In the arena below, after Satsuki instantly dealt with all the summoned giant snakes using her Sharingan genjutsu, she quickly regrouped with Kakashi and Might Guy, together confronting the elite Otogakure Ninja blocking their path.
The battle was almost a one-sided crush. Kakashi's kunai flashed through the crowd, and Might Guy's figure transformed into a green whirlwind, alternately performing Leaf Whirlwind and Strong Fist Whirlwind, his heavy taijutsu sending the Otogakure Ninja flying like sandbags.
Satsuki's Three-Tomoe Sharingan allowed her to easily see through all attack trajectories, and her kunai and precise Fire Release always struck first, forcing enemies into desperation. The three worked together seamlessly, instantly tearing the Otogakure Ninja's defenses to shreds.
However, Satsuki's gaze anxiously drifted towards the direction where Naruto had disappeared with Gaara.
At this moment, other Konoha Ninja had also sprung into action; some were fiercely battling the invading Otogakure Ninja, while others began to nervously and orderly evacuate the panicked spectators.
"Satsuki, focus on the task at hand and protect yourself!" Kakashi reminded her in a deep voice during a lull in repelling an Otogakure Ninja. "This is already an A-rank combat mission. Don't worry, that kid from Sunagakure is no match for Naruto."
"But!" Satsuki parried an incoming kunai, her worry undiminished.
"Trust him," Kakashi's voice carried an undeniable certainty, "He is the most outstanding Ninja I've seen since Konoha was founded. The level of talent and potential I've witnessed in him, I've only ever felt from the previous Hokage."
"...Mm!" Satsuki nodded vigorously, temporarily suppressing the anxiety in her heart.
However, trust was trust, but that uncontrollable worry still firmly gripped her heart. She resolved internally that she must eliminate the enemies in front of her as quickly as possible, and then immediately go find Naruto! She couldn't bear not being by his side if he might be in danger.
— — — — — —
"Orochimaru! Stop now! There's still time to undo this!"
Orochimaru tore off the disguise on his face, revealing his pale and feminine true appearance.
"Heh heh... Hiruzen-sensei, has time not only taken your strength but also made your mind so naive, even foolish? Are you so attached to that pathetic, false peace?"
"But, you just happen to be the biggest obstacle on my path to acquiring the Nine-Tailed. You will die here very soon... However, the choice for the Fifth Generation, I really didn't expect you would pass it to that idiot..."
At this point, Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of complex emotion, difficult to discern, and a tear unexpectedly slipped from the corner of his eye, forming a strange contrast with his cold declaration.
"...If you are determined to take my life, then by all means, try your best." The Third Hokage's eyes were incredibly firm. "But I will never give you even a sliver of a chance to get close to Naruto!"
"No, sensei, my goals are far more than just these..." Orochimaru slowly lowered the kunai he was holding against the Third Hokage, stepped back a few paces, and casually ripped off the robe symbolizing the Kazekage's identity, tossing it aside, revealing the black robe embroidered with red auspicious clouds underneath.
"You will die here, I will gain Naruto and the Nine-Tailed's power, and... your cherished Konoha Ninja Village will be completely destroyed today!"
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru attacked first, his right arm mutated, and venomous snakes suddenly extended, their fangs-filled mouths open, biting towards the Third Hokage's neck!
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi single-handedly threw a shuriken, quickly forming hand signs. In an instant, one shuriken split into dozens of solid Shadow Clones in the air, precisely cutting the attacking snake hands into several segments!
However, the attack was not over. Behind the severed snake hands, the shuriken Shadow Clones, their momentum undiminished, continued to shoot towards Orochimaru's main body. Facing this dense attack, Orochimaru's jaw suddenly opened in a way that defied human anatomy, expanding to a terrifying degree!
Immediately after, a massive white-scaled snake suddenly burst from his mouth, coiling in front of him, forming a solid flesh shield. The dense shuriken impacted against the hard snake scales, only sparking a few scattered flames, failing to cause effective damage.
The white-scaled snake let out a hiss, its massive body charging towards the Third Hokage with crushing force!
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
The Third Hokage formed hand signs again, Chakra surging in. The solid rooftop ground in front instantly softened and churned, transforming into a surging mudslide, attempting to engulf and trap the white-scaled snake.
Sure enough, the giant snake became mired in the sticky mud, its movements quickly slowing, seemingly about to be completely restrained.
But at this very moment, another anomaly occurred! The white-scaled snake suddenly opened its massive mouth, and a new Orochimaru, covered in mucus, burst out from within at an astonishing speed! Even more horrifying, this newly emerged Orochimaru spat out a Kusanagi sword from his mouth!
He firmly grasped the hilt, the tip of the sword piercing directly towards the Third Hokage's heart!
"Psh!"
The sensation of a sharp blade piercing flesh came.
"You really are old...?! "
Orochimaru's triumphant words were only half-spoken when he was astonished to find that the "Third Hokage" he had pierced did not bleed; instead, his body rapidly softened and collapsed, turning into a puddle of ordinary mud.
It was an Earth Clone!
Orochimaru expressionlessly swallowed the Kusanagi sword back into his mouth and slowly turned his head. The real Hiruzen Sarutobi stood unharmed not far away.
"It seems I still underestimated you, sensei." Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of annoyed amusement at being tricked. "However, mere parlor tricks of this level won't stop me."
"Then, let's end this here, stop these tentative games."
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a low growl, suddenly tearing off the ceremonial Hokage robe and flinging it aside, revealing the black, tight-fitting battle suit he had already put on underneath.
Seeing his sensei's prepared battle attire beneath the robe, Orochimaru let out a knowing laugh. "Heh... just as I thought. My plan was exposed long ago, wasn't it? It seems Kabuto has already been captured by you."
"Kabuto?" However, hearing that name, the Third Hokage's face showed genuine confusion, clearly unaware of this person.
But Orochimaru no longer intended to delay. His hands began to form hand signs again, and a massive amount of Chakra began to gather around him, emitting an ominous and chilling aura.
"No more time to waste... Summoning Jutsu: Edo Tensei!"
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"