NOVEL WEB Chapter 96: Chapter : 97
As Orochimaru unleashed his chakra, Kirito rose to his feet.
"You could say that," he replied, pressing his right foot lightly against the floor. The stone chamber trembled, and cracks shot out across the floor and walls, shaking the entire room. In a flash, Kirito's chakra surged, its intensity overwhelming Orochimaru's own.
In the secret room behind Orochimaru, Kabuto and Kimimaro heard the commotion and rushed in.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
But as soon as they stepped into the room, they were struck by the sheer force of Kirito's chakra.
"This chakra... It's unmistakably Sage energy. How did Kirito master such a perfect Sage Mode?" Orochimaru whispered, breaking into a cold sweat.
After a long, tense moment, Orochimaru finally restrained his chakra, weighing his options. "Fine. I'll agree to your terms, but only after the Konoha Crush plan is complete. And, if you ever master the Flying Thunder God technique, you must promise never to use it on me or my subordinates."
Seeing Orochimaru's reluctant submission, Kirito smiled and reined in his own chakra.
Their meeting concluded, Orochimaru turned to Kabuto. "Prepare our best rooms for these two," he ordered, eager to end the conversation before his resolve wavered further.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru. Please, follow me," Kabuto said, gesturing to Kirito and Pakura.
After they left, Kimimaro knelt before Orochimaru, remorseful. "I failed to protect you. Please forgive me, Lord Orochimaru."
"Enough, it wasn't your fault," Orochimaru replied, his voice sharp yet pained as he looked at Kimimaro, his most loyal follower.
Kimimaro lowered his head, tears glistening in his eyes. His loyalty to Orochimaru was unwavering, akin to Haku's devotion to Zabuza. He would have given his life to protect Orochimaru. But even he knew his illness made him unsuitable as Orochimaru's vessel.
Orochimaru sighed, seeing the truth in what Kirito had told him about Kimimaro's deteriorating health. "You're not to take part in the assassination of the Kazekage. With Kirito's help, it's bound to succeed. Stay here and let Kabuto try to treat your illness."
Meanwhile, in Konoha's Hokage building, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood with his back to Kakashi, his fists clenched as he listened to the report from the Land of Waves.
"So, not only did you encounter Zabuza of the Mist, but also Fujiwara Kirito?"
Hearing Kirito's name after all these years shook even the experienced Hokage. Learning that Kirito was alive—and was the one who had slaughtered the Sarutobi clan—awoke a deeply buried rage and shame within him.
Reflecting on Kirito's past admiration and respect now seemed like a mockery, as if Kirito had been deceiving him all along. Every smile, every kind word, felt tainted with sarcasm and disdain.
For the first time, the Third Hokage, known as a calm and wise leader, appeared furious, his fists trembling and veins bulging on his forehead. Had Kakashi been able to see Sarutobi's face, he would have witnessed a Hokage who looked more vengeful than benevolent, his expression twisted with anger.
But Kakashi, focused on the report, didn't notice the shift. True to his loyalty, Kakashi would never betray Konoha, even with the information Kirito had shared about his father's death. He kept much of it to himself, choosing instead to only confirm the details relevant to the mission.
"Tell me what you observed," Hiruzen demanded, struggling to control his fury.
Kakashi composed his thoughts, recalling every detail he could remember. "Kirito was wearing a black cloak with red clouds and a wind chime hat. He had a ring, part of a set he shares with others, suggesting he's part of an organization. There was another figure with him, likely female, but her identity remains unknown. She appeared to defer to him, so it seems he holds a high rank within this group."
Kakashi hesitated slightly as he continued. "Kirito's skill in genjutsu, the Body Flicker Technique, and Lightning Release is exceptional. He used only a shadow clone to intercept my Raikiri, then employed illusions to deceive even my Sharingan, making me believe he was dead. That's probably how he concealed his survival after the Uchiha incident."
He paused before adding, "I also observed that he's improved his Chidori to such a degree that he can extend it as a spear over a distance of several meters, making it incredibly lethal and nearly impossible to defend against."
As Kakashi finished, Sarutobi Hiruzen's frown deepened. Kirito's strength was one thing, but what troubled him more was the potential knowledge Kirito held about the Uchiha massacre. If Kirito ever revealed the truth, the ramifications could be devastating for Hiruzen's reputation as the "strongest Hokage in history."
The Third Hokage, now advanced in age, feared not for his life but for his legacy, the honor he'd carefully built over decades.
(End of the Chapter)
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