81-85

Chapter 81: I Could Kill You in a Second, But I’d Rather Make You Suffer  

“Take a break for now. Leave the rest to me!”  

Kazama said as he unleashed the power of Yōhi (Yang Fire), instantly healing Tsunade and Shizune’s injuries.  

“This power…”  

Even Tsunade, a master of medical ninjutsu, was utterly shocked by Kazama’s mysterious flames.  

“You little punk, how dare you sneak attack me!”  

Though Kazama’s punch had knocked him down and left him gravely injured, Yakushi Kabuto still didn’t take Kazama seriously.  

“It wasn’t a sneak attack. You’re just too slow.”  

“You little brat, just wait till I teach you a lesson!”  

As he spoke, Kabuto used chakra to heal his wounds.  

“Kid, you picked the wrong guy to mess with! I’m not just gonna crush you to dust—I’ll dig up your ancestors’ corpses and desecrate them too, haha!”  

Despite his average strength, Kabuto’s trash-talking skills were top-notch.  

“Amaterasu!”  

Kazama had no patience for his nonsense and unleashed Amaterasu, targeting Kabuto’s limbs.  

For a lowlife like Kabuto, Kazama wasn’t about to let him die quickly.  

That’s why he used Amaterasu to torment him slowly.  

“You’ve got Mangekyō Sharingan!”  

Seeing Kazama’s eyes, Kabuto finally realized how terrifying he was.  

“Die slowly.”  

Kazama immediately charged toward Orochimaru in the distance.  

“You bastard, how dare you underestimate me! Just you wait!”  

Kabuto frantically manipulated his chakra to sever his own limbs, freeing himself from Amaterasu’s black flames. Then, his severed limbs began to regrow.  

“Regeneration Technique!”  

Seeing Kabuto’s limbs grow back, Tsunade’s heart skipped a beat.  

“Not bad! This is the Regeneration Technique Lord Orochimaru granted me. It burns through a ton of chakra, but it’s more than enough to deal with you!”  

“If you want to kill Granny Tsunade, you’ll have to get through me first!”  

Naruto finally arrived, stepping in front of Tsunade to protect her.  

“Haha, look who’s here—the dead-last loser! I may not be able to handle that kid Kazama, but crushing a weakling like you? Easy. A year from now, it’ll be you and Tsunade’s memorial day!”  

With that, Kabuto lunged at Naruto.  

“Fūton: Rasenshuriken!”  

Naruto unleashed the technique Kazama had taught him.  

“What the—?! Why are all these kids monsters now?!”  

Amidst his agonized screams, Kabuto was soon reduced to a battered, near-dead state by the Fūton: Rasenshuriken.  

Even his Regeneration Technique couldn’t repair his broken body anymore.  

And this was with Naruto only mastering half the power of the Fūton: Rasenshuriken.  

If he’d unleashed its full strength, Kabuto would’ve been minced meat already.  

“Orochimaru, long time no see!”  

“Kazama!”  

At Kazama’s arrival, both Orochimaru and Jiraiya were stunned.  

Jiraiya was thrilled, but Orochimaru was terrified.  

After all, back in Konoha, Kazama had humiliated him twice.  

“Hmph! You little punk, I was planning to use Tsunade’s power to destroy Konoha and settle my score with you. But since you’ve delivered yourself to me, I’ll wipe away my past shame. Yamata no Jutsu!”  

Orochimaru formed hand seals and transformed into a massive eight-headed white serpent, its body like a mountain and its aura like a demon.  

Even Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, trembled at the sight of Orochimaru’s technique.  

“Kid, back in Konoha, you weren’t even my target, so I didn’t bother with you. But now you think you can walk all over me? Today, I’ll show you the power of my Yamata no Jutsu and make you see why I, Orochimaru, am feared!”  

“Kazama, run! Even I can’t handle Orochimaru’s technique right now. Don’t be reckless!”  

Hearing Jiraiya’s warning, Kazama just gave a faint smile.  

With the ultimate genjutsu, Beppu Tennin (Another God), dealing with Orochimaru was child’s play.  

But Kazama didn’t use Beppu Tennin right away. Instead, he planned to absorb Orochimaru’s Yamata no Jutsu first.  

“ Yamata no Jutsu is Orochimaru’s trump card, said to rival a Tailed Beast. If I absorb it, I wonder what kind of abilities I’ll gain?”  

With that thought, Kazama decided to let Orochimaru’s eight-headed serpent attack him first.  

Once he absorbed the attack and gained its power, then he’d start pummeling Orochimaru. 

Chapter 82: Gaining the Power of Yamata no Orochi  

“Go to hell, brat!” 

With Orochimaru’s furious roar, the white phosphorous serpent he transformed into lunged straight for Kazama. 

“Get out of the way!” 

Jiraiya hurriedly pulled back, retreating. 

But Kazama, instead of dodging, charged head-on toward Orochimaru’s attack. 

“Kazama! Orochimaru’s jutsu is no joke—you can’t block it! Fall back now!” 

Jiraiya knew Kazama’s defense was incredibly tough. 

But Orochimaru’s Yamata no Jutsu? That was power on par with a Tailed Beast. 

No matter how strong someone’s defense was, how could they possibly withstand a Tailed Beast’s attack? 

What Jiraiya didn’t know was that Kazama was exactly the kind of person who could stand up to a Tailed Beast’s power. 

“Brat! I know you can absorb attacks, but my Yamata no Jutsu can obliterate heaven and earth! A nobody like you doesn’t stand a chance, haha!” 

Seeing Kazama charge forward instead of dodging, Orochimaru burst into maniacal laughter, as if he could already taste victory. 

Ding! Successfully absorbed Yamata no Jutsu. Congratulations, Host, for gaining the Power of Yamata no Orochi. You can now transform into the true Yamata no Orochi! 

Ding! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the eleventh Strange Flame, Kurei Chika, which can summon a giant flame turtle to attack enemies! 

“Just as I expected. Yamata no Jutsu’s power is insane—not only did it give me the true power of Yamata no Orochi, but it also handed me Kurei Chika on a silver platter. Perfect! Let’s test out the power of Kurei Chika and Yamata no Orochi right now!” 

Kazama stood tall in the air, smirking coldly at Orochimaru across from him. 

“What?! You… you’re not dead?!” 

Even though Orochimaru knew Kazama was no pushover, he never could’ve imagined that Kazama would take the full brunt of his Yamata no Jutsu and come out completely unscathed. 

After all, his Yamata no Jutsu was supposed to be as strong as a Tailed Beast! 

“Is this kid even human? He’s a monster!” 

For Orochimaru—himself a monster—to say something like that showed just how shocked he was. 

“Kazama, you’ve got some serious luck, kid!” 

Jiraiya, who’d been worrying about Kazama’s safety, finally let out a relieved sigh seeing him unharmed. 

“Jiraiya-sama, run!” 

“Why?” 

Jiraiya was baffled by Kazama’s sudden, out-of-nowhere command. 

“Because I’m about to show off! Kurei Chika!” 

Kazama pointed, and a massive flame turtle—mountain-sized, covered in flaming spikes, with a maw full of fangs—materialized. 

“What… what is that?!” 

Staring at the flame turtle, as massive as his own white phosphorous Yamata no Orochi, Orochimaru felt an overwhelming, terrifying pressure he’d never experienced before. 

“Holy crap! Good thing I booked it! Kazama’s got summoning jutsu up his sleeve? That’s insane, just insane!” 

Jiraiya, panting, had already sprinted a hundred meters away. 

“Jiraiya-sama, keep running!” 

“What?! Why do I gotta keep running?!” 

Jiraiya, practically whining, asked again. 

“Because I’m about to show off again!” 

“Give me a break!” 

Hearing Kazama’s words, Jiraiya scrambled even farther, half-running, half-crawling. 

“Orochimaru, put away that fake Yamata no Jutsu of yours. Today, I’ll show you the real Yamata no Orochi!” 

With a wild laugh, Kazama’s body transformed into the true Yamata no Orochi—eight heads, eight tails, dragon-like heads with glowing lantern eyes, and wings sprouting from its back. Eight ominous clouds of different colors hovered above its heads, and its body loomed as massive as eight mountain peaks. 

Each of its eight giant heads wielded a different nature of ninjutsu: Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, Earth, Storm, Lava, and Ice. 

Compared to Kazama’s true Yamata no Orochi, Orochimaru’s so-called Yamata no Jutsu was pathetically weak, like an ant. 

Even though Kazama’s Yamata no Orochi hadn’t attacked yet, its sheer primal, demonic aura was enough to scare Orochimaru half to death. 

Before, Orochimaru had only sensed Kazama’s terror. 

Now, he was face-to-face with the unmistakable stench of death radiating from him. 

Chapter 83: I’m Not Showing Off—I’m Just Flexing  

“This Kazama kid… he’s no human. He’s an absolute monster!”  

In the distance, Jiraiya was so stunned by Kazama’s relentless barrage of techniques that he collapsed onto the ground.  

Even after surviving countless wars, he had never witnessed such terrifying ninjutsu.  

Just the sight of a colossal tortoise made of flames, resembling a mountain, was enough to leave anyone in awe.  

And now, an even larger, more horrifying Yamata no Orochi (Eight-Headed Serpent) had appeared.  

Jiraiya had initially thought this would be a close battle.  

But now? It was a complete one-sided slaughter.  

Orochimaru’s white phosphorous serpent had curled up in a corner, utterly drained of fighting spirit.  

“This is the first time I’ve seen Orochimaru this scared!”  

Tsunade, Naruto, and Shizune had caught up to the scene.  

“Forget Orochimaru—even if the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, came back to life and saw this, he’d be trembling!”  

Jiraiya slumped to the ground as he spoke.  

“Compared to Kazama, are we even shinobi?”  

Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shizune, and Naruto sighed in unison.  

Meanwhile, Orochimaru, facing Kazama, had no strength left to resist.  

Even though Kazama hadn’t attacked yet, Orochimaru knew he was doomed to lose.  

“Go, Kirei Chika (Tortoise Spirit Earth Flame)!”  

At Kazama’s command, the mountain-sized flame tortoise launched its attack on Orochimphysics://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ3xTj6zJPo&t=23s Orochimaru, already broken in spirit, was pummeled by the Kirei Chika’s ferocious assault in mere moments, leaving him battered and broken.  

The white phosphorous serpent, once boasting eight heads, was now down to three.  

Truth be told, the Kirei Chika alone was more than enough to obliterate Orochimaru’s Yamata no Jutsu.  

But Kazama? He liked using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.  

Seeing Orochimaru’s pathetic state, Kazama’s own Yamata no Orochi opened all eight of its gaping maws at once.  

Wind, lightning, water, fire, earth, storm, and molten ice—eight different nature transformations.  

In an instant, they all surged toward the white phosphorous serpent.  

“Triple Rashōmon!”  

Orochimaru, desperate, shed his serpent form and summoned his strongest defense.  

“Hmph! Even a Fivefold Rashōmon wouldn’t stop this!”  

BOOM! A deafening explosion shook the heavens.  

The overwhelming attack from Kazama’s Yamata no Orochi not only reduced Orochimaru’s Triple Rashōmon to nothing—  

It leveled the vast forest for thousands of miles around.  

This kind of destructive power? Even a Tailed Beast couldn’t match it!  

“It’s like a Shinobi World War out here!”  

Jiraiya and the others, witnessing the staggering devastation of Kazama’s Yamata no Orochi, wiped cold sweat from their brows.  

Good thing they’d run fast, or Kazama would’ve sent them straight to the afterlife.  

“Orochimaru’s gotta be done for now, right?”  

“No way he survived that!”  

But Jiraiya and Tsunade were wrong—Orochimaru was still alive.  

Not because he was that skilled, but because Kazama had secretly spared the half-dead snake.  

After all, Kazama needed Orochimaru’s help to find the sacred artifact of Enbu-koku (Flame Martial Country), the Futen Kyū (Heaven-Burning Bow).  

Why would he let Orochimaru die so easily?  

As for why he’d used the Kirei Chika and Yamata no Orochi against Orochimaru?  

Purely to test out his shiny new techniques in this showdown.  

To show off. To flex.  

Some people flaunt their wealth. Kazama? He flaunts his jutsu. 

Chapter 84: Orochimaru’s Willing Submission  

“Where am I? Am I still alive?” 

Orochimaru woke up, gazing at the unfamiliar surroundings and muttering to himself. 

“Obviously!” 

“What?! You… I…” 

The sudden appearance of Kazama left Orochimaru so startled he could barely string a sentence together. 

Seeing Orochimaru like this, Kazama couldn’t help but find it amusing. 

“The great Orochimaru, who loves scaring others, is now scared out of his wits by me.” 

With that thought, Kazama cleared his throat. 

“Alright, Orochimaru, I’ll cut to the chase. If you want to keep living, then…” 

“I, Orochimaru, am willing to serve Kazama-sama!” 

“Huh?” 

Orochimaru’s words caught Kazama completely off guard. 

Sure, his original plan was to make Orochimaru submit, but he hadn’t even used Betsutenshi yet. 

He never expected Orochimaru to surrender so willingly—something Kazama hadn’t anticipated at all. 

Looking at Orochimaru’s terrified expression, though, Kazama quickly pieced it together. His earlier display of Kurei Chika and Yamata no Orochi had clearly broken Orochimaru’s spirit. 

Even someone like Orochimaru, who refused to bow to the Akatsuki, was now willingly submitting to him. 

In the face of absolute power, anyone would have no choice but to kneel. 

“Perfect. Saves me the trouble of using Betsutenshi!” 

Kazama smirked inwardly before addressing Orochimaru again. “Since you’re willingly submitting, I won’t kill you. But if you ever betray me, well…” 

“Kazama-sama, you have my word!” 

Before Kazama could finish, Orochimaru placed a seal on himself. 

“This is the Sōsatsu Hebiin—the Double-Kill Snake Seal. If I ever betray you, no matter where I flee, you can activate this seal and kill me instantly!” 

Orochimaru then shared the method to activate the seal with Kazama. 

“Not bad. Since you’re showing such loyalty, I’ll trust you. And as my subordinate, you won’t have to worry about the Akatsuki hunting you down anymore. I’ll protect you.” 

“Thank you, Kazama-sama!” 

Orochimaru’s heart raced with both shock and joy. 

Shock, because the Akatsuki was shrouded in mystery, known to almost no one. Even his time with them and his betrayal were closely guarded secrets. 

Yet Kazama knew all about it, which unnerved him. 

Joy, because Kazama’s overwhelming strength and willingness to shield him from the Akatsuki meant he no longer had to live in fear of their pursuit. 

In that moment, Orochimaru felt his decision to serve Kazama was absolutely the right call. 

“One more thing,” Kazama added. “You’re not allowed to kill innocent people. You can keep doing the research you love, but only if it doesn’t harm lives. If you cross that line, I’ll make you wish you were dead.” 

“I understand, my lord!” 

Seeing Orochimaru so obedient filled Kazama with satisfaction. 

“Now, your first task: help me find the Fentenkyū, the divine artifact of Enbugoku.” 

“Fentenkyū?” 

“Exactly. Like the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, it’s an ancient divine artifact. Since you tracked down the Kusanagi, I’m sure the Fentenkyū won’t be too hard for you.” 

“Kazama-sama, you can count on me. I’ll find the Fentenkyū for you!” 

“Good. When you have news about the Fentenkyū, head to the outskirts of Konoha. Someone will meet you there and bring you to me.” 

With that, Kazama vanished, reappearing at the hideout where Zabu and Haku were waiting. 

“Orochimaru is now my subordinate. If he shows up near Konoha with important business, you’ll meet him and inform me.” 

“What?! Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, is serving you, Kazama-sama?” 

Zabu and the others were floored by the news. 

“What’s that? You think I’m too weak to have Orochimaru bow to me?” 

“No, no, not at all! That’s not what we meant!” 

Kazama’s teasing question sent Zabu and the others into a flustered panic, waving their hands. 

“Relax, I’m just messing with you. No need to get so worked up.” 

Kazama chuckled, patting Zabu’s shoulder, and the group let out a collective sigh of relief. 

“We’re just shocked. Orochimaru wouldn’t even bow to the Third Hokage, but now he’s serving you.” 

“Guess it’s just one thing taming another, huh?” 

Kazama said, preparing to leave. 

“Kazama-sama, one more urgent matter!” Zabu called out. 

“What is it?” 

Seeing the panic on Zabu and the others’ faces, Kazama grew curious. 

“Earlier, we saw a white phosphorous serpent, a giant flame turtle, and what looked like the legendary Yamata no Orochi in the distance. We don’t know if they’re friend or foe, so we wanted to give you a heads-up.” 

Kazama burst out laughing at Zabu’s words. 

“The white phosphorous serpent was Orochimaru’s doing. No need to make a fuss.” 

“And the giant turtle and Yamata no Orochi?” 

“Those were my jutsu!” 

With that, Kazama headed toward Konoha, leaving Zabu and the others standing there, jaws dropped in stunned silence. 

Chapter 85: Time to Crush the Four Celestial Symbol Men  

Since Kazama had been busy taming Orochimaru, he returned to Konoha a few days later than Tsunade and the others.  

Upon his arrival, he received a message from the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.  

“Gaara from Sunagakure has been kidnapped by the Four Celestial Symbol Men from the Craftsman Village. Shikamaru and the others who went to rescue him are struggling. If possible, Kazama, I hope you can go save Shikamaru and Gaara!”  

Despite being the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade’s tone with Kazama was polite, even tinged with awe.  

She’d already witnessed his strength firsthand.  

Even as the Hokage, she wasn’t his match. How could she dare order him around?  

“Got it! I’m heading out to rescue them now!”  

Kazama accepted the mission and left. Deep down, he genuinely respected Tsunade and had no intention of defying her orders.  

Besides, Shikamaru and the others were comrades from his village, and Gaara was an ally of Konoha. There was no way he’d leave them hanging.  

“Orochimaru!”  

As Kazama left the village, he spotted Orochimaru talking with Zabuza and a few others.  

“Could Orochimaru have already found the Futen Kyū (Heaven-Burning Bow)?”  

Kazama instantly dashed over to Orochimaru.  

“Lord Kazama, perfect timing! I’ve located the Futen Kyū!”  

“Really? That’s awesome!”  

Finding a long-lost sacred artifact like the Futen Kyū in less than half a day? Kazama was thrilled.  

“Where’s the Futen Kyū now?”  

“It’s in the hands of the Four Celestial Symbol Men from the Craftsman Village.”  

“What?! The Four Celestial Symbol Men? That’s one hell of a coincidence!”  

Orochimaru and the others were puzzled by Kazama’s sudden laughter.  

“You don’t know the half of it. The Four Celestial Symbol Men kidnapped Gaara and took down Shikamaru’s rescue team. I was just about to head out to save them. This is perfect—I can kill two birds with one stone: rescue Gaara and snag the Futen Kyū!”  

Kazama was ready to set off, but Orochimaru stopped him with a sly grin.  

“Lord Kazama, why bother with small fry like the Four Celestial Symbol Men? I can handle them myself.”  

“Yeah, Lord Kazama, those Craftsman Village ninjas aren’t worth your time. We’ve got this,” Zabuza chimed in, stepping forward with the others.  

“You’ve got a point, but it’s not a good time for you all to show your faces.”  

Kazama thought it over and declined Orochimaru, Zabuza, and the others’ offer.  

“You’re all rogue ninjas right now. If you show up in front of Konoha or Suna shinobi, it’ll cause trouble. And you, Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune, are supposed to be dead along with Danzō in the eyes of Konoha’s higher-ups. It’s not safe for you to reappear yet. So, I’ll handle this mission solo. You all head to Orochimaru’s Otogakure for now and lay low. When the time’s right, I’ll help you clear your names so you won’t have to live as fugitives anymore.”  

“Thank you, Lord Kazama!”  

Zabuza, Haku, Yamanaka Fū, and Aburame Torune were deeply moved by Kazama’s concern for their future.  

“Orochimaru, you’ve done a great job tracking down the Futen Kyū. I’ll make sure you’re rewarded when I get back!”  

“Lord Kazama, sparing my life is more than enough. I wouldn’t dare ask for a reward.”  

“Credit deserves reward. No need to argue. Get moving, and I’ll head out too!”  

With that, Kazama sped off toward the Four Celestial Symbol Men.  

“Hmph! A bunch of weaklings!”  

At that moment, Temari had been knocked to the ground by Kujaku, one of the Four Celestial Symbol Men.  

Shikamaru and Ino, who’d come to help, weren’t faring any better against Kujaku’s dual swords.  

“Konoha and Sunagakure have big names, but your skills are pathetic. Since you’re no match, I’ll send you to the afterlife! Fūton: Senmen Kaze (Wind Release: Thousand-Faced Wind)!”  

Ding! Successfully absorbed Fūton: Senmen Kaze. Congratulations, host, for acquiring Fūton: Senpūzan (Wind Release: Whirlwind Slash)!  

Ding! Absorb eleven more ninjutsu to unlock Kyūryū Raigōka (Nine Dragons Thunder Flame). This flame possesses sentience, can amplify the host’s Raiton (Lightning Release) to its peak, and can transform into nine lightning-fire dragons for both offense and defense!  

“Kazama, you’re here!”  

“Thanks, Kazama!”  

Seeing Kazama appear and block the attack for them, Temari, Shikamaru, and the others let out a collective sigh of relief.  

With Kazama here, they had nothing to fear.