Double Chapter Today!! That means Double Power Stones please muhahahaha
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Ye Zi sprinted through the streets, heading toward the hospital. The surrounding homes were devoid of any presence, likely evacuated as part of Konoha's first response to the attack.
Konoha was under siege, but its efforts to protect civilians were remarkably efficient, with the villagers quickly relocated to safe areas to minimize casualties.
Once the scope of the threat was assessed, genin were also prohibited from joining the fight and instead evacuated alongside the civilians.
While lives were safeguarded, Konoha's buildings weren't as fortunate. Many areas were already reduced to rubble.
Though the prioritization of civilian safety delayed Konoha's countermeasures slightly, the impact on their defense wasn't too severe.
As Ye Zi extended his sensory abilities, he could feel the movements of the Edo Tensei corps and Manda, as well as nearly a hundred chakra signatures converging toward him.
Rather than evade them, Ye Zi moved toward his pursuers, deliberately inviting himself into a trap. His plan was simple: let them gather, surround him, and eliminate them all at once.
Manda, meanwhile, was wreaking havoc across the village. Using his massive body, he crushed rows of buildings as he moved toward Konoha's bustling central district. His mission was to cause as much chaos as possible and draw the attention of as many shinobi as he could.
Orochimaru's twenty Edo Tensei soldiers had breached the village's sensory barrier, splitting into pairs and heading toward predetermined locations.
Each major clan in Konoha faced the arrival of uninvited guests.
At the Inuzuka clan compound, the main gate was blown off its hinges as two Edo Tensei shinobi with painted faces entered. Both were former Inuzuka clan members.
The Inuzuka shinobi guarding the compound quickly surrounded the intruders with their ninja dogs. But upon recognizing the intruders' faces, they were stunned.
At the same time, the compounds of the Aburame, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, Uchiha, Hyūga, and other clans were similarly targeted by pairs of Edo Tensei soldiers.
These resurrected shinobi were carefully chosen by Orochimaru and Ye Zi, many of them previously powerful members of their respective clans.
Thanks to White Zetsu's habit of collecting corpses, they now had an extensive roster to deploy.
These former clan members, resurrected with the Edo Tensei, returned to their homes... Not as allies, but as enemies. Their mission was to attack their own clansmen.
Orochimaru hadn't suppressed their consciousness, so they were fully aware of their actions. Despite their reluctance, they had no choice but to carry out their orders.
At the Uchiha compound, two renowned Uchiha shinobi, now resurrected, used their Sharingan and the Edo Tensei's inexhaustible chakra to wreak havoc on their own people.
In no time, the compound was littered with bodies, the air thick with the stench of blood.
"Anyone who isn't strong enough, retreat and wait for the clan leader to deal with us!" one of the Edo Tensei Uchiha shouted in anguish before launching another Great Fireball Jutsu that claimed yet another life.
"The clan leader is busy dealing with the summoning beast! He's not here!" one of the Uchiha clansmen responded, his voice filled with sorrow.
Hearing this, the two Edo Tensei Uchiha looked even more grief-stricken.
Just then, two figures moved like blurs, their blades gleaming as they crossed paths with the Edo Tensei shinobi.
"Huh?" The remaining Uchiha clansmen were momentarily stunned.
The two figures were young Itachi and Shisui Uchiha. Each held a blade and maintained a striking pose, crouching behind the two Edo Tensei shinobi.
Slash!
The upper halves of the Edo Tensei bodies slid off diagonally, split clean in two.
"Itachi, Shisui, they can't be killed that way!" a middle-aged Uchiha warned, seeing the Edo Tensei bodies quickly regenerate and return to their original state.
Shisui turned back, watching as the Edo Tensei shinobi restored themselves. His black eyes shifted to crimson, revealing the three-tomoe Sharingan. Itachi, though younger, activated his two-tomoe Sharingan.
Despite their youthful faces, the intensity in their eyes was chilling.
"If they can't be killed, we'll immobilize them," Shisui said coldly.
.....
Elsewhere, the Konoha gates were violently torn from their hinges, sent flying a considerable distance before crashing heavily to the ground.
The symbolic entrance to the village was breached with surprising ease. This was due in large part to the distraction caused by Orochimaru's Edo Tensei corps and Manda wreaking havoc inside the village, drawing away a significant number of Konoha shinobi.
Taking advantage of this diversion, Sasori, controlling ten human puppets, and Shin easily broke through the gates.
Following their entry, three massive snakes, slightly smaller than Manda, slithered into the village. The snakes split up, heading toward different parts of the village.
These summons were brought forth by Orochimaru. Though weaker than Manda, they were still useful and disposable, able to fight to their deaths without concern.
"I didn't expect Konoha's gates to be this easy to break through," Sasori remarked, walking leisurely down the street. Around him lay the bodies of Konoha shinobi pierced by bone-like weapons, while ten human puppets floated behind him.
One was the Third Kazekage puppet, and the other nine were puppets crafted from members of the Taketori clan.
"This will serve as an excellent test," Sasori said with a cold smirk, his expression icy. "Let's create some chaos."
Shin, his Sharingan glowing with three tomoe, followed silently at Sasori's side. His gaze constantly swept their surroundings, prepared to confront any Konoha shinobi who might appear.
The three giant snakes wreaked havoc as they moved, crushing buildings with their massive bodies. Just as they were about to split up, a colossal toad descended from the sky. Wielding a short blade, it drove the weapon directly through the head of one snake before sitting heavily on its body with a thunderous crash.
The snake died instantly.
The toad was none other than Gamabunta, with Jiraiya standing atop its head. Arms crossed, Jiraiya glared coldly at Sasori and Shin. Simultaneously, several figures darted across rooftops, landing on nearby structures to join the scene.
Sasori, unfazed, observed the arrivals with calm disdain. "Finally, someone worthy of my time," he said casually.
With a wave of his arms, the nine Taketori puppets flew into formation before him, spreading out in the air. The Kazekage puppet remained in front of him, acting as his guard.
"One of the Akatsuki's members: Sasori of the Red Sand," Jiraiya said coldly, his gaze briefly scanning the fallen Konoha shinobi whose bodies were pierced with bone-like projectiles. Glancing at the nine puppets, he deduced that they were likely using abilities similar to those of the Taketori clan from the Land of Water.
"I won't let you have your way any longer!" Jiraiya declared sharply.
Elsewhere, Orochimaru watched from the safety of a concealed, specially crafted cave located some distance from Konoha.
From this position, he controlled the Edo Tensei corps. The shinobi of Konoha had no way to locate him. The three giant snakes causing destruction were also his summons, though it seemed they were not quite enough.
For now, Orochimaru remained safe. Even if he had to expend more chakra to summon additional snakes, it would be a minor inconvenience.
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Currently on Chapter 471 - Kimimaro's Strength