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The group smoothly returned to Tanzaku Town.
Sasame glanced at Kakuzu and Sasori nearby, then leaned in and whispered to Uzumaki Honami, "Follow this road straight ahead until you see the Gunma Casino. My clone will be waiting for you there."
Uzumaki Honami trembled slightly and nodded, clutching Karin tightly as she left.
Perhaps unaccustomed to crowds after so long, she moved like a frightened animal—every gesture radiating fear and fragility.
"Let's go meet Orochimaru."
Sasame pointed north. "About a kilometer ahead."
Anticipating potential combat, he had chosen a desolate plain rather than Tanzaku Town as the exchange location.
"Let's move."
Kakuzu chuckled darkly. "I can't wait to see what one of the legendary Sannin is made of."
You mean you can't wait to cash in Orochimaru's bounty, right?
Sasame saw right through him.
Kakuzu had a history of selling out teammates for profit. With a prize worth tens of millions right in front of him, there was no way he'd let it slide.
Not that Sasame was worried.
Though Orochimaru currently lacked the Curse Mark and Living Corpse Reincarnation, his combat experience and survival skills were top-tier. Taking him down wouldn't be easy.
Moreover, Kakuzu and Sasori's abilities weren't as inherently oppressive as the Mangekyō Sharingan's hax.
Even if Orochimaru somehow dies… eh, not a huge loss.
He'd already secured the Hashira Cells.
The Curse Mark and body-swapping techniques didn't interest him.
The improved Edo Tensei was valuable, but not essential—worst case, he'd just have Kabuto Yakushi research it later.
"One more condition: No matter what Orochimaru asks, don't answer. Just retrieve the goods."
Sasame paused, then raised two fingers. "Another 200,000 ryō for your silence."
Kakuzu swallowed whatever he'd been about to say and nodded. "Deal."
Money talks.
And Sasame's endless "I'll pay extra" had thoroughly corrupted him.
Minutes later, Orochimaru's silhouette appeared in the distance.
"Since I'm just a clone, I'll sit this one out."
Sasame stopped walking, watching as Kakuzu and Sasori advanced. Then he pulled out a telescope.
Time for some front-row entertainment.
Three Heroes vs. Orochimaru.
Kakuzu, Sasori, and technically himself—versus one of the legendary Sannin.
How could he miss this?
Back in his past life, he'd only seen fights through a screen. Now? Front-row seats.
Plus, it was a chance to gauge the peak combatants of this era.
(He'd be cheering for all three, of course.)
Orochimaru's gaze locked onto Kakuzu and Sasori, his tongue flicking out in excitement.
This was the thrill of unraveling secrets.
Once the trade concluded, if he could capture one of them—or at least force them to reveal unique techniques—he might glimpse the truth behind their organization.
As the two approached, Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
An actual organization… and a formal one at that, with standardized attire.
"Where's the goods?"
Kakuzu scanned Orochimaru. He'd seen his bounty posters in the black market and recognized him instantly.
He'd once considered hunting him down—but Orochimaru had been holed up in Konoha, making it too risky.
Now?
A lone Orochimaru, ripe for the picking.
Time to break out the Master Ball.
But first, complete the mission.
Sasame's generous payments had earned him a spot on Kakuzu's "Premium Client" list—the kind worth maintaining long-term.
"Here."
Orochimaru produced a storage scroll. He had no intention of reneging—Sasame's requested quantity was trivial.
Besides, if things went south, he could always retrieve it later.
Kakuzu took the scroll without inspecting it and stashed it away.
Then—
Boom.
The atmosphere shattered as two monstrous killing intents erupted.
In Naruto, killing intent was a tangible force.
(Example: During the Chūnin Exams, Orochimaru paralyzed Sasuke with sheer bloodlust—forcing him to stab his own leg just to move.)
Now, Orochimaru was startled to find Kakuzu's killing intent on par with his own.
Such intensity could only stem from countless battles.
This man… is no ordinary foe.
Orochimaru's smirk widened.
Sen'ei Jashu! (Hidden Shadow Snake Hands)
Countless venomous snakes surged from his sleeves, forming a living tsunami that engulfed Kakuzu and Sasori.
"Not bad."
Kakuzu shrugged off his Akatsuki cloak, revealing the black tendrils writhing beneath his skin.
Jiongu Mode— activated.
(A sign of respect… and a desire to end this quickly.)
The Fire Mask on his right shoulder split open.
Katon: Zukokku! (Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work)
A tsunami of flames devoured the snakes, reducing them to ash.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
This fire jutsu's potency is absurd.
And those black tendrils—he'd never seen such a technique.
Fascinating.
His confidence unshaken, Orochimaru opened his mouth and—
Gack!
A small snake slithered out, which then vomited a sword.
Totsuka no Tsurugi! (Grass Cutter Sword)
The blade shot forth like a bullet.
Kakuzu's black threads lashed out to intercept—
Schlik!
—and were sliced clean through.
"Fine blade."
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed. A sword sharp enough to sever his Jiongu threads? That's worth a fortune.
Doton: Domu! (Earth Release: Earth Spear)
His arms blackened, hardening to diamond-like density—
Clang!
—and clapped the blade between his palms.
Orochimaru's smirk faltered.
He… caught it?
Totsuka no Tsurugi: Kū no Tachi! (Grass Cutter Sword: Blade of the Void)
The sword lengthened infinitely, forcing Kakuzu to release it and leap back.
As he landed, the Lightning Mask on his left shoulder activated.
Raiton: Gian! (Lightning Release: False Darkness)
A gigantic lightning spear tore through Orochimaru—
BOOM!
—and detonated.
"Did I get him?"
Kakuzu squinted through the smoke.
Then—
Hsss!
Snakes coiled around his waist.
Orochimaru stood behind him, swinging the 40-meter-long Totsuka no Tsurugi in a decapitating arc.
Splash!
Kakuzu's body melted into water.
His true form emerged nearby as the Wind Mask unleashed:
Fūton: Atsugai! (Wind Release: Pressure Damage)
A compact wind sphere shot forth—
WHOOM!
—then expanded violently, shredding the landscape.
"Dodged again?"
Kakuzu scowled. This guy's survivability is ridiculous.
Each of his elemental attacks rivaled kinjutsu-level destruction—yet Orochimaru kept slipping away.
Orochimaru exhaled.
These rapid evasions weren't effortless.
This was his toughest fight since battling Hanzō of the Salamander.
And the worst part?
Sasori hadn't even moved yet.
Who the hell is this guy? Orochimaru racked his brain. A master of all five elements? Where did he come from?
"Too slow."
Sasori finally spoke—then unleashed his left arm's artillery.
(A single barrel had sufficed against the Grass ninja. Now? Over a dozen.)
Even Kakuzu backpedaled hastily.
"A puppeteer?"
Orochimaru's gaze flicked to Sasori's right arm—then—
PCHOOO!
A storm of poisoned needles blanketed the battlefield.
The coverage was inescapable—no ordinary Substitution or Body Flicker could evade it.
Orochimaru's face was impaled.
Then—
Riiip!
His outer skin sloughed off, revealing a pristine new body.
"Potent venom."
Orochimaru eyed his dissolved husk, pulse quickening.
As a toxin expert himself, he recognized Sasori's prowess—perhaps even surpassing his own.
His earlier confidence evaporated.
How many members does this organization have? If each is this formidable… then what about their leader, Sasame?
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 40 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 25 power stones I will publish the next chapter.