Fragments of the past flickered through Orochimaru's mind.
For a brief moment, he remembered the days when the Legendary Sannin had fought side by side—three shinobi feared throughout the world, standing together on the battlefield against impossible odds. The memories came and went in an instant, fading like smoke in the wind.
A cold smile slowly spread across Orochimaru's face.
"So," he hissed, his golden eyes narrowing, "are you two really prepared to fight to the death?"
His voice carried excitement rather than fear.
"Excellent… then show me everything you have."
"Naruto! Sasuke!"
The two boys did not exchange a single glance.
They didn't need to.
Years of rivalry and countless battles had created an instinctive understanding between them. In the same instant, both launched forward and unleashed the strongest techniques they possessed.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Projectile!"
Naruto pushed the power of the Yin Seal to its absolute limit. Chakra exploded from his body like a raging storm as he unleashed his most powerful Wind Release technique.
At the same time, Sasuke activated the second stage of the Cursed Seal of Heaven. Dark markings spread across his body while terrifying chakra surged around him. His flames roared violently into existence, hotter and fiercer than ever before.
The moment the two attacks collided, the battlefield changed completely.
Wind fed the fire.
Fire strengthened the wind.
The two chakra natures fused together into a monstrous inferno that swallowed the sky itself.
BOOM!!!
A hurricane of flames burst forward with overwhelming force, tearing through the earth and scorching everything in its path. Trees were uprooted instantly. Massive cracks spread across the ground. Even the air trembled under the pressure of the combined attack.
This was the peak of Naruto and Sasuke's power.
Even Orochimaru's expression changed slightly.
Cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
"So much power…" he muttered softly.
For two thirteen-year-old shinobi to produce an attack of this magnitude was beyond imagination.
But even then, Orochimaru did not retreat.
Instead, the corners of his lips curled upward into a twisted grin.
"Naruto… Sasuke…"
"Magnificent."
His body shifted rapidly, transforming from the horrifying White Serpent form back into his human appearance. Without hesitation, he bit his thumb, formed a series of hand seals, and slammed his palm onto the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
"Triple Rashomon!"
RUMBLE!!!
The earth split apart violently.
Three gigantic demonic gates rose from the ground one after another, each larger and more terrifying than the last. The massive gates resembled the entrance to hell itself, radiating an ancient and oppressive aura.
The combined fire-and-wind attack crashed directly into the Triple Rashomon.
BOOM!
BOOM!!
BOOOOOOM!!!
The collision shook the battlefield.
The destructive storm devoured the giant gates instantly, but the Rashomon possessed terrifying defensive properties. The first gate weakened the attack's power. The second altered its direction. The third split the remaining force apart and diverted it away from Orochimaru.
Flames and wind exploded to either side of the battlefield, destroying everything in their path.
The Triple Rashomon truly deserved its reputation as one of the greatest defensive techniques in existence.
Even in the future, the technique would withstand the power of Naruto's Four-Tails transformation and partially block a Tailed Beast Bomb.
And now, despite Naruto and Sasuke pouring everything they had into their attack, Orochimaru still managed to survive.
The explosions slowly faded.
The raging flames disappeared.
Smoke drifted through the ruined battlefield.
When visibility finally returned, Orochimaru was still standing.
His clothes were torn apart. Blood covered parts of his face and body. He looked battered and disheveled.
But he was alive.
And worse…
He had not suffered any serious injuries.
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?!"
He and Sasuke had already used nearly everything they had. The Yin Seal, the second stage of the Cursed Seal, their strongest elemental techniques—yet they still could not defeat Orochimaru.
Was the gap between them truly this enormous?
Beside him, Sasuke breathed heavily.
"Damn it…" he muttered. "Even that wasn't enough?"
Orochimaru slowly wiped the blood from his face and laughed quietly.
"Naruto… Sasuke…"
"For children your age to push me this far is already something worthy of pride."
His snake-like eyes gleamed with madness.
"But killing me?"
"That is impossible."
His tongue slid across his lips as he stared at them with terrifying desire.
"In the end… you are still my prey."
Naruto felt chills run down his spine.
Sasuke instinctively clenched his fists tighter.
Then Orochimaru suddenly spread his arms wide.
"Since you've entertained me for so long," he said softly, "I'll reward you."
His grin became completely unhinged.
"I'll let you witness one of my greatest forbidden techniques."
Dark chakra erupted from his body.
"Forbidden Technique—"
"The Eight-Headed Serpent Technique!!!"
ROOOOAR!!!
An earth-shaking sound exploded across the battlefield.
Smoke swallowed Orochimaru's body completely. Moments later, a massive silhouette began to emerge from within the darkness.
Karin froze instantly.
Her sensory abilities detected an overwhelming presence so sinister that her entire body trembled.
"It's… monstrous…"
Hinata activated her Byakugan, and the moment she saw clearly through the smoke, her eyes widened in horror.
"Naruto-kun… Sasuke…"
"Be careful!"
The smoke finally dispersed.
Naruto and Sasuke stared ahead in stunned silence.
Before them stood an enormous eight-headed serpent.
Its gigantic body rivaled that of a Tailed Beast.
Eight massive white serpents twisted and coiled around one another like living nightmares. Their scales glistened coldly beneath the light, while each monstrous head hissed with murderous intent.
Hissssss—
The sound alone was enough to send fear into anyone's heart.
The gigantic creature began moving forward slowly.
BOOM!
BOOM!!
Every movement shook the ground like an earthquake.
The eight snake heads swayed violently, each one ready to strike at any moment.
Cold sweat rolled down Sasuke's face.
"So this…" he whispered, "is Orochimaru's true form?"
"What a terrifying monster…"
Even Naruto felt immense pressure.
Yet despite the overwhelming fear, he did not step back.
Instead, his eyes sharpened with determination.
"Damn it…"
"I'm still not giving up!!!"
To everyone's shock, Naruto charged forward directly toward the giant serpent.
"Naruto-kun!"
Hinata cried out instinctively.
"Naruto, what are you doing?!"
Even Karin, who had only recently met him, couldn't stop herself from shouting in alarm.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru laughed darkly from within the body of the eight-headed serpent.
"You wish to die, Naruto?"
"Then I shall grant your wish."
One of the enormous white serpent heads lunged forward violently.
Its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of poisonous fangs capable of crushing Naruto instantly.
The massive snake descended toward him like a falling mountain.
But at that exact moment—
Naruto's expression changed completely.
With the Yin Seal fully released, he finally revealed his final trump card.
"Sealing Technique—"
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!!!"
Karin's eyes widened instantly.
Sasuke and Hinata were equally stunned.
"What?!"
Golden light erupted from Naruto's body like lightning.
From his back, thick golden chakra chains burst outward at incredible speed. Five massive chains shot into the air, glowing brilliantly with overwhelming chakra power.
Each chain radiated terrifying sealing energy.
The sharp, spear-like ends pierced forward violently toward the eight-headed serpent.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The chains struck the giant creature directly.
The battlefield trembled once again.
"GRAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
Both Orochimaru and the eight-headed serpent screamed in agony simultaneously.
The chains wrapped around the serpent's enormous body instantly.
One chain pierced through a serpent head.
Another coiled tightly around its neck.
The remaining chains bound the creature completely, locking it in place with unstoppable force.
The Eight-Headed Serpent struggled madly.
The gigantic white snakes twisted violently, trying to break free, but it was useless.
The Adamantine Sealing Chains were among the most powerful sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan.
Even the Nine-Tails itself had once been restrained by chains like these.
Although Naruto's current mastery had not yet reached the level of his mother, Uzumaki Kushina, the technique was still overwhelmingly powerful.
The enormous serpent was completely immobilized.
No matter how violently it struggled, it could not escape.
Hinata stared at Naruto in amazement.
"So powerful…"
She remembered the Chunin Exams, when Naruto had accidentally activated the chains for the first time.
Compared to then, the difference was unbelievable.
Sasuke also looked stunned.
"Naruto…"
"You still had this much power left?"
Karin's shock was even greater.
"That's the Uzumaki Clan's supreme sealing technique!"
"How can Uzumaki Naruto use something like this at his age?!"
Naruto himself was breathing heavily.
Sweat covered his face, and his chakra reserves were nearly exhausted.
Yet despite that, a victorious smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"Orochimaru…"
"Taijutsu may not work against you."
"Ninjutsu may not be enough to kill you."
"But sealing techniques…"
"They are your weakness."
He tightened his fists, forcing more chakra into the chains.
"You made a mistake."
"You underestimated me, Uzumaki Naruto!"
Orochimaru's expression twisted with rage and disbelief.
For the first time in the battle, genuine panic appeared in his eyes.
Naruto was right.
If Orochimaru had remained cautious, this outcome might never have happened.
But his arrogance had betrayed him.
In order to display the overwhelming power of the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique, he had transformed into a gigantic target—one perfectly suited for Naruto's sealing chains.
The golden chains tightened further.
Cracks spread across the serpent's scales.
Orochimaru roared furiously.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains…"
"The power of the Uzumaki Clan…"
His voice became filled with hatred.
"Just like that woman…"
A memory surfaced in his mind.
Bright red hair.
Terrifying chakra.
Chains capable of suppressing even the Nine-Tails.
Uzumaki Kushina.
Orochimaru's expression darkened completely.
"Damn you…"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)