Appearing with the voice was Orochimaru, who had already shed his disguise.
Kakuzu, Hidan, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Itachi Uchiha did not understand each other's strength.
Orochimaru's sudden intrusion complicated a situation that was originally a simple fight to determine a winner.
Orochimaru is a tricky guy; he used to be with the Akatsuki Organization. He wouldn't team up with them, would he?
This sly snake is a bit troublesome; he's also a Konoha rogue ninja. He wouldn't join forces with them, would he?
Orochimaru was also a bit uneasy; he had been hiding so well, yet he was discovered. Itachi's performance both surprised and pleased Orochimaru.
He was surprised because he knew what the Akatsuki Organization was like; forming an alliance would be very difficult.
He was pleased because Itachi's performance was better than expected, making Orochimaru want to possess him even more.
The three sides fell into an eerie silence, each analyzing the current situation.
Well, only Kakuzu on the Akatsuki Organization's side was analyzing; Hidan was thinking about the order of sacrifices.
Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi broke the silence.
"Orochimaru, you..."
His words were cut off by Orochimaru, who at this moment did not want to be associated with the two Konoha ninja.
"Teacher Sarutobi, my target isn't you. If possible, would you hand Itachi over to me?"
Orochimaru's words caused a shift in the mindset of the remaining two parties.
Kakuzu thought about Itachi's price in the black market: 5 million Ryo, five times that of a typical Jonin. From their recent encounter, it was clear there was still much room for the price to increase.
Kakuzu, who had originally intended to let Itachi go this time, instantly decided to give Itachi to Orochimaru upon hearing his words, regretting only the loss of a potential asset.
Just then, Orochimaru's voice came again.
"Kakuzu, your target should be Teacher Sarutobi. How about one for each of us?"
"No problem!"
Kakuzu agreed very cleanly.
"You, named Orochimaru, are you not putting me in your eyes? Why only ask Kakuzu and not me?"
Hidan yelled arrogantly, carrying his large scythe, attracting everyone's attention to himself, then said again.
"I heard you're a traitor of the Akatsuki Organization. Today, I'll sacrifice you to Lord Jashin first!"
Kakuzu truly wanted to strangle Hidan at this moment and also raised his voice.
"Shut up, Hidan, we agreed you wouldn't interfere with my business!"
Hidan, whose brain was usually only good for height, actually had a thought at this moment.
"Encountering Orochimaru, this Akatsuki Organization traitor, it's no longer your business, Kakuzu. Orochimaru is mine!"
With that, Hidan threw his scythe, which spun rapidly and attacked Orochimaru.
"Hi..."
Watching Hidan attack without a word, Kakuzu swallowed what he was about to say, quickly formed hand signs, and launched Ninjutsu at the two Konoha ninja.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi also immediately formed hand signs as Hidan made his move. Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had originally intended to use Earth Release, changed his hand signs quickly after seeing Kakuzu's hand signs.
He moved faster, using Ninjutsu at the same time as Kakuzu.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
When the huge bolt of electricity flew over, it was directly torn apart by the tornado that rose from the ground.
Even with Earth Grudge Fear, possessing five elemental hearts, Kakuzu was still no match for Hiruzen Sarutobi when it came to five-element Ninjutsu.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Itachi, who was also not idle, immediately buffed Hiruzen Sarutobi's Gale Palm, forming a huge fiery tornado that moved towards Kakuzu even faster.
Orochimaru, who easily dodged Hidan's scythe attack, no longer paid attention to Hidan, whose taijutsu was mediocre.
Seizing the moment Itachi breathed fire, he sprinted forward, his neck extending even faster, his teeth sharpening and lengthening, moving towards Itachi's neck at a strange angle.
The scene became extremely chaotic!
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
Facing the wind-fire combination Ninjutsu, Kakuzu also used a combination Ninjutsu to block, and at the same time, a monster that looked like a blood vessel or hair appeared beside Kakuzu.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A pool of clear water appeared on the other side, and columns of water rose from it, heading towards Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The only ones with a sense of cooperation in the field were Hiruzen Sarutobi and Itachi Uchiha.
"Itachi!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to help with Orochimaru's sudden attack, but when he looked at Itachi, he received a reassuring look from him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi then no longer paid attention to Itachi's battle; in his opinion, Itachi's strength could not contend with Orochimaru.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not question it, not because he trusted Itachi so much, but rather a strange trust that naturally arose from being suppressed by Yuuki for so long.
Since Itachi was assigned the same mission as him by Uchiha Tomoki, Hiruzen Sarutobi, even if he didn't trust Itachi, trusted Yuuki.
Since Itachi felt he could handle it, he just had to trust him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had not experienced this feeling of fighting side-by-side and mutual trust for decades, never thinking he would experience it again with a teenage Uchiha boy.
It was strange, it was ironic.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi also had to admit, this feeling was really good, rekindling a bit of passion in his decaying body.
Facing the rapidly approaching water columns, Hiruzen Sarutobi skillfully formed hand signs, using his most proficient Earth Release.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A huge dragon head emerged from the ground, continuously spewing mud stream forward.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"