Shihouin Naraku's Observation Haki swept through the area. He suddenly slashed downward with his blade, cutting in half another Orochimaru who had emerged from a side street. Flames spread upward, igniting the body instantly.
But it was obvious this wasn't Orochimaru's real form. What burned to ashes was merely a shed snakeskin.
"This guy truly resembles a snake in every way," Shihouin Naraku muttered.
He really disliked the sight of snakes clustered together. Though they couldn't harm him, they were simply too repulsive.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Hiss..."
Another Orochimaru appeared, throwing a single shuriken toward Shihouin Naraku while rapidly forming hand seals.
Dense clouds of shuriken instantly filled the sky. Countless weapons intertwined in the air like raindrops, forming a massive net of deadly intent that descended toward Shihouin Naraku.
Looking up, Shihouin Naraku saw tens of thousands of shuriken rapidly approaching!
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
Chop, pull, stab, twist, parry, slash...
In Shihouin Naraku's hands, Kurikara transformed into a dancing black dragon, instantly shattering the deadly net formed by countless weapons.
"Clink! Clank! Clang!"
The destroyed weapons fell around Shihouin Naraku, forming a perfect circle on the ground!
Not a single weapon landed within the circle. Not a single weapon touched Shihouin Naraku.
Orochimaru, who had been preparing a sneak attack, witnessed this display and immediately abandoned any thought of engaging Shihouin Naraku in close combat.
The soul-cutting sword was already dangerous enough, but combined with Shihouin Naraku's swordsmanship? If Orochimaru dared to get closer, he would likely end up as snake meat stew.
Yet without closing the distance, Orochimaru faced a dilemma on how to defeat his opponent.
The Impure World Reincarnation had been rendered useless. The blade could harm souls. And for some reason, his summoned snakes refused to attack Shihouin Naraku.
For the moment, Orochimaru couldn't devise a viable battle strategy.
"If the snakes fear Shihouin Naraku and won't attack him, then the Ten Thousand Snakes Wave would be pointless," Orochimaru concluded, abandoning that plan entirely.
"Hehehe... How interesting that my former student has actually backed me into a corner."
For some reason, Orochimaru suddenly recalled his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had just died by his hands.
It didn't take long for him to understand his former sensei's state of mind.
The cycle never ends!
"Hmph!"
Shihouin Naraku knocked away the last weapon and looked with surprise at Orochimaru, who suddenly appeared before him. "What, done hiding now?"
"Perhaps you're planning to surrender?"
"Don't worry, I'll arrange the finest prison cell for Orochimaru-sensei in the ANBU headquarters. I recently requested funds from the Third Hokage to renovate the prison."
"Hehe..." Orochimaru stared at Shihouin Naraku with snake-like eyes. "That's really considerate of you."
"But rather than live in this rotten village, I'd prefer to destroy it completely!!!"
Orochimaru roared madly as his entire body began to swell rapidly.
BOOM!
With a thunderous explosion, Orochimaru transformed into a gigantic white eight-headed snake monster, crushing countless buildings and sending clouds of dust and debris into the air.
"Eight Branches Technique!"
The colossal monster roared toward the sky, standing in the heart of Konoha Village, unleashing its terrifying power without restraint.
This was Orochimaru's most powerful jutsu—the Eight Branches Technique!
Ninja both inside and outside the village saw the terrifying Yamata no Orochi and cried out in horror.
Combined with the One-Tail Shukaku still wreaking havoc outside the village, Konoha shinobi began to fear for their lives.
What were these monsters?
Of course, many ninja reacted quickly, rushing toward the Yamata no Orochi's location.
The eight-headed serpent was in the center of Konoha Village. If it went on a rampage, the damage to the village would be catastrophic.
Ninja gathered rapidly like converging streams, their combined power surging like the sea.
This was everyone's home. It could not be destroyed!
"Stay out of my way!"
Blood sprayed as a Sound ninja clutched his neck in disbelief, falling with eyes wide open.
Yakushi Kabuto's hair stood on end as he witnessed the sudden surge of Konoha shinobi. Hearing the massive commotion in the distance, he knew he couldn't continue fighting.
If he stayed, he would die here today!
"Lord Orochimaru has unleashed the Eight Branches Technique. I can't participate in the battle that follows. We must retreat!"
Yakushi Kabuto threw a barrage of weapons to repel the approaching Konoha shinobi. As he retreated, a massive snake suddenly erupted from the ground and swallowed him whole.
The snake disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Kabuto had escaped!
The Konoha shinobi had no interest in pursuing him. Instead, they rushed directly toward the Yamata no Orochi.
That was the priority!
"What an enormous snake!" Shihouin Naraku exclaimed, twirling Kurikara in his hand as a look of excitement appeared on his handsome face.
The roaring serpent lowered one of its massive heads, its reptilian eyes focused on the tiny human below.
"Hahaha..."
"Naraku! Do you see this? This is the truth of the world!"
"I alone understand everything in this world. Come, join me!" Orochimaru's human form emerged from the giant snake's mouth, arms outstretched as he laughed and invited Shihouin Naraku.
"Such a loud roar!"
"So noisy!"
In the next second, the earth exploded, the ground rising and falling rapidly like waves.
Shihouin Naraku leaped into the air, flames transforming into his cloak, lightning wrapping around his blade, his battle cry condensing into light!
At this moment, the world trembled!
"Kurikara—Acala!!!"
Massive chakra flowed like an ocean, rising toward the sky!
Dazzling light spread across heaven and earth. Though brilliantly intense, it remained warm and comforting!
After what seemed like an eternity, the glow slightly dimmed.
A dark blue war god stood between heaven and earth!
The deity's body was colossal, with feet planted on the ground and hands reaching toward the sky.
Its eyes were bright and piercing, with a third eye on its forehead releasing divine light.
It held a pitch-black long sword in one hand, its half-naked upper body covered with fierce flame patterns.
This was—Acalanatha!
Orochimaru was stunned. "What... what is this?"
"BOOM!"
Acala charged forward barefoot, wielding its pitch-black sword. With a single swing, it severed two massive snake heads.
"Impossible! How can this be?!"
Orochimaru furiously directed the Yamata no Orochi to counterattack, but before it could move, Acala swung its fist, knocking the giant serpent to the ground. The deity's sword carved a massive wound across the snake's body, blood pouring out like a river.
Shihouin Naraku stood atop Acala, looking down at everything below.
"No, if this continues, Konoha Village will be completely destroyed."
The destructive power behind each of Acala's movements was too great. Konoha Village simply couldn't withstand such devastation.
Shihouin Naraku's mind shifted, and Acala sheathed its sword. The deity stepped forward and seized the Yamata no Orochi with both hands!
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