Orochimaru's Fangs

Three giant snakes lunged at Fū from three directions. The wings on her back beat furiously, barely carrying her clear of the first wave of attacks, but her two teammates were not so lucky-one was swept away by a snake's tail and slammed into a tree, while the other was swallowed whole.

"Chomei!" Fū screamed. Green chakra erupted, forming a beetle-like shell around her. But Orochimaru was faster.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Orochimaru's arm transformed into dozens of venomous snakes that coiled toward Fū from impossible angles. Fū sliced at them with her wings, but they kept coming. One bit her shoulder, injecting a paralyzing venom.

"Ugh..." Fū's body stiffened, and she fell from the air.

"Got you." Orochimaru's tongue stretched out, curling toward Fū's neck.

At that very instant-

"Divine Dominion!"

An invisible defensive field unfolded, throwing the snakes back. Lin Ye dropped from above and caught the falling Fū with one hand. At the same time, he hurled three kunai with his right, each trailing an explosive tag.

"Parlor tricks." Orochimaru easily evaded the explosions. His gaze settled on Lin Ye, greed flashing in his golden, slit-pupiled eyes. "The Uchiha Orphan... I was wondering when you would finally show yourself."

"Orochimaru, this is Konoha, not your laboratory." Lin Ye handed Fū to Karin as she hurried over. "Get her out of here. I'll hold him off."

"Be careful, Lord Ye!"

"Trying to leave?" Orochimaru formed hand seals. "Summoning Technique: Ten Thousand Snakes Formation!"

The ground split open, and thousands of venomous snakes poured out, surrounding the three of them from every direction. Karin hurriedly formed hand seals. "Sealing Jutsu: Four-Sided Sealing Formation!"

Red chakra walls rose, temporarily holding back the snakes. But they surged forward without end, rapidly wearing down the sealing walls.

"It's useless, little girl." Orochimaru smiled. "Your sealing jutsu is decent, but your chakra reserves fall far short. Once you run out, you'll all become part of my collection."

"Not necessarily." Lin Ye pressed his palms together, his Mangekyo spinning wildly. "Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

This fire release was different from before. Instead of spreading outward, the flames condensed into a crimson dragon. Through Chakra Information Vision focused on Orochimaru, Lin Ye saw that his chakra core lay in his abdomen-the site where he had implanted white snake cells, and the key to his "immortality."

The fire dragon lunged straight for that core. Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly, and he hastily evaded it with the Substitution Technique. But the dragon turned in midair and pursued him relentlessly.

"A tracking fire release? Interesting." Orochimaru stopped dodging and formed hand seals. "Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

A towering wave collided with the fire dragon, filling the air with steam. Under its cover, Orochimaru slipped underground, then emerged behind Lin Ye a moment later, thrusting the Kusanagi Sword straight toward his heart from behind.

"Time Reversal!"

Lin Ye returned to his position three seconds earlier, narrowly avoiding the strike, then swung a simplified Lightning Blade back at Orochimaru. Orochimaru blocked it with the Kusanagi Sword, but the lightning traveled along the blade and numbed his arm.

"Your lightning release works well with your Sharingan." Orochimaru retreated several steps, studying Lin Ye's eyes. "Mangekyo... Such beautiful eyes. Come with me, Lin Ye. I can give you greater power, help you awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, even the Rinnegan. Why stay in Konoha, bound by that old fool Sarutobi?"

"Orochimaru, you'll never understand," Lin Ye said coldly. "Power isn't meant to satisfy selfish desires. It's meant to protect the people who matter. You pursue immortality and power, but what have you gained in the end? Nothing but endless emptiness and betrayal."

"Heh. Spare me the lecture." Orochimaru's eyes turned cold. "Since you won't cooperate willingly, I'll take you by force. Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

This time, not dozens but hundreds of venomous snakes poured from Orochimaru's sleeves. Every snake's fangs gleamed purple-deadly poison. They formed an inescapable net, cutting off Lin Ye's retreat from above, below, and every side.

"Divine Dominion: Full Release!"

The absolute defensive field expanded to five meters, but there were too many snakes, and every one was gnawing at it. The field rapidly drained his chakra, and Lin Ye felt his ocular power slipping away.

"Karin, take Fū and go!" Lin Ye gritted his teeth.

"No, I'm staying to help you!" Karin settled Fū beneath a distant tree, then turned and formed hand seals. "Sealing Jutsu: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Four red chakra chains extended from her back, piercing through the mass of snakes and winding toward Orochimaru. He severed two with the Kusanagi Sword, but the other two wrapped around his arms.

"The Uzumaki Clan's sealing jutsu... A pity you're so weak." Orochimaru shook his arms, unleashing a burst of chakra that snapped the chains. Karin gave a muffled groan, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Karin!"

"I'm all right..." Karin wiped away the blood. "Lord Ye, I have a way to trap him, but I need time. Can you hold him off for ten seconds?"

"I can!"

Lin Ye held nothing back. He formed hand seals and poured all his remaining chakra into his Mangekyo. The patterns in his eyes began to change, evolving from intricate mandala designs toward a more ancient form.

"What is this..." Sensing danger, Orochimaru tried to retreat, but Lin Ye was faster.

"Forbidden Jutsu: Kekkei Genkai Extraction!"

Red light shot from Lin Ye's eyes once again. This time, however, his target was not a Sharingan, but the "snake-type" kekkei genkai within Orochimaru-the ability he had gained after implanting white snake cells, the source of his immortality.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Orochimaru cried in shock and fury. "Using a forbidden jutsu like that will blind you!"

"Then I'll cripple you first!" Lin Ye gritted his teeth, pouring out his ocular power.

Red light enveloped Orochimaru. He felt the snake cells inside him shrieking and breaking down. His skin began to crack, revealing white scales beneath. His "immortal body" was being stripped away.

"No... No!" Orochimaru screamed and formed hand seals. "Impure World Reincarnation!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three coffins rose from underground. Lin Ye's pupils contracted-Impure World Reincarnation! Orochimaru had even prepared this technique.

The coffin lids opened, and three figures stepped out. The first had white hair and wore a Konoha forehead protector: the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. The second had red hair and wore the clothing of the Uzumaki Clan: the First Hokage's wife, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Mito Uzumaki. The third had black hair and wore the Uchiha Clan's clothing. He was...

"Kagami Uchiha?!" Lin Ye was stunned.

Kagami's reanimated body opened his eyes, his gaze empty. Orochimaru smiled. "You didn't expect that, did you? I collected Kagami's corpse for this very day. Now you have to face the Second Hokage, Mito Uzumaki, and the senior you respect most, Kagami, all at once. Can you still fight, Lin Ye?"

"Orochimaru... You deserve to die!" Blood streamed from Lin Ye's eyes, but the red light did not fade. He intended to strip away Orochimaru's kekkei genkai in one final push.

"Ye, stand back." Suddenly, Kakashi's voice rang out.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Kakashi, Guy, Kurenai, and Asuma-the entire special operations team-arrived. Kakashi stepped in front of Lin Ye, fixing his lone eye on Orochimaru. "We're your opponents now."

"Oh? Konoha's elite jonin are all here." Orochimaru remained unruffled. "Perfect. I'll deal with you together. Lord Tobirama, Lady Mito, Kagami, kill them."

The reanimated bodies moved. The Second Hokage formed hand seals. "Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"

A high-pressure blade of water sliced through the forest, shooting straight at Kakashi. Kakashi countered with Lightning Blade, but water overcame lightning, forcing him back.

Guy activated the Eight Gates. "Sixth gate, Gate of View, open!" Green chakra erupted as he charged at Mito Uzumaki. Mito formed hand seals. "Sealing Jutsu: Adamantine Sealing Chains!" Red chains coiled toward Guy, but he was too fast for them to catch.

Kurenai and Asuma faced Kagami Uchiha. Though controlled, Kagami still retained his combat instincts. He activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, combining genjutsu and taijutsu to force the pair into a grueling fight.

"Ye, how are you holding up?" Kakashi asked as he fought.

"I can still fight." Lin Ye panted. "Half of Orochimaru's kekkei genkai has been stripped away, but the reanimated bodies are too much trouble. We need to seal them first."

"Karin, can you seal Impure World Reincarnation?"

"I'll try!" Karin formed hand seals. "Sealing Jutsu: Simplified Reaper Death Seal!"

She took a mask from a scroll and put it on-an Uzumaki relic she had found in Kusagakure that could briefly summon a trace of the Reaper's power. But its cost was immense. Every use shortened her life.

"Karin, don't!" Lin Ye tried to stop her, but he was too late.

Karin bit her finger and drew a seal in the air. "By my blood, I summon the Reaper's power-seal!"

A gigantic phantom of the Reaper appeared in the air, reaching its ghostly claws toward the three reanimated bodies. They tried to resist, but the Reaper's power countered their immortality, and their bodies began to disintegrate.

"The Reaper Death Seal?!" Orochimaru's expression changed drastically. "You actually know that technique! But do you have enough chakra, little girl?"

She did not. Karin's chakra was draining rapidly, her face as pale as paper. But her gaze remained resolute, and she did not stop.

"Guy, Kurenai, Asuma, help me hold off the reanimated bodies!" Kakashi formed hand seals. "Lightning Release: Lightning Tiger Massacre!"

The lightning transformed into a pack of wolves and lunged at Orochimaru. He blocked with the Kusanagi Sword, but Guy attacked from the side. "Morning Peacock!"

Countless flaming punches slammed into Orochimaru, sending him flying. He crashed through several large trees and spat out a mouthful of blood, but soon rose again-his regenerative power was too strong.

"We're not done yet." Orochimaru wiped away the blood and formed hand seals again. "Summoning Technique: Triple Rashomon!"

Three enormous demon-faced gates rose, blocking everyone's path. Space twisted behind them, and Orochimaru's figure began to blur-he was trying to escape.

"You're not getting away!" Lin Ye forced his Mangekyo into action, using Time Reversal for the third time to return to the instant before Orochimaru formed his hand seals. This time, he attacked not Orochimaru, but the Rashomon gates.

"Lightning Release: Kirin!"

Thunderclouds gathered overhead. An enormous lightning beast descended from the sky and struck the Rashomon gates. They shattered, revealing Orochimaru behind them.

"Got you." Kakashi's Lightning Blade pierced Orochimaru's chest. But Orochimaru smiled.

"Kakashi, you're still too naive."

Orochimaru's body crumbled into scattered earth-it was an earth clone.

"This is bad. Where's his real body?" Guy asked warily.

"Behind you." Orochimaru's voice came from Fū's direction.

Everyone turned to see that Orochimaru's real body had appeared beside Fū at some point, one hand gripping her throat. Fū struggled, but the venom had taken effect, leaving her unable to muster any strength.

"Let her go!" Lin Ye tried to charge over, but his vision suddenly went black-overusing his Mangekyo had temporarily blinded him.

"Lord Ye!" Karin tried to help, but the backlash from the Reaper's phantom left her unable to move.

"The game is over." Orochimaru smiled. "I'm taking Fū. I'll come back for Lin Ye's eyes another time. As for Konoha... Once I've gathered all the tailed beasts, I'll come claim it."

"Not a chance!" Kakashi, Guy, Kurenai, and Asuma lunged at him together. But Orochimaru had already finished his hand seals.

"Reverse Summoning Technique!"

Bang! Smoke billowed out. When it cleared, Orochimaru and Fū were gone.

"Damn it!" Guy slammed his fist into the ground.

"We can't catch him. Reverse summoning transports its user over long distances." Kakashi gritted his teeth and turned to Lin Ye and Karin. "Ye, Karin, how are you?"

Lin Ye dropped to his knees, blood streaming from both eyes, his vision a blur. Karin collapsed too, and Asuma caught her.

"Quick, get them to the hospital!" Kurenai urged.

"Wait..." Lin Ye said weakly. "Orochimaru... won't go far... He has someone inside Konoha... Fū's been marked... I can sense her..."

"Marked?"

"The charm I gave her... has a counter-tracking function... I can sense its location..." With that, Lin Ye passed out.

"Save them first!" Kakashi hoisted Lin Ye onto his back, and Guy carried Karin. They hurried back to Konoha Hospital.

What they did not know was that deeper in the forest, Obito and Zetsu had quietly watched everything.

"Orochimaru succeeded," Zetsu said.

"Yes. The plan is going smoothly," Obito said. "Send Deidara and Sasori to intercept Orochimaru. We're taking the Seven-Tails. That's as far as our favor to Orochimaru goes."

"What about Lin Ye?"

"He's nearly blind," Obito said. "But he won't die. His wish system isn't complete yet, so he's still useful. Once he collects more fragments and awakens the Rinnegan, he'll be what we truly need."

"Understood."

Obito slipped into the Kamui Dimension and vanished.

The Forest of Death fell silent once more. Only the scars of battle proved that a bloody fight had taken place there.

And the true storm had only just begun.