Joining Forces Against Orochimaru

Hayato ignored Shisui's words. That Anbu looked as good as dead.

He walked over to Shisui and drew the Ninja Blade from his back. Then he interrupted Shisui, who was about to speak. "Don't talk. I won't abandon a fellow clan member."

Shisui froze. He would have preferred Hayato to take the Anbu and leave. At least then, he could give the Third Hokage an explanation.

Orochimaru watched Hayato's actions as though he'd seen something interesting.

Although Hayato hadn't revealed his Sharingan, the fact that he could break free of Orochimaru's killing intent just like Shisui was enough to pique Orochimaru's interest.

Orochimaru's aura grew more imposing, and Hayato felt as if the man before him were a giant python in the rainforest, radiating an unsettling presence.

"Can you still move?"

Shisui nodded, and the two stood shoulder to shoulder.

The next instant, they sprang into action.

Shisui capitalized on his advantage. His Body Flicker Technique was as fast as lightning, leaving an afterimage behind as his real body appeared to Orochimaru's right.

He swung the Kodachi at a tricky angle, aiming straight for Orochimaru's ribs.

At the same time, Hayato came rushing in from the left, his Ninja Blade cutting off Orochimaru's escape route.

It looked like a perfect pincer attack.

But Orochimaru's expression didn't change. His body twisted as if it had no bones, letting him evade both attacks at once.

Then his neck shot out, his head darting toward Hayato like an arrow.

Hayato had been watching Orochimaru's movements closely. In that instant, he leaned backward and swung his Ninja Blade upward, slicing across Orochimaru's cheek and leaving a shallow cut.

"That was close, that was close."

Orochimaru's head hung in midair. He licked the blood from his cheek and spoke as if he didn't care, but the killing intent radiating from him only grew stronger.

Clearly, Orochimaru was furious that Hayato had drawn blood.

Whoosh!

Shisui's figure appeared in midair, his Kodachi swinging toward Orochimaru's neck.

Orochimaru glanced at Shisui, then opened his mouth wide and spat out a Kusanagi Sword to block the strike.

Clang!

Crack!

First came the sharp ring of clashing steel. Then the Kusanagi Sword snapped Shisui's Kodachi in half, and Shisui flipped away to evade.

"The Uchiha Clan's speed certainly lives up to its reputation."

Orochimaru watched Shisui as if he were looking at a toy.

Now!

Hayato seized the opportunity. Chakra surged through his legs, and he appeared beneath Orochimaru's head, thrusting his Ninja Blade straight at the man's throat.

Smack—

Without even turning his head, Orochimaru grabbed Hayato's wrist. His grip was so strong it nearly crushed Hayato's bones.

Orochimaru turned to Hayato with a sinister grin. "Good timing, but you're too slow."

His tone was casual, as if he were offering advice to a junior.

"Yeah."

Hayato didn't even furrow his brow. He replied calmly, looking Orochimaru straight in the eye.

The next moment, a broken Kodachi pierced through Orochimaru's chest.

Orochimaru looked down. By rights, he should have noticed it, unless—

"Genjutsu?"

Before he could finish speaking, Orochimaru's body turned into a pile of dirt.

"Earth Clone."

Hayato watched dirt slide off his wrist and warily scanned the area. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan was already revealed.

"I never expected to see another Three-Tomoe. The Uchiha Clan really does have a lot of geniuses."

Orochimaru's voice came from nearby. He emerged from the forest at an unhurried pace, his hands already forming the final seal.

"Manda: Array of Nets!"

Boom!

The ground exploded. Countless venomous snakes surged from the cracks like a black tide, rushing toward Hayato and Shisui.

"Shisui!"

Hayato stepped back and began forming Hand Seals, calling out to Shisui as he did.

"Right!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Great fireballs burst from both their mouths and joined together, forming an even larger one that surged toward the sea of snakes.

Sizzle—

The flames scorched the snakes at the front, filling the air with the stench of burning flesh.

But the combined fireball's power went far beyond that. It exploded right in the middle of the snake swarm, lighting up the surroundings.

The snakes were reduced to ash in the flames, but Orochimaru's figure had already disappeared again.

"Hayato! Watch out above!"

As Shisui shouted, Hayato had already spotted the figure plummeting from the sky.

"Kusanagi Sword: Snake Dance!"

Blades of light rained down, each one precisely targeting the two of them.

Shisui flickered in and out of view, repeatedly using the Body Flicker Technique to evade the blades aimed at him.

Hayato relied on his explosive muscles and chakra-control techniques. His movements were bizarre, and he narrowly dodged every blade at the last possible moment.

The Sharingan in his eyes spun rapidly, its powers of observation pushed to their limits.

"Heh. The Sharingan really is a remarkable Kekkei Genkai."

Hayato ignored the resentment in Orochimaru's tone as he spoke of the Kekkei Genkai. His mind raced.

Run?

Judging by Orochimaru's intentions, Hayato knew they wouldn't get away.

Besides, Orochimaru had made his greed for the Sharingan clear from the very beginning, even if it wasn't yet as intense as it would be later.

As a specimen for experimentation, the Sharingan was undoubtedly tempting to Orochimaru.

If they couldn't escape—

Then they'd fight!

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof, poof!

Three Shadow Clones appeared around them, then immediately charged at Orochimaru.

Each clone moved at top speed. Watching them, Orochimaru couldn't help licking his lips.

"Interesting."

Clink!

The clones spread out around him, each holding a wire. They yanked hard, making their intentions clear.

Orochimaru looked down and saw countless thin wires tightly binding him.

"I see..."

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

Boom!

Three lines of fire erupted from the three Shadow Clones. Hayato's real body had already formed the final seal, and he brought his hands together sharply.

"Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

Chakra surged out, transformed into wind through a change in nature, and became a raging gale the instant Hayato clapped his hands together. It swept toward the Fire Style technique unleashed by the Shadow Clones.

Boom—!

The wind fanned the flames, making them flare violently.

In an instant, a sea of fire engulfed everything, including Hayato's Shadow Clones.

The next moment, Hayato's face went pale as the Shadow Clones were forcibly dispelled. The heat of the flames seared him, leaving him in agony.

He could have had the Shadow Clones dodge, but—his opponent was Orochimaru. He couldn't afford to let his guard down for even an instant.