Chapter Fifteen: Echoes
The rooftop was a wasteland—tiles shattered, wood splinters scattered from Hashirama's ruined Deep Forest Emergence. The Four Violet Flames Formation flickered, purple flames wavering as the Sound Four's chakra buckled under Kenshin Yogen's unleashed torrent.
Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Orochimaru stood battered, chakras turbulent, eyes fixed on Kenshin. His jet-black hair cascaded in wild flows, Rokugan glowing faintly. His Chakra Morph Jutsu had aged him to his mid-twenties—a sharper, taller frame radiating devastating power. An unknown shinobi who'd humbled four legends with terrifying ease.
Kenshin's grin was wild, his tattered cloak flapping as he stared at Orochimaru. "Hehe, time for the finale, what say you Orochimaru-Sama," he said, voice dripping with glee, Observation Haki pinging the Sannin's coiled chakra.
Let's see what the snake's game is.
Hashirama's earthy chakra pulsed, his Edo Tensei form regenerating the Rasengan's crater in his chest. His warm eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Young man," he said, voice steady, "your strength… it reminds me of someone from long ago. But who are you, truly?"
Kenshin tilted his head, smirking. "Just a fan of the classics, Lord First. Let's say I'm inspired by the best." His aged-up form carried a cryptic edge, stirring a ripple in Hashirama's chakra.
Tobirama, jaw cracked from Kenshin's taijutsu, stepped forward, chakra sharp as a kunai. "Enough games," he snapped, eyes cold. "No shinobi wields space-time jutsu like that or knows Edo Tensei's mechanics without training. Who are you? What village claims you?"
Kenshin chuckled, folding his arms. "Freelance, Lord Second. I pick up tricks here and there. Just me." His Rokugan caught Tobirama's probing chakra.
Hiruzen, clutching his dislocated shoulder, leaned on Enma's staff-form, ribs aching from Kenshin's kick. His gaze burned with resolve. "Whoever you are," he rasped, "you've disrupted a battle that endangers Konoha. Your strength is undeniable, but your motives are a mystery. Are you friend or foe?"
Kenshin's eyes glinted, his grin unreadable. "Foe? Nah, I'm just here for the show, Third Hokage. But Konoha's still standing, so maybe I'm not all bad." His playful tone hid a flicker of calculation—Hiruzen's defiance could spark trouble if he lingered.
Gotta wrap this up before the old man gets ideas.
---
The rooftop was a frozen stage, Kenshin's presence suffocating. His chakra hummed with untapped power as the legends' minds traced his impact since his boots had first clicked inside the barrier. Below, Konoha's arena roared—Sound ninja clashing with the village's forces—but here, the unknown shinobi dominated their thoughts.
Hashirama felt his Edo Tensei form aching, the Rasengan's crater knitting slowly. His warm gaze studied Kenshin's frame.
His power reminds me of the good old days, when I was still flesh and blood. The vulnerability reminds me of childhood during the warring era—the vulnerability that made me crave peace, that led me to create Konoha with Madara.
This body's a shackle. I could've danced with him, pushed him to his limits. The Chidori's scorch on his torso sparked regret. If I were alive… what a clash.
Since Kenshin's teleportation, Hashirama had sensed a spark—his space-time technique thwarting Orochimaru, his taijutsu cracking undead armor.
He fights for thrill, like Madara when we crossed paths. His optimism flared, tempered by Kenshin's unknown path. He could forge something great… or terrible.
"We must reach him," he murmured, voice soft, "before he loses himself."
Tobirama's chakra seethed, his Chidori-pierced chest and cracked jaw burning with shame. His analytical mind dissected Kenshin's intrusion—teleporting through a sealed barrier, countering water jutsu with speed, exploiting Edo Tensei's flaws.
His dojutsu, those glowing eyes, tracks chakra like a hawk. Kenshin's technique—swapping Tobirama into a branch—rivaled Flying Thunder God. Never did I think I would see a jutsu like Flying Thunder God.
Kenshin's "freelance" claim was infuriating. No shinobi rises alone. His knowledge of forbidden jutsu was alarming. What has Konoha become, that precious techniques would be divulged to strangers?
He's a rogue, a threat to stability. Tobirama's hand twitched, seals impossible in his damaged state. Konoha must crush him before he unravels the world.
"He's too dangerous," he growled, chakra spiking. If only Hashirama and I were still alive, we could have stopped this insurgency. I expected another Madara, but this isn't from the cursed Uchiha—it's a stranger. He shook his head. Saru...
Hiruzen's ribs throbbed, his shoulder screaming, Enma's staff his lifeline. His gaze bored into Kenshin's form—tall, sharp, undeniably real.
A calamity.
Since Kenshin's arrival, Hiruzen had felt outmatched—Fireball snuffed, taijutsu crushed by that kick.
He broke Hashirama's wood, matched Tobirama's speed, and tossed me like a rag. The uppercut into the barrier stung his pride. I'm Hokage, yet he toyed with me.
Kenshin's "here for the show" rang hollow. Power like that has purpose. Hiruzen's mind raced—Konoha's invasion, Orochimaru's betrayal, now this unknown.
He could end us. His student's ambition paled beside Kenshin's strength. Friend or foe, he's a crisis.
Hiruzen's resolve hardened. "I'll protect Konoha," he muttered, voice strained. "At any cost."
When the leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, the leaves shall bud anew. I shall embody the Will of Fire and snuff out this threat for the Leaf.
Orochimaru lurked at the edge, ribs cracked, blood drying from Kenshin's kick. His slit pupils devoured Kenshin's form—tall, sharp.
Exquisite.
Kenshin's teleportation, his presence ruining Edo Tensei, his Chidori felling Tobirama—every move enthralled Orochimaru.
A masterpiece of power and mystery. Kenshin's "bigger dream" taunt ignited hunger. What surpasses immortality? His chakra coiled, predatory.
He knows forbidden jutsu, wields space-time techniques. Kenshin's "finale" offer screamed opportunity. It doesn't seem like an offer I should refuse. Let's see what it's about.
Orochimaru's tongue flicked. A fine vessel, one I cannot take, thwarted by strength—just like Itachi, and that man. I can't wait to gain a newer, younger vessel. Uchiha Sasuke.
---
Kenshin's Rokugan swept the rooftop, sensing the legends' turbulent chakras. He turned to Orochimaru, grin sharpening. "So, Orochimaru-Sama, you didn't answer. What's the finale? You came to gut Konoha, kill the old man, right? Let's make it happen."
His voice was playful, but his eyes glinted with intent, Observation Haki tracking the Sannin's reaction. "I take out Hiruzen, you owe me a favor—a little chaos here and there."
Konoha would be better without Hiruzen. Call it Chinese fanfics poisoning my mind. Tsunade would be a better choice as Hokage, and it gives me a semblance of control. And those jugs need a promotion. Hehehe.
Orochimaru's slit pupils widened, a predatory smile curling. "Hehe, bold," he rasped, stepping closer, chakra coiling like a viper. "You'd slay the Hokage for a favor? Intriguing. But why should I owe you a favor? For all I know, you would have done it anyway."
Kenshin laughed, arms spread. "Hehe, why don't I make the favor two parts? I'll let you live to achieve immortality, if you conform to my favor. We three are the only living people inside this barrier."
Hiruzen's death would net system feats, and keeping Orochimaru in check can help the little Uchiha. There's no handicap to help him against Orochimaru in the future—wouldn't want the squirt to end up possessed, you know.
Play the snake, win the game.
Orochimaru's tongue flicked, weighing Kenshin's words. "A favor, then," he purred, voice venomous. "How am I to affect the killing? You could definitely do it alone."
Kenshin's grin didn't falter. "Call it needing a live audience, and we have a lot to discuss after this little spat." His Rokugan locked onto Hiruzen, chakra humming with anticipation.
Hiruzen's chakra flared, Enma glinting as he staggered forward. "You dare?" he growled, voice fierce. "I won't let you destroy Konoha!"
Tobirama's eyes narrowed, chakra spiking. "Boy, you would come into one's village to kill its Kage. Do not think you would succeed whilst we are here."
Hashirama's voice was heavy, eyes on Kenshin. "Young man, this path… it leads to ruin," he said, regret lacing his tone, his chakra dimming.
Orochimaru's laugh slithered, delighted. "Enough, old men. You couldn't fulfill what I summoned you for—someone else has delivered." He raised a hand, seals flashing. The ground rumbled, two Edo Tensei coffins surging from the tiles, their lids creaking open, dark chakra swirling like smoke.
Hashirama and Tobirama's forms began to unravel, gray flesh flaking, drawn toward the coffins.
Hashirama's warm gaze lingered on Kenshin, a wistful smile breaking through. "Your fire… it burns bright," he said, voice fading as his body drifted backward, feet scraping tiles. "Don't let it consume you, young one. Find a purpose beyond chaos."
His chakra pulsed one last time, nostalgic, before he sank into the coffin, the lid slamming shut with a hollow thud.
Tobirama resisted, chakra flaring defiantly, his cracked jaw set. "You're a fool, boy," he spat at Kenshin, eyes cold as his body was pulled toward the coffin. "This power will be your undoing, and Konoha will hunt you to the ends of the earth."
His hand twitched, as if to weave seals, but the Edo Tensei's pull was relentless. "Saru… survive," he growled, voice echoing as he sank into the coffin, the lid sealing with a final crack.
The coffins crumbled to ash, their chakras vanishing, leaving the rooftop eerily silent save for the barrier's flicker and Konoha's distant roars.
Kenshin turned to Hiruzen, Rokugan glowing, Playful Cloud in hand. "Showtime, Third," he said, blurring with Soru.
Hiruzen parried with Enma, staff clanging, but his injuries slowed him, blood dripping from his lips. Kenshin's Divine Hand-to-Hand Combat surged—a knee to Hiruzen's gut, doubling him over, followed by a spinning kick to his ribs, cracking bone.
Hiruzen skidded back, Enma trembling, but his chakra flared, eyes burning with desperate resolve.
"I've failed… Konoha," Hiruzen whispered, voice thick with regret, his mind flashing to the village below—children cheering at the Chunin Exams, Jiraiya's grin, Tsunade's strength, Naruto's spark.
This shinobi… he's a storm I couldn't stop. His failure to kill Orochimaru years ago, now this unknown's dominance, crushed him.
But I'll take him with me.
"For Konoha!" he roared, hands weaving seals with frantic precision—Snake, Boar, Ram, Rabbit, Dog, Rat, Bird, Horse, Snake, Clap Hands.
Kenshin's Rokugan caught the sequence, his instincts screaming alarm.
Death Reaper Seal. I have no counter for this legendary jutsu. I have to quickly stop the Third Hokage from completing the hand seals.
The air grew heavy, a chill spreading as Hiruzen's chakra surged, still weaving hand seals. Kenshin briefly activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, locking eyes with Hiruzen. Leveraging his grandmaster genjutsu skills, he put Hiruzen in an illusion. The world shimmered, plunging the Hokage into a nightmare—Konoha's gates aflame, his students' faces twisted in betrayal, Naruto weeping over a ruined village.
Hiruzen froze, hands stalling mid-weave, eyes glazing as the weight of the genjutsu crushed his already somber mood.
Kenshin seized the moment, Chidori sparking, lightning arcing like a storm. "Sorry, old man," he said, voice soft but unyielding. He thrust, the bolt piercing Hiruzen's chest, electricity sizzling through his heart.
Hiruzen's genjutsu shattered, his eyes clearing for a final, defiant glare. "You… won't break… Konoha's will," he gasped, blood bubbling, his hand reaching out as if to grasp the village one last time.
He collapsed, lifeless. Enma reverted to monkey form, screeching in anguish, its cries echoing across the rooftop.
The System pinged, notifications flooding Kenshin's vision:
[Feat Achieved! Killed A Kage.]
+1 Diamond Ticket.
[Feat Achieved! Killed The Third Hokage.]
+1 Legendary Ticket.
---
"Hmmph, I've held up my end of the bargain, Snake Sannin. I'll come to you for your end of the bargain soon."
Kenshin's voice was steady, but a flicker of somberness crossed his face, his Rokugan dimming slightly as he glanced at Hiruzen's body. The weight of the act settled briefly—a rare crack in his chaotic facade.
Orochimaru's eyes flickered, a glint of curiosity piercing his predatory gaze. "You feel emotions too, why? I wonder, were you ever a member of Konoha, or is the weight of taking a life too much for your chaotic mindset?"
"Don't push your luck, snake. I could just as easily end your pursuit of immortality. Don't think your curse marks can save you from me."
Kenshin's tone was sharp, his grin returning. His Observation Haki caught Orochimaru's shock.
Heh, that'll teach you not to probe.
He walked away from the scene, steps deliberate across the shattered tiles. The barrier's purple flames collapsed into sparks behind him. Orochimaru's chakra coiled, then vanished as he melted into the shadows, retreating into the arena's chaos. His Sound ninja scattered below, their mission sealed in blood.
Kenshin locked onto a chakra signature he had prepared beforehand and teleported via Instant Transmission.
....
-One Mythical Ticket
- Five Legendary Tickets
- Seven Diamond Tickets
- Two Platinum Tickets
- Two Gold Tickets