Orochimaru stared at Sasuke, shock evident in his eyes.
Just now, Sasuke had appeared out of nowhere—no sound, no chakra fluctuation—as if he had materialized from thin air.
"Sasuke, you always find ways to surprise me," Orochimaru sneered, though a trace of unease lingered in his tone. "And you actually killed all four of them?"
If his subordinates couldn't even slow Sasuke down, they were utterly useless. Orochimaru cursed inwardly—couldn't they at least have used barrier ninjutsu to trap him?
Yakushi Kabuto scrambled to his feet, quickly retreating to the large snake at Orochimaru's side.
Sasuke smirked, his voice laced with mockery. "Orochimaru, we meet again. You look surprised to see me."
"Sasuke, you're okay!" Tsunade called out, relief and confusion in her voice.
She had overheard Orochimaru's words earlier and feared something had happened to him.
Sasuke turned to her with a knowing smile. "Tsunade, don't forget—we still have a bet to settle."
Tsunade frowned. "But how did you get here so quickly…?"
"Simple. I left a chakra marker on you in advance," Sasuke said, his smirk widening. "Just in case something like this happened."
Tsunade's eyes widened. "Chakra marker… Could it be—Flying Thunder God Technique?!"
Both she and Orochimaru realized it at the same time. Shock flickered in their eyes.
The Flying Thunder God Technique had been widely researched in Konoha, yet only the Fourth Hokage had ever truly mastered it. And now… Sasuke had learned it?
Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly. His desire for Sasuke's body grew stronger.
"What an enviable talent…" he muttered.
Long ago, Orochimaru had attempted to learn the Flying Thunder God but lacked the affinity for space-time ninjutsu. Now, seeing Sasuke wield it so effortlessly only made him more determined—he had to take this body for himself!
"Kimimaro, with me!" Orochimaru commanded.
Kimimaro's expression was unreadable, but there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"So, he has chosen to oppose Orochimaru-sama… very well."
In an instant, he activated his Curse Mark Second Stage.
His pale skin darkened to brown and black as intricate markings spread across his body. A thick, bony tail emerged, completing his transformation.
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "This one's going to be trouble… Orochimaru's subordinates aren't weak."
She began forming hand seals, preparing to unlock her Hundred Healings Mark.
"Wait," Sasuke interrupted, stepping forward. "We agreed—I take Orochimaru alone."
Tsunade shot him an incredulous look. "Sasuke, stop joking! You're facing three opponents, and those two are nearly at my level. You can't—"
"Trust me." Sasuke's tone was unwavering. "Just watch."
Tsunade hesitated, but something in his voice made her pause. Despite herself, she nodded.
"Be careful."
Orochimaru's eyes darkened. "As expected of the Uchiha—always arrogant."
Memories of his past battle with Itachi surfaced. The utter humiliation of that loss, the way Itachi had regarded him with absolute contempt—Orochimaru clenched his teeth.
His hatred for the Uchiha burned even hotter.
"Foolish child… you'll pay for your arrogance!"
With a snarl, he bit down on the Kusanagi Sword and lunged at Sasuke with terrifying speed.
But Sasuke only smirked.
The Celestial Forge Style activated.
His muscles swelled, veins bulging with power as his limbs thickened. His entire body expanded, exuding a suffocating pressure.
And then—
Boom!
A single punch sent a blast of air scorching through the battlefield, the sheer force igniting the air itself!
Orochimaru barely had time to register the attack before it slammed into him.
BAM!
The legendary Sannin was blasted backward, his body skidding across the ground.
"What… was that?!" Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
A single air punch—so strong it sent him flying? This wasn't just raw strength. This was something else.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke taunted, raising a finger mockingly. "Didn't you want my body, Orochimaru? Why not come and take it?"
Orochimaru gritted his teeth. "Kabuto!"
Yakushi Kabuto immediately stepped forward and activated Summoning: Twin Giant Serpents!
Two colossal snakes—each over ten meters long—erupted from white smoke, their fangs bared as they lunged at Sasuke.
Tsunade's eyes widened. "Sasuke, move—!"
But Sasuke didn't budge.
BOOM!
The giant snakes crashed down on him—
And stopped.
With a single hand, Sasuke had caught both of them.
The battlefield fell silent.
Even Orochimaru's breath hitched. "What… kind of monster are you?"
With an effortless heave, Sasuke lifted both colossal serpents into the air.
BOOM!
He slammed them into the ground, leaving a crater tens of meters wide.
Then, as he leaped into the air, his hands flashed through seals—
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A blazing sphere of flames, infused with solar energy, roared to life.
WHOOSH!
The two giant snakes screamed in agony as the flames engulfed them, reducing them to ash.
Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Kimimaro emerged from the scorched ground, stunned.
"Sasuke… is a monster," Kabuto whispered, sweat dripping down his forehead.
Orochimaru's expression darkened. He had underestimated him.
"Kabuto, Kimimaro—don't hold back! If we don't end this now… we might not leave here alive!"
"Understood!"
Kimimaro vanished, his tail whipping toward Sasuke.
Sasuke caught it mid-air, his grip like iron.
"Decent taijutsu," he mused, "but not enough."
CRASH!
He smashed Kimimaro into the ground. Once. Twice. Three times.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ground fractured, spiderweb cracks forming as Kimimaro's bones shattered.
"Chakra Scalpel!"
Kabuto appeared behind Sasuke, slashing at his neck—
Zzzzt!
A red chakra cloak flared to life, blocking the attack.
Before Kabuto could react—
CRACKLE!
Lightning exploded from Sasuke's body, sending thousands of volts coursing through Kabuto.
"Enjoying the taste of Chidori Current?" Sasuke smirked.
Kimimaro, barely standing, fired his Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!
CLANG! CLANG!
The bone bullets bounced off Sasuke's skin—his muscle density too high.
Kimimaro's vision blurred. His body had reached its limit.
"Enough!"
Orochimaru transformed—his body swelling and twisting into the massive, eight-headed serpent of the Yamata no Jutsu!
Tsunade clenched her fists. "He's going all out now…"
The Yamata no Orochi lunged, all eight heads snapping at Sasuke.
Sasuke chuckled. "Nice trick."
Golden lightning crackled across his body.
"Sage Art: Chidori Light Blade!"
A colossal golden blade descended—
SLASH!
The Yamata no Orochi was split in two, its remains erased by divine lightning.
Orochimaru's scream echoed—before vanishing into nothingness.