Hearing Orochimaru mention that person, Tsunade could not help blurting out, "Where did you see him?"
"In Konoha, of course."
Tsunade frowned. "Why did you go to Konoha? What exactly did you do?"
"Nothing much," Orochimaru said casually. "I just went there and killed that old man, the Third Hokage."
Tsunade's expression darkened. "You bastard... you really did."
"No need to look so frightening." Orochimaru sneered. "All things with form disappear someday. People are no different. In that respect, he was far stronger than you. Back then, more than twenty thousand Allied Forces troops died at his hands."
At that number, Kikyo, standing behind Tsunade, could not help crying out in shock.
"Enough," Tsunade snapped. "Get out of my sight."
Kabuto Yakushi, who had remained silent until now, could not help speaking up. "That won't do. You're the only one who can heal Lord Orochimaru's hands. We won't ask you to treat him for nothing, either. How about a deal?"
Tsunade let her killing intent show without any attempt to hide it. "I'll count to five. Disappear before then, or I'll make you disappear myself."
Orochimaru's sinister eyes stared past Tsunade, fixing squarely on Kikyo. Faced with the threat, he replied without restraint, "Tsunade, you're nowhere near as likable as your daughter. I've changed my mind."
Tsunade's gaze sharpened, but she had yet to understand what Orochimaru meant.
Then Orochimaru's neck suddenly stretched out. He opened his bloody maw, baring the sharp teeth within, and struck at Kikyo with lightning speed.
Clang...
A blade rang out.
A long rainbow streaked toward them, becoming countless trails of light and shadow. An icy chill filled the world, and the dazzling light and shadows around them became blades, like stars falling from the night sky. The light was too blinding to look at