The terrifyingly powerful composite jutsu erupted again and again from the hands of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Using the most basic of elemental techniques, he fused them into devastating combinations—completing seals with ease and unleashing explosive jutsu one after another. Though his body was aged, his stance remained firm and resolute, forcing Orochimaru to scramble and evade in disgrace.
Then, a grotesque sight unfolded. Struck by Fire Release and Lightning Release, Orochimaru fell to the ground—yet before the next jutsu could land, he opened his mouth and spat out a wet, pale version of himself… and from that mouth poured forth countless snakes.
Truly, Orochimaru was an artist of abominations—capable of spitting out himself from a snake, and spitting out snakes from himself, like an endless matryoshka doll.
Both master and disciple knew each other's strength intimately. They even knew which jutsu the other could perform. Each time Hiruzen formed seals, Orochimaru had already prepared a counter before the technique took form.
But when Orochimaru attacked, Hiruzen could only rely on his vast combat experience to barely keep pace.
Even though he was once called the Professor of Ninjutsu, Hiruzen was now but an aged man. His injuries from youth and his declining years had eroded his prime—his current strength was no more than six or seven-tenths of what it once was, and his chakra reserves had greatly diminished. Every jutsu had to be carefully measured.
Orochimaru seized the moment. Controlling the Kusanagi Blade, he sent it flying like a crescent moon, slicing across Hiruzen's arm in a flash.
Only by using the Substitution Technique at the last possible moment did Hiruzen switch places with a log—otherwise, the sharp edge of the Kusanagi would have severed his arm entirely.
"Kukuku… Sensei," Orochimaru mocked, his voice dripping with venom. "The so-called 'Hero of the Ninja', reduced to such feeble power? How utterly disappointing. It seems today you can only die here. Now—perish!"
He crooked his finger, summoning the Kusanagi Blade back into his hand, toying with it as he spoke words that chilled Hiruzen's heart.
"Damn it!" Hiruzen roared. "I watched you grow up with my own eyes. I believed you would one day protect Konoha! You were the most gifted student I ever had… and yet, you strayed so far down the wrong path. If I do not end you here and now, you will commit countless greater sins!"
The cut on his arm was not crippling—painful, yes, but not enough to hinder a true shinobi. What worried Hiruzen was the little chakra he had left, less than half his reserves.
By raw power alone, Orochimaru had already reached Kage-level—and even among Kage, he stood as one of the exceptional few. But against his former master, every technique he wielded was something Hiruzen himself had taught him. Orochimaru dared not confront Hiruzen recklessly, unless he used forbidden methods.
For the Third Hokage was still the man once hailed as the Hero of the Shinobi, the one who had quelled wars and led Konoha through an era of chaos. Even in his twilight, he could not be underestimated.
The two locked eyes in silence, then both began weaving seals. This time, there would be no probing—only killing intent.
Orochimaru slammed his hands on the ground, sneering:
"Summoning Technique: Triple Rashōmon!"
Meanwhile, Hiruzen unleashed another sequence of devastating fused ninjutsu. He began with a B-rank Fire Release, followed by a Wind Release, and immediately after, a Lightning Release.
Three different natures, seamlessly interwoven—another composite technique!
Its destructive potential far exceeded any two-element combination. Even before it struck, Orochimaru knew it would be catastrophic. He immediately summoned the Rashōmon gates—three at once—to shield himself.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bomb!"
The first jutsu unleashed a roaring fire dragon, its heat intense enough to melt steel instantly.
"Wind Release: Fourfold Gust!"
Like the god of wind awakening, a gale howled forth, scattering the fire dragon's form—but in doing so, it fanned the flames into an inferno, multiplying their intensity severalfold.
"Lightning Release: Thunderclap!"
From Hiruzen's mouth erupted a massive spear of lightning, sweeping outward as it tore through the battlefield.
The third technique was the most fearsome of all. Normally, fire and lightning resisted fusion. But with the wind fanning the flames, the blazing inferno entwined itself around the lightning spear, creating a storm of fire and thunder.
The three Rashōmon gates erupted from the ground, each bearing a demonic visage radiating chilling malevolence.
BOOM!
The thunder-fire spear, wrapped in raging wind, struck with unstoppable force—smashing through the first gate in an explosion of fire and lightning.
The second gate groaned, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface as it held against the assault. Much of the destructive force had been spent breaking the first gate, leaving only fractured remnants to test the second.
The third Rashōmon, untouched, sank slowly back into the earth—its purpose served.
At that moment, the massive serpent Manda returned, its colossal body coiling across the battlefield. Orochimaru leapt lightly atop its head, commanding the Kusanagi Blade to dart forward in relentless strikes at Hiruzen.
Seeing Manda reappear, Hiruzen's heart sank. He realized that his partner, Enma the Monkey King, must have been gravely injured if Manda was free to return. Gritting his teeth, he drew a kunai, parrying the incoming blade.
Manda opened his foul, stinking maw, laughing arrogantly.
"Orochimaru, that monkey's been taken care of. Don't forget the one hundred living sacrifices you promised me!"
Enma… had been defeated!
Both master and disciple heard it clearly. Orochimaru's face lit with satisfaction at Manda's strength, while Hiruzen's expression darkened with grief—for his lifelong comrade, his battle partner, had fallen.