That battle ultimately ended in victory for the Kaguya Clan.
It was precisely because they had won that the Kaguya Clan's ambitions were able to swell!
The Kaguya Clan's annihilation battle also unfolded without a hitch afterward!
After hiding away and patiently training for half a year, Lin Cheng finally got his wish in Year 51 of Konoha: the great battle had arrived!
But he was afraid the Kirigakure shinobi and the Kaguya Clan would discover him.
Lin Cheng hid far away and could only see a small part of the battle.
Even so, what he gained in ninjutsu was enough to fill him with excitement!
Besides that, he had also sent out a clone to divert someone else's attention.
"Heh heh! What a pitiful clan! They actually thought they could conquer a whole ninja village with nothing but their clan's strength!
"Foolishness has infected every last person in this clan!"
The sinister voice, the long hair draped over his shoulders, the androgynous face, and a pair of slit pupils.
The speaker's identity was obvious!
Orochimaru!
Just as Orochimaru was about to draw closer to Kirigakure, he suddenly stopped and turned to look behind him.
"Heh heh! Looks like a rat is spying from the shadows!"
The next moment, the summoned snake Orochimaru had left nearby coiled around someone hiding in the shadows.
But before Orochimaru could let out another sinister laugh, a puff of smoke appeared, and the target wrapped in the summoned snake turned into a wooden log.
"Substitution Technique? An interesting little rat!"
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
He casually tilted his head to one side, dodging the kunai attack from behind.
Orochimaru gave a sinister smile, then spun around at blinding speed and unleashed his signature ninjutsu toward the person behind him!
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
His long, slender arms instantly transformed into a swarm of giant snakes that surged toward the place the kunai had come from.
The Hidden Shadow Snake Hands swept through the area, forcing a figure out of the shadows—a figure that struck Orochimaru as somewhat peculiar.
"Ding! Information collection complete! Congratulations, host. You have learned the skill 'Hidden Shadow Snake Hands'!"
"Heh heh! You really are a little rat with a death wish! Are you trying to provoke me with this trick?"
Looking at the figure on a branch nearby, who was identical to him—even down to his mannerisms—Orochimaru's slit pupils narrowed sharply as he gave a sinister laugh.
"Heh heh! You're not wrong to see it that way!"
At the disguised figure's words, Orochimaru's pupils shrank even further.
The impersonator had copied even his voice and tone to perfection!
"Little rat! My laboratory is short a few suitable specimens, and you seem like a perfect fit!"
Killing intent surged in an instant!
Orochimaru used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared behind the impersonator.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
But what Orochimaru had never expected was that his opponent seemed to have predicted his move.
The very moment Orochimaru appeared behind him, the other man also used the Body Flicker Technique.
He moved behind Orochimaru at just the right moment.
And, to Orochimaru's utter surprise, he unleashed Orochimaru's own signature ninjutsu, the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
In the brief moment Orochimaru stood stunned, he—the mighty Kage Level Orochimaru—was injured by an opponent whose identity was unknown.
And he had been wounded by his own technique!
Watching his opponent flee the instant after injuring him, Orochimaru laughed once more.
This time, his laughter was unrestrained!
It was wild and arrogant!
"Hahaha! Hahaha! Interesting! This is truly interesting! I'm really curious!
"What do you stand to gain by doing this?
"And who, exactly, are you?"
Rather than pursue his opponent, Orochimaru turned and headed toward his original destination.
Who was he, Orochimaru?
How could he be so easily lured away by some unknown nobody?
But when Orochimaru arrived at Kirigakure with a cold smile on his face, his expression instantly darkened.
A group of furious Kirigakure jonin was heading straight toward him. Among them was even the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure...
Before you continue