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Having obtained the "Rasengan," Midorima was thrilled beyond measure, but at the same time, he knew Orochimaru was incredibly hard to kill.
Even if he couldn't "stir things up," he had to witness Orochimaru's end with his own eyes—there might be some secrets about Orochimaru that came to light.
He struggled to his feet, preparing to head toward Manda, when he spotted Kisame—who had merged with Samehada—climbing out of the lake, his expression ashen.
Considering his skin was that color anyway, Midorima didn't pay it much mind. He was about to turn away when Kisame closed the gap in two or three strides, staring right at his face.
"What?" Midorima's brow furrowed as he met Kisame's gaze.
It had been a while since anyone had looked at him this closely—he was just getting uglier.
"I thought you were someone I knew before." Kisame said.
Midorima rolled his eyes. Wasn't it true that fish only had seven-second memories? This guy's brain seemed sharp enough.
"I don't know anyone as ugly as you." Midorima shot back.
Kisame didn't get mad. "Hearing you say that just confirms you're not him. His mouth isn't as foul as yours."
Midorima turned away without responding, and Kisame followed two steps behind.
"Where's Jiraiya?" Midorima asked.
"He got away."
"You don't seem too worked up about it."
"What's the point in getting worked up? I couldn't hold him back."
Midorima recalled that Kisame's combat prowess in water was top-tier. Even if Jiraiya could fight underwater, he probably wasn't a match for Kisame.
"Couldn't hold him back, or couldn't find him?" Midorima pressed.
"..." Kisame halted, staring at Midorima's back. "I see you're not just foul-mouthed—you're a real smartass too."
"So you didn't find him. Finding him but losing the fight is one thing—strength issue. But not finding him? That's on you."
Kisame had no desire to keep bickering with Midorima.
Just then, a massive crimson-armored warrior materialized, tangling with Manda.
Susanoo!?
Midorima's eyebrows shot up. Itachi must have clashed with Orochimaru already. He took a couple of hurried steps, only to wince from the pain in his ribs—he could barely move forward.
Kisame let out a light chuckle as he brushed past Midorima.
Midorima shook his head. Kisame might scheme a bit, but sometimes he didn't think things through.
Charging straight in to meet Pain like this? Pain and Konan were bound to have words for him—back so soon? Did you even seriously search for Jiraiya's trail?
So, acting too rashly had its downsides.
Kisame arrived at the battlefield swiftly. A hundred meters or so around the tower had been reduced to rubble.
Manda seemed intent on resisting Itachi and his Susanoo, but it was already on its last legs. Orochimaru, perched atop the snake's head, was in rough shape too—both he and Danzo were gasping for breath after battling Pain's five paths, wounds littering their bodies.
"Tell me where my brother is, and I won't pursue this further." Itachi glared at Orochimaru in fury.
"What are you talking about? I have no idea what you're saying." Orochimaru played dumb.
"Orochimaru, you didn't expect this, did you? When you kidnapped Sasuke, someone else survived—he told me everything he saw... The reason I fell out with Konoha all stems from 'how to track you down'!" Itachi bluffed about Sasuke.
"Impossible. Back then, I..." Orochimaru nearly slipped up, then broke into a cold sneer. "You little brat—you're trying to trick me!"
"You're denying it too late now. So, which is it: let me kill you, or tell me where Sasuke is?" Itachi said.
"Help me get out of Amegakure, and I'll tell you where he is." Orochimaru grinned.
"Forget it. I figure even if you die, it'll be fine—Danzo should know where Sasuke is too, right?" Itachi glanced at Danzo.
"Without the Rinnegan, I'd rather die!" With escape looking hopeless, Danzo finally mustered some spine.
Of course, if Orochimaru suggested someone cover their retreat, he'd shove that duty onto him.
"Then... die." Itachi bellowed.
Manda had lost chunks of scales in its tussle with Pain, blood pouring from the gashes. Seeing Itachi unleash "Susanoo," its condition plummeted.
"You want to kill me too, Orochimaru!?"
"Shut up—lose focus, and we're both dead!" Orochimaru's expression turned grave, all traces of his earlier nonchalance gone.
Susanoo's arm wreathed in flames coalesced into a long sword, slashing toward Manda's head at blinding speed.
"Watch out!" Orochimaru warned Manda.
But Susanoo's swing was too swift. The words had barely left his mouth when Manda crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom, blood streaming from the gash on its forehead.
Pain eyed the current Itachi, brow furrowing. Konan caught his look and shifted her gaze to Itachi as well.
Since the battlefield was in "Amegakure," Pain couldn't go all-out against Orochimaru—plus, given Nagato's condition, he wouldn't unleash his strongest jutsu unless absolutely necessary, lest it threaten his life.
That left Pain able to batter Manda with wounds but unable to deliver a finishing blow.
Itachi using "Susanoo" to outright slay Manda showed he was stronger than most of "Akatsuki"—but it also raised a red flag: could they trust Itachi?
After all, counting Orochimaru and Danzo, there were three intruders this time—all from Konoha. And Itachi, being from Konoha too... was he really solid?
"Alright—your turn." Itachi fixed his stare on Orochimaru.
"Kill me? Not that easy." Orochimaru sneered coldly, turning to Danzo. "Buy me some time."
"Orochimaru, aren't you underestimating us? You think he can actually stall for you!" Sasori narrowed his eyes, refusing to buy it.
Danzo raised his right arm; the face on it protruded suddenly, a branch sprouting and thickening into a sturdy trunk that lashed toward Sasori.
Sasori jolted in surprise, leaping back. He dodged three times in succession, but the vines pursued relentlessly, their spread growing wider.
Sasori unfurled a scroll, summoning the Kazekage puppet. A massive rectangular iron sand block collided head-on with the oncoming vines.
The vines snapped instantly, but the severed branches sprouted fresh tendrils, lashing out indiscriminately in all directions.
Itachi's Sword of Totsuka cleaved through vine after vine, but couldn't halt their frenzied regrowth.
"Amaterasu!" Itachi knew dragging this out would lead nowhere and unleashed "Amaterasu."
Black flames raced along the vines, soon engulfing half of them in an inky inferno.