Aboveground, the two stood silently where they were, listening as the faint scraping beneath their feet gradually faded into the distance, until all was quiet.
"Tch."
Sasuke clicked his tongue softly, his Mangekyō Sharingan slowly fading back into black eyes.
He deactivated his Cursed Seal, his skin returning from grayish brown to its original cool pallor, and the hand-shaped wings on his back dissipated.
He sheathed the Kusanagi Sword in one swift, clean motion, then turned and headed back the way they had come.
Itachi followed him, his expression calm, though a trace of resignation lingered in his eyes.
"It looks like we won't be able to release the Impure World Reincarnation for now."
Elsewhere, Ning Xue was controlling the Ice Binding Armor Prison to keep up the pressure on Orochimaru.
Its six barrels fired in turns, pouring Ice Swallow, Ice Cone, and Ice Burst attacks at Orochimaru as though chakra cost nothing, blasting the battlefield into a devastated wasteland.
With a human head atop a snake's body, Orochimaru slithered through the forest of ice spikes, dodging attacks. Several wounds already marked his body, but relying on his newly acquired flesh, he shed his skin without hesitation.
"You really are..."
Orochimaru glanced back at the figure behind him as he slithered along, a hint of resignation in his voice.
Before he could finish, however, he sensed two presences rapidly approaching from behind and to the side.
He quickly turned his head, his golden slit pupils narrowing slightly when he spotted Sasuke and Itachi.
A calculating gleam flashed through Orochimaru's eyes. Then he abruptly changed direction and charged toward Sasuke.
To him, Sasuke might be easier to talk to right now. At least he would be more reasonable than that bloodthirsty Byakugan brat.
Seeing Orochimaru charge toward them, Sasuke and Itachi