A masked ninja appeared behind Orochimaru in an instant, executing a swift Body Flicker Technique. With a sharp motion, he drew his katana and slashed horizontally.
Slash!
Orochimaru's body was severed at the waist. A blow like this would have been excruciating for anyone else—but for Orochimaru, it was a different story. His upper body twisted in midair, yet instead of showing pain, a smirk of intrigue formed on his lips.
In the blink of an eye, his mouth gaped unnaturally wide, and from within, a new Orochimaru slithered out. The bisected body he left behind was nothing more than a discarded shell.
Standing tall once more, the reborn Orochimaru put some distance between himself and the masked ninja. He chuckled, his signature eerie grin resurfacing.
"So this is the gift you prepared for me, Kakuzu? It's interesting, I'll admit—but not quite enough to satisfy me. Heh heh heh."
His meaning was clear. This masked ninja wasn't enough of a challenge. If Kakuzu truly wanted to face him, he would have to step in himself. After all, Orochimaru was immortal now. That alone gave him the arrogance to challenge not only his former teacher but even his teacher's teacher.
In Orochimaru's twisted mind, he was determined to carry on the tradition of killing one's master.
...
Kakuzu remained seated, one hand gripping the barely conscious Kabuto while the other lazily tapped against his chair.
"Orochimaru, I warned you before—the waters of immortality run deep. You can't grasp it. Now, it's time for me to make good on my promise."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's smirk deepened. "It sounds like you have done your own research on immortality. Very well. Let's see what tricks you have up your sleeve."
Immortality granted unparalleled arrogance. Orochimaru was eager to see just how Kakuzu planned to deal with him.
Still seated, Kakuzu didn't move. Instead, the masked ninja stepped forward once more, using Body Flicker Technique to close the distance between them.
This time, Orochimaru took a closer look at his opponent. The ninja's mask concealed all but his left eye, making it difficult to discern his identity.
"Kakuzu, you hold this one in such high regard, yet he doesn't even have the courage to show his face?" Orochimaru sneered.
The masked ninja remained silent, advancing step by step. Then, his left eye gleamed with a sinister red glow.
"Hmm? This is…"
Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
The infamous Sharingan.
Years ago, after defecting from Konoha, Orochimaru had encountered it up close. That experience had sparked a desire within him—a longing for the perfect vessel.
Of course, as one of the legendary Sannin, he had seen plenty of Sharingan users before. Apart from one exceptional pair of eyes, none had truly impressed him.
But then—
The masked ninja's three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, transforming into a four-pointed shuriken pattern.
In that instant, Orochimaru's expression changed drastically.
"No! This is—"
A terrifying possibility flashed through his mind. His first instinct was to shut his eyes and flee.
But was it too late?
A formless power seeped into his mind through his very own eyes. Slowly, Orochimaru's eyelids drooped shut.
...
Tick.Tock.
The grand hall fell silent, save for the rhythmic ticking of a clock.
"Orochimaru-sama… wake up… wake up…!"
Kabuto, still pinned to the wall by Kakuzu's threads, rasped weakly, his voice filled with desperation.
As if answering his plea, Orochimaru's eyes fluttered open. A smirk crept onto his face once more.
"Kakuzu, I must admit… you're still stronger than me."
His gaze shifted toward the masked ninja. Sensing his stare, the ninja reached up and slowly removed his mask.
"It's an honor to meet you here… Uchiha Shisui."
That's right. The masked ninja was none other than Uchiha Shisui—the very man Kakuzu had fished out of the water.
Shisui's right eyelid was sunken, clearly missing an eye. But his left eye, the Mangekyō Sharingan, still gleamed ominously.
Moments ago, he had unleashed Kotoamatsukami—the most powerful genjutsu in existence, capable of rewriting a person's will.
He reached up, rubbing his left eye. A sharp sting burned behind the socket. The cost had been high. With his vision now drained, it would take over a decade before Kotoamatsukami could be used again.
After a brief pause, Shisui reopened his eye and fixed his gaze on Orochimaru.
"Do you still want to continue?"
Orochimaru chuckled, his golden eyes glinting as he turned toward Kakuzu.
"You were right. I've already attained immortality. With this endless lifespan, I'll dedicate myself to unraveling the world's deepest secrets. As for Konoha… what does it have to do with me? Sarutobi Hiruzen is just an old man nearing his grave, isn't he?"
His tone and demeanor remained unchanged, but his words had taken a complete 180-degree turn.
Kabuto, still pinned to the wall, stared in utter disbelief.
"Orochimaru-sama, you…?"
But he was just a bystander in a battle between titans. No one paid him any heed.
Kakuzu rose from his seat, slowly walking toward Orochimaru.
"That settles it. Return to Otogakure. Conduct your experiments, but don't neglect the pursuit of knowledge. As for everything else—I'll handle it."
Orochimaru nodded and gestured toward Kabuto.
"Our battle has been decided. May I have my assistant back?"
Kotoamatsukami altered a person's will, not their memories. Orochimaru remembered everything—only now, certain ambitions had been erased from his mind. In this moment, he had truly become nothing more than a scientist.
Much like the Infinite Tsukuyomi in the Fourth Shinobi War, only the most profound genjutsu could keep this slippery snake in check.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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