"Truly unexpected."
Orochimaru's expression turned grave as he stared at the figure floating in the sky.
The short, elderly man gazed down at Orochimaru with an impassive face.
"To think Iwagakure would ally with Amegakure."
Just recently, they had been locked in a life-and-death struggle.
And even if they had formed an alliance, why would the Tsuchikage himself appear on the battlefield?
Wasn't he afraid of being surrounded and killed?
Kage were prime targets in war.
But then again...
The man could fly.
Never mind.
"Konoha is far too powerful," Ōnoki said as he slowly descended.
This decision had not been made lightly.
Konoha's strength was undeniable.
On the Kumogakure front, the White Fang alone could hold off an entire village. Then there were the rising legends—Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru—none of whom could be underestimated.
Not to mention the two most troublesome of all: Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō.
Individually, Ōnoki could crush either of them.
But together, they were a formidable pair.
Just counting the notable figures, Konoha had at least six elite shinobi.
Who knew how many more lurked in the shadows?
Like that green-clad beast—if he weren't limited to taijutsu, he'd be another thorn in Ōnoki's side.
But taijutsu alone was nothing to fear.
As things stood, Konoha held the overwhelming advantage in this war.
If left unchecked, Ōnoki saw no path to victory.
Better to sever one of their fingers now.
"Ōnoki, he's getting away," Hanzo reminded from the side.
"I know. Kill Orochimaru, and you'll get what you want," Ōnoki replied coldly.
Before him, Orochimaru's body suddenly went limp, revealing nothing but a shed skin.
"Using earth-style tricks in front of me? You're still wet behind the ears!"
"Earth Release: Earth Core!"
The ground erupted, forming a massive square block of earth—trapping Orochimaru inside.
Ōnoki extended his hands.
A transparent cubic barrier materialized, its interior swirling with white light.
"Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
The cube rapidly expanded into a rectangular prism, engulfing Orochimaru and the earthen block.
Just as the light within intensified—
Orochimaru's mouth split open, and another version of himself shot out, narrowly escaping the prism's annihilation.
"Dust Release, huh?" Orochimaru mused, standing firm.
Ōnoki's technique had erasure properties—even the Infinite Serpent couldn't withstand it.
A legendary Kekkei Tōta.
Orochimaru pressed his palms together.
Facing both Ōnoki and Hanzo at once...
His current strength wasn't enough.
In the distance, Manda vanished with a "Poof!" of smoke.
"Given up, Orochimaru?" Ōnoki floated before him, begrudgingly acknowledging the young man as a formidable foe.
Surrendering would make things easier.
"Not quite." A white glow suddenly enveloped Orochimaru's body.
"It's just that Manda is useless against you."
That devastating Dust Release would obliterate the serpent in an instant.
Hanzo, now mounted atop his salamander, joined Ōnoki in confronting Orochimaru.
Ōnoki struck first.
From the ground behind Orochimaru, another Ōnoki emerged, hands aimed.
"Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
The cubic barrier sealed Orochimaru once more.
But as the erasure began—
Orochimaru's body swelled violently, bursting through the cube.
"Forbidden Jutsu: Undying Seal Method—Eight Branches Technique!"
His form twisted into a colossal figure with eight serpentine heads and tails.
"What is this?!" Hanzo gaped at the monstrous sight.
The creature towered nearly a hundred meters tall.
If Orochimaru had unleashed this from the start, could Hanzo have stood a chance?
"Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
Ōnoki reacted instantly.
Size meant nothing to him.
The cube expanded, encasing the eight-headed serpent.
But one massive head lunged, its fangs shattering a section of the barrier.
The transparent prism warped.
The serpent's maw yawned wide, sucking the distorted cube into its gullet.
Another head spewed searing flames at Ōnoki.
Meanwhile, several others bombarded Hanzo with sandstorms, forcing him back.
"Earth Release: Rock Golem Technique!"
Ōnoki summoned a stone titan to block the flames, which harmlessly licked its surface.
Yet another serpent head turned, its maw crackling with lightning.
The bolt pierced the golem like paper, forcing Ōnoki into retreat.
The relentless arcs pursued him.
Ōnoki glanced at Hanzo, now barely holding his ground against the sandstorm.
"Useless!"
And this man dared call himself the "God of Shinobi"?
Hanzo seethed. These sandstorms rivaled large-scale A-rank jutsu.
Coming from a minor village, his arsenal was limited—how could he defend against this?
His reputation was built fighting normal-sized shinobi, not this abomination.
Even his salamander hesitated to engage.
Ōnoki ignored him, allowing the lightning to engulf him—only to vanish when the barrage ceased.
He reappeared atop the eight-headed serpent, hand outstretched.
"Earth Release: Weighted Rock Technique!"
The beast's body began petrifying, albeit slowly.
"Earth Release: Super Weighted Rock Technique!"
The serpent's mass multiplied, crushing it against the earth.
Seizing the opening, Hanzo charged, his scythe lopping off one head.
The salamander mauled another.
"Move! You're in the way!" Ōnoki barked.
Though resentful, Hanzo withdrew, his salamander following.
"Dust Release!"
"Boundary Elimination Technique!"
An enormous white cube enveloped the eight-headed serpent—an enhanced version of Atomic Dismantling.
The light within detonated.
When it faded, the beast was gone.
"Did we succeed?" Hanzo called up to Ōnoki.
"Not yet."
Ōnoki's gaze shifted to the ground where Orochimaru emerged, unscathed.
"That technique's sheer size made it a perfect target."
He'd hoped it would last longer.
Pity.
"As expected of the Tsuchikage," Orochimaru praised, tongue flicking.
Ōnoki's face remained stony.
"So the intel was leaked after all?"
Orochimaru smirked. "Just a precaution."
Two figures materialized behind him.
"Orochimaru, you look terrible."
"Shut up! Help him finish this!!"
...
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(End of Chapter)