Chapter 253: A Desperate Gamble
"Death? You're here to kill me? Do you really think you can?"
Orochimaru's serpentine eyes locked onto Jiraiya as he slowly reached for his weapon.
They had clashed many times in the past. Orochimaru usually held the upper hand. But as Jiraiya gained the support of Mount Myōboku, their battles gradually turned even. Now, weakened from his latest body transfer, Orochimaru knew he wasn't Jiraiya's match. His recent loss to Itachi, the devastating damage from the Third Hokage's Reaper Death Seal, and his current vulnerable state left him far from his prime.
Still, as one of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru would never show weakness—especially not in front of Jiraiya.
"Danzo? With your bleeding heart, you'd probably thank him even as he stabs you in the back. Did Tsunade send you? Still bossing around your teammates as always, huh? But I'm sick of being treated like a soft target. It's getting on my nerves."
With a hiss, Orochimaru's hands flew into motion. He slammed his palm to the ground—Summoning Jutsu: Multiple Striking Snakes.
Twisting, writhing serpents exploded from the earth, surging toward Jiraiya.
Orochimaru knew he couldn't win outright. But Jiraiya, for all his bravado, still hesitated to kill him. That hesitation was Orochimaru's only real advantage now.
Jiraiya calmly leapt into the air, dodging the serpents with ease.
"I wanted to talk. Clearly, you're not interested. I should've known better than to hope for anything else."
He drew himself upright, facing Orochimaru head-on.
"Let's see how much power you've really got left."
Orochimaru scoffed. He never expected the snakes to do damage—they were a distraction.
His mouth opened wide, unhinging like a beast's. From deep within his throat emerged the gleaming blade of the Kusanagi Sword. Orochimaru reached up and gripped its hilt.
"Then let's talk after we settle this!"
---
Elsewhere in the forest, Shimura Danzo stood over the corpse of the decoy, his face cold and unreadable.
He had imagined the power of Kotoamatsukami a thousand times—the forbidden genjutsu that could reshape thoughts without anyone noticing. The power that Shisui had wanted to use to save the Uchiha Clan from self-destruction. Danzo had found Shisui's idealistic use of the technique laughable and had stolen his eye without hesitation.
To Danzo, Kotoamatsukami was too valuable to waste. Its cooldown meant it could only be used a few times in a lifetime. Even more valuable than the Hokage title, it was a weapon to mold the shinobi world itself.
So when he finally found someone "worthy" of using it on… only to realize he'd been duped—Danzo was furious.
"Take this body away," he ordered. There was no point in lamenting now. The path ahead was long. It wasn't over yet.
"You've given up your chance to stand atop the world with me… Fine. Then prepare for the wrath to come. Death is not the end."
In this world, death meant nothing. Ever since the Second Hokage created Edo Tensei, eternal rest had ceased to exist.
Staring at the puppet body that had tricked him into wasting Kotoamatsukami, Danzo's rage burned silently.
Even without the eye, he would find another way to steal that hidden wisdom.
But Danzo, lacking deep understanding of Edo Tensei, didn't realize its control over the revived dead was far from perfect…
---
Meanwhile, Kabuto Yakushi studied the reagent bottle in his hand.
Inside, two crimson eyes floated in solution—each bearing the three-tomoe pattern of a matured Sharingan.
"I can't believe it went so smoothly. It feels like a dream."
What was the most valuable resource in the ninja world? Talent. But true genius was rare, limited by education, environment, and bloodline.
And aside from rare talents, nothing was more precious than a Sharingan.
After so many years with Orochimaru, after participating in countless forbidden experiments, Kabuto knew exactly how valuable those eyes were.
But by the time he had risen high enough to access these secrets, it was too late—the Uchiha Clan had been annihilated. Only Itachi and Sasuke remained.
Itachi? Untouchable. Sasuke? Claimed by Orochimaru as his future vessel. Kabuto never dared approach him.
Then, just as Kabuto was about to give up… fate delivered the opportunity.
Danzo's grotesque right arm—a trophy collection of Sharingan—was something Orochimaru sneered at. But Kabuto? He couldn't resist.
Even if it meant arousing Orochimaru's suspicions.
Even if it meant risking everything.
Because if not now, when would Danzo ever leave Konoha again?
So Kabuto took a gamble.
Using a disguised puppet decoy, he baited Danzo into using his Kotoamatsukami. Once the illusion was activated, Kabuto—through his Dead Soul Technique—launched a surprise assault using the puppet as a vessel.
Danzo, thinking he had full control over his target, never anticipated resistance.
Before he could react, Kabuto had already severed the arm and extracted two Sharingan.
Then Kabuto triggered every trap he'd prepared in advance, abandoned all disposable pawns, and fled—successfully escaping.
His reward?
Two intact, battle-grade Sharingan… and a future full of possibilities.
To be continued...
---
Read up to 20 chapter ahead of time on patreon.com/Legendryweeb
{please give this novel 5 Star review and power stone}
*Thank you*.