Orochimaru was visibly unsettled. Once again, everything had gone far beyond his expectations.
He had never imagined that Aoshi would also possess such terrifying power in the realm of the soul.
Only a few years ago, Aoshi had just begun to rise under Tsunade's guidance—yet now, in such a short time, he had already surpassed all three of them.
No matter what methods Orochimaru used, Aoshi always had a countermeasure ready.
At this point, Orochimaru couldn't help but wonder—was everything Aoshi had revealed truly all of his trump cards?
Right now, in Orochimaru's eyes, Aoshi was completely unfathomable. Even he felt a faint chill crawl up his spine.
"Orochimaru," Aoshi said coldly, "I've lost patience with dragging this out."
"Today is the day you die." Before his words even faded, Aoshi formed hand seals.
More than ten Shadow Clones appeared at once—and every single one of them unleashed Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!
The sheer commotion instantly drew everyone's attention.
"What a terrifying ninjutsu!"
Even Aburame Ryoma, whose emotions had long been suppressed, couldn't help but shudder at the sight.
As for the three remaining elders of Kusagakure, their faces turned deathly pale.
Coming from a small ninja village, when had they ever witnessed power like this?
They were so frightened that they couldn't even speak.
Seeing that the situation had completely turned against them, the three elders knew this operation was doomed to fail.
Without a moment's hesitation, they turned and fled. In their desperation to survive, they even abandoned Mui behind.
But Aoshi did not give them the chance.
One of his Shadow Clones gave chase. A Wind Release: Rasenshuriken slammed down from the sky.
Boom! A deafening explosion shook the ground.
Even a massive summoned beast like Manda felt the shockwaves.
"So… so powerful…" Kurenai and the other two stood frozen in disbelief.
Aoshi's ninjutsu had once again shattered their understanding.
The violent wind pressure from the blast nearly blew the three of them off their feet, and shattered rocks were sent flying in every direction.
Fortunately, under Yakushi Nono's protection, they remained unharmed.
One had to remember that it was only the power of a single Rasenshuriken explosion.
Aoshi had just unleashed more than ten. If they had all detonated at once, the scene would have been unimaginable.
"It's too dangerous here. We need to keep our distance." Nono immediately led Kurenai and the other two away from the battlefield.
Ignoring the now-dead three elders of Kusagakure, Orochimaru stared at the approaching Aoshi's Shadow Clones that were closing in on him from all sides.
At this moment, a deep chill surged through his heart.
Having witnessed the power of the Rasenshuriken with his own eyes, Orochimaru knew—even he would certainly die if hit by it.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
At the critical moment, he forced Hashirama to defend him.
Countless trees burst from the ground, forming a barrier that blocked Aoshi's attacks.
But in the very next instant, those trees were shredded apart—and Orochimaru, hiding within, was injured by the backlash.
"Aoshi-kun… I will remember today. We will meet again!"
A voice filled with pain echoed through the ruined battlefield.
When the dust finally settled, only the empty skin left behind by Orochimaru-Style Substitution Jutsu remained.
He had escaped. Hashirama also ceased moving, returning to his coffin and vanishing.
"As expected of the Sly Snake," Aoshi said coldly. "His escape skills really are impressive."
But in truth, this outcome had been intentional.
Aoshi never intended to let Orochimaru go forever—but he also couldn't kill him openly in front of everyone.
It wasn't that he feared Hiruzen Sarutobi's questioning.
Rather, given Orochimaru's identity, if he died here, his body would have to be handed over to the village.
And then, Aoshi would lose the chance to turn him into one of the Rinne Paths.
So first, he allowed Orochimaru to escape—creating the illusion of his defection. Later, he would kill him in secret.
Thinking of this, Aoshi subtly lifted his gaze toward the sky.
High above the clouds, a massive summoned beast with wings and Rinnegan eyes hovered silently.
It was the ultimate summoning beast—slain once before, then reborn as the exclusive summon of the Animal Path.
Through the shared vision of the Rinnegan, Aoshi could constantly track Orochimaru's movements.
He would not lose him. Once the matters at Hozuki Castle were settled, Aoshi would pursue him personally.
Bang! With a soft sound, Manda dispelled the Summoning Jutsu and returned to Ryūchi Cave.
"Aoshi-sama, then I shall also take my leave."
With no enemies left to face, the Katsuyu bid Aoshi farewell and likewise dispelled her summoning, returning to Shikkotsu Forest.
At this point, only Mui and Aburame Ryoma remained.
The Root ninjas who had been scorched by Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation earlier had long since died, caught in the violent clash between Aoshi and the two former Hokage.
This was the battlefield of the strong. Even the aftershocks alone were enough to kill the weak.
Watching Aoshi walk toward him, Aburame Ryoma understood—there was no chance of survival.
But he neither surrendered nor fled. Instead, under Mui's stunned gaze, he launched a suicidal charge at Aoshi.
"For Danzō-sama—Hirakawa Aoshi, you must die here!"
He was a man completely brainwashed by Danzō.
Aoshi snorted coldly and showed no mercy, ending his life in a single strike.
Then Aoshi turned his gaze to Mui.
Under that stare, Mui no longer showed any trace of his former arrogance—only pure fear remained.
Yet even so, Mui did not kneel or beg for mercy.
In the end, he preserved a shred of dignity as a jōnin of Kusagakure and as the guardian of Hozuki Castle.
At that moment, Yakushi Nono arrived with Kurenai and the other two.
"Brother Aoshi!"
"Teacher Aoshi!"
Seeing him, the three rushed over at once, their faces full of worry.
Aoshi smiled and gently ruffled their head. "I'm fine. How about you three?"
They shook their heads quickly. "With Sister Nono protecting us, we're all fine! And we even defeated three enemies!"
Seeing them eagerly waiting for praise, Aoshi naturally granted their wish.
"Well done," he said with a smile. "It seems all of you will become excellent ninjas in the future."
Hearing this, Kurenai and the other two beamed with joy, as if sweetness had filled their hearts.
Nono glanced at Mui and asked quietly, "Brother Aoshi, what will you do with him?"
"Those who make mistakes must pay the price." Aoshi's voice was calm and indifferent.
The next moment, Mui's life came to an end.
Nono raised no objection.
Only after all the enemies had been dealt with did the remaining subordinates stationed at Hozuki Castle finally dare to step out.
Aoshi looked toward them coldly. "Kusagakure will give me a satisfactory explanation for today's events."
"Otherwise—I won't mind turning this place into a sea of blood."