Ninja from various Villages watched Orochimaru warily. Although they came from different Ninja Villages, they were on a joint mission. Facing such a powerful enemy as Orochimaru, even as elite Ninja in their respective Villages, they found her extremely troublesome.
That mysterious Sage Art had caused them to lose more than half their numbers in such a short time!
"Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique!"
The Hidden Stone Ninja performed the Mountain Earth Technique, and two giant hemispheres rose from the ground, attempting to trap Orochimaru between them.
A flash of sword light, and the giant semi-circular rock was cut open.
"Cloud Style: Thunder Blast!"
Orochimaru thrust her sword without even looking up, piercing the Cloud Ninja's body. The liquid flowing on the ground behind Orochimaru condensed into a human form, its wrist becoming incredibly thick. The katana in its hand stabbed towards her back, and a white snake tail pierced its body, flashing with lightning.
"Lightning Release? How do you have Lightning Release…"
The Hozuki Clan Ninja's eyes widened. Under the influence of the Lightning Release, his body was unable to liquefy.
Orochimaru sliced off the head of this Hozuki Clan Ninja with one swing. With her other hand, she brought her fingers together above her head.
"Sage Art: Wind Release: Night Wind!"
Gusts of wind appeared out of nowhere. Even the Suna Ninja skilled in Wind Release couldn't react in time. The hurricanes, composed of countless tiny wind blades, seemed to materialize from nothing, cutting through their flesh, and blood splattered out.
"We are no match for her!"
"Retreat quickly! If this continues, we'll all die here!"
"Run! Hurry and run! Anyway, our people have already sent back what they found!"
The Ninja from various countries watched their companions die tragically under that bizarre Wind Release. They abandoned the unrealistic idea of killing Orochimaru.
"It's too late to run now… Although attacking Whirlpool Hidden Village wasn't your intention, you will still have to pay the price for it!"
Orochimaru looked at the Ninja who were only now trying to escape with cold eyes. She casually plunged her kusanagi sword into the ground, formed hand signs, "Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation!"
The ruins of Whirlpool Hidden Village were imbued with life by Inorganic Reincarnation, seeking vengeance on the culprits who had destroyed them.
The scattered Ninja, attempting to flee, soon discovered that no matter where they ran, everything around them wanted their lives!
Screams rang out one after another. The Allied Shinobi Forces, composed of elite Ninja from various great Ninja Villages, all died in this place they had reduced to ruins. Only the books and scrolls they had seized were sent back to their respective Villages by summoning animals.
Orochimaru looked around at the corpses of Ninja from various countries, as well as the bodies of the people from Whirlpool Hidden Village, and suddenly felt that human lives were cheaper than grass.
Looking at the strangely shaped ruins, which maintained their appearance even after losing life, Orochimaru sighed softly.
Land of Whirlpools… Whirlpool Hidden Village, such a beautiful place, had ultimately become a thing of the past.
The white snake tail transformed into a white snake, swallowing the kusanagi sword into its mouth. It flicked its tongue and moved closer to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru stroked the white snake's head and turned to look in Uchiha Madara's direction.
"Did she find me?"
Uchiha Madara was not surprised that he had been discovered. With his understanding of Sage Mode, it was not strange that Orochimaru could find him.
In the past, when he fought Hashirama, he had personally experienced the power of the Sage.
This old man, truly a spectator from beginning to end… Orochimaru sensed the Flying Thunder God Technique formula she had left at White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. She used the Flying Thunder God Technique to go to the company.
Land of Waves, White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
"Aokawa, how is it going?"
In the president's office, Orochimaru sat on the sofa, flipping through the registration forms, a white snake tail coiled around her waist.
"Lady Orochimaru, the living arrangements for the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village have been made. Those with minor injuries have taken Healing Pills and are fine. Those with more severe, life-threatening injuries have been sent to the operating room."
Aokawa briefly reported on the situation of the people from Whirlpool Hidden Village.
"Have the search teams been arranged?"
Orochimaru placed the registration form on the coffee table. She didn't believe that only these people were left from Whirlpool Hidden Village. Many must have successfully escaped, or perhaps been abducted.
"Please rest assured, we have already contacted trustworthy people in the black market and dispatched elites from our clan to search. We believe there will be results very soon."
No sooner had Aokawa finished speaking than the office door was pushed open and Kakuzu walked in.
Kakuzu looked at Orochimaru, surprised by her current appearance, and said directly, "Orochimaru, taking in the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village will bring trouble to the company."
"Kakuzu, sometimes you don't need to weigh gains and losses. Following your heart is also a choice."
Orochimaru pointed to her heart, "My heart tells me that if I didn't act when Whirlpool Hidden Village faced its demise, I would regret it."
The White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company's infirmary, rather than an infirmary, was more like a small hospital built within the company building. It had everything a hospital should have; one could say it was small but complete.
Inside the operating room, Orochimaru's Shadow Clones worked together to perform surgeries. Difficult operations were easily handled with their telepathic coordination.
Outside the operating room, the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village waited anxiously. Their greatest concern was for those who were critically ill, and for the safety of their clan leader, Uzumaki Chigusa, who was prepared to sacrifice her life to take down the enemy with her.
"What are you all doing here?"
Orochimaru walked out of the operating room, took off her gloves, and looked at the people gathered outside. Pointing at them, she said, "Instead of wasting time here, why don't you go tidy up the living quarters you'll be staying in? Or do you not trust my abilities?"
"No… no…"
"We trust your abilities!"
"Lady Orochimaru, we leave everything to you!"
Seeing Orochimaru's displeased expression, and thinking of her friendship with their clan leader, the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village felt that she must also be suffering after what happened to Whirlpool Hidden Village.
Watching the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village leave, Orochimaru dispelled her Shadow Clone, which vanished with a puff of smoke.
Having received the memories of her Shadow Clone, Orochimaru left the president's office and went to the infirmary's ward.
"Orochimaru… you…"
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at Orochimaru, who was the real body and not a Shadow Clone, and suddenly sat up, feeling a strong dizziness.
Orochimaru's pupils slightly contracted. She instantly appeared by Uzumaki Chigusa's side, supporting her. Seeing the unprecedentedly weak Uzumaki Chigusa, she let her lean against her.
Is this Sage Chakra… Uzumaki Chigusa sensed Orochimaru's Chakra, feeling as if she was facing nature. This feeling was only a part of it; the rest was Orochimaru's own Chakra.
Is Orochimaru angry… or blaming herself? "The Four Symbols Sealing is activated by one's own blood. Although you didn't complete the final step, the Four Symbols Sealing still drained most of the blood from your body."
The final step Orochimaru referred to was the spraying of blood from the entire body, which would depict the Four Symbols Sealing formula while forming a giant spherical seal.
If Uzumaki Chigusa had used her abilities to perform it, the range would have been even more terrifying than Danzo Shimura's Four Symbols Sealing in the original story. It wouldn't have just sealed a bridge, but everything within the barrier formed by the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
"Orochimaru… saving us will bring you trouble…"
Uzumaki Chigusa said weakly. She was very grateful that Orochimaru had risked her life to save the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village, but she was worried that their arrival would bring trouble to Orochimaru.
"Once they know we are here, they will definitely send people…"
"Chigusa, you're overthinking."
Orochimaru gently laid Uzumaki Chigusa down, covered her with a blanket, and calmly analyzed, "Their actions this time deliberately diverted Konoha's attention. The Ninja they sent were all elite Ninja, aiming to raid Whirlpool Hidden Village in the shortest possible time… Why would they do this? It's because they fear the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique, and even more, they want to obtain the Sealing Technique capable of sealing Tailed Beasts into Jinchuriki."
Orochimaru's eyes were cold as she looked at the weak Uzumaki Chigusa, thinking of the ruined Whirlpool Hidden Village.
If they knew that the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village were in the Land of Waves, and still decided to act…
Orochimaru wouldn't mind giving them a big gift.
"Could it be…"
Uzumaki Chigusa noticed the change in Orochimaru's Chakra, her pupils slightly constricted, and she looked up at her.
"Precisely because they knew, they united to plan this operation."
Orochimaru nodded slightly, confirming Uzumaki Chigusa's guess.
"Who exactly… cough, cough, cough!"
Uzumaki Chigusa's emotions became agitated. Her pale face flushed an unnatural red, and she coughed, covering her mouth, a trace of fresh blood seeping through her fingers.
If it weren't for the leaked intelligence that Lady Mito was a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Whirlpool Hidden Village would not have suffered such an undeserved calamity!
"Calm down! Otherwise, I don't mind letting you sleep until your body recovers!"
Orochimaru's face showed a hint of anger. Her white snake tail coiled around Uzumaki Chigusa, preventing her from moving, and she used Mystical Palm Technique to heal her.
After the surgery, Uzumaki Chigusa was out of critical danger, but her body was severely depleted and needed good rest, and her emotions could not be overly agitated.
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at Orochimaru's somewhat cold face, feeling much better, and whispered, "I'm sorry…"
"Chigusa… You are the clan leader of the Uzumaki Clan, and many people are waiting for you to recover… You are their spiritual pillar, so don't fall."
Orochimaru placed her hand on Uzumaki Chigusa's shoulder, her tone softening a bit, and patted her gently, saying, "Those who have received treatment still need good rest, and so do you. Before you recover, stay in the Land of Waves with peace of mind. I will handle everything."
Regardless of whether the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village would later return to the ruins of Whirlpool Hidden Village to rebuild, or join Konoha, Orochimaru would not interfere with their choices.
"Naino… how is she?"
Uzumaki Chigusa saw Orochimaru about to leave, so she grabbed her hand, her face filled with worry for Uzumaki Nano.
"She's lost too much life force… It's not impossible to recover. Don't worry, I'll find a way to solve it… When I have time, I need to research the Uzumaki Clan's Forbidden Technique."
Orochimaru hadn't seen how Uzumaki Nano had performed the Cursed Seal Blood Imprint, this Forbidden Technique.
From the description, it seemed to be a Forbidden Technique that used the caster's own life force to imbue the Sealing Technique formula with life, forming a Cursed Seal formula to kill enemies. It was highly likely related to Yang Release.
If that were truly the case, replenishing the life force Uzumaki Nano expended to cast the Forbidden Technique might not be impossible.
"Orochimaru, thank you… Thank you for everything you've done for Whirlpool Hidden Village… Thank you for saving me, for saving Naino, for saving everyone…"
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at Orochimaru, a smile gracing her face.
"If we're talking about thanks, there will be plenty of opportunities later. Get some good rest."
Orochimaru heard Uzumaki Chigusa's words of gratitude, but she couldn't feel happy at all. Everything had developed exactly as she had initially envisioned… yet she couldn't accept it.
Land of Fire
Outside Konoha Village, large swathes of forest had collapsed, with traces of battle everywhere. Various Ninja tools were stuck in the ground, along with many fragments of Ninja tools. There were also drag marks left by fallen trees, as if they had been pulled by an incredibly powerful suction.
The battle between Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Shinno continued. The artificial Tailed Beast, the Zero-Tailed, sealed within Shinno's body, granted him immense vitality and Chakra, coupled with the medical Forbidden Techniques he mastered.
This meant that even if his strength was inferior to the four of them, they couldn't defeat him in a short amount of time. They couldn't even kill him.
Continuing to drag it out was very advantageous for him. Moreover, the Sky Ninja's Air Fortress was in the sky, ready to fly over Konoha again at any moment. No matter what, they had no chance of defeating him.
"If we keep dragging this out, I'm afraid we'll be the ones to fall first…"
Homura Mitokado held two scythe-like Ninja tools connected by chains, the blades of which emitted a faint glow—a Chakra blade formed by Chakra.
After fighting this person named Shinno for so long, Homura Mitokado was truly disgusted.
Having experienced brutal wars, he had never seen anyone with such absurd regenerative abilities. His body would be torn to pieces, yet he could still recover!
Not even the Uzumaki Clan could compare to him!
"In that case, we can only use Sealing Technique…"
Facing such a situation, the only Sealing Technique Hiruzen Sarutobi could use was the Uzumaki Clan's Forbidden Technique: Dead Demon Consuming Seal!
"Hiruzen! What are you thinking of doing?!"
Danzo Shimura, who knew Hiruzen Sarutobi best, saw the expression on his face and realized what he intended to do. He warned, "I'm telling you, you are the Hokage of Konoha. You cannot make such a self-sacrificing move!"
Danzo Shimura, on one hand, didn't want Hiruzen Sarutobi to die, and on the other hand, he was afraid that if Hiruzen Sarutobi died, he would be pushed to become Hokage. He didn't want to be Hokage at all right now.
As Assistant Hokage, he had power and money. Wasn't that much better than being Hokage?
What information in Konoha couldn't he see?
He could even see the Forbidden Techniques in the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber!
But the Forbidden Techniques in the Forbidden Jutsu Chamber were too sinister; he didn't want to have too much contact with them.
"The monster inside him was created using a part of the Nine-Tailed. Since that's the case, then leave it to me!"
Uzumaki Mito's voice rang out, her figure appearing beside them at some unknown moment.
"Grandma Mito, why are you here?!"
The four were shocked as they looked at Uzumaki Mito. They hadn't even noticed when she arrived.
"Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! Uzumaki Mito, how dare you appear before me of your own accord!"
Shinno looked at Uzumaki Mito with excitement, as if he wasn't seeing an elderly woman, but a hot and sexy beauty! Deep purple Chakra, like flames, surged from his body, and the figure of the Zero-Tailed faintly appeared on him, its snake-like body coiling around him.
Uzumaki Mito could feel the Nine-Tailed within her growing increasingly restless. Suppressing the Nine-Tailed's restlessness was not difficult for her. She looked at Shinno, who exuded immense malice, and then up at the Air Fortress in the sky.
Is it Orochimaru… Boom—!
Suddenly, an explosion sound came from the Air Fortress. A crimson red giant snake drilled out of the Air Fortress, followed by a dark blue giant snake, and then an even larger giant snake with purple stripes and horns on its head.
Giant snakes… Could it be Orochimaru?
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three looked at the three giant snakes destroying the Air Fortress and thought of Orochimaru, who had left the Village to search for Ryūchi Cave.
Shinno was shocked as he watched the three giant snakes of different colors destroy the Air Fortress. This Air Fortress was the Sky Ninja's important Village! It was also the Sky Ninja's most important weapon!
"Damn beasts!"
Shinno's eyes were bloodshot. He suddenly leaped up, soaring towards the Air Fortress like a cannonball.
He wanted to return to the Air Fortress to stop the three giant snakes from destroying it!
Whoosh—!
Chains wrapped around Shinno's body, and scythes pierced into his flesh. Homura Mitokado gripped the chains and scythes tightly with both hands, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu immediately stepped forward to help pull Shinno down.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
Danzo Shimura seized the opportunity, formed hand seals, took a deep breath, and exhaled a sharp, weasel-like gust of wind. It slashed at Shinno's body, cutting out terrifying wounds, yet the wounds on his body healed in the blink of an eye!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Utatane Koharu took the chance to pull Shinno down from the air, causing him to crash heavily to the ground.
"Damn it! Stop getting in my way!"
Shinno's bulging muscles broke free from the chains. He looked at the three giant snakes furiously destroying the Air Fortress, enraged, and a large amount of deep purple Chakra surged from him.
"You seem to be in a hurry, don't you?"
Homura Mitokado's lips curved into a smile. He unsealed a scroll unhurriedly, and a large number of Ninja tools appeared beside him, with chain Ninja tools being the most numerous.
It was as if he was telling Shinno: "Go ahead and jump again. If you can jump up there, just try it!"
How many Ninja tools did this guy Homura prepare, anyway?
Danzo Shimura looked at Homura Mitokado, who had summoned more Ninja tools, and was secretly alarmed.
Is that the Regeneration Technique I've been seeking?
On the Air Fortress, Orochimaru, wearing a hood, clearly saw this scene.
No, it's different. This isn't the Regeneration Technique I'm seeking… Seeing the deep purple Chakra surging from Shinno's body, Orochimaru realized that his Regeneration Technique relied on this unusual Chakra. She then abandoned the idea of researching his Regeneration Technique.
"Hey, Orochimaru, is it alright if I eat these guys?"
Manda flicked his tail, sending a large group of Sky Ninja flying, and looked at Orochimaru, seeking her opinion.
There was no other way; his strength was insufficient, so he had to lower his arrogant head.
He had lived in Ryūchi Cave for thousands of years, and among those who came to Ryūchi Cave, none had surpassed Orochimaru in strength. Manda felt that bowing his head a little was fine.
"Suit yourself."
Orochimaru had no intention of leaving anyone alive anyway, so she naturally didn't mind Manda eating those Sky Ninja.
"You eat even this trash? Aren't you afraid of getting sick?"
Shinza opened his mouth and spat out petrifying venom. The Sky Ninja who touched even a drop of the petrifying venom instantly turned into stone statues.
"I'll leave this place to you. When the fortress falls, remember to return to Ryūchi Cave."
Orochimaru used the Flying Thunder God Technique, and her figure appeared beside Uzumaki Mito.
Orochimaru?! Is she really Orochimaru?
Not only Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three, but even Uzumaki Mito couldn't believe it was Orochimaru when she saw her. Compared to the Orochimaru in their memories, the current Orochimaru seemed to have suddenly grown up.
"Don't look at me like that. I just left the Village not long ago, and you don't recognize me anymore?"
Orochimaru felt uncomfortable under their surprised gaze. She sighed and said, "It's truly heartbreaking. I thought you all valued me greatly."
"Speak properly!"
Bang—!
Uzumaki Mito's fist heavily struck Orochimaru's head, highly displeased with her sarcastic tone.
"Grandma Mito, why aren't you staying at home? How did you end up here?"
Orochimaru covered her head with both hands. Even in Sage Mode, that punch truly hurt. She pointedly looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three nearby.
"Is it because Teacher Hiruzen and the others are too useless?"
"Orochimaru… did you complete your training at Ryūchi Cave?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his eyes in disbelief. He could confirm that Orochimaru's current appearance was indeed Sage Mode.
"I interrupted my training and came back…"
Orochimaru took off her hood, her soft black hair flowing down her back. Two pairs of porcelain-white horns on either side of her head gleamed in the sunlight, and her blue-green magatama earrings swayed. Her white snake tail landed on the ground with a thud.
"With such a big event happening, how could I still be training in Ryūchi Cave?"
"So you're the one who summoned those three giant snakes?"
Shinno wished he could tear Orochimaru to shreds, but at this moment, he had more important things to do.
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