Flames roared alongside a violent gust of wind, burning through the mountain wall disguised by swarming insects!
In the darkness, Ryoma Aburame looked up, his expression unreadable behind his dark sunglasses. Yet, the way his hands clasped tightly together betrayed his tension. "So… I've been found out? And by such an unexpected duo."
Itachi Uchiha. Orochimaru.
Murmuring to himself, Ryoma raised his palm and bit down hard on his thumb. He gestured to the figures behind him. "Go, hold them off for a while… until I finish summoning that."
Under Ryoma's control, the reanimated Fū Yamanaka and Tōru Aburame charged forward, their faces blank and mechanical.
Orochimaru tilted his head, observing them with interest. "Those two are Kabuto's Edo Tensei creations. It seems Naruto-kun used Kotoamatsukami to subdue them. But judging by their movements now, they've fallen under the control of Ryoma's parasitic insects."
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Whoosh!
From Orochimaru's sleeves, dozens of serpents shot forth, splitting into two groups to coil around the charging pair.
"Itachi-kun, deal with Fū Yamanaka first. His Mind Transfer Jutsu is a significant threat."
Shing! Without hesitation, Susano'o ignited around Itachi, its fiery red form imposing. From the gourd-like vessel it wielded, the legendary Totsuka Blade descended, piercing Fū's body cleanly.
The parasitic insects controlling Fū dispersed immediately.
"My apologies for causing trouble for Lord Naruto," Fū said, his voice tinged with regret.
Crack! Crack!
Fissures spread across his body as he liquefied and was drawn into the gourd, sealed away by the Totsuka Blade.
Meanwhile, the serpents coiling around Tōru Aburame began to loosen and fall away. His skin had turned a dark purple hue—a manifestation of his abilities.
As the son of Shikuro Aburame, Tōru had inherited mastery over nano-sized poisonous insects. Unlike Ryoma's parasitic insects, Tōru's Kikaichū—known as Parasitic Black Bugs—specialized in attaching to an enemy's skin via physical contact, destroying their cells upon infection.
Breaking free of the serpents, Tōru lunged forward like an arrow, his target clear: Orochimaru.
Despite the threat of the poisonous insects, Orochimaru neither flinched nor retreated. Instead, he stepped forward to meet Tōru head-on, grabbing the man's wrist, which was coated in the deadly bugs. Tōru's clenched fist was forced open.
The insects immediately began infecting Orochimaru's palm, spreading rapidly up his arm. A normal person would have been paralyzed instantly, but Orochimaru's hands—scarred from the effects of the Reaper Death Seal—possessed extraordinary resilience.
Clasping Tōru's hand, Orochimaru formed a unique seal.
"Forbidden Jutsu: Twin Snakes Mutual Death!"
Hiss!
Dozens of serpents erupted, coiling tightly around both Orochimaru and Tōru. Explosive tags materialized along the snakes' bodies, primed to detonate.
This was a jutsu designed for mutual destruction.
Just before the explosion, Orochimaru's head twisted unnaturally backward, and from his gaping mouth, he regurgitated a pristine new body.
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the battlefield, consuming both Tōru and Orochimaru's discarded skin.
When the dust settled, Tōru's reanimated body began to reform, his consciousness restored. "Thank you both… for freeing me from his control."
Orochimaru smirked. "When an Edo Tensei body is destroyed, the parasitic insects controlling it are also eliminated. In that sense, it's not as efficient as Kotoamatsukami."
Shing!
But at that moment, the Totsuka Blade descended once more, piercing Tōru's body!
Tōru's expression shifted to one of shock. "You—"
Itachi's voice was calm and measured. "We cannot rule out the possibility that Ryoma used both parasitic insects and Kotoamatsukami to control you. After all, an Edo Tensei Shisui is not limited by the usual restrictions on Kotoamatsukami's frequency or usage. It's safer to seal you and let Naruto confirm later."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Indeed. Better to accidentally harm an ally than to risk betrayal."
And so, Tōru was sealed as well.
As Susano'o faded, Itachi and Orochimaru turned their attention forward.
From the coffin before Ryoma, a familiar short-haired figure emerged, stepping out slowly.
Shisui Uchiha.
Itachi clenched his fists.
Ryoma's voice was low and deliberate. "Itachi Uchiha… You truly live up to the reputation that even Lord Danzo feared. Impressive. As a precaution, I did indeed use Kotoamatsukami on those two in addition to my parasitic insects. My plan was to feign their defeat and plant them as deep-cover spies within Amegakure. But you've ruined that before it even began."
Ryoma sneered. "And I have some bad news for you. My control over Shisui Uchiha relies on Edo Tensei's talisman seals, combined with my parasitic insects. Even if you destroy his body, my control over him remains intact."
He smirked confidently. "In other words, your only way to stop Shisui is with the Totsuka Blade. But remember, they don't call him Shisui of the Body Flicker for nothing. On the other hand, if either of you falls victim to my insects or Kotoamatsukami, it's game over."
Ryoma spread his arms theatrically. "So, my combination with Shisui has a much higher chance of victory than you two. Why not surrender? I could use capable subordinates."
Itachi's tone was cold. "He talks too much. Like a lonely child seeking attention."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Indeed. Back in Root, I never realized he was such a chatterbox. Should we… cure him?"
"Preferably something immediate."
Beside Itachi, a fiery red arm ignited, muscle and sinew forming around it. In its palm, a crimson magatama began to take shape.
Ryoma's face paled. "That's the Yata Magatama!!"
Whoosh!
The magatama tore through the air, exploding just before Ryoma.
When the dust settled, a massive green figure stood guard, its skeletal frame regenerating rapidly as bone sprouts emerged from its shattered form.
Shisui Uchiha, his dark eye sockets now glowing with the Mangekyō Sharingan, had activated his Susano'o to shield Ryoma from the Yata Magatama.
Ryoma's expression turned cold. "It seems you won't surrender willingly. Very well. I'll crush you with overwhelming force."
Fwoom!
The chestplate of Shisui's Susano'o opened, revealing a blazing red flame: the divine artifact Ame-no-Ohabari.
"Susano'o: Ninety-Nine!"
Within the crimson flames, countless green magatama materialized, firing in rapid succession.
Itachi's Susano'o raised a shield, the legendary Yata Mirror, to block the onslaught. Each magatama that struck the mirror was reflected back, colliding with the incoming projectiles and neutralizing them.
"Susano'o Ninety-Nine," Orochimaru mused, "reduced to zero by the Yata Mirror. How poetic."
Ryoma's grin faltered. "The Yata Mirror… truly troublesome. But no matter. Once Kotoamatsukami succeeds, this will all be over."
On the other side of the battlefield, Orochimaru crouched low. From his gaping mouth, countless serpents surged forth in a flood.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
Each serpent carried a Kusanagi Blade in its mouth, their sharp tips aimed at Ryoma.
Shisui's Susano'o, now in its perfected tengu form, wielded dual blades, slashing furiously to halt the serpentine advance. But the sheer number of snakes was overwhelming, forcing Shisui to stay close to Ryoma.
"By maintaining this pressure, Ryoma won't dare send Shisui away from his side," Itachi analyzed. "Without the opportunity to use his Body Flicker, we can engage them in direct combat."
"Orochimaru, I'll need your cooperation."
"Of course, Itachi-kun~."
Orochimaru's hands moved in swift seals.
"Eight Branches Technique!"
A colossal, eight-headed serpent emerged, shaking the earth as it descended onto the battlefield.
Itachi unleashed the full power of Susano'o, merging it seamlessly with the Eight Branches Technique.
"Majestic Attire: Eight Branches Technique!"
Standing atop the central serpent's head, Itachi and Orochimaru faced their opponents side by side.
Orochimaru's voice was filled with uncharacteristic emotion. "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this day would come."
Itachi remained stoic. "Then treat this day as if it were a fleeting dream."
Orochimaru's slitted eyes gleamed with mischief. "May I name this technique?"
Itachi brushed his hair aside. "Do as you please."
Raising two fingers, Orochimaru gave the command.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The eight serpent heads converged, forming a massive energy sphere. Within it, the Yata Magatama was embedded, glowing ominously.
"Majestic Attire: Eight Branches Ultimate Art—Triple Eight Serpent God Cannon!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters?
🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world?
✍️ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?
✨patreon.com/DarkGolds