Jiraiya leaped down from the wall on the left, his white hair flying up as he landed before settling again. The character for "oil" on his Forehead Protector flashed in the sunlight. His hands were already halfway through forming Hand Seals.
Shikaku Nara dropped from the rooftop on the right. His shadow shot across the ground, stretching from the base of the wall to Orochimaru's feet.
Inoichi Yamanaka followed half a step behind him, hands raised and fingers spread, ready to strike at any moment.
Choza Akimichi landed behind them, his weight making the stone pavement tremble.
Might Guy burst in from the alley farther back. His green bodysuit stood out sharply in the afternoon sun, and his hands were already clenched into fists.
Kurenai Yuhi dropped from above, her geta landing on the dead grass atop the wall. Her long hair billowed upward in the rush of air before falling back, and a red glow had kindled in her eyes.
More than twenty elite ANBU closed in from every direction, packing the stretch of alley less than ten meters long.
Orochimaru stopped. His golden slit-pupiled eyes flicked toward Tsunade ahead of him, then toward the figures on the walls to either side.
Then he raised a hand and wiped it across his face.
The Transformation Technique fell away.
Silver-gray hair spilled from his shoulders to his waist. His skin, so pale it was almost translucent, gleamed coldly in the sunlight. His golden eyes opened fully, their pupils narrowing to thin lines as his mouth slowly spread into a grin.
Half a step behind him, Deva Path Pain raised his hands and formed Hand Seals.
With a pop, his Transformation Technique fell away.
His short brown hair became long, pale-gray locks that stirred gently in the afternoon breeze.
The outline