Hiruzen persuaded me to die

"It won't be that easy to kill me."

Hyuga Naraku's voice was calm, cold, and unwavering.

His glowing Tenseigan fixated on the ethereal presence looming behind Sarutobi Hiruzen—the Shinigami.

For the longest time, Naraku had been curious about this entity. Cloaked in a white, priest-like robe, its form was eerily similar to the Ōtsutsuki clan—two sharp red horns, ghostly white aura, and a presence detached from reality.

"So... after reaching a certain threshold, does chakra evolve into this divine form on its own? Just like the Ōtsutsuki..."Naraku mused, eyes narrowing.

He recalled how Obito and Madara, after becoming the Ten Tails' Jinchūriki, gained divine robes—how Naruto, in his Six Paths mode, bore markings and traits akin to the gods themselves. Even he, when unleashing Tenseigan Chakra Mode, bore a single horn and his attire changed instinctively.

"Could this robe be a sign of crossing the Six Paths threshold?"

Naraku's piercing gaze continued to study the ghostly Shinigami as Hiruzen, blood flowing from his mouth, let out a crazed laugh.

"Die, Hyuga Naraku!!"

From his own abdomen, the Shinigami's spectral arm lunged forward, clawing toward Naraku's soul.

But Naraku moved effortlessly, gliding backward, avoiding the grasp.

"It's made of chakra… even the Shinigami?"

Naraku turned to Tobirama Senju. "Didn't you once write in the Scroll of Seals that the chakra signature from summoning the Shinigami was similar to that of the Impure World Reincarnation technique?"

Tobirama blinked in surprise, nodding instinctively. "Yes… I theorized the Shinigami is a unique existence—likely a guardian of the underworld. Its chakra is… ancient."

He caught himself a second later and snapped, "But now's not the time for research, dammit! Get out of here! That thing is dangerous!"

Hashirama, already in Sage Mode, nodded solemnly. "I can barely sense it. Its chakra is overwhelming… You shouldn't be fighting this, Naraku. You're the Hokage."

But Naraku smiled faintly.

"I just want to see this Forbidden Technique up close."

He effortlessly dodged another sweeping claw from the Shinigami, completely unfazed.

"Worst case, I teleport away," he thought calmly.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen's eyes widened in disbelief.

"He dodged it again... He can see the Shinigami?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen began to understand—this wasn't the opponent he could defeat. Not anymore.

"Don't overestimate your Forbidden Jutsu, Hiruzen."

Naraku's hands formed seals in a blur.

With a burst of divine energy, his form lit up—Tenseigan Chakra Mode. A radiant aura enveloped him, and the black orbs of Truth-Seeking Balls hovered behind him, humming with pure power.

Before, he had refrained from using this form.

He hadn't wanted to risk damaging the spiritual bodies of Hashirama and Tobirama. It would be disgraceful for the Fifth Hokage to erase the legacy of the First and Second.

But now... he faced no such restraint.

Buzz—!

A Truth-Seeking Ball rotated and took the shape of a scepter. Naraku held it in one hand as the Shinigami shrieked again, charging forward with greed-driven fury.

"Even the Shinigami desires my soul," Naraku muttered, tone steady.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face twisted into a bloodied grin. "Yes! Even the Shinigami wants your life! You'll die today, Naraku!"

But Naraku raised his scepter without fear and struck downward.

Crack—!

The scepter clashed with the Shinigami's arm, emitting a horrible scream from the specter. Its body rippled, but its hunger remained insatiable—it lunged again.

"So... it's not rational," Naraku concluded."It acts on instinct. Greed. It devours souls to absorb their chakra. Orochimaru being able to 'bug' it makes more sense now..."

Indeed, Shinigami's reaction to strong chakra was like a beast drawn to a flame. It cared not for the will of its summoner—only its own hunger.

"This thing is not divine. It's a creature of chakra, drawn to Yin and especially Yang release. It seeks unity of both—true life."

The sky darkened as Naraku summoned all twelve of his Truth-Seeking Balls.

Each one glowed fiercely, merging in midair. The fusion compressed, collapsed inward—until it formed a single, golden blade of unimaginable density.

Tobirama's eyes widened. "What… What kind of weapon is that?!"

Hashirama stared, mouth open. "This isn't any ninjutsu I've ever seen… Has the Byakugan evolved into this?"

Naraku gripped the golden blade with both hands. His eyes locked onto the mindless Shinigami.

"This is the end."

"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!!"

The golden blade roared through space, crashing down in a sweeping arc!

SLAASH—!!

The Shinigami screamed—a horrid, bone-chilling cry that echoed across the battlefield. The golden sword tore through its chest, ripping a gaping hole in its spirit form.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched, horror flooding his soul.

"No... No!! That was my last move! My final card!! This can't be!!"

Shinigami, injured and howling, turned away.

A rift opened behind it—an illusory gateway to the underworld. In desperation, the ghostly figure fled, vanishing into the dark silence beyond.

Naraku lowered his sword, watching the gateway close.

"So it can be hurt. It does fear death. It's not truly divine... just a predator. An ancient shadow given hunger."

He turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose body was trembling with despair.

"Your last trick has failed."

"The ghoul seal... is only this strong. If it were truly unstoppable, the Uzumaki clan would've ruled the Shinobi world."

Naraku took a step forward, his voice cold and resolute.

"This was your final move, Hiruzen. Is there anything left to say?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell to his knees. His eyes, bloodshot and hollow, stared at the empty sky where the Shinigami had once been.

He said nothing.

Because now, he had nothing left.

Only despair.