96-100

*Chapter 96: Haku is a Girl, and Kishimoto Doesn’t Understand Naruto*

Zabuza was stunned. He didn’t understand why Aizen was feeding him a bean, but if there was a chance to survive, who wouldn’t take it?

Sure enough, after eating the bean, Zabuza’s injuries healed instantly. Not only that, his chakra and stamina were also restored.

"This...this is..." Zabuza, who had just escaped death, stood up in disbelief, staring at his healed wounds, shocked and speechless.

Kakashi, who was kneeling nearby, exhausted and unable to move due to chakra depletion, was also taken aback.

From his perspective, he couldn’t clearly see what Aizen had done to Zabuza.

Seeing Zabuza suddenly fully recover, Kakashi grew more wary of Aizen.

"What are your plans now?" Aizen asked Zabuza and Haku.

Upon hearing this, Zabuza and Haku exchanged glances. They immediately knelt on one knee and said in unison, "If Lord Aizen doesn’t mind, we are willing to follow you."

"Following me isn’t necessary. You wouldn’t survive long in the place I’m going," Aizen hesitated briefly, then pulled out a scroll from his system storage, wrote something on it, and handed it to Zabuza. "The current Kirigakure, under the leadership of the Fifth Mizukage, is no longer the Blood Mist Village it once was. If you trust me, take this to Mei Terumi. I believe she’ll show you leniency."

Aizen thought to himself that Kirigakure was short on talent. Zabuza and Haku could serve as two reliable confidants for Mei Terumi.

"Fifth Mizukage?" Zabuza and Haku’s eyes widened in disbelief.

They hadn’t expected Aizen to be acquainted with the current Mizukage, and judging by his tone, they seemed close.

"This sword, the Executioner’s Blade, tell Mei Terumi that I need it for now. I’ll return it to Kirigakure later." With a wave of his hand, the Executioner’s Blade that had fallen during his battle with Kakashi rose from the ground and flew into Aizen’s hand.

Aizen stored it in his system warehouse.

He planned to save it for Sasuke, to help him recruit Suigetsu later.

After all, if Suigetsu wasn’t there and Sasuke died trying to show off, the future wouldn’t be as fun.

Zabuza took the scroll, and he and Haku expressed their gratitude to Aizen once again.

After that, they briefly greeted Kakashi, now their unlikely ally.

Just as Zabuza and Haku were about to leave, Aizen suddenly remembered something and called out to them, "Haku, wait a minute."

"Lord Aizen, is there something else?" Haku, still injured from the battle with Naruto, turned around, confused, with Zabuza’s help.

In a flash, Aizen appeared before them.

Kakashi was startled, thinking to himself, "So fast. Even my Sharingan couldn’t keep up."

Aizen ignored Kakashi and carefully looked Haku over. His delicate face, smooth black hair—everything about Haku resembled a girl. From top to bottom, there wasn’t a single masculine feature in sight—no Adam’s apple, nothing.

He started to suspect that Kishimoto, the author, didn’t understand "Naruto" at all. Just to emphasize how men survive better in the ninja world, Kishimoto had drawn a woman and claimed she was a man.

After a moment’s hesitation, Aizen voiced the question that had puzzled him for two lifetimes: "Are you a boy or a girl?"

"Uh..." Both Kakashi and Zabuza felt a bead of sweat form on their foreheads.

They couldn’t believe that someone as powerful as Aizen was hung up on such a trivial question.

Haku smiled gently and gave an unexpected response, "If anyone else asked, I would say I’m a boy without hesitation. But since it’s you, Lord Aizen, I can honestly tell you, I’m a girl."

"A girl?" Zabuza, standing nearby, was visibly startled by the revelation.

Haku quickly apologized, "I’m sorry, Lord Zabuza. You once said that women have no place in this cruel world, so I had to hide my gender to stay by your side."

Zabuza sighed in realization, "I see... It doesn’t matter anymore."

At that moment, Pakura approached them. "Lord Aizen, we should get going."

"Kakashi, we’ll meet again soon," Aizen said before he and Pakura vanished from the bridge.

Watching Aizen and Pakura disappear, Zabuza and Haku bowed deeply. In Haku’s heart, she thought, Lord Aizen, may your path ahead be bright and your strength flourish.

After bidding farewell to Kakashi, they slowly vanished into the distance, leaving Kakashi standing on the bridge, lost in thought.

He mused to himself, It seems like another troublesome period is upon us. What exactly is Aizen’s stance now? And who was that woman with him? How does Aizen know so many secrets? He even knows that I once conspired with Danzo to assassinate the Third Hokage with Tenzo.

And who was Aizen talking to earlier?

While Kakashi pondered these questions, the genjutsu broke, and Naruto, Sakura, and Tazuna woke up.

Naruto, scratching his head in confusion, looked at Kakashi and asked, "Kakashi-sensei, what happened? Why did we all pass out?"

"Well...it’s a bit complicated, but don’t worry. Everything’s fine now," Kakashi said, not sure how to explain things to Naruto.

"What about Zabuza and those bad guys? And Haku’s body is gone too?" Naruto looked around.

When he saw the pile of bodies at the end of the unfinished bridge, he was immediately frightened, "Ahh! Dead bodies, so many dead bodies..."

"Don’t worry, those are all the bodies of Gato’s men. Zabuza and Haku are fine. They’ve returned to their village," Kakashi explained.

"Really?" Naruto’s fear instantly turned into relief. "That’s great."

At the same time, Sasuke woke up. Sakura, praising his strength and saying he had managed to avoid any vital spots, shouted over to Naruto and Kakashi, "Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, Sasuke is okay! He’s awake!"

As things wrapped up, the citizens of the Land of Waves, led by Tazuna’s grandson, moved forward, inspired by Naruto’s words.

Kakashi and Naruto exchanged smiles, everything understood without needing words.

The mission in the Land of Waves had come to a successful conclusion.

On the other side, Aizen and Pakura had returned to Amegakure.

"Lord Aizen, why did you go out of your way to help those two unrelated people?" Pakura finally asked the question that had been on her mind.

Aizen smiled, looking back toward the Land of Waves. He spoke a cryptic line that left Pakura puzzled: "Just like when I saved you from Kirigakure...I guess it’s because I didn’t want to leave any regrets."

*Chapter 97: Farewell, Orochimaru*

"What does '意难平 (Yì nán píng)' mean?" Pakura asked, puzzled. This was the first time she had heard this term.

"It's from an ancient poem titled Zǔ Fēng Bó Guī Zhōu Yóu Jìng Zhòng Sì ('Docking a Boat by the Temple in a Storm') with the line: 'The cold horn blows at the edge of sorrow, and after a long night, my heart is still restless.' It often refers to feelings that one cannot let go of, lingering thoughts that remain unresolved, especially in situations where two people love each other deeply but are separated due to fate or circumstance, never truly coming together."

Aizen explained, recalling a character from the novel Battle Through the Heavens from his past life on Earth. "Xiao Yan, that scoundrel, deserves a beating," he thought to himself.

Pakura nodded in understanding. It wasn’t just Aizen; even she was moved when Haku sacrificed himself to shield Zabuza from Raikiri.

If Haku had truly died, it would have been heartbreaking.

And for Aizen, what about her? What category did she fall into?

"Lord Aizen, I have another question," Pakura said, changing the subject.

"Ask away," Aizen replied casually.

"You once said that you faked your death to confuse the higher-ups in Konoha and avoid unnecessary trouble. Why did you suddenly reveal yourself this time?" Pakura couldn’t help but ask.

Aizen paused, glancing toward Konoha in the distance, and replied with a cryptic tone, "Death isn't the scariest thing. The scariest thing is the fear that comes before death."

Of course, he wasn't going to admit that he wanted to lure out Danzo and the other two old foxes who were semi-retired and then take them down.

Over the course of several days, Aizen and Pakura traveled leisurely.

Eventually, they arrived at a vast rice field.

Beyond the field lay a valley.

Through the valley, a dense forest was faintly visible.

The scenery was indeed beautiful, full of a pastoral atmosphere.

Aizen took it in, thinking to himself.

His gaze then fell on a stone monument at the valley’s entrance.

Carved into the stone was a musical note, adorned with striking red highlights that gave the village an added sense of mystery.

“Is that the Sound Village below? Shall we sneak in?” Pakura, standing beside Aizen atop the valley, asked as she surveyed the village below.

“No need. Orochimaru isn’t inside.” Aizen shook his head.

Pakura was surprised. “Then where is he?”

“Right there,” Aizen raised his right hand, summoning a Rasengan that transformed into a laser beam, shooting towards the mountain wall ahead.

Boom—

The cliff crumbled, revealing a sealed gray tunnel covered in talismans.

“This…” Pakura was shocked. She hadn’t expected Orochimaru’s base to be right at the entrance to the Sound Village.

The most dangerous place truly was the safest.

“Let’s go, Pakura,” Aizen said as he leapt down.

Pakura followed closely behind.

As they entered the oppressive enclosed space, Pakura hesitated and asked, “Lord Aizen, could there be traps ahead?”

“Don’t worry. Orochimaru isn’t foolish or bored enough to do something like that. Besides, the person welcoming us has already arrived.” Aizen stopped and looked ahead. “Isn’t that right, Kabuto?”

“Lord Aizen’s senses are as sharp as ever,” Kabuto’s voice echoed through the tunnel. Soon, the sound of footsteps approached. Kabuto emerged from the shadows, adjusting his glasses and wearing a sinister smile similar to Orochimaru’s. “Lord Aizen, please follow me.”

“You’re becoming more and more like Orochimaru. I have to say, I preferred the younger version of you,” Aizen remarked as he walked past Kabuto, Pakura by his side.

Kabuto froze momentarily, the image of his orphanage caretaker, Nono Yakushi, flashing through his mind before shattering. Hesitantly, he asked, “Have you met me before, Lord Aizen?”

“In a way. The night of the Nine-Tails incident, many became orphans. Konoha didn’t know if I had the potential to become a ninja, so they considered sending me to the orphanage. I happened to scout it out and saw you with the headmistress,” Aizen made up a story.

Kabuto smiled, seeing through the lie. “You really like to joke, Lord Aizen. I wasn’t in the village during the Nine-Tails incident, and I didn’t return for several years afterward.”

Aizen glanced at Kabuto and sighed. “Is that so? Maybe I mistook another child for you. But I did meet the headmistress; she kept mentioning your name. I wonder how she’s doing now. She was one of the few people in Konoha I respected.”

“She’s dead,” Kabuto said, stopping in his tracks, a rare moment of emotion crossing his face.

“How did she die?” Aizen asked, though he already knew.

“She died by my hand,” Kabuto replied, lowering his head, his hair falling over his eyes. His glasses gleamed, hiding his true emotions.

For a brief moment, Aizen thought he saw a tear at the corner of Kabuto’s eye.

“Let me guess: Danzo, that old dog, forced it. Squeezing the last bit of value from spies and making them kill the people they care about most. No matter who survives, the survivor is always eliminated. My condolences.” Aizen patted Kabuto on the shoulder.

Just then, a raspy voice came from a nearby stone room. “Oh my, Aizen-kun, poaching my subordinates right in front of me isn’t very polite.”

Kabuto snapped back to reality, his gaze towards Aizen filled with wariness and a newfound fear, realizing how close he had come to being manipulated. This man seemed to have an even deeper insight into people’s hearts than Itachi Uchiha.

“Please, Lord Aizen, come in.” Kabuto pushed open a stone door, his eerie smile returning.

Aizen paid no mind and entered with Pakura.

Inside, Orochimaru sat on a single sofa, as if he had been expecting them.

“Aizen-kun, long time no see. And this must be the former hero of the Sand Village, Pakura of the Scorch Release. I’ve heard much about you. I never imagined you’d join the Akatsuki, and with Aizen-kun as your partner, no less. How fortunate,” Orochimaru said, licking his lips with his long tongue.

Pakura clicked her tongue in disgust, glancing at Orochimaru disdainfully before sitting with Aizen on the sofa across from him.

Aizen gave Orochimaru a once-over and asked, “You seem to have known we were coming.”

Orochimaru chuckled, “Of course. You’ve been quite active in the ninja world these past few years, Aizen-kun. In the Five Great Nations, aside from the rotting Konoha, there’s no one who doesn’t know your name. You didn’t bother to hide your movements, taking your time traveling. It would be hard not to know.”

His tone shifted, and the smile disappeared from his face. His golden slit eyes locked onto Aizen as he asked, “So, Aizen-kun, what brings you here this time?”

Chapter 98: Orochimaru Is Just There for Extortion

"What if I said I came to kill you? What would you do?" Aizen smirked, looking straight at Orochimaru as he casually let the words slip out.

As soon as he finished speaking, the room went dead silent. The air was filled with tension and a palpable killing intent.

From where Pakura stood, looking at both Aizen and Orochimaru, it was as if sparks were flying between them. She tensed up, slipping her hand behind her back, preparing her Scorch Release. The moment Aizen gave the word, she was ready to attack.

In the hidden chamber behind Orochimaru, both Kabuto and Kimimaro broke into a cold sweat.

They couldn’t help but feel nervous. After all, the man standing before them had once nearly killed their revered Orochimaru, leaving him on the brink of death, only for Orochimaru to recover through his reincarnation jutsu.

The scene of Orochimaru’s escape from the Wind Country base and his subsequent pitiful state still haunted them.

After a long pause, Orochimaru broke the silence, a faint smile on his lips. "You sure know how to joke, Aizen-kun. We have no grudges between us. If you really wanted to kill me, the last time would’ve been the best opportunity. Had your terrifying Wind Release attack not been deliberately off-target, I doubt I’d be sitting here right now."

"Oh? It seems Orochimaru-san knows quite a lot," Aizen replied, a meaningful smile spreading across his face.

"Likewise, Aizen-kun. Why don't you just tell me why you're really here?" Orochimaru asked.

"Our leader heard that the establishment of Otogakure might be related to you, so he sent us here to investigate. That's all there is to it," Aizen said nonchalantly.

Orochimaru wasn’t surprised in the slightest and chuckled softly. "Is that all? What’s your real reason for coming, Aizen-kun?"

"I heard that you’ve been in close contact with Sunagakure recently and that you’re planning the ‘Konoha Crush’ operation. But it seems like you don’t want to give Suna an easy win. Your plan is to kill the Fourth Kazekage during the Chūnin Exams, take his place, and use that identity to infiltrate Konoha. Then, during the final match, you plan on having a heartfelt battle with the Third Hokage in front of everyone. Am I right?" Aizen narrowed his eyes slightly.

"You know even that?" Orochimaru was visibly shocked but quickly composed himself. "So, Aizen-kun, are you planning to stop me?"

"Why would I stop you? I wiped out the entire clan of that old Third Hokage. Whether he lives or dies doesn’t matter to me."

Aizen shrugged, then pointed his thumb at Yakura beside him. "It’s just a coincidence that the lovely lady next to me has a major grudge against the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. So when you kill him, I hope you’ll include us."

Orochimaru gave Yakura a deep look, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He murmured, "That certainly makes things more interesting. But are you sure this is okay, Aizen-kun? I’m a traitor to Akatsuki, yet you’ve spared me several times and now even seek to cooperate with me. If Pain finds out, things could get messy for you."

"That’s not something you need to worry about. But speaking of which, Orochimaru-san, it seems like you still owe me something," Aizen said with a sly grin.

Orochimaru froze. "Owe you what?"

"Come on, Orochimaru-san, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten. Back when you defected from Akatsuki, you paid for your life with three things. If you can’t remember, things could get troublesome," Aizen chuckled.

"You're joking, right? The Flying Thunder God Technique is an S-Rank space-time jutsu developed by the Second Hokage. Only the Hokage or their successors have the right to learn it. How could I possibly have such a thing?" Orochimaru blatantly lied.

He was already wary of Aizen, and if such a space-time technique fell into Aizen’s hands, given his terrifying learning abilities, he could actually master it. If that happened, Aizen might leave marks on him or his subordinates.

Though Orochimaru could remove those marks using his substitution technique, his subordinates wouldn’t be able to do the same.

"I see..." Aizen smiled.

"Yes, that’s exactly it. My sincerest apologies, Aizen-kun," Orochimaru feigned innocence.

"No problem." Aizen smiled pleasantly, then suddenly changed the subject. "I heard you abducted a Kaguya clan orphan from Kirigakure years ago. He’s hiding in that chamber behind you, isn’t he? You were planning to use him as your next vessel, and he was eager to serve. But after losing to Itachi, you set your sights on his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha, didn’t you? It seems you’re still torn about which vessel to choose."

"And if I am?" Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint.

"Nothing much, just a friendly reminder. While the Kaguya clan’s Shikotsumyaku is powerful, it also carries a high risk of developing a Kekkei Genkai disease. The stronger the bloodline, the more likely this is. Since you’ve taken a liking to Kimimaro, he must be one of the best, but I’d bet that he’s already terminally ill."

"So now you’re left with only one ideal option—Sasuke. What do you think will happen if I destroy him before you get the chance to take him?"

Aizen’s words were a clear threat.

He vaguely remembered that after losing to Itachi, Orochimaru had become obsessed with him. However, since he couldn’t defeat him, Orochimaru shifted his focus to Kimimaro, cultivating him with great care. But after realizing Kimimaro was sick, Orochimaru turned his attention to Sasuke, leading to the infamous Chūnin Exams where Orochimaru implanted the curse mark on Sasuke.

"You..." Orochimaru was left speechless, feeling both frustrated and furious. He had been threatened once again by Aizen, and it was the same person as before.

"Don’t be mad. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about Sasuke—Itachi’s little brother or whatever. I just want the Flying Thunder God Technique. If you hand it over, I might help you get some unexpected results during the Chūnin Exams.

But please, don’t tell me you don’t have the Flying Thunder God. I know you were once a Hokage candidate. Even Jiraiya’s students got access to it. As someone obsessed with ninjutsu, I don’t believe you never got your hands on it," Aizen said with a smile.

"Aizen-kun, are you threatening me?" Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed as he stood up, suddenly releasing an overwhelming amount of chakra.

The lab was thrown into chaos as the experimental equipment scattered everywhere, and even the couch behind Orochimaru was flung against the stone walls.

The room echoed with the sound of objects shattering and crashing.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 99: The Third Hokage’s Extreme Humiliation*

As Orochimaru unleashed his chakra, Aizen also stood up.

"You could think of it that way," Aizen said, lightly tapping his right foot. Instantly, cracks spread across the stone floor, reaching the walls as the entire room began to shake.

Suddenly, a chakra far more powerful than Orochimaru’s exploded forth. In just an instant, it completely suppressed Orochimaru.

Kimimaro and Kabuto, hiding in the secret room, heard the commotion and rushed through the stone door.

“Orochimaru-sama!”

But before they could act, they were stunned by the overwhelming chakra Aizen was emitting.

“This chakra... it’s definitely Sage Mode. Where did Aizen learn such a perfect Sage Mode?” Orochimaru felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down his forehead, overwhelmed by the vast chakra Aizen had released.

"Fine, I’ll agree to your terms, but only after the Leaf Village Destruction Plan is complete. Also, one more thing: if you ever master the Flying Thunder God technique, you’re not allowed to use it on me or my subordinates."

The chakra receded, and after weighing the pros and cons, Orochimaru finally chose to compromise.

With the Leaf Village’s destruction plan so close, he knew he had to bide his time for now.

"Then, here’s to a successful partnership," Aizen smiled lightly as he withdrew his chakra.

Orochimaru had no interest in continuing the conversation.

He was afraid that if they kept talking, he wouldn’t be able to resist fighting Aizen. He quickly turned to Kabuto and shouted, "Kabuto, prepare the best guest rooms for these two."

“Yes, Orochimaru-sama. Please, follow me," Kabuto replied respectfully, speaking to Aizen and Yakura.

After Aizen and Pakura left, Kimimaro suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud, "It’s my failure to protect you, Orochimaru-sama. Please forgive me."

"Forget it, this isn’t your fault," Orochimaru waved his hand, clearly irritated, but there was a trace of sorrow in his eyes as he looked at Kimimaro.

“I’m sorry, Orochimaru-sama,” Kimimaro said, tears of guilt and regret streaming down his face.

Just as Haku was willing to give his life for Zabuza, treating him as the most important person in his life, Kimimaro felt the same way about Orochimaru. His loyalty was unwavering, and he would eliminate anyone who was useless or a hindrance to Orochimaru. He was even willing to sacrifice his life for him.

But Kimimaro knew the condition of his own body.

He could no longer serve as Orochimaru’s vessel.

“Forget it. You won’t participate in the upcoming plan to assassinate the Kazekage. With Aizen involved, it’s guaranteed to succeed. For now, stay at the base. I’ll have Kabuto try his best to treat your illness.”

Seeing Kimimaro’s despondent expression, Orochimaru knew that Aizen was right. He sighed heavily, a deep sense of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

At this point, it seemed that his best option was Sasuke.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage’s office at the Leaf Village...

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stood with his fists clenched behind his back, his brow furrowed as he listened to Kakashi’s report about the recent mission in the Land of Waves.

“You’re saying that not only did you encounter the rogue ninja Zabuza from the Mist Village, but also Fujihara Aizen?”

It had been more than four years since Sarutobi last heard the name Fujihara Aizen.

Even a seasoned politician like Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn’t maintain his composure.

Especially upon learning that Aizen was still alive and was indeed responsible for the massacre of the Sarutobi clan, Sarutobi felt an indescribable sense of humiliation.

Recalling Aizen’s past—how he had once shown him respect and admiration—now seemed like a farce.

The smiles Aizen had once given him were no longer out of flattery but mockery and disdain.

At this moment, Sarutobi felt like a clown who had been played.

His fists, clenched behind his back, began to tremble. The veins on his hands and forehead throbbed violently.

Had Kakashi been facing Sarutobi, he would have seen the terrifying, twisted expression on the face of the Third Hokage—a man once known for his high reputation, kindness, and concern for his subordinates.

At this moment, his face was terrifying, contorted with rage.

It was reminiscent of Sasuke in his darkest, most vengeful moments.

“Yes, Hokage-sama,” Kakashi nodded, unaware of the Third Hokage’s emotional turmoil.

As Aizen had said, even if Kakashi knew that the Leaf Village elders were responsible for his father’s death, he wouldn’t seek revenge, nor would he betray the village.

Still, Kakashi had absorbed some of what Aizen had said, keeping his father’s cause of death a secret.

Out of respect for Zabuza and Haku, he also chose not to mention that Aizen had written them a letter of introduction.

Instead, he only reported that the Mist Village had abolished its "Bloody Mist" policy, and Zabuza and Haku had been recalled by the new Fifth Mizukage. They were no longer rogue ninjas.

“What else did you discover?” Sarutobi pressed down the fury and humiliation in his heart, desperate for more information on Aizen.

Kakashi thought back to Aizen’s figure and, after organizing his thoughts, said, “He was wearing a black robe with red clouds and a conical hat with wind chimes. Rings of the same style were worn on different fingers. From his attire, it seems Aizen has joined some kind of organization.”

“Including Aizen, there were other people. other was female, but I couldn’t identify her. Despite being members of the same group, the woman appeared to hold Aizen in high regard, suggesting his high status within the organization.”

“In addition, Aizen has mastered genjutsu, body flicker techniques, and lightning-style jutsu to an extremely advanced level. He only used a shadow clone to block my Lightning Blade head-on. Then he used genjutsu to deceive my Sharingan, making me believe haku had died.”

“That’s likely how he managed to fool all of us during the Uchiha Clan Massacre.”

“In terms of body flicker techniques, he relied on that same shadow clone to block my Lightning Blade, then in an instant, used a samurai sword to kill all of Gato’s men—at least thirty of them.”

“Furthermore, his Chidori technique has surpassed my own. He can extend it into a sharp spear, piercing enemies from dozens of meters away. Its power is immense and nearly impossible to defend against.”

“As of now, that’s all the information I’ve gathered.”

Kakashi’s brief statement caused Sarutobi’s frown to deepen.

Aizen’s power was one thing, but his role in the Uchiha Clan Massacre remained a mystery. If the truth behind that massacre were ever revealed, it would deal a devastating blow to his reputation as the ‘strongest Hokage in history.’

At Sarutobi’s advanced age, with one foot already in the grave, death no longer frightened him.

What he feared was dying in disgrace.

Chapter 100: The Third Hokage’s Fear

Even if he must die, it must be like the Hokages before him, dying a hero to protect Konoha, with his burdens of darkness disappearing along with his death.

Only in this way can his legacy live on.

Thinking this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's old, cloudy eyes wavered with uncertainty. He sat back in his Hokage chair, lit his pipe, and exhaled clouds of smoke.

After a brief moment of thought, he asked again, "How does his current strength compare to yours?"

"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage." Kakashi stood up solemnly and said seriously, "With my current strength, in a one-on-one fight, I'm afraid I have no chance of winning. In fact, he no longer even considers me a threat."

As he spoke, Kakashi recalled Aizen's words about being able to destroy Konoha at will and added, "With all due respect, looking across the whole of Konoha, aside from you, Lord Hokage, perhaps only Jiraiya, who is traveling abroad, could match him."

"I see..." Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured, a deep sense of unwillingness flashing through his eyes. "I understand. You've worked hard on the mission to the Land of Waves. Go back and rest; I'll have someone else handle this matter."

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Hearing this, Kakashi respectfully replied and disappeared from the Hokage's office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was left alone, trying to drown his sorrows in smoke.

"Grandpa..."

At that moment, a little girl about four or five years old, with a striking resemblance to Uchiha Shisui, walked in. She was Sarutobi Mirai, who had been born eight years earlier than expected.

"Oh, Mirai, come give Grandpa a hug."

Seeing his only granddaughter, the last hope for his family's future, Sarutobi Hiruzen's previously stern face immediately softened, and a gentle smile appeared.

He gently lifted Sarutobi Mirai, his wrinkled face, marked with age spots, nuzzling her smooth, baby-soft cheeks.

With a kind tone, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, "What's the matter, Mirai? Did you come looking for Grandpa for something?"

Sarutobi Mirai blinked her big, round eyes and said in a childish voice, "Konohamaru-nii-chan is crying secretly again."

"Oh? Is that so? Why is he crying?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked patiently.

"Because he was peeing while squatting like Daddy, and I told him he looked like a girl," Sarutobi Mirai said playfully.

"Uh..." Sarutobi Hiruzen's face twitched, black lines appearing on his forehead. In his heart, he cursed Aizen tens of thousands of times.

Damn you, Fujiwara Aizen. Not only did you slaughter my entire clan, but you also castrated my son and grandson.

Meanwhile, as Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth in hatred, Aizen had already used a projection jutsu to arrive in Akatsuki's meeting space.

"Achoo!" Aizen sneezed out of nowhere.

"What's wrong, Aizen?" Pain asked him.

"Nothing, just someone badmouthing me, I guess," Aizen said, rubbing his slightly sore nose.

"Where’s Pakura?" Pain continued.

"We’re currently in the Hidden Sound Village. If we both use the projection jutsu, there would be no one left to keep watch," Aizen explained.

"Then let’s hear what you’ve found," Pain said, getting straight to the point.

Aizen nodded and said seriously, "I've confirmed everything. Rather than saying the Hidden Sound Village is connected to Orochimaru, it's more accurate to say that he founded it. I confronted him directly but couldn't kill him."

"Why not?" Pain asked, surprised.

The other Akatsuki members also turned their curious gazes toward Aizen.

In their eyes, if Aizen really wanted to kill Orochimaru, it wouldn’t be too difficult. After all, Aizen's abilities far surpassed Orochimaru’s in every way.

"Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage using the Edo Tensei."

Aizen’s words stunned everyone.

Kakuzu, who once threw a shuriken at the First Hokage from 800 miles away, couldn’t help but exclaim, "The First Hokage... has the God of Shinobi been resurrected?"

"Yes, but don't worry. Orochimaru's Edo Tensei isn't perfected. The two Hokages are nowhere near their prime strength. In a real fight, it's uncertain who would win."

"Even if Orochimaru could summon the First Hokage at full power, he wouldn't dare. The strength of the God of Shinobi is such that Edo Tensei wouldn’t be able to control him. At that point, the one who would die the quickest would be Orochimaru himself. Kakuzu, who once fought the First Hokage, would agree with me, right?"

Aizen entered into persuasion mode.

"Indeed, even the Third Kazekage could break free of Edo Tensei through sheer willpower. With the power of the First Hokage, resisting Edo Tensei would be a breeze," Kakuzu nodded in agreement.

"So, Aizen, do you have a plan?" Pain asked, a hint of concern in his eyes.

The First Hokage’s reputation had reached even him. A contemporary of Uchiha Madara, and someone even stronger, the prospect of his resurrection was alarming.

Aizen shrugged. "Orochimaru explained his Konoha Crush plan to me. He's planning to use the upcoming Chunin Exams, with the help of the Sand Village, to kill the Third Hokage and destroy Konoha. But it seems he doesn’t want to hand victory to the Sand. He’s planning to kill the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, on his way to Konoha and has asked me and Pakura for help."

"I think we should help him take out the Fourth Kazekage and let Yagura complete her revenge. As for Orochimaru and the First and Second Hokage, let the old man Sarutobi deal with them."

"Aizen-nii-san, if even you can’t handle the First Hokage, how do you expect that old man Sarutobi to manage? Haven't you always said the so-called 'strongest Hokage' title for Sarutobi is just brainwashing propaganda to control the villagers of Konoha?" Deidara asked, surprised.

"That old man’s power isn't great, but don't underestimate Konoha’s hidden strength. As far as I know, the Third Hokage controls a jutsu that allows him to die together with his enemy. That’s why I didn’t kill him when I wiped out the Sarutobi clan," Aizen said.

"A die-together jutsu? What kind of jutsu is that?" Deidara asked, immediately intrigued.

The others also looked on curiously.

"I don’t know the exact details, but I do know that the Fourth Hokage died using it. We’ll probably see it at the upcoming Chunin Exams," Aizen said with a meaningful glance at Itachi, laughing softly.

Hearing this, Itachi felt a sense of relief. He had been worried that Aizen would expose Konoha’s deepest secrets.