51-55

Chapter 51: Crushing Orochimaru and Seizing the Kusanagi Sword  

“Let’s make this quick, then! Edo Tensei!” 

The battle between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage, Sarutobi, had reached a fever pitch. 

Meanwhile, Kazama, transformed into the Two-Tails, Matatabi, was absolutely dominating the fight against the One-Tail, Shukaku. It was a one-sided beatdown. 

Matatabi’s power was already greater than Shukaku’s, and with Kazama’s own strength added to the mix, it only took a few moments for Shukaku to be pummeled into retreat. 

“What the hell kind of monster are you?! One second you’re me, the next you’re Matatabi!”  

Even Shukaku, fearless as it was, felt a chill of terror toward Kazama. 

Kazama, however, didn’t even acknowledge Shukaku’s shock. His priority was clear: take down Shukaku fast and go help the Third Hokage. 

“Tailed Beast Bomb!” 

Kazama, still in Matatabi’s form, opened his massive jaws. A Tailed Beast Bomb, even stronger than Shukaku’s, formed in an instant. With one blast, Shukaku was sent reeling back to its original form, sealed once again inside Gaara. 

Seeing Shukaku return to Gaara’s body, Kazama reverted to his human form. 

“Get Gaara back to Sunagakure, now!” 

At Kazama’s command, Kankuro and Temari—who had previously doubted him—nodded furiously like pecking chickens. They were utterly stunned by Kazama’s string of jaw-dropping feats. 

“Haha! How’s it feel, Sensei Sarutobi?”  

Orochimaru cackled wildly as his Edo Tensei-summoned First and Second Hokages overwhelmed the Third, forcing him into constant retreat. 

“Damn it!” 

Caught off guard, the Third Hokage was knocked to the ground by the First Hokage’s Wood Release. Before he could recover, the Second Hokage’s Water Release came crashing in. 

Though known as the “Professor of Ninjutsu,” the Third was no longer in his prime. His stamina had waned with age, and against the relentless assaults of the First and Second Hokages, he was clearly outmatched. 

“Enma!” 

Desperate, the Third summoned Enma, the Monkey King with a diamond-hard body. 

“Hold Orochimaru back! Don’t let him control the First and Second any longer!” 

“Heh, Sensei Sarutobi, you think a single monkey can stop me? Delusional!”  

Orochimaru spat out a Kusanagi Sword, sharper and stronger than ever. Even Enma, with his indestructible body, winced in pain from its strike. 

“No one’s coming to save you, Sensei Sarutobi. My Shishienjin (Four Violet Flames Formation) is the ultimate barrier—no one can break through from the outside!” 

“Susanoo!” 

Just as Orochimaru boasted about his invincible Shishienjin, Kazama arrived, his Complete Body Susanoo towering over the battlefield. With a single swing of its massive sword, the so-called “ultimate barrier” was sliced apart like paper. 

“Kazama, you bastard!” 

Humiliated by the instant destruction of his barrier, Orochimaru was livid. Realizing Kazama’s arrival meant Shukaku’s defeat, he knew he was out of his league. Even a Tailed Beast couldn’t stop Kazama—Orochimaru didn’t stand a chance. 

The mere sight of Kazama brought back memories of the Death Forest, where Kazama had hit him with an Amaterasu Thousand Years of Death. Orochimaru still felt the sting of that attack, a decade’s worth of pain in his backside! 

“Stop him!” 

Orochimaru ordered the Edo Tensei First and Second Hokages to hold Kazama back while he prepared to flee. But against Kazama’s Complete Body Susanoo, even two Hokages were no match. 

“No offense, you two!” 

In an instant, the First and Second Hokages were reduced to nothingness by the Susanoo’s sword, wreathed in otherworldly flames. 

“Trying to run? Leave the Kusanagi Sword behind first!” 

With a single swipe of the Susanoo’s massive hand, Orochimaru’s right arm—still clutching the Kusanagi Sword—was snapped off. Then, Kazama landed another Susanoo Thousand Years of Death. 

Orochimaru, drenched in cold sweat from the pain, spammed dozens of Body Flicker Techniques to barely escape with his life. 

Truth be told, Kazama hadn’t intended to kill Orochimaru. After all, Orochimaru would eventually redeem himself and play a key role in reviving the past Hokages to fight Uchiha Madara. For now, Kazama spared him. 

Plus, Kazama knew Orochimaru’s arsenal of forbidden jutsu could be useful. He was already planning to bring Orochimaru under his control, especially with the Akatsuki—his next, even tougher opponent—looming on the horizon. 

Chapter 52: All Those Tailed Beasts Were Me in Disguise  

“Thanks a ton, Kazama!” 

With Orochimaru driven back, Konoha finally regained its peace. 

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, gave Kazama a relieved nod before suddenly collapsing to the ground. 

In his clash with Orochimaru, the Third had been gravely injured. 

“Quick, call the medical team!” 

The Third’s personal guard rushed to his side, ready to bandage him up. 

“Let me handle it,” Kazama said, stepping forward to use his Yang Fire power to heal the Hokage. 

“Kid, don’t make things worse!” one of the guards snapped. 

They didn’t trust Kazama. “You might be strong, but medical ninjutsu and combat ninjutsu are completely different beasts.” 

“Yeah, quit showing off! You think Konoha can’t function without you? Like you’re some big shot!” another chimed in. 

These guards had long resented Kazama. Before he came along, they were the Third Hokage’s elite, basking in his favor. But ever since Sanada Kazama rose to prominence, the Third seemed to prioritize him—recruiting him into the Anbu and entrusting him with critical missions like defeating Ichibi Shukaku to protect the village. Jealousy and bitterness festered in their hearts, and now they saw a chance to knock Kazama down a peg. 

“Enough!” the Third roared, glaring at his guards. “Kazama protected this village single-handedly. He’s a true hero of Konoha! How dare you speak to him like that?” 

“But, Lord Third,” one guard protested, “Kazama’s stopping us from treating you. Isn’t he just delaying your recovery?” 

“Yeah, what’s his real motive?” another sneered. 

They seized every chance to badmouth him, desperate to soothe their bruised egos. 

“I’m stopping you because…” Kazama began, channeling his Yang Fire into the Third’s body. 

In just a few breaths, the Hokage’s wounds completely healed. 

“…because bandaging him up only to remove it later is a hassle, don’t you think?” 

The Third, already familiar with Kazama’s unique ability, just smiled and nodded. But the guards? They’d never seen flames that could heal wounds like that. Their jaws dropped, and they stared at Kazama in shock. 

“We were wrong! We underestimated you!” the guards stammered, scrambling to apologize. 

Kazama’s combat skills outclassed theirs, and now his medical prowess did too. No matter how proud they were, they had to admit defeat. 

“I’m not that petty,” Kazama said with a wave. “Just go. I need to talk to Hokage-sama alone.” 

Once the guards left, before Kazama could speak, the Third clapped a hand on his shoulder with a warm smile. 

“No need to say anything. You protected Konoha—you’re this village’s hero. As long as you don’t harm the village, I won’t meddle in your affairs.” 

“Hokage-sama…” Kazama started. He’d meant to confess that he’d killed Danzo, but the Third’s words stopped him short. 

He realized the Hokage already knew—and that’s why he’d said what he did. 

“Kazama!” the Third continued, his tone full of praise. “Not only did you defeat Orochimaru, but you even snatched his Kusanagi Sword! I bet he’s back at his hideout, spitting blood from sheer rage!” 

Kazama scratched his head, embarrassed by the praise. “I’d heard Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword was super tough and could extend endlessly, so I wanted to check it out. If you like it, Hokage-sama, it’s yours!” 

He offered the sword, but the Third shook his head. “No way, that’s your trophy! Besides, if you’re going to protect Konoha, you need a proper weapon.” 

The Third sighed, his expression growing heavy. “Orochimaru’s power is terrifying now. I saw two Ichibi Shukaku in Konoha earlier, and not long after, a Nibi Matatabi showed up too. I don’t know where he’s getting all these Tailed Beasts!” 

“About that…” Kazama said, chuckling awkwardly. “To be honest, Orochimaru only brought one Shukaku. The other Shukaku and the Nibi Matatabi? Those were me, using a transformation!” 

“What?!” The Third’s eyes widened, nearly collapsing again from the shock. 

Chapter 53: Thrashing Kisame and Claiming Samehada 

“Did I hear that right, Kazama? You can transform into Tailed Beasts—and not just one, but both Shukaku and Matatabi?!” 

“You heard me right, Lord Third. I was lucky enough to gain the powers of both the One-Tail and Two-Tails. If you don’t believe me, I can transform again right now.” 

“No, no, please don’t! I’m too old to handle that kind of shock!” 

Kazama’s abilities had completely shattered the Third Hokage’s worldview. Normally, mastering the power of even a single Tailed Beast was enough to dominate a region. But Kazama? He wielded the powers of two Tailed Beasts—and could control them perfectly without losing his sanity. Even the Third Hokage couldn’t help but envy Kazama’s talents. 

“Itachi! Kisame! You’ve finally shown yourselves!” 

At that moment, Kazama’s Wood Release clones, scattered across the village, detected Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame entering Konoha. They were already clashing with Kurenai, Asuma, and Kakashi. 

Kazama knew the plot from the manga: after Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha, Itachi and Kisame would show up. On the surface, their mission was to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto. But in reality, Itachi was there to gauge Konoha’s current strength, to see if the village could still protect his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke. 

Since Kazama needed to absorb ninjutsu to unlock the Fallen Heart Flame, he saw this as the perfect chance to take on both Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame. 

“You may have a Sharingan, but the Uchiha clan are the true inheritors of its power. You’re destined to lose!” 

Itachi’s strength was overwhelming. In a single exchange, Kakashi was trapped in the Tsukuyomi illusion. Asuma and Kurenai were battered and bruised by Kisame’s relentless attacks. 

“Then let’s see if my Sharingan can match yours!” 

In a flash, Kazama arrived at the scene, activating his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. 

“You little punk. I knew you’d show up,” Kakashi said, breathing a sigh of relief. His own Sharingan was no match for Itachi’s, but he was confident Kazama’s Mangekyo could hold its own. 

“An outsider with a Mangekyo Sharingan?!”  

Even the ever-composed Uchiha Itachi was stunned by Kazama’s eyes. 

“Hmph! Some nobody thinks he can crash our party!” Kisame snarled at Kazama. 

“Kisame, don’t forget our mission is to find the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. No need to waste time on these guys,” Itachi warned. 

“Relax, Itachi. Taking out this clueless punk won’t take more than a few seconds!”  

Kisame unsheathed the massive Samehada from his back. “I’ve always been jealous of the Sharingan’s power. If I take this kid’s eyes, you won’t mind, will you, Itachi?” 

Seeing Kisame’s confidence, Kazama smirked coldly. “My target was Itachi, but since you’re so eager to die—and even want to steal my Sharingan—I don’t mind crushing you first and taking your Samehada.” 

“Haha! A piece of trash like you thinks you can beat me? You’re dreaming if you think you’ll take my Samehada. Maybe in your next life!”  

Kisame charged at Kazama, swinging Samehada with deadly force. 

“Damn it! Kazama’s no match for Hoshigaki Kisame! We need to call the Anbu, now!” Asuma shouted. 

“No need, Asuma. Kazama’s got this handled,” Kakashi replied calmly. 

“What?!” 

Asuma and Kurenai were floored by Kakashi’s words. 

“Have you lost it, Kakashi? Kazama’s just a Genin! He’s barely been on any missions. How could he possibly stand a chance against an S-rank rogue ninja like Hoshigaki Kisame?!” Asuma protested. 

“Yeah, Kakashi, aren’t you overestimating this kid?” Kurenai added. 

They didn’t know Kazama was the one who saved Konoha earlier, so naturally, they doubted his strength. 

“You’re the ones underestimating him. Kazama’s power has already surpassed ours,” Kakashi said firmly. 

“No way! He’s just a Genin, he—” 

BOOM! 

Just as Asuma and Kurenai were convinced Kazama was doomed, they saw the S-rank rogue ninja Hoshigaki Kisame sent flying backward. Samehada he’d been wielding was nowhere to be seen. 

Across from him, Kazama stood casually, twirling the massive Samehada in his hands, inspecting it with a grin. 

Chapter 54: Absorbing S-Rank Ninjutsu in Succession  

“No way!” 

“Good heavens! Is this guy really just a Genin? He’s a total monster!” 

Asuma and Kurenai, who had underestimated Kazama moments ago, were now utterly floored by his jaw-dropping performance. 

They hadn’t even caught how Kazama sent Kisame Hoshigaki flying. The details didn’t matter anymore—only the outcome did. 

And Kazama had delivered on his bold promise: to thrash Kisame and claim Samehada. 

“Not bad at all,” muttered Uchiha Itachi, who’d been watching the fight closely. 

He’d seen everything clearly. The moment Kisame charged at Kazama, a mysterious flame flared around Kazama’s body, completely deflecting Kisame’s attack. It wasn’t so much that Kazama defeated Kisame—it was more like Kisame got taken down by his own assault. 

That mysterious flame was Kazama’s recently acquired Volcanic Stone Flame. With it, his physical defense was now nigh impenetrable. Normally invisible, the flame would ignite on his skin the instant he was attacked, blocking and reflecting everything thrown at him. 

“Kid, you really think stealing my Samehada means you can wield it?” Kisame snarled, sprawled on the ground but still defiant, a cold smirk on his face. “Let me tell you, brat, Samehada’s no ordinary weapon. It’s got a mind of its own, and it’s loyal to me! Samehada, take him out!” 

With Kisame’s roar, the Samehada in Kazama’s grip suddenly opened its gaping, toothy maw. 

But Kazama seemed to have anticipated this. A surge of chakra, rivaling that of a Tailed Beast, erupted from him. 

The sheer force sent everyone around staggering backward. Even Samehada, the bloodthirsty blade, trembled in fear under the weight of Kazama’s overwhelming chakra. 

“What the—how’s this possible?!” Kisame gasped. 

This nobody, this Kazama, was unleashing chakra so potent that even Samehada was intimidated. For the first time, the fearless Kisame Hoshigaki felt a flicker of dread. 

“Samehada feeds on chakra,” Kazama said coolly. “The more chakra you’ve got, the more it likes you. So, from today on, this is my Samehada.” 

“You bastard! I, Kisame Hoshigaki, won’t be beaten by you!” Kisame roared, humiliated as Kazama claimed his weapon in front of everyone. 

“Water Style: Water Shark Bullet Technique!” 

“Perfect, I was waiting for your Water Style!” Kazama grinned. 

Ding! Successfully absorbed Water Shark Bullet Technique. Congratulations, Host, you’ve acquired Great Shark Bullet Technique! 

Ding! Absorb seven more ninjutsu to unlock the eighth Strange Flame: Fire Cloud Water Flame! 

“Fire Cloud Water Flame, huh? After that, it’s Sea Heart Flame, then Fallen Heart Flame. Not as fast as absorbing a Tailed Beast Bomb, but it’ll do. Let’s take it slow,” Kazama mused. 

“Now, Kisame, try my Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Technique!” 

Having absorbed Kisame’s jutsu, Kazama turned it right back on him. Caught off guard, Kisame was sent sprawling once again. 

“You punk! You dare steal my Water Style?!” Kisame bellowed, furious that Kazama not only absorbed his Water Shark Bullet but used an even stronger version against him. 

“Then kill me if you can,” Kazama taunted. “Otherwise, I’ll keep using your own jutsu to beat you.” 

“You little runt, you’re crossing the line! Water Style: Explosive Water Crash!” 

Ding! Successfully absorbed Explosive Water Crash. Congratulations, Host, you’ve acquired Great Explosive Water Crash! 

Ding! Absorb six more ninjutsu to unlock the eighth Strange Flame! 

“Water Style: Five Feeding Sharks!” 

Ding! Successfully absorbed Five Feeding Sharks. Congratulations, Host, you’ve acquired Thousand Feeding Sharks! 

Ding! Absorb five more ninjutsu to unlock the eighth Strange Flame! 

“Damn it! Are you even human?!” Kisame panted. 

Even Kisame, the so-called “Tailless Tailed Beast,” was gasping for breath after unleashing multiple S-rank ninjutsu in a row. But Kazama? He looked completely unfazed. 

“Keep it coming, Kisame! You’re this close to beating me!” Kazama mocked. 

Kisame nearly coughed up blood from sheer rage. “You little punk, I’ll kill you today!” 

“Enough, Kisame!” Itachi stepped in, blocking Kisame’s path. “You’re no match for him. Keep fighting, and you’ll die from chakra exhaustion.” 

His crimson Sharingan locked onto Kazama, sizing him up. 

Chapter 55: Reflecting Itachi’s Tsukuyomi  

“Kazama, watch out! Uchiha Itachi’s way stronger than Kisame!”  

Seeing Itachi prepare to strike, Kakashi shouted a warning to Kazama. While Kakashi had faith in Kazama’s abilities, he also knew just how terrifying Itachi could be. Just moments ago, a single glance from Itachi had trapped Kakashi in the Tsukuyomi, subjecting him to three days and nights of mental torment—a pain that still lingered. 

“You’re something else. Not only can you absorb ninjutsu, but you can counter with an even stronger version of the same technique. Konoha’s produced a once-in-a-century genius!” Itachi remarked. 

“Not bad, Uchiha Itachi. You’ve seen right through my abilities,” Kazama replied. 

Kazama knew Itachi was a member of the Akatsuki, but in truth, he was an undercover agent sent by the Third Hokage. Because of this, Kazama had no intention of going all-out against Itachi like he did with Kisame. Instead, he planned to pull Itachi into his own Tsukuyomi world and lay everything out in the open. 

“I’m not like Kisame. Dealing with you won’t take long. And this next technique? You can’t absorb it,” Itachi said coolly. 

“Kazama, be careful! He’s about to use Tsukuyomi!” Kakashi yelled. 

“Too late!” 

The moment Kakashi’s warning rang out, Itachi had already cast Tsukuyomi on Kazama. 

“This technique can only be resisted by the body of an Uchiha!” Itachi declared. 

Surrounded by an endless void, Kazama didn’t panic. Instead, he felt a spark of curiosity. This was his first time inside someone else’s Tsukuyomi world. 

“Next, I’ll drive this blade into you, over and over, for three days and three nights!” Itachi said, brandishing a sword. 

“Three days and nights? Itachi, aren’t you being a bit too hard on yourself?” Kazama quipped with a grin. 

“What?!” 

As Kazama’s laughter echoed, Itachi suddenly found himself bound to a wooden stake, surrounded by countless copies of Kazama. 

“This is…” 

“Illusion Reversal!” Kazama announced. 

“How is this possible?! How could Tsukuyomi be reflected?!” Itachi gasped, stunned. 

“With my Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, nothing’s impossible!”  

Kazama released Itachi from the stake, and the surrounding clones vanished. 

“What are you doing? Shouldn’t you finish me off while you have the chance?” Itachi asked, puzzled by Kazama’s actions. 

“Because I know you’re the Third Hokage’s undercover agent in the Akatsuki!” Kazama revealed. 

“What?! You…”  

Itachi’s eyes widened in shock. This was a secret mission entrusted to him by the Third—how did Kazama know so much? 

“With Konoha under attack, you’re pretending to be here on Akatsuki’s orders to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. But in reality, you’re checking to make sure Sasuke is safe,” Kazama continued. 

“Who are you? How do you know so much about me?”  

To Itachi, Kazama was an enigma, shrouded in mystery. 

“It’s a long story how I know. But since we’re both shinobi of Konoha, there’s no need for us to fight to the death. Right now, the priority is stopping Orochimaru’s scheme. His attack on Konoha has another goal: capturing Sasuke to take over his body!” 

“Orochimaru? Damn it, I should’ve killed him when I had the chance!”  

The thought of Orochimaru targeting his little brother sent a surge of rage through Itachi. 

“I can deal with Orochimaru. In return, I want you to inform me in advance about the Akatsuki’s plans to collect the Tailed Beasts,” Kazama proposed. 

Kazama knew absorbing Tailed Beast Bombs could quickly unlock his otherworldly flames and even allow him to transform into higher-level Tailed Beasts. To stay one step ahead, he needed to harness their power before the Akatsuki could.