood from a major artery usually takes about ten minutes to kill someone. In a short period like this, he may only be in shock due to severe blood loss. Tsunade, whether our teacher is alive or not… well, it's entirely up to you now."

Hearing this, Tsunade hesitated momentarily. She was an expert in medicine and knew well that what Orochimaru said was nonsense, yet she still snatched Hiruzen's body from Hiroki's arms.

"He's gone, completely gone. Tsunade, why insist on something impossible?" Hiroki continued.

He had only brought Hiruzen's body back for Tsunade to bury—not to bring back.

Rescuing him was impossible now, zero percent chance of success.

Tsunade didn't answer. She silently disappeared before their eyes, expressionless, heading toward the light.

Orochimaru sighed inwardly: Jiraiya, Tsunade... this so-called kindness, emotions, and bonds—are these truly your weaknesses?

Watching Tsunade's retreating figure, Hiroki felt puzzled. Could their bond truly be that deep?

He turned his gaze back to Orochimaru.

A faint smile appeared on Orochimaru's face. "Long time no see. I heard you've had quite an adventure recently. Care to share?"

"What do you want to know?"

"Legendary individuals..." The curiosity in Orochimaru's eyes intensified.

Hearing this, Hiroki was taken aback.

Could it be that Orochimaru wants to join them?

Too bad Kaguya doesn't like men.

Actually, every time Orochimaru reincarnates, he changes bodies.

Which appearance then should define him?

Hiroki's mind began to wander.

Thinking of Orochimaru reminded him of the latter's signature ninjutsu.

[Impure World Reincarnation].

It's quite magical—people who originally had limited chakra during life would possess infinite chakra once reincarnated through this technique.

Could all this chakra possibly come from the Pure Land? Perhaps that is where the most chakra exists?

He speculated.

Orochimaru was still waiting for an answer.

Yugao remained silent. Hiroki shook his head and shrugged. "Nothing to disclose."

"Until we meet again." Not showing any anger, Orochimaru merely shrugged his shoulders, formed a hand seal, and turned into smoke once more.

Reaching a crossroads, Yugao and Hiroki parted ways.

After thinking for a moment, Yugao chased after the direction Tsunade had left earlier.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

Inside a hospital room at Konoha Hospital, electronic monitors continued to beep steadily.

On the screen of the heart rate monitor, a flat line extended without fluctuation.

There was no heartbeat anymore...

Tsunade gazed silently at Hiruzen Sarutobi lying on the bed, her expression unreadable.

Leaning against the wall, Yugao stayed quiet, with Shizune standing beside her.

After a while, Tsunade finally met Yugao's gaze and asked, "What happened?"

After a pause, Yugao answered, "Jiraiya rescued the Third Hokage, and I pursued them. To see who mattered more to him—Naruto or the Third—he..."

"And what about him now?" There was a sigh in Tsunade's voice.

"Jiraiya probably went back to rest."

Tsunade tightened her mouth and turned her gaze back to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"If anyone asks, say he's under house arrest. No one is allowed to get close!"

"As for Danzo Shimura, declare him a rogue ninja and issue a bounty order. Send people to hunt him down after the village stabilizes."

"As for Jiraiya, he is no longer a ninja of Konoha. Issue a bounty as well. He's forbidden from stepping foot in Konoha ever again, or immediate execution will follow."

"And as for the escaped Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha..."

"Uzumaki Naruto's identity is special. Don't reveal that he has already left the village. Same as with Sasuke, send people to pursue him."

Shizune kept jotting things down in her little notebook.

...

"If there really exists such a passage, it should be an upward channel. Why does the clue point toward a lake?"

Looking at the water surface before him, Hiashi Hyuga murmured to himself.

Several Branch House members beside him had activated their Byakugan, observing the lake surface. "Honorable Main House Leader, we can't see what's beneath the water. Should we go down for a closer look?"

After some contemplation, Hiashi shook his head. "Rest here first."

On the moon, a pale-skinned Shounen with long blue-white hair stood motionless with closed eyes, observing Earth through some unique method. The activities around the Lunar Rift naturally fell within his 'vision.'

"Hyuga clan... Hiashi Hyuga?"

After thinking briefly, he directed his words toward a certain direction. "Go now, bring them over..."

In the dead of night, a figure dashed past, grabbing a Branch House member and plunging into the water.

Plop...

The splash startled Hiashi and the others. They rushed toward the lake upon hearing the sound.

"What happened?" Hiashi asked.

Realizing one of them was missing, Hiashi asked again, "Who got here first?"

"It was me," one of the clan members responded.

"Did you see anything?"

"Honorable Leader, it looked like someone fallen in," the clansman replied with an odd expression.

"Fallen in?"

Hiashi stared carefully at the water surface.

Except for that earlier noise, the lake remained perfectly calm.

Nothing floated up, no obvious foreign objects appeared, nor did the water level change.

"Jump in, one by one," he finally ordered.

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