❝ you terrifying inhuman creature❞

the third round of chunnin exams begins today. This time the test allowed residents to participate in watching and was held in an open arena. So there are ANBU manning every corner. It is also because of the possibility that Orochimaru is still in Konoha.

Shizuka's job today is as the Hokage's bodyguard. She was standing next to the Hokage who was sitting with the Kazekage.

Shizuka took the time to watch the match while observing whether there was anything strange in the arena. The first match is between Naruto and Neji Hyuuga. At first, Naruto almost lost, but he took out Kyuubi's chakra to reopen the chakra channel that Neji had closed.

How he could do that, was something she needed to ask.

What Naruto did clearly shocked Shizuka and the Hokage. And Shizuka was ready if the Kyuubi's chakra got out of hand. However, luckily Naruto only wore it temporarily. He had time to cornered the Hyuuga child and finally won against him. Honestly, Shizuka was a little surprised to see that.

Then the next match is Nara Shikamaru and Temari. Their match is quite satisfying, she admits that. Unfortunately, Nara Shikamaru lost —actually he give up— but his strategy really amazed the Hokage.

There should be two more matches before their match. But one forfeited and the other was pushed back last. They are Gaara and Sasuke. The reason is, Sasuke hasn't arrived yet.

Shizuka knew that he was being trained by Kakashi. But did Kakashi's late habit stuck with that Uchiha boy too?

It was almost as if Sasuke was about to be disqualified before suddenly, Sasuke and Kakashi appeared in the middle of the field. A dramatic entrance. Shizuka snorted, this must be Kakashi's doing.

The fight began. Between sand and lightning. Chidori. Yes, it seems really Kakashi taught him that dangerous jutsu. The jutsu that with one strike can kill another ninja easily. Shizuka still couldn't understand why Kakashi taught him the technique. But if you look at who the opponent is, it seems there really is no other choice.

Then when Sasuke finally broke through Gaara's sand barrier, something happened. Suddenly someone throwing an explosion and gas papers at where the kages were sitting, and smoke enveloped them.

Shizuka gives a look at the Hokage before nodding. She quickly made a kage bunshin then her real body turned into a small stone which was immediately caught by the Hokage and he put it in his Hokage robe pocket.

Just like what the two of them predicted, Sunagakure had betrayed them. And the fake Shizuka was killed on the spot, leaving the Hokage alone among the foreign ninja. A kunai was near Hiruzen's neck, with the Kazekage behind him. Then jumped to the roof. "Ninja Art: Four Flames Formation!" A purple wall-like barrier appeared and caught them inside.

"Kazekage-dono," Hiruzen calmly stated. "For the Sand to betray the Leaf..."

"An alliance is only useful as camouflage to make the enemy relax his guard," replied the Kazekage. "The stupid fighting games end here. From here, history changes.."

"You want to start a war?" questioned Hiruzen.

"Exactly."

"We should avoid solving things through force and work out our differences through negotiation," he advised. "Kazekage-done, there is still time."

"Heh... do we become peace-loving fools when we age," The Kazekage chuckled. "... Sarutobi-sensei?"

"Orochimaru ... I thought this day would come eventually," The Hokage glared at him. "But, you won't get my head so easily!!"

"I told you... you should hurry and pick the Godaime," Orochimaru removed his arm from Hiruzen and took a few steps back. "Because you will die here, Sandaime!"

The two of them immediately fought. And for the first time, she saw the Hokage fight. Until then, Orochimaru and Hiruzen took off their robes. Showing off their battle clothes. And that was when Shizuka changed into her original form. She couldn't maintain her ANBU form.

"Well well, Midorima Shizuka ..." Orochimaru licked his lips with his long tongue, clearly making the girl feels disgusted. "my next goal. Glad you showed yourself."

"Hmph! I will not give my body to you, Orochimaru," said Shizuka. One year ago, on one of her missions, Shizuka had met Orochimaru who tried to give her a curse mark. Luckily she was able to escape from the Sannin.

Orochimaru made a hand seal, "I will make this battle interesting. Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation!" a chest came out followed by a second chest, and just as the third was about to be brought out, luckily Shizuka managed to thwart it.

The Hokage and herself know who is behind the two chests. Of all people, why it should have been those two?

"Now, what are you going to do?" Orochimaru grinned evilly. Opened the two chests and reveal Hashirama and Tobirama Senju. The first and Second Hokage.

The two dead people came out of the chest. "It's been a long time, eh, Saru."

"Oh it's you," said Hashirama. "Hmm, you've grown old haven't you, Sarutobi."

"I would not have thought I would meet with you two brothers again in a situation like this, it is regrettable," Hiruzen admitted. "Please make your preparations to be defeated. Shodaime-sama! Nidaime-sama!"

"If that's so, then, Sarutobi! I guess that would mean we would have to fight against you," stated Hashirama. "And the kid."

Shizuka clearly felt annoyed after hearing that. Yes, she was only 13, still small, still a kid. But his tone seemed like he was belittling her. And she doesn't like to be belittled.

Orochimaru then put a talisman tied to a kunai into their bodies. After that, their bodies let out smoke, and Shizuka observed that they were like living people.

"Sandaime-sama, please stay serious!" shouted Shizuka, seeing how Hiruzen was still dazed about them. The two dead men ran towards them and attacked. Shizuka with Tobirama while Horuzen with Hashirama.

"Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!" Tobirama creates a spiraling vortex of water that proceeds to explode from the top in the form of a wave.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" she expelled a fire who shaped into a literal sea of flames. The fire collided with Tobirama's water and was then died down.

Smoke emitted from both techniques. And the two dead people came out of the smoke and again fought them both. Shizuka admitted, Tobirama was very smart and agile. She was almost overwhelmed by his hand to hand combat.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!" some roots came out of the roof and then grew to form several large trees. Their trunk tries to tie the two together. Shizuka jumped quickly, so as not to get caught by it.

"Sandaime-sama please don't breathe!" she ordered. "Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!" Shizuka spat out a mist of acid from her mouth and melted the forest.

"Thanks, Shizuka." Hiruzen stepped down to the ground. Then bite his finger and letting it bleed. "Summoning!"

Smoke came out of it and out came a monkey-like creature with long white hair. "Someone annoying has appeared, Monkey King: Enma."

"Orochimaru, I knew that this would happen," said the monkey stoically, glancing at Hiruzen. "How sad you are, Sarutobi. That's because you didn't kill him at that time."

"I'll do it now."

"Too late."

Then Hiruzen and Enma —who had turned into a weapon— fought Orochimaru with his snake sword —the Kusanagi Sword. Leaving Hashirama and Tobirama to fight Shizuka. "Wood Release: Giant Forest Jutsu!" One of Hashirama's arms turned into several long logs and caught Shizuka.

Shizuka gritted her teeth, realizing that Tobirama was running towards her. Quickly, she took out an acid mist from her body and broke away. Then she grabbed Tobirama's arm and threw it at Hashirama.

"Earth Release: Supreme King Rock Crush!" several stones from the ground came out and quickly headed towards them, covering their body with them. Then Shizuka patted her palm together and the stones exploded.

Shizuka could see that the two dead men had split open. And she used that opportunity to get back next to Hiruzen. She looked ahead, surprised to see Orochimaru's face which had turned into the face of a young woman. "Who are you?!"

"Hehehe... is it that much of a shock that you can't figure it out?" asked the woman. Even his voice had turned into a woman's voice. "It's me, Orochimaru."

"You... you had already achieved the completion of that kinjutsu?" Hiruzen gasped in shock.

Orochimaru grinned evilly. "It's been more than a decade since I left the village, I suffered quite a bit."

"You terrifying inhuman creature!"

Suddenly, Hashirama and Tobirama stood next to Orochimaru. Shizuka widened her eyes in surprise. Could this be the effect of edo tensei? Their bodies can return to normal?

"One of the reasons I didn't choose you to be the Yondaime," Hiruzen spoke. Furrowed his eyebrows. "...was because of your twisted ideology."

"This immortality jutsu is a technique where you anchor your spirit to this world forever," Orochimaru explained. "In other words, it's a reincarnation technique where you find a new body, enter it with your spirit, and gain possession of it."

And then he cackled. "The reason why I disguised myself as my old self until now was... because I thought I'd let you feel nostalgic about the past. To grow old, how destitute it can be... when I look at you I can feel it deeply. You will die here and I will obtain an even younger, more beautiful, stronger body. Konoha really entertains me to no end."

"I see. You want Sasuke and Shizuka, right?!" Hiruzen's question gave her chills on her spine. She could not imagine Orochimaru would use her body. "A reincarnation jutsu where someone else's body is stolen and their spirit immortalized, huh?"

"But to have you die, cursing your fate and regretting your entire life," then his voice and face changed to normal. "I suppose this face would be best, hmm?"

"I will kill you now and correct my past mistake!" Hiruzen used a solid clone jutsu and split himself into three. Then start doing hand seals.

"The order of the seals, there is no mistaking it, that Sarutobi," Enma murmured. "He's going to use that jutsu!"

"What? What jutsu?" Shizuka turned her head towards Enma in a fast motion. She couldn't help but feel panic. "What is he going to do?"

"It's already too late, no matter what you do," Orochimaru smirked smugly. "I've won. And Konoha will be demolished!"

"Konoha is my home. The Hokage is one who continues to act as a pillar of the house, protecting it! He's the one who carries the will of the leaf, entrusted with it," Shizuka looked at Hiruzen in silence. Her eyes were wide open and there was a feeling of a lump in her heart after hearing his words. "I won't lose that easily!"

"Illusion Technique: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!" Shizuka found herself in a dark, empty space, which luckily she and Hiruzen were there. Then, without Shizuka knowing she had got an attack. And she simply couldn't feel the attack coming.

"I'm the man who inherited the will of the leaf, the will of the Shodaime-sama and Nidaime-sama!" Hiruzen declared. "I am the Sandaime Hokage. No matter how much you target Konoha. There will be a new Hokage who'll inherit my will, and become the pillar to protect the house of Konoha!!"

"Orochimaru! I'll show you a special jutsu from now that even you don't know about!" He pressed his fingers together. "Fuinjutsu: Shisekiyoujin!"

Shizuka widened her eyes in surprise. From the name alone, she understood what the Third Hokage was going to do. "Sandaime-sama!!" And then the darkness disappeared, revealing Hiruzen's clones with the Hokages.

"Sorry for making things difficult for you, Saru, Shizuka."

"For a child, you are very talented, Shizuka!"

Shizuka tried to control her breathing. She noticed Hiruzen who was trying to take Orochimaru's soul. The girl would be happy if the snake man died, but knowing that the Hokage was also going to die too made her feel heavy on her chest. She felt useless to the point that the Hokage had to use that technique to defeat him.

I'm so useless

She then ran quickly after she saw the kusanagi sword aimed to stab the Hokage. The girl stood behind the Hokage, feeling the sword stabbed into her stomach. And almost stabbed Hiruzen in the chest.

COUGH!

Shizuka coughed up blood. Her palm moved to the sword and tried to get it away from the Hokage's chest. She could also see Enma helping her to hold the sword for stabbing it deeper. The vines then came out from the roof and creeping up the Hokage's body. Even if she couldn't take out the sword, at least she could try to heal the pain and the wound on him.

"Now you won't be able to use your hands and make a seal!" exclaimed Hiruzen. "... I'm sorry, Shizuka. Seal!"

The jutsu was finished and completely sealed. And Hiruzen fell leaving Shizuka alone on the roof, because Enma had disappeared and Orochimaru was gone, running away with his minions.

THUD!

I'm useless. I'm useless. I'm useless.

I'm not strong enough.

Shizuka fell to her knees, her eyes fixed on the Hokage's smiling face. "Shizuka!" she heard Kakashi's voice booming behind her. "Hold on. I'll take out the sword."

"Argh!" groaned Shizuka after Kakashi successfully take out the sword. " ... Kakashi."

"Hey, don't talk yet. You're bleeding a lot."

"Kakashi," called Shizuka again. Her vision was already blurry. And she felt like closing her eyes. "... For the first time, I hate that Oha-Asa is always right."

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