Snake-Shadow Ambush: Awakening in Desperation

Orochimaru's appearance instantly changed the atmosphere on the battlefield.

Those golden slit pupils locked onto Ling, his cold killing intent almost tangible.

"I didn't expect you to grow to this extent..."

Orochimaru slowly extended his tongue. "It seems planting that curse mark on you back then was the right choice."

Every muscle in Ling's body tensed, Lightning Release chakra racing through him. Facing Orochimaru, one of the Three Sannin, he didn't dare let his guard down in the slightest.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Orochimaru struck first, dozens of venomous snakes shooting from his sleeves and sealing off every path of retreat.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Armor!"

Blinding lightning erupted around Ling. The instant the snakes touched the Lightning Release, they turned into white smoke one after another. But Orochimaru's real attack was only just beginning.

"Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!"

Countless venomous snakes surged up from underground, drowning the entire area in the blink of an eye. Ling was forced to keep retreating, while also splitting his attention to watch Shukaku's movements.

"What's wrong? Is running away all you can do?"

Orochimaru smiled coldly, his hands beginning to form seals.

Ling's pupils shrank—those were the hand seals for Impure World Reincarnation!

"I have to stop him!"

Ling charged forward with no regard for anything else, Chidori Sharp Spear condensing once more. But Orochimaru had long since prepared.

"Summoning Technique: Triple Rashomon!"

Three enormous demon-faced gates rose from the ground, easily blocking Ling's all-out strike. In that moment, the gap in strength was laid bare.

"It's over."

Orochimaru's figure suddenly appeared behind Ling, the Kusanagi Sword stabbing straight toward his back.

At that critical instant—

"Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!"

Jiraiya arrived just in time, a dense barrage of hair senbon forcing Orochimaru back.

"Bullying children isn't exactly your style, Orochimaru."

Jiraiya landed in front of Ling, his aura in Sage Mode astonishing.

"Teacher Jiraiya!"

Ling let out a breath of relief, but his heart immediately tightened again. Because he saw a strange smile appear on Orochimaru's face.

"Did you think I would come unprepared?"

Orochimaru suddenly pressed his hands together, and a huge jutsu formula surfaced on the ground.

"This is... the Five-Seal Barrier!"

Jiraiya's expression changed.

The barrier rapidly unfolded, completely isolating the two of them from the outside world. Worse still, Shukaku seemed to sense something and began moving toward them.

"Now, let us continue."

A mad gleam flickered in Orochimaru's eyes.

Ling could feel the curse mark inside him beginning to stir uncontrollably. Under the pressure of life and death, the suppressed power was awakening.

"No... if I release the seal now..."

Ling struggled to maintain his reason, but the temptation of the curse mark grew stronger and stronger. That surging sensation of power was almost drowning his consciousness.

"What's wrong? You don't dare use the power I bestowed upon you?"

Orochimaru mocked him. "Or would you rather die here?"

Shukaku's giant claw had already risen high, and the shadow of death came crashing down.

In that desperate situation, countless images flashed through Ling's mind: the Uchiha clan grounds, Kakashi's teachings, his promise with Hinata, and... his determination to protect the Hidden Leaf Village.

"I... refuse!"

Ling's eyes suddenly became incomparably clear. In the pupil of his left eye, a touch of scarlet quietly emerged.

Single-Tomoe Sharingan, open!

At the brink of life and death, the Uchiha bloodline finally awakened.

At the same time, the suppressed power of the curse mark began to resonate mysteriously with the Sharingan. Ling could feel that his control over chakra had reached an unprecedented height.

"This is..."

For the first time, Orochimaru showed a look of surprise.

Ling slowly raised his right hand, lightning gathering in his palm. But this time, the Chidori no longer produced a piercing cry. Instead, it let out a low, majestic roar.

Within the lightning, the outline of a dragon faintly emerged. This was Ling's unique technique, one that fused the insight of the Sharingan with the power of the curse mark—

"Lightning Release: Azure Dragon Break!"

The lightning transformed into a giant dragon and shot straight into the sky, tearing through the Five-Seal Barrier in an instant. Its lingering force even forced Shukaku back.

The surprise on Orochimaru's face turned into wild joy. "Wonderful! This is the vessel I wanted!"

But Ling would no longer give him a chance. With the Sharingan's support, he could clearly see through every flaw in Orochimaru's movements.

The battle had truly only just begun.