144-145

Chapter 144: Reversal 

The water shark and Samehada both opened their massive jaws, unleashing two laser-like attacks that surged forward with ferocious intensity. 

One from above, one from below, they collided in midair! 

Zzt! Zzt! 

There was no explosive impact. 

Faced with the combined assault of Hikari and Orochimaru, the water shark had little chance to resist. In an instant, its head was pierced clean through by the laser-like attack. 

Hikari and Orochimaru poured their chakra relentlessly into the onslaught. The water stream and sword’s edge, brimming with lethal intent, zeroed in on Kisame Hoshigaki’s forehead and the chakra core at his heart. 

They targeted his vital points—defend one, and he’d die from the other. 

“Hmph!” 

Kisame Hoshigaki showed no fear, flashing a shark-like grin with his pointed teeth. With one hand, he swung Samehada horizontally in front of him. 

“Rrrgh…” 

Samehada’s body suddenly swelled, its spines bristling as it grew from just over two meters to a monstrous shark-like form over ten meters long. 

Twisting its massive body to shield Kisame, it opened its gaping maw and bit down on the water stream aimed at his forehead. 

Clang! 

A piercing metallic clash echoed through the sky. 

Boom! 

The giant shark exploded into countless water droplets, the terrifying shockwave sending fine rain-like pellets shooting outward like stones. 

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Hikari’s eyes flickered. 

The invisible wind swirling around her body shredded the water curtain into mist. As the shockwave dispersed the fog outward, it revealed a massive, looming black shadow behind it. 

Orochimaru’s slit-pupil eyes narrowed. 

Clenching the Kusanagi Sword in his mouth, he thrust it forward with all his might, but no matter how much force he applied, the razor-sharp blade was stuck fast in the black shadow, unable to advance an inch. 

The mist fully cleared. 

“Rrrgh!” 

Dense, jet-black spines crisscrossed, locking the Kusanagi Sword in place. Samehada’s bloodthirsty maw gaped wide, like a black hole swallowing the relentless torrent of wind and water. 

The combined wind-and-water ninjutsu, capable of tearing through anything, was like mud sinking into the sea before Samehada. Before it could unleash its power, an inexplicable suction shattered it. The intricate balance of nature and shape transformation collapsed instantly, reduced to raw chakra that Samehada absorbed. 

Orochimaru and Hikari’s coordinated attack strategy was completely ineffective! 

“Physical attacks and ninjutsu are useless.” 

Unscathed, Kisame grinned menacingly. He slowly channeled his chakra into Samehada, and the spines severed by the Kusanagi Sword instantly regenerated, sprouting anew from its surface. 

The Kusanagi Sword was completely locked in place by the spines. 

Samehada wriggled excitedly. 

Hikari crushed the dry water orb in her hand. Her chakra was nearly depleted, and if Samehada kept draining her, she wouldn’t be able to maintain her shadow clone’s function. 

Having swallowed the last of the torrent, Samehada twisted reluctantly, its massive jaws snapping as if savoring the taste. 

Poof! 

The locked Kusanagi Sword vanished in a puff of smoke, only to be summoned back into Orochimaru’s hand. 

“That blade is alive,” Orochimaru rasped, his voice heavy with restraint, his brows furrowed. 

Its body was so tough that even the Kusanagi Sword couldn’t cut it. It could absorb chakra, rendering ninjutsu useless, heal itself, and extend its form to automatically protect its master. 

Both were members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, but how could Zabuza’s fragile Decapitating Carving Knife compare to this? 

“They can also transfer chakra to each other, and genjutsu is ineffective too,” Hikari said, her Byakugan observing the Yin chakra transformation in Orochimaru’s body. She spoke up to stop him, saving him some chakra. 

“Well said!” 

Kisame hoisted Samehada onto his shoulder, pride radiating from him. 

Ever since he received Samehada from Lord Madara, it was as if he’d found the other half of his soul. Man and blade were perfectly in sync, like natural partners. 

His vast chakra reserves could feed the gluttonous Samehada, which in turn compensated for his weaknesses. Ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu—all were ineffective against him. 

It had forcibly elevated him, a mere elite Jonin with exceptional water ninjutsu and chakra reserves, to a top-tier powerhouse rivaling the Kage of the Five Great Villages. 

Samehada’s aid was beyond imagination. 

“Looks like we’ll have to try sealing techniques,” Orochimaru sighed helplessly. 

The Impure World Reincarnation lacked materials and a vessel, and the current technique was flawed, unable to fully unleash the resurrected’s power. 

The Eight-Headed Serpent Technique would also be devoured by Samehada’s chakra absorption, making it ineffective against Kisame. 

He couldn’t rely on Yato behind him either. 

His infrared-enhanced body sensed that Yato’s energy was nearly depleted, likely drained heavily by that monstrous blade. Yato had essentially lost all combat ability. 

As expected, anyone partnered with an Uchiha wasn’t to be underestimated. 

While Kisame’s abilities weren’t as unpredictable as the Mangekyo Sharingan, his chakra absorption perfectly countered Orochimaru’s arsenal of secret techniques. The Akatsuki’s decision to send Kisame and Itachi Uchiha to capture him was no coincidence. 

If there was no other way, he might have to sacrifice a pawn to save the king. 

Thinking of the mysterious orb in his stomach, Orochimaru felt a surge of reluctance but was powerless. 

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Hikari said. 

“What?” 

Orochimaru, out of options, turned to Hikari. Did she have a way to deal with this enemy? 

Ignoring his confusion, Hikari stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him, raising one hand. 

Her illusory heart pulsed faintly, channeling her dwindling chakra through her meridians to her fingertips. A faint purple glow appeared on her slender fingers. 

Kisame’s eyes narrowed, aiming Samehada at Hikari. 

He’d been wary of the shadowy figure behind Orochimaru from the start. Her unique chakra always made him uneasy—familiar and familial, yet it instilled a deep, primal fear, as if one misstep would see him devoured. 

Like now! 

Kisame shuddered, his heart pounding. A massive chunk of his chakra vanished inexplicably, leaving him momentarily exhausted. 

Was it her? 

Kisame instinctively glanced at the purple glow on her fingers, but tracing the flow of his chakra, he pinpointed the true culprit. 

“Samehada!” 

His furious roar shook the air. 

“Rrrgh!” 

Samehada, obediently perched on Kisame’s shoulder, quietly lowered its head. Its massive maw had, at some point, turned toward Kisame’s back. 

Realizing its master had noticed, Samehada’s hilt sprouted sharp spines. 

“Arghhh!” 

Kisame roared in pain, enduring the sting of his pierced palm as he kicked the traitorous Samehada away. 

“Rrrgh!” 

Splash! 

Samehada’s massive body crashed into the water, sending waves everywhere. Shaking its head, it dragged its long hilt behind it, swimming swiftly to Hikari’s feet like a fish. 

It retracted its spines obediently, tilting its head up, its gaping maw aimed at the purple glow on Hikari’s fingertips, drool dripping from its jaws. 

“You bastard!” 

Kisame’s eyes were bloodshot, clutching his bleeding hand. 

Seeing his partner betray him and grovel at the enemy’s feet, he felt both humiliated and betrayed. 

“Good boy,” Hikari said, her eyes curving into crescents. She tapped Samehada’s forehead with her purple-glowing finger, feeding it her chakra. Her gamble with the high-pressure water blade had paid off—Samehada, craving high-quality chakra, had indeed switched sides. 

Samehada’s essence was tied to the Three-Tails’ subordinate, and it craved high-quality tailed beast chakra above all. 

While Hikari’s chakra was far less abundant than Kisame’s, its quality—infused with the power of both the Three-Tails and Nine-Tails—was unmatched by few in the ninja world. 

If Kisame’s chakra was like filling, cheap fried chicken, Hikari’s was a meticulously crafted, exquisite abalone dish. 

It wasn’t as filling. 

But its flavor was beyond anything Kisame could offer. 

A droplet of purple chakra entered Samehada’s maw. Savoring it, Samehada shook its head reluctantly, then turned and offered its hilt—or perhaps its tail—to Hikari’s hand. 

She gripped Samehada’s hilt. 

Whoosh! 

Like a river’s flow, a terrifying yet pure chakra surged through her palm. The chakra core in her heart rejoiced, greedily absorbing and converting it. Deep, violet chakra erupted wildly within her. 

Zzt! Zzt! 

A violent armor of lightning crackled across her body, and the scarlet tailed beast cloak enveloped her, radiating an eerie aura. Dark clouds swirled furiously in the sky, and a storm of wind and rain tilted toward Hikari. 

“Tailed Beast Cloak!” *2 

Kisame and Orochimaru’s golden eyes widened simultaneously. Orochimaru, standing closer, quickly darted aside to avoid Hikari potentially losing control. 

Bloop! Bloop! Bloop! 

Transparent bubbles rose. 

Wrapped in lightning and red light, boundless power coursed through her. With Samehada replenishing her chakra, Hikari felt invigorated. 

Absorbing such a massive influx of foreign chakra in a short time filled her to the brim, her body swelling with power. Backed by Samehada’s stored chakra, she had surpassed her original limits, temporarily stepping into Kage-level strength! 

Though this chakra would deplete quickly, she was intoxicated by the overwhelming power. 

This was what she’d always pursued. 

The one thing that gave her a sense of security—power! 

The tide had turned too quickly. 

Orochimaru, watching from a distance, was still reeling. 

He’d thought the enemy was invincible, planning to try sealing techniques or, if necessary, sacrifice a pawn. But then the enemy’s blade inexplicably turned on its master. 

The chakra-devouring monster fish swam to Yato’s side, fawning like a dog. His teammate, who’d been quietly conserving energy and only used one ninjutsu, suddenly erupted with astonishing chakra. 

And she was a Jinchuriki! 

Which tailed beast, he didn’t know. Konoha only had the Nine-Tails, and by his calculations, the child sealed with the Nine-Tails would be about six years old now. 

Looking at Hikari’s small frame, Orochimaru had his suspicions. 

Entrusting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to Danzo for training—had his teacher lost his mind? 

“Hiss! Yato, are you still in control?” 

Orochimaru’s raspy, magnetic voice snapped Hikari out of her immersion in boundless power. 

“Don’t worry,” she said. 

Lightning and the tailed beast cloak intertwined, the blue-white arcs tinged with an eerie scarlet from the tailed beast’s power. Her body thrummed with vigorous chakra and strength. 

Hoisting the massive Samehada onto her shoulder, she turned to face Kisame, whose eyes burned with murderous intent. 

“Ready for round two?” 

“Damn you!!” 

Kisame roared, slamming his hands together. Though Samehada had drained nearly a third of his chakra, his eruption was still ferocious. 

“Die!” 

Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique! 

A colossal shark, nearly a hundred meters tall, formed beneath his feet, swallowing Kisame whole before charging at Hikari with its gaping maw. 

Staring at the shark, growing larger like a missile, Hikari remained calm. 

Having read the original story and with her Byakugan’s insight, Kisame’s abilities were as clear to her as a spotless window. 

The Great Shark Bullet Technique was Kisame’s ultimate move, a powerful ninjutsu that absorbed an enemy’s chakra-infused attacks, growing stronger. 

Beyond its special effects, its raw power and destructive force were staggering. 

Before, she’d had no way to counter it, only able to flee with the speed of her Lightning Release chakra mode. 

But now— 

Whoosh! 

Samehada, itching to take a bite of the tailed beast cloak, was pulled away from Hikari’s body, its maw aimed at the incoming giant shark bullet. 

“Samehada!” 

Hikari’s clear voice echoed through the air—her new master’s call! 

Delicious purple chakra flowed through the hilt into its body. 

“Rrrgh!” 

Samehada’s body swelled excitedly, its spines bristling, forming a massive sword over ten meters long. 

Zzt! Zzt! Zzt! 

Scarlet lightning surged across her body, her muscles taut as a bow. Hikari gripped Samehada’s hilt with both hands, holding it aloft. 

She struck a stance like a baseball player. 

Countless forces merged, her muscles and bones resonating as one! 

The taut sinews and rigid bones supported the flow of power. 

Hikari’s eyes turned cold. 

Swing!! 

Whoosh! 

Samehada sliced through the air at blinding speed. 

The terrifying force shattered the pouring rain, and Samehada, with boundless power, collided head-on with Kisame’s water shark. 

Boom!! 

A deafening explosion shook the air. 

At the moment of impact, a crescent-shaped shockwave rippled outward, blasting the misty rain apart, splashing like a waterfall. 

Step! Step! Step! 

Orochimaru’s feet carved lotus-like ripples in the water as his black hair whipped wildly. Shielding his face with one hand, he retreated frantically, the splashing droplets stinging his palm like pebbles. 

Only when he was far from the blast’s center did he steady himself. 

Lowering his hand, he looked up. 

Amid swirling black clouds, lightning flashed, and the rain and white mist blended indistinguishably. 

At the center of the mountaintop lake… 

A petite figure wrapped in scarlet lightning held a giant blade, pinning down the figure before her. The eerie owl mask remained calm and pristine. 

Kisame, blood trickling from his mouth, knelt half-collapsed, his tattered clothes soaked. His bloodied hands struggled to hold Samehada, his body trembling. 

“Arghhh!” 

Veins bulged on his forehead, his biceps straining, but he couldn’t withstand the overwhelming force pouring from Samehada. 

Samehada’s maw bit into Kisame’s shoulder. 

As the last of his chakra was drained, the weakened Kisame could no longer resist. Crushed by the giant blade, he collapsed face-first into the water, unable to move. 

The battle was decided. 

Orochimaru let out a slow breath. 

Looking at the figure with surging chakra, three faint tails shimmering behind her, his golden snake eyes were no longer dismissive—replaced by deep wariness. 

Possessing tailed beast power and now wielding that eerie blade, she was no longer someone he could underestimate. 

If before he’d shown her respect for the sake of Ryoma Aburame and Danzo’s disciple, now he was genuinely shaken by her power. 

At such a young age, with such strength—what would she become when her chakra core matured? 

A Ninja God? 

Orochimaru shook his head, not daring to entertain the thought. 

Thankfully, Ryoma had intervened in time, or he’d have gained another formidable enemy. 

Stopping the monstrously powerful Uchiha and preemptively handling a major threat—Orochimaru felt a surge of gratitude toward his old partner. 

Chapter 145: Sudden Turn 

The torrential rain merged with the mist, forming an endless curtain. 

Kisame Hoshigaki, covered in wounds from sharp spikes and drenched in blood, lay pinned beneath Hikari's blade. His limbs sprawled weakly, and the once-vibrant deep blue chakra core within him had been drained to a dim flicker by Samehada’s relentless devouring. 

“Cough, cough—” 

His arms struggled to push himself up, but a crushing force—tons of weight—pressed down on his back, pinning him to the water’s surface, utterly immobile. 

“Huff, huff— Samehada, even you’ve betrayed me?!” 

Kisame’s roar was thick with bitter resentment. If Samehada hadn’t turned on him, he wouldn’t have been taken down so easily. He hadn’t even had the chance to unleash his trump card, the “Samehada Fusion.” 

Samehada, still greedily siphoning chakra, seemed to sense Kisame’s emotions. Its massive jaws, clamped onto his shoulder, slowly loosened, and its jagged teeth, stained with blood, pulled free from his body. 

“Samehada…” 

A flicker of hope sparked in Kisame’s eyes. His nearly depleted chakra core began to glow faintly again. If Samehada changed its mind, he might still have a chance to fight. 

“Samehada!!” 

Hikari retracted her tailed beast cloak and gripped the sword’s hilt with her right hand, channeling chakra into Samehada. 

“Grrr~!” 

The delicious purple energy surged into its body, and Samehada’s spikes relaxed in bliss, like a curled-up hedgehog unfurling at the scent of food. 

“Argh!” 

Kisame let out a pained scream as his faintly glowing chakra core dimmed once more. 

Samehada’s serrated teeth sank back into his flesh, biting deeper, as if proving its loyalty to its new master. “What a fine blade,” Hikari remarked. 

Orochimaru crouched on the water’s surface, his golden eyes studying the living weapon with undisguised fascination. 

“Care to trade?” 

“What do you think?” 

Hikari rolled her eyes. 

Her Lightning Release chakra mode, Three-Tails’ no-hand-sign water techniques, and tailed beast cloak all consumed massive amounts of chakra. Her biggest weakness was her limited chakra reserves compared to those chakra-behemoth monsters. Samehada’s ability to absorb chakra was like giving wings to a tiger for her. 

Unless someone offered her a pair of Rinnegan, there was no way she’d trade. 

“Pity,” Orochimaru sighed, shaking his head, dismissing the thought. His gaze shifted to Kisame, still pinned beneath Hikari’s blade. “This shark freak has impressive physical strength and chakra. Perfect for experiments—” 

“He’s yours.” 

Catching Orochimaru’s hint, Hikari lifted Samehada and handed Kisame over without hesitation. 

Orochimaru had been the main force in their fight against Kisame. She’d claimed the most valuable prize—Samehada—so letting Orochimaru have Kisame was no big deal. They’d likely work together again in the future, so there was no need to hoard all the spoils. 

Kisame’s abilities were completely countered by Samehada. Even if Orochimaru accidentally let him escape later, he’d pose no threat to her. 

Kisame, sprawled on the water, listened as the two divvied him up like a slab of meat. Despair filled his eyes. 

“Generous as always,” Orochimaru said with a magnetic chuckle. He opened his mouth and retched, spitting out a slimy scroll. 

Hikari, hefting Samehada onto her shoulder, wrinkled her nose and stepped back. That storage method was downright disgusting. 

Noticing her retreat and slight grimace, Orochimaru didn’t mind. He rinsed the scroll in the water and tossed it to her. “The implant—” 

He paused, glancing at Kisame, who was clearly eavesdropping, and continued vaguely, “You helped me hold off those two, so the deal’s complete. The right arm is sealed in there. I didn’t even get a single eye this time. Danzo got off cheap.” 

So trustworthy? 

Hikari caught the damp scroll, mildly surprised. She unsealed it to confirm it was indeed the arm before tucking it away. 

Orochimaru’s eyes flickered at her lack of trust but said nothing. Given her displayed combat prowess, she had the right to make slightly offensive moves. 

His hands flew into seals. 

Five different chakra clusters ignited on Orochimaru’s fingertips. “Five Elements Seal!” 

He pressed his hand to Kisame’s chest. 

Sizzle! 

It was as if a red-hot brand had seared his skin. Kisame groaned in pain as white smoke rose from his chest. When Orochimaru’s hand pulled away, five elliptical symbols were etched into Kisame’s blue skin. 

Hikari, still wary of Kisame, watched as his chakra was locked tight within his core, unable to break free despite its frantic surges. She nodded, satisfied, and stepped back two paces, leaving Kisame to Orochimaru. 

Still cautious, Orochimaru bit Kisame’s shoulder, injecting a curse seal venom that paralyzed his body. His thoroughness made him seem less like a reckless evil scientist and more like a seasoned tactician. 

The battlefield grew quiet. 

Cho, who’d been watching Hikari’s fight, saw Kisame’s pitiful state and felt some relief from the pressure of facing Itachi Uchiha. “Yato’s already taken that guy down.” 

“So fast? Not bad for one of Konoha’s Legendary Three!” Arashi said, still awed by the tsunami-summoning power he’d witnessed. He hadn’t expected Orochimaru to defeat Kisame so quickly. 

“No, it was Yato who took him,” Cho corrected. 

Arashi and Iwakuma turned to her, stunned. Even Itachi, pretending to stay focused on his standoff, and Ryoma Aburame, were drawn to her words. 

Kisame’s strength was undeniable—the vast lake beneath them was his doing, proof he could clash with a village’s Kage. If Hikari had defeated someone like that, didn’t that mean she was on par with Danzo or even the Third Hokage? 

“This guy’s getting ridiculous,” Arashi rasped, his voice dry, not Orochimaru’s magnetic rasp but the kind of hoarseness from lingering too long in a desert. Having faced Kisame and survived two fights against Hikari, who’d defeated Kisame, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear. 

Good thing she’s on my team… 

Amid the group’s shock, Itachi’s hand slipped into his sleeve, forming seals unnoticed. Without warning, he spewed flames. 

“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!” 

Though surprised, Ryoma and the others hadn’t lost focus on Itachi. They scattered to dodge the attack, only to realize the house-sized fireball wasn’t aimed at them. 

Whoosh! 

The flames incinerated the swarm of parasitic insects in the air, which crackled and fell, creating a massive gap in their formation. 

Itachi’s crimson Sharingan met Ryoma’s briefly. He crouched low, darting behind the fireball to escape the insect encirclement. 

Back with Hikari. 

Hikari stood to the side with Samehada as Orochimaru wrapped bandages around Kisame, sealing him tightly. A “Seal” character appeared at the center of the white bandages. 

He was too cautious. 

Whoosh! 

A massive, elliptical fireball suddenly soared from the distance. 

The roaring flames evaporated the relentless rain, sending wisps of mist into the air. Even from afar, its searing heat was palpable. 

Such fierce chakra nature transformation. 

Was this the Uchiha clan’s Fire Release? 

Having sealed her sole prize, Orochimaru sensed the approaching blaze. He slapped his hands to the ground. 

“Water Release: Water Formation Wall!” 

Like Hikari, Orochimaru was adept in all five chakra natures, excelling at elemental counters. 

A towering water wall rose, amplified by the environment’s abundant water. The colossal barrier clashed with the flames, which flared one final time before fizzling out under the rain. 

Sizzle… 

Scalding steam filled the air. 

Orochimaru licked his lips. His infrared perception was disrupted by the sudden heat, and the rising mist obscured his vision. 

“Caw, caw, caw!” 

Countless crows circled above, their wings beating as they converged into a figure cloaked in black with red clouds. 

Crimson Mangekyo Sharingan glared down. 

Sensing the enemy overhead, Orochimaru didn’t dare look up. He tracked Itachi’s movements through the water’s blurry reflection, his chakra surging wildly. 

Itachi gave no quarter, unleashing a lethal strike. 

His right eye widened, pupil locking onto Orochimaru’s head as blood vessels spread outward. 

“Amaterasu!!” 

“Arghhh!” 

Black flames erupted atop Orochimaru’s head without warning. The searing pain of his burning scalp drew a wretched scream as he plunged into the lake. 

Drip. 

Blood tears fell from Itachi’s eye into the water. He closed his stinging right eye, grabbed the bandaged Kisame, and fled the spot. 

Boom! 

A monstrous fish crashed where they’d stood, its tons of force sinking the water’s surface and sending waves surging outward. 

Splash! 

Samehada shrank back to Hikari’s side, its gaping maw spitting out water in distaste. 

Step, step, step… 

Ryoma, Iwakuma, and their team arrived, slightly late but not by much. 

The clash had lasted mere seconds—three or four at most. Their backup was impressively timely. 

Hikari, Ryoma, and the others regrouped. 

“You okay?” 

“Yeah.” 

Hikari nodded, then glanced curiously at Ryoma. His head shimmered with an aura of concern and friendliness—emotions she hadn’t expected from the usually stoic, wooden man. Why did he suddenly seem… normal? Even his goodwill toward her had inexplicably grown. 

With enemies nearby, she pushed the thought aside and shielded Samehada behind her, eyeing Itachi in the distance as he unwrapped Kisame’s bandages. 

Knowing Itachi’s undercover status, she had no desire to keep fighting. This mission’s haul was already massive: Thunderstone, Ink Thunder Crystal, Black Thunder Secret Technique, Samehada, Danzo’s right arm. If her shadow clone got destroyed, she’d lose a fortune in loot. 

The loss would be catastrophic. 

Rain pattered down. 

Itachi’s right eye remained closed, blood washed away by the rain, streaking down his pale cheeks. He pressed his hands to Kisame’s body, unraveling the bandages one by one. 

“Lord Itachi, just escape on your own!” 

Kisame’s face twisted in a bitter smile. The Five Elements Seal and curse seal venom still bound him, rendering him completely immobile. Even at full strength, he’d be useless against a jinchuriki wielding Samehada—worse, he’d be a walking chakra battery for the enemy. 

“Shut up.” 

Itachi frowned at Kisame’s condition. He crouched, hoisted Kisame onto his back, and secured him with the remaining bandages. 

Kisame’s eyes softened with complexity, but he fell silent, resting on Itachi’s back. 

Meanwhile… 

“Pfft!” 

Orochimaru emerged from the water, unscathed. He glared at Itachi’s reflection in the lake, his golden eyes brimming with near-tangible killing intent. 

Those strange black flames, imbued with Yin Release, could burn even water, impossible to extinguish. If not for his Great Snake Substitution Technique, Itachi would’ve killed him instantly. 

This was the Mangekyo’s power! 

A genjutsu space indistinguishable from reality, unquenchable Yin Release flames. 

Repeatedly outplayed by Itachi, Orochimaru’s obsession with the Sharingan reached its peak. He failed to notice the space behind him warping. 

“Watch out!” 

Cho, ever vigilant with her ripple sensing, shouted a warning. 

But it was too late. 

Silently, a hand pierced through space, grabbing Orochimaru’s right shoulder. Eerie ripples distorted the area it touched, spreading across his body. 

At the vortex’s center, Orochimaru’s eyes widened. His body twisted spirally, yet he felt no pain. 

A space-time ninjutsu? 

Orochimaru’s mouth opened as if to scream, but no sound came. Even his head warped in the vortex-like space. 

Rip! 

Two pale hands tore through his mouth. A slime-covered Orochimaru ripped free from the distorted husk, fleeing the eerie ripples in panic. 

Whoosh! 

The shed skin twisted and vanished, leaving only a mysterious ninja with wet, disheveled hair. He wore an orange mask with a single eyehole and wave-like patterns, his body materializing as he stepped onto the water. 

Splash, splash, splash! 

The rain passed through the mysterious figure, rippling the water beneath as if he were a mere illusion. 

It’s Uchiha Madara! 

Lord Madara! 

Itachi and Kisame’s hearts skipped a beat. 

As a Konoha spy who’d just relayed Akatsuki intel to Ryoma, Itachi felt a pang of guilt facing the mastermind. Kisame, Madara’s mole in Akatsuki tasked with retrieving the Sage’s treasures, had failed and lost Samehada. He had even less confidence than Itachi. 

Both were former Anbu, trained to perfection, their mental resilience unmatched. 

They controlled their heartbeats and expressions, betraying nothing. 

Hikari, sensing the tense emotional auras above everyone’s heads, gripped Samehada tightly, her heart sinking. 

She’d only come to mine some ore and head home to heal her eyes with a Sharingan. 

What the hell was going on? 

Looking at the flooded Thunder Drum Mountain peak, swarming with four or five Kage-level shinobi, even the disciplined Hikari couldn’t help but want to curse.