Orochimaru's Defection (Part 2)

Although Orochimaru had suffered a significant disadvantage in their initial exchange, this was still the first time he had managed to injure his teacher in battle.

It felt quite good...

However, seeing the wrinkles on his teacher's face and that contemplative expression, the smile on his own face faded slightly.

Teacher, I didn't expect you to still be soft-hearted...

Since that is the case, there is no point in continuing this fight.

Orochimaru thought of this and glanced at the Konoha Anbu closing in from a dozen meters away.

Orochimaru made a swift decision.

Time to go!

"Summoning Technique!"

Four giant snakes, several meters thick, appeared on the battlefield, scattering in all directions and rampaging through the area, clearing a safe zone of about a hundred meters.

Following that, Orochimaru controlled all the summoned snakes to head straight for the Forest of Death on the outskirts.

The chaos caused by the sudden appearance of the giant snakes quickly subsided as the Anbu ninjas reacted.

The Anbu ninjas began their counterattack one after another.

Puff! Puff!

Kunai, accompanied by various ninjutsu attacks, quickly slaughtered these giant snakes, which possessed little Chakra, on the spot.

Only one giant snake, under the cover of its companions, quickly burrowed into the ground, carrying Orochimaru as it fled toward the Forest of Death.

Seeing this, the Third Hokage endured the sharp pain in his leg and leaped up, using the roof of a three-story building to launch himself dozens of meters into the air.

He raised the black Adamantine Staff in his hand high and smashed it down with all his might.

Enma's form expanded to several meters in width, and his impact on the ground caused a cataclysmic disturbance.

Splat!

The giant snake's body was smashed into pulp directly within the earth.

Orochimaru was also forced to reveal his figure from underground.

Before he could even steady his footing, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a white figure...

Kakashi had been waiting on the sidelines, specifically to seize this moment of distraction from Orochimaru.

A Chidori condensed in his palm.

He pushed his Body Flicker Technique to the limit.

With the aid of his Sharingan!

He instantly seized a fatal opening in Orochimaru's defense.

In the blink of an eye, before anyone else could react, Kakashi arrived right in front of Orochimaru.

Crouch, look up, reach out, strike at the heart!

The sequence of movements was executed in one fluid motion.

"Got you! Orochimaru."

A confident smile appeared on the corner of Kakashi's mouth.

Sharp thunder formed a blade at his fingertips, piercing Orochimaru's chest in an instant.

The scent of charred meat wafted through the air.

The Chidori pierced through Orochimaru's body.

Enduring the excruciating pain, Orochimaru twisted his body frantically, contorting it into an incredible knot... Suddenly, his body transformed into a giant snake several meters thick, pinning Kakashi directly beneath it.

The giant snake opened its mouth and spat Orochimaru out.

He had temporarily shaken off Kakashi's pursuit.

However, the decline of his heavily injured body became suddenly apparent at this moment.

Crack!

He controlled the massive weight of the snake body to press down violently, deforming Kakashi's arm as the sound of bone fracturing rang out.

A single counterattack from the giant snake had plunged Kakashi into a fatal crisis.

"Give up the struggle, Orochimaru..."

An Anbu wearing a cat-face mask said coldly.

"Namiashi Raidō! You bastard can't stop me..."

Orochimaru recognized the other party's identity at a glance.

He clutched his chest.

Intense pain slowed his movements, causing his actions to become distorted.

"No one is coming to save you, Lord Orochimaru! Do not put up a futile resistance."

Another elite Anbu appeared.

His signature spiky hairstyle revealed his identity—Yamashiro Aoba.

Orochimaru was very familiar with them; after all, they were all subordinates he had once commanded on the battlefield.

In everyone's eyes.

Orochimaru had nowhere left to run.

Even if the Third Hokage did not intervene, in his current heavily injured state, he had no chance of escaping from this squad of elite Anbu jōnin from Konoha.

"Is that so?"

Orochimaru curled his lips into a cold sneer.

He quickly bit his finger and completed a Cursed Seal at lightning speed.

"Summoning Jutsu—Manda!"

A giant purple python, ten meters in diameter and a hundred meters long, appeared beneath his feet.

Two hideous horns protruded from its massive snake head.

A pair of slit pupils surveyed the battlefield, and greedy saliva dripped from its maw.

It saw a large number of living sacrifices in the direction of Konoha.

"Orochimaru, this time I want one hundred sacrifices!"

Manda's signature arrogant roar rang out.

With a single sweep of its tail, it forced all the Konoha ninja to retreat.

Standing on Manda's head, Orochimaru gained a moment to catch his breath.

However, before Manda could begin its rampage.

Suddenly, a massive black staff descended from the sky, slamming into Manda's hundred-meter-long body and knocking it to the ground.

Boom!

The massive figure kicked up a cloud of thick smoke.

Manda roared in anger, "You damn monkey who only knows how to sneak attack... I will..."

Boom!

Another strike followed; the giant Enma, nearly a meter thick, slammed his staff directly onto Manda's vital spot.

Its heart suffered a heavy blow.

Manda's entire body trembled violently.

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew Manda's weaknesses very well.

Controlling the petite body of Enma, he could easily dodge Manda's attacks and accurately target the snake's vital spot.

It turned its head and bared its fangs.

It attempted to bite the Adamantine Staff that Enma had transformed into.

But Enma suddenly shrank and returned to Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand.

"Orochimaru, this monkey is too annoying! I'm leaving."

After being struck a few times and having absolutely no chance to fight back, Manda noticed several Konoha Anbu preparing to cast sealing jutsu out of the corner of its eye. Sensing the situation was dire, it abandoned Orochimaru without hesitation, instantly dispelling the summoning and retreating back to Ryūchi Cave.

At a moment when no one was paying attention.

A figure quietly appeared within the massive crater where Manda had vanished.

"Orochimaru, come back with me!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen panted heavily, landing on an Earth Style stone pillar that one of his subordinates had raised for him, and urged.

The previous few moves had consumed a great deal of his stamina, and his body was showing signs of exhaustion.

As expected, he was getting old.

He was already feeling weary after just a few movements.

"Old man... just kill me! Let's see if you still have the ability to do it now..."

Orochimaru wiped the blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth once more, staining the white sleeve of his kimono red.

He had been careless.

He hadn't expected the young Anbu under his teacher's command to have become so outstanding.

There was still a massive gap between him and his teacher!

What a pity.

If he had listened to Murasaki and transplanted the First Hokage Cells, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up in this state today.

Ao...

How exactly did you calculate that I would encounter such a crisis?

Complex thoughts surged within Orochimaru, and he could not help but look toward the figure in the distance who had dealt him such a heavy blow.

That white-haired brat... he carries the bearing of an old acquaintance!

Is it Hatake Kakashi?

If not for him, I would have likely already escaped.

Orochimaru felt his internal organs could no longer hold out.

His body was nearing its limit.

"Still obsessed!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a cold snort. His figure flashed, and utilizing the speed provided by the sudden extension of his Adamantine Staff, he charged toward Orochimaru like a cannonball.

He threw a punch straight at him.

Gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, Orochimaru made hand seals rapidly with a ferocious expression.

"Summoning: Rashomon!"

A massive wall emerged.

It blocked Sarutobi Hiruzen's attack.

In an instant, the Third Hokage's figure stiffened slightly, and a flash of pain crossed his face. The snake venom in his leg had taken effect, and his body, losing control, slammed into the stone wall and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, Orochimaru immediately launched a counterattack.

"Kusanagi Sword: Empty Blade..."

A sleeve sword suddenly flew from his hand, heading straight for the Third Hokage just a few meters away.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had no time to dodge.

An Anbu suddenly appeared before him, blocking the blade, and was pinned directly to the ground by the sleeve sword.

At the same time, Orochimaru did not stop his hand movements and continued to weave seals!

"Summoning: Giant Snake Swarm!"

His Chakra erupted suddenly.

A large number of giant snakes, each a meter thick, surged from the ground and swarmed toward Konoha.

Seeing this, the Anbu ninjas had no choice but to pull away to intercept these giant snakes, preventing them from threatening the civilians within the village.

Meanwhile, after breaking free from his restraints, Kakashi led three subordinates to stand in front of the Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, are you alright!"

Kakashi asked urgently.

"I am fine!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said anxiously, lowering his head to look at the lifeless Anbu before him, a flash of guilt crossing his eyes.

To ensure no one noticed he was holding back, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately ordered: "Capture Orochimaru... quickly..."

Upon hearing this, Kakashi and the others chased after Orochimaru once more.

They did not intend to give Orochimaru a single moment to catch his breath.

Orochimaru was now also nearing his limit.

Facing the siege of Konoha's highest combat power, the Chakra within his body was nearly exhausted.

"Am I going to die?"

Orochimaru saw Kakashi appear before him, blade in hand, and a trace of despair flashed across his face.

Seeing this, Kakashi exerted himself even more.

But suddenly, he saw the corners of Orochimaru's mouth curl upward, as if he were smiling.

Is something wrong?

Kakashi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Does Orochimaru still have a trump card?

No matter...

Kakashi steadied his mind, his Sharingan fixed intently on Orochimaru's figure.

He must not be allowed to escape!

Suddenly!

"Clang!"

A loud explosion rang out.

Kakashi's figure was sent reeling back several meters!

A figure stood before Orochimaru, repelling Kakashi's attack.

"Ao!"

"Why are you here!?"

Orochimaru exclaimed in surprise.

He appeared to be pleasantly surprised.

Watching Ao's back, the corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled slightly.

As expected, you came after all.

It proved that his choice had indeed been correct.

Ao, you did not let down my trust!