Hinata was vigorously waving her Gentle Fist with her petite body. The palm wind she struck carried a powerful energy. Her activated Byakugan with bulging veins seemed to be full of energy.
Actually, Hinata had met Tanzo once before. It was on a night many years ago.
It was Hinata's birthday. Ninjas from Kumogakure Village broke into the residence of the Hyuga clan's main branch, attempting to kidnap Hinata.
Fortunately, Hinata's father, Hiashi Hyuga, stepped in and killed the Kumogakure ninjas, rescuing Hinata.
However, Kumogakure Village used this incident to threaten Konoha, demanding in a tough manner that Konoha Village hand over the murderer of the Kumogakure ninjas.
At that time, Hinata had no idea what was going on. She thought she had done something wrong.
The cute and frail Hinata sat upright in the living room. Being young, she didn't have the liveliness that a child should have, and her heart was filled with uneasiness.
Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga clan, was in a complete mess. After killing the Kumogakure ninjas, he had sent a plea for help to the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage assigned Tanzo Shimura to handle this matter. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage stepped forward personally to appease the people from Kumogakure Village, aiming to buy time for Tanzo Shimura to come up with a solution.
It was on that night that Tanzo Shimura stepped into the gates of the Hyuga clan.
Tanzo Shimura met Hinata for the first time. At that time, Hinata didn't care much about this matter.
Years passed in a flash. Unexpectedly, now fighting side by side with Naruto, they were actually up against Tanzo Shimura.
Hinata's Gentle Fist in her hands was swift and domineering. In her heart, she was thinking: Why does Naruto-kun want to fight him? I met him once before. Although I don't know much about him, he seems to have dealings with my father...
Naruto shouted, "Come on! Cut off his Chakra circulation and stop him from using the Sealing Technique!"
Naruto's words interrupted Hinata's thoughts. Hinata struck a more perfect Gentle Fist, and her whole body seemed to be shining.
Hinata's life is about to deviate from its original path. A major change is about to take place in her future. Every drop of sweat she sheds now is full of brilliance, and her whole body exudes a charming glow.
Some people's futures are filled with light, embracing a new life; while some people's futures end at this moment, ending their legendary lives in a tragic way.
Inside the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier, the Third Hokage resolutely activated the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. After repeatedly urging Naruto to no avail, he forced himself to activate the Sealing Technique.
Since the Third Hokage has consumed too much in this battle, he doesn't have the strength to completely seal Orochimaru. He can only seal Orochimaru's hands.
"What a pity, Orochimaru!" the Third Hokage said. "I couldn't take you away, but I've decided to only take away your ability to use Ninjutsu. Without your hands, your strength will be greatly reduced, and you'll never be able to threaten Konoha again."
"No—" Orochimaru turned to Naruto and said, "Naruto! Stop that old man. I'll agree to any conditions you have."
"The Shadow Clone of Naruto said, "I'm just a Shadow Clone. I can't stop anything."
"Shadow Clone?"
Orochimaru was stunned. He really didn't expect that the Naruto in front of him was not the real one. He thought to himself, "Naruto, did you just hide a Shadow Clone here to gather intelligence..."
The Third Hokage was equally puzzled. He felt that the current Naruto was not the simple - minded child he knew.
But these didn't matter anymore. The most important thing now was to complete the Sealing Technique.
As the Shinigami raised the tanto, it directly split Orochimaru's soul in two. The souls of Orochimaru's hands were cut off by the Shinigami and then sealed in the Third Hokage's abdomen.
Orochimaru was still in shock, watching his hands necrotize at a visible speed.
With the completion of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, the Shinigami finally took away the souls of the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and the Third Hokage, as well as Orochimaru's hands.
The Third Hokage closed his eyes, and his old and thin body slumped weakly on the roof.
"Aah... Aahh... Ah..." Orochimaru couldn't believe it was real.
Naruto's Shadow Clone said, "Orochimaru, you should know that the Fourth Hokage once sacrificed his life to seal the Nine - Tailed Fox using this jutsu. You dared to come and fight without doing your homework. You've got guts."
"If it were me, I'd do thorough research and be fully prepared. I'd never make a single mistake."
"Ugh—" Orochimaru said, "The Nine - Tailed Fox, no! You're not an ordinary Jinchuriki."
"Throughout history, Jinchuriki have just been containers for the Tailed Beasts, tools for the strong, and weapons for the village. But you, Naruto Uzumaki, are definitely not..."
"Oh?" Naruto's Shadow Clone asked, "Then what do you think I am?"
Orochimaru gritted his teeth against the pain and said, "An ambitious person with the Nine - Tailed Fox. I see myself in you... Who are you, Naruto? What on earth do you want?"
"I want you," Naruto's Shadow Clone said astonishingly.
"Ugh..." Orochimaru was first shocked, then sneered with gritted teeth, "Heh heh heh..."
"Now you understand why I didn't listen to the Third Hokage's advice and get rid of you. You're more valuable than the Third Hokage."
"Humph, that's really interesting," Orochimaru was in excruciating pain, but he still endured it and asked, "Are you Tanzo's subordinate?"
"No!" Naruto's Shadow Clone said, "You killed the Third Hokage, and my real self has already taken out Tanzo Shimura."
Orochimaru looked incredulous. He was almost half - dead after killing the Third Hokage.
"I also borrowed Kabuto," Naruto said proudly, "Your Kabuto is really useful. He's a great pawn."
"Ugh..." Orochimaru thought to himself, "Kabuto... What has he been doing behind my back... Gotta give him a good grilling when I get back..."
Naruto continued, "You're right. I am indeed a bit like you. Konoha is like a pool of stagnant water. You think Konoha is a windmill that has stopped turning, and I'm the wind that will make it turn again..."
At this point, Orochimaru reached his limit. The intense pain from his hands made him lose his patience, and he even began to scream in pain, "Aah... Ugh... Ah..."
"Release the jutsu!" The time was right, and Naruto's Shadow Clone quickly released the jutsu. Suddenly, a puff of white smoke appeared, and he vanished into thin air.
"So it was really a Shadow Clone."
Orochimaru glanced quickly over and shouted, "Sakon and Ukon, Kidomaru, Tayuya, Jirobo, get me out of here!"
Hearing Orochimaru's shout, Sakon and Ukon, Kidomaru, Tayuya, and Jirobo quickly removed the barrier and rushed to Orochimaru's side.
The four Sound Ninjas quickly fled with Orochimaru at once.
Almost simultaneously, the Anbu ninjas guarding outside saw the barrier disappear and quickly entered. When they found the Third Hokage, they found that he had already died.
"Damn it! The Hokage is gone. Stop Orochimaru!"
"Don't let them escape."
All the Anbu ninjas of Konoha rushed forward and quickly attacked Orochimaru and his group who were fleeing.
However, the Sound Ninjas instantly activated their Cursed Seals, their strength increasing instantly. After blocking the attacks of the Anbu ninjas, they quickly fled.
Meanwhile, as Naruto released his Kage Clone Jutsu, when the Shadow Clones disappeared, the memories they generated would return to the real Naruto.
That is to say, when the Shadow Clone of Naruto inside the Four - Corner Sealing Barrier disappeared, the memories generated during that period would flood into his real self.
At this moment, Naruto already knew that the Third Hokage had passed away. He immediately looked into the distance with his eyes. At the same time, he also knew that until the moment of his death, the Third Hokage was reluctant to disclose the whereabouts of the box holding the Flying Thunder God Technique.
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