In a forest region overrun by venomous snakes, Orochimaru slowly rose from a shed snakeskin. Looking down at Deidara, who lay on the ground paralyzed by snake venom, he extended his slender tongue and licked his lips.
"Stop struggling. You can't escape."
Tsunade stood at the center of the barrier, both hands pressed against the ground. Fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead as she used a forbidden technique, but the life energy surging from her body poured forth like a tide. Advent of a World of Flowering Trees—an enormous tree broke through the earth, blooming with countless gigantic poisonous flowers that sealed off every route Obito could take to escape. Then a towering wooden figure rose from the sea of trees, its massive palm slamming toward Obito with overwhelming force.
Two Kakashis closed in simultaneously from the east and west. With the Anbu and Jonin blocking the perimeter, Obito was trapped in a space from which escape was all but impossible. Several more wounds had opened on his body, deep enough to expose bone, and a corner of his mask had shattered during the fighting. Panting, he swept his gaze over the familiar yet unfamiliar faces around him before finally letting out a low sigh. "This time, it's a complete defeat."
At the last moment, his figure dissolved into a Space Vortex, barely slipping through the tightening encirclement before vanishing at the edge of Konoha. The shadow Akatsuki had cast over the village was dispersing, and Deva Path Pain quietly departed after Obito's retreat.
Konoha's Jonin stood among the ruins, where the smoke had yet to clear, and watched that direction with weary but resolute eyes. Jiraiya released Sage Mode, walked over to Tsunade, and said softly, "He withdrew to the southeast... toward the Fire Temple, probably."
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