CHAPTER 190 - 190: THIRD HOKGE DEATH

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"Are you sure?"

Konan asked again, her voice steady but cautious. She would only follow through if the plan was truly feasible.

"Of course," the masked man nodded. "Follow me. I will explain everything."

Without another word, he turned and left. Konan hesitated for a moment, then finally followed him.

...

Inside the Hidden Leaf Village.

The place was a ruin—everywhere bore the scars of destruction from the Deva Path's Chibaku Tensei.

Seeing their homes devastated like this...

But the villagers of Konoha were more relieved than sorrowful.

Because if that man hadn't appeared, their situation would be far worse. Perhaps none of them would even be alive.

If your house is gone, you can rebuild it.

But if your life is lost, there's no second chance.

After Uchiha Haru had left, the villagers were still stunned that he had completed what seemed an impossible task—alone.

Suddenly, several ninja appeared at the edge of the battlefield.

Their clothes were stained with blood, grief clear in their eyes.

But as they looked around, their expressions froze in disbelief.

This... is supposed to be Konoha?

Where was the Hokage Rock?

Where was the Ninja Academy?

Where was the village?

Everything was gone.

Had they not lived there for so long, so intimately familiar with the place, they might have doubted they were even in Konoha.

Kakashi and Asuma soon noticed these returning ninja.

They recognized them as members of the ANBU squad assigned to protect the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

After Orochimaru's sudden assault on the village, Sarutobi had gone missing.

Though he had always valued strength above many things, sometimes committing acts beyond ordinary understanding, Sarutobi still cared deeply for Konoha and its people.

He knew Orochimaru was a formidable foe and must have prepared a contingency plan during his disappearance.

Nonetheless, Sarutobi fought Orochimaru without hesitation to defend the village.

To minimize civilian casualties, he deliberately drew the battle outside the village limits.

Now, these ANBU who had guarded Sarutobi closely had returned—but Sarutobi himself was nowhere to be found.

Could something have happened?

Kakashi's mind raced. Without hesitation, he vanished with a Body Flicker Technique and reappeared before the ANBU group.

Asuma, Might Guy, and others quickly followed.

A heavy silence filled the air; everyone sensed something was gravely wrong.

The ANBU, normally confident protectors, now looked ashamed and uneasy, but their leader stepped forward.

"What happened?" Kakashi demanded.

"Where is the Third Hokage?" Asuma's voice was firm, bordering on desperate.

The lead ANBU sighed deeply, grief etched in his face.

"To protect the innocent villagers, the Hokage used himself as bait to lure Orochimaru away from the Hidden Leaf and engaged him in battle."

"Eventually... he..." The ANBU's voice cracked with sorrow.

A heavy silence followed, the pain in his eyes unmistakable.

Though he didn't finish the sentence, the meaning was clear.

Kakashi was stunned.

Since learning the true nature of the Third Hokage, all his previous respect had turned to resentment. He had grown to despise the man for his cold, calculating decisions and for his role in his father's death.

He even wanted to overthrow Sarutobi's "corrupt and dark" regime.

But now... learning that the man had given his life for Konoha stirred a strange, conflicted feeling deep inside him.

"What?" Asuma's voice cracked, disbelief turning to near outrage.

"How could the Hokage fall? How is this possible?"

Asuma was the Third Hokage's son.

Though he had clashed with his father during his youth, those moments were mere youthful rebellion.

Deep down, Asuma admired and was proud of Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been not just his father but a hero and a spiritual pillar.

Now, the news shattered him completely.

His mind went blank.

Only one phrase echoed in his heart:

"Impossible. This can't be real."

"How could the Third Hokage die... He is the Hokage!"

Even though, deep down, he might not truly understand it.

His father was old, and his strength had been gradually declining over the years.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru—the opponent—was in his prime. Decades ago, he had been renowned as one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha. His current power was impossible to accurately gauge.

Moreover, this sudden strike must have been meticulously planned.

If the two truly fought head-on, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have been more likely to lose than to win.

Behind Asuma, Yuhi Kurenai heard the news and was also visibly surprised.

For some reason, a sudden thought flashed through her mind—she recalled what Uchiha Haru had once told her.

He would never let her return to a life ruled by fear.

She had originally thought that Haru would either take her away from all this, or intimidate the Third Hokage enough to prevent him from acting against Haru.

But now... could it be that all of this was part of Haru's plan?

This inexplicable thought surfaced unexpectedly in Yuhi Kurenai's mind.

Although it was merely speculation, with no concrete evidence, the possibility lingered.

Might Guy's face also showed surprise and sorrow.

This ninja, known for his boundless enthusiasm and simple-mindedness, was showing the purest grief for the passing of the Third Hokage.

"Where is Orochimaru?"

After a moment of solemn silence, several people gathered their thoughts.

As the son of the Third Hokage, Asuma was the first to ask.

The grief in his heart immediately transformed into burning hatred.

He wanted revenge.

He wanted to kill Orochimaru and avenge his father.

Others exchanged looks and turned toward the ANBU members.

Some shared Asuma's thirst for vengeance.

But others did not.

For example, Kakashi and Yuhi Kurenai.

These two, who knew the true nature of Sarutobi Hiruzen, felt little sadness over his death beyond mild surprise and a faint sense of relief—perhaps even some joy.

Others might not know, but they were well aware that the Third Hokage was far from a perfect man.

His death seemed only fitting.

Still, everyone was concerned about Orochimaru's whereabouts.

Orochimaru had killed the Third Hokage.

But he must not be allowed to harm anyone else.

Especially the innocent villagers of Konoha—they must be protected.

Kakashi's thoughts immediately turned to his student, Uchiha Sasuke.

When Sasuke had been in the Forest of Death, Orochimaru found him and branded a Cursed Seal of Heaven on his shoulder.

This seal contained tremendous power.

Kakashi had seen it before, yet had no way to remove or counteract it.

Clearly, Orochimaru's reckless acts were motivated by some deeper plan—not mere boredom.

Now that the Third Hokage was dead and Konoha had suffered a devastating blow,

Would Orochimaru's next target be... Sasuke?!

"Don't worry," the lead ANBU said, his face tight with hatred. "Though the Third Hokage died in battle, Orochimaru's victory was not without cost."

"To defeat Orochimaru, the Hokage was forced to use the Shiki Fujin."

Shiki Fujin.

Hearing those words, the faces of everyone present changed.

No one here was unfamiliar with that forbidden sealing technique.

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had used it years ago to seal the Nine-Tails.

The cost was grave—he sacrificed his life to contain Kurama's power.

Now, to protect Konoha, the Third Hokage had resorted to the same ultimate technique against Orochimaru.

"It's just a pity..."

At this point, the ANBU member's grief became unbearable. He was almost speechless.

Kakashi, Asuma, and the others urgently pressed him.

"What happened next?"

Could it be that even the Shiki Fujin failed to seal Orochimaru?

Had Orochimaru become so powerful that he resisted the sealing technique?

"Unfortunately, when the Hokage performed the Shiki Fujin, he was already gravely wounded."

"The seal was incomplete. He couldn't hold on."

The ANBU sighed deeply.

"Still, the Hokage managed to seal Orochimaru's hands. His strength is no longer what it was."

At those words, every person present imagined the tragic scene.

Even Kakashi and Yuhi Kurenai, who had harbored bitterness toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, couldn't help but admire his sacrifice.

For Konoha, he died alongside his enemy.

Such a man may have committed many mistakes—but he was not entirely bad.

"Third Hokage.. dad... father..."

Asuma could hold back no longer. He collapsed to his knees, covering his face as he wept bitterly.

This blow was too heavy to bear.

No one approached or tried to comfort him.

First, everyone was grieving or burdened with their own complicated feelings.

Second, after such a tragedy, there was no way Asuma would keep his sorrow bottled inside. He needed to release it, to feel relief in the act of mourning.

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