Rumble...
The dust raised by the explosion drifted into the sky, visible even from a distance.
While speeding, Orochimaru looked back behind him, his eyes filled with thick confusion and a trace of imperceptible fear.
He didn't understand why Itachi Uchiha would target him.
One must know that regardless of their stance, Itachi Uchiha shouldn't make things difficult for him at this critical and sensitive time.
Yakushi Kabuto behind reminded: "Orochimaru-sama, he caught up again!"
"Tch!" Spitting lightly, Orochimaru said with a dark face: "Ignore him, we don't have time to tangle with him now!"
Just now Orochimaru tried to fight the 'Itachi Uchiha' who came to the door. As a result, even joining hands, his group didn't gain any advantage.
Considering this might be a conspiracy of the Akatsuki organization, Orochimaru decisively chose to retreat.
After all, he didn't know Obito's true identity, only confirming that Obito was not Madara Uchiha. So he couldn't trust Obito completely, let alone place his own safety on that transaction with Obito!
In the team, Guren was somewhat puzzled: "Orochimaru-sama, no matter how powerful Itachi Uchiha is, he's just one person. We don't need to be afraid of him, right?"
Tayuya chimed in: "Yeah, let us deal with him!"
"Shut up!"
Orochimaru scolded.
Guren and Tayuya hurriedly silenced themselves, daring not to speak more.
Orochimaru also glanced behind, recalling scenes related to Itachi Uchiha in his mind.
It could be said that his almost obsessive pursuit of the Mangekyo Sharingan largely stemmed from the blow Itachi Uchiha dealt him.
When he had already achieved the name of 'Konoha's Sannin', Itachi was just a little kid.
At that time, he keenly sensed Itachi's talent. While shocked, a greedy heart also arose in his heart.
Because as his strength grew stronger, he gradually realized that he seemed to have reached his own limit.
For him without Kekkei Genkai or Sage Body, the upper limit was destined.
Unwilling, he set his sights on others' Kekkei Genkai and began human experiments that were inhumane in the eyes of outsiders.
But for Orochimaru himself, this was the necessary path for him to pursue breakthroughs. For this, he didn't hesitate to abandon everything and choose to defect!
Continuous human experiments and continuous development of forbidden jutsu loosened the upper limit locking Orochimaru's strength.
With the successful development of 'Living Corpse Reincarnation', Orochimaru finally obtained the ability to seize others' bodies. At this time, in the unorthodox Akatsuki organization, Itachi, who had become an adult and became more powerful and perfect, appeared in front of him again.
A young body with top-tier pupil technique Kekkei Genkai was undoubtedly a fatal temptation for Orochimaru at that time, so he chose to turn hostile without thinking.
In his view, he was the 'Konoha's Sannin' famous in the Ninja World for many years, a powerful ninja sufficient to run for Hokage. The opponent was just a kid just past fourteen. With calculated against unprepared, taking down the opponent should be easy.
As a result, an unforgettable scene appeared.
With just a simple look and an ordinary Genjutsu, Itachi made him instantly immobilized and humiliated.
Soon, Orochimaru restrained his wandering thoughts.
Land of Rain.
The sky was still drizzling with light rain.
In the thin rain curtain, Shinji wearing a cat face mask and a hooded red cloud cloak stood quietly on the crown of a big tree.
On a big tree not far behind him, three figures wearing hooded red cloud cloaks stood respectively.
Karin wearing a fox face mask crossed her arms on a branch, leaning back against the trunk, seemingly closing her eyes to sense something.
Mumei wearing an eye pattern mask sat on a branch, one leg hanging naturally, the other leg casually crossed, eyes staring at Shinji on the tree crown not far away.
The last figure was Yakumo wearing a Hannya demon mask. She put one hand on her hip, her eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly. However, this was not Yakumo's original body, but a blood clone following Shinji, a backup for activating 'Red Dragon's space displacement.
Under the mask, Shinji frowned slightly.
Because 'Magatama' connected Orochimaru and Ido responsible for monitoring Orochimaru respectively, Shinji in the Land of Rain felt like being at the scene for the battle where Orochimaru annihilated Tanjiro.
Shinji didn't care about the process of annihilating Tanjiro. What he cared about right now was Tanjiro's last strike before death.
He had confirmed that the Hegemon's power penetrating into the Ninja World was on Tanjiro, so he dared not take it lightly.
Just as he was prepared to continue monitoring the changes on Orochimaru, Itachi Uchiha inexplicably found Orochimaru.
This scene of déjà vu reminded him of the scene when 'Tsugikuni Yoriichi' chased Ubuyashiki Ryuhei in the Demon Slayer World.
He knew that the Hegemon could materialize the fear in people's hearts.
"Could it be that the opponent mistook Orochimaru for the 'Lampbearer' of the Ninja World? Makes sense, Orochimaru appeared so coincidentally, and his means were not weak, fitting the characteristics of a 'Lampbearer'. Heh, originally just in case, didn't expect Orochimaru to block a blade for me!"
Smiling lightly, Shinji began to wonder, if he was hit by the Hegemon's 'Fear Projection', what exactly would be projected.
Then, Shinji thought he could use Orochimaru to test whether the materialized 'Itachi Uchiha' by the Hegemon could be killed.
Anyway, as long as it was the Hegemon's power penetrating into the Ninja World, in his eyes, it must be eliminated as soon as possible.
Subsequently, he looked towards the direction of the Ninja Village Alliance headquarters.
In this confrontation with the Hegemon, clearing out the Hegemon's power penetrating into the Ninja World was certainly important, but this could only barely delay the time of the Hegemon attacking the Ninja World, belonging to treating symptoms but not the root cause.
So to truly solve the crisis, one could only constantly improve one's own strength, making oneself capable of fighting the Hegemon.
Becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki was one of Shinji's most important goals right now.
It was just that Nagato showed more patience than he expected before. Clearly, the Ninja War had reached a fever pitch, yet he delayed taking action.
"Is he scrupling about something? Or preparing something?"
Shinji couldn't guess Nagato's mind for a while.
But he had an intuition that Nagato was definitely not the kind of person who liked the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. If he hadn't taken action all along, it meant there must be a reason for him not taking action. And when he truly took action, it might likely be an unstoppable thunder strike!
At that time, a battle for the Ten-Tails would be staged in the Ninja World!
Swish swish...
At this time, Neji wearing a blank mask and Kimimaro wearing a snake face mask passed through the rain curtain and landed in front of Shinji, saying in unison: "My Lord!"
Shinji nodded.
For this battle, he was also gathering strength!