The Evil God's inhuman words, laden with endless mockery and malice, still echoed through the ruined shrine. The terrifying sight of him blowing Manda away with a gentle breath and nearly erasing Tobirama Senju with a casual strike seared itself into the depths of everyone's souls like a red-hot brand.
At that moment, fear finally breached the dam of reason and became the most primal instinct for survival.
"Quick!" Danzo shrieked like a rooster being strangled, his voice piercing, distorted, and filled with unprecedented panic. "Run! Take the Second with you! Go! Now! Right now!"
He no longer cared about the Rinnegan, his plans to seize it, or Konoha's dominion!
Before that utterly incomprehensible, irresistible horror, every extra second they stayed was a devout invitation to death!
He spun around, abandoning all decorum, and scrambled toward the shrine's shattered exit with his cane!
The dignity of the "Fourth Hokage," the calculating composure of a schemer-he cast it all to the winds. All that remained was the pure desire to escape this hell!
Orochimaru reacted just as quickly.
The instant Manda was blown away, the greed and curiosity he felt toward that unknown power were utterly crushed by a far stronger threat to his survival. He did not even check whether Manda was alive or dead-most likely dead. Light flickered rapidly in his golden snake eyes as his hands swiftly formed hand seals.
"Summoning Technique: Rashomon!" He bit his finger and slammed his palm against the ground! This was not an attack, but a defense and a barrier! One gate, two, three! Enormous Rashomon gates carved with demonic faces thundered up from the earth. Rather than trying to block the Evil God completely-which was clearly impossible-they stood in a carefully angled formation, attempting to obstruct his view and create obstacles while