" 'A'?"
Orochimaru was genuinely shaken, his face darkening instantly with a mix of frustration and anger, as if a grand plan had been interrupted.
The others on the battlefield, seeing Shinji appear, let out collective sighs of relief.
Karin set aside her hesitation. With the Leader stepping in, she no longer needed to risk exposing her identity by acting forcefully.
Haku, Ryuzetsu, and Chino relaxed as well. Facing a powerhouse like Orochimaru had left them with lingering fear.
Sasuke, the most despairing of all, cracked a faint smile.
Only Sakura remained trembling.
Orochimaru was terrifying, but the Akatsuki's "A" was even more so. Orochimaru coveted Sasuke, while the Akatsuki targeted Naruto. To her, there seemed to be no conflict between Orochimaru and "A." If they joined forces, the situation might become utterly hopeless.
Shinji calmly surveyed the battlefield, noting the battered states of Karin, Haku, Ryuzetsu, and Chino, and was slightly surprised.
But after a moment's thought, he understood why and gave a faint smile.
In terms of raw ability, Karin, Haku, Ryuzetsu, and Chino were prodigies far surpassing their peers. However, in combat experience and battlefield control, they were thoroughly outclassed by Orochimaru.
It wasn't just them—Yakumo and Shion on the other battlefield were in a similar position.
Against peers or even ordinary jonin-level opponents, they could rely on their superior innate talents to achieve impressive results. But when facing the elite few at the pinnacle of the shinobi world, their lack of experience became a weakness that enemies could exploit and magnify endlessly!
Shinji himself had this flaw.
However, his raw power outstripped the other members of his organization, minimizing this weakness. His knowledge of the shinobi world's powerhouses gave him a strategic edge, allowing him to leverage calculated advantages.
Additionally, Haku and Karin were clearly holding back, likely contributing to their disheveled state.
Seeing Shinji didn't act immediately, Orochimaru pointed to Naruto, pinned to a tree by his Kusanagi Sword. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is over there. You can take him!"
Shinji glanced at Naruto, then said to Orochimaru, "Unfortunately, compared to the Jinchuriki, I'm more interested in you!"
Orochimaru frowned. "Don't forget, this is the Hidden Leaf. The Five Kage could show up at any moment!"
Shinji chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, it won't take long!"
Realizing there was no talking his way out, Orochimaru wasted no more words. With a flicker, he lunged at Shinji.
As he closed in on "A" and saw no reaction—Shinji standing motionless—a sense of unease welled up in Orochimaru's heart.
Boom.
Almost simultaneously, a massive repulsive force erupted, blasting Orochimaru and everything around him away.
When the dust settled, everyone was stunned to see a deep, meters-wide crater stretching endlessly outward on the ground.
"This!?"
Ryuzetsu and Chino exchanged shocked glances.
Haku and Sasuke were equally stunned, while Karin remained calm.
Having awakened the Rinnegan, she knew this was merely one of its basic dojutsu techniques, Almighty Push.
After repelling Orochimaru with one strike, Shinji glanced at the group, signaling them to retreat with his eyes.
Sakura, the only one unaware of the situation, was so terrified by Shinji's gaze that she collapsed onto the ground.
Retracting his gaze, Shinji looked toward where Orochimaru had been flung, then leaped forward, chasing after him.
Sasuke had helped him awaken the Rinnegan—a debt to repay. What better opportunity than to deal with Orochimaru now?
"Phew." Sakura exhaled, clutching her chest. "He's finally gone!"
Haku hurried to Naruto's side, pulling out the Kusanagi Sword piercing his body and easing him down from the tree.
The weakened Naruto opened his eyes, saw everyone was safe, and smiled. "That's… great!"
With that, he passed out from blood loss.
Sakura, worried, asked, "Is Naruto okay?"
Sasuke, sprawled on the ground, craned his neck to check Naruto's condition.
Karin examined Naruto's wounds and shook her head. "He's fine, just lost too much blood. Bandage him, and he'll be okay!"
Haku stood, scanning the surroundings.
Rumbling sounds still echoed from various directions, indicating nearby battles. "This place isn't safe yet. We can't stay!"
"Got it!"
Karin nodded.
Ryuzetsu supported Naruto, Haku carried Sasuke, and the group moved out again.
…
Elsewhere.
Shinji descended from the sky, landing before Orochimaru.
At this point, Orochimaru had lost all the swagger he'd shown in front of Sasuke. Sprawled in a muddy crater, he was utterly disheveled!
Standing at a distance, Shinji said calmly, "Stop pretending!"
Only then did the seemingly broken Orochimaru twist his body, as if every bone were fractured, and shakily climbed out of the crater.
He glared at Shinji. "I didn't expect you to have the legendary Sage's Eye!"
Shinji wasn't surprised that Orochimaru recognized his Rinnegan.
Back when the Akatsuki recruited Orochimaru, "Tendo" had personally approached him. Upon seeing Tendo's Rinnegan, Orochimaru immediately coveted it, scheming to seize it.
The outcome was obvious.
Shinji said, "Your existence is quite a nuisance. Since we've crossed paths, let's settle this here!"
Orochimaru sneered, "Think you can kill me?"
With that, he bit his finger and began forming seals.
Shinji wouldn't let Orochimaru summon a troublesome beast like Manda. Raising his hand, he unleashed Almighty Pull.
"Here we go again!"
Caught by the pulling force, Orochimaru remained unfazed, continuing to form seals even as he was dragged toward Shinji.
Seeing he couldn't stop Orochimaru's seals in time, Shinji flicked his right hand, and a black rod shot from it toward Orochimaru.
Swish.
With a piercing sound, the black rod struck Orochimaru's arm precisely.
At that moment, Orochimaru finished his seals and shouted, "Summoning Jutsu!"
Yet the anticipated colossal Manda didn't appear!
Orochimaru froze, realizing the black rod in his arm had disrupted his jutsu, rendering the Summoning Jutsu ineffective.
Shinji, having pulled Orochimaru in with Almighty Pull, grabbed his neck. "It's over!"
"Over!?" Orochimaru smirked, then, with his other hand, ripped off the arm pierced by Shinji's black rod, shouting, "Forbidden Jutsu, Yamata no Jutsu!"