Deep within the pitch-black, shadowy cave, Kabuto Yakushi — completely shrouded in a black cloak — wore an expression of utter disbelief.
"The Edo Tensei was forcibly undone... How is this possible?!!"
Sensing his connection to the entire army of revived shinobi being severed by an external force, deep shock and bewilderment flashed through his narrow, serpentine eyes, his deep, raspy voice trembling with astonishment.
Everything unfolding before him completely defied his knowledge and understanding. How could anyone in this world be capable of such a feat?!!
...
While Kabuto remained frozen in profound shock, the heightened sensory abilities he had gained after mastering Sage Mode in the Ryūchi Cave instantly alerted him to the unusual activity surrounding him.
"Hmm?! It seems my hiding place has been discovered..." The large python coiled within his cloak flicked its tongue lightly. A dangerous gleam shot from Kabuto's eyes.
"Ah... three distinct chakra signatures. It appears I have three uninvited guests..."
"Wait a minute... That speed... one of them is moving incredibly fast!!!"
BOOM!!!
The very moment Kabuto sensed the three approaching presences, the entire dark cavern was instantly engulfed in a violent explosion!
"Who are you... and what is your purpose hiding here?!"
A clear, cold voice echoed through the air. As the thick mist filling the space gradually dispersed, Wan'er appeared, clad in the uniform of the Allied Shinobi Forces.
"Members of the Alliance, I see..."
Moving with the agility and fluidity of a snake to dodge the full force of the explosion, Kabuto muttered darkly, identifying his visitors.
A cold, sinister glint flashed beneath the round lenses of his narrow eyes. "I never imagined... that a place as well-hidden as this would be found after all..."
SWISH!!
At that moment, two more female figures appeared beside Wan'er — Hinata and Kurotsuchi.
"Wan'er, are you alright?" Hinata asked with concern.
"I'm fine..." Wan'er shook her head gently, then a faint smile tugged at her lips. "But... it seems we've caught ourselves quite a big fish..."
"I see... so you possess the Byakugan. No wonder you were able to find such a well-concealed place..." Seeing Hinata's all-white eyes, Kabuto flicked his tongue and spoke darkly.
However, when his gaze fell upon Wan'er, he suddenly froze.
"I remember this girl... she is Kaoru Uchiha's younger sister..."
Could it be...?
Has that man Kaoru Uchiha already pinpointed my location...?
The thought sent Kabuto's heart sinking deeper and deeper. For him... this was absolutely fatal news.
"Did Kaoru Uchiha send the three of you here...?"
Squinting his serpent-like eyes, Kabuto stared intently at the girl leading the group, his tone laced with lethal intent.
"So it really is you... Kabuto Yakushi..." Now clearly recognizing the figure crouching not far before her, Wan'er spoke with sudden realization, her voice heavy and stern.
"My brother told me that you are the one who cast the Edo Tensei jutsu. You have committed truly heinous crimes..."
"Heinous crimes? That is merely how you ordinary mortals perceive things. Everything I have done... was nothing more than a great trial I set for myself..."
Kabuto raised his hands slightly, a hint of pride lingering in his tone.
"To be able to command an army of the dead... to wage war against every shinobi in the world... does that not prove my ability?!" His voice rose with growing excitement, his features twisting into a grotesque expression.
"This is something only a Sage could accomplish — and yet I did it! That proves I have already become a true Sage!!!"
...
Following Kabuto's outburst, a heavy silence hung in the air for two or three seconds.
"Psycho..." Wan'er was the first to speak once the silence broke.
"Don't waste another word on this lunatic... Let's just capture him right now!!!"
Seeing the mastermind behind the entire army of the dead standing before them, Kurotsuchi's anger flared.
Her expression turned icy, her eyes cold and sharp. Giving Kabuto no chance to speak further, she unleashed her chakra in a sudden burst!
"Earth Release: Earth Spear Sharp Stab!!!"
Focusing her power directly at Kabuto, Kurotsuchi wove a string of hand seals instantly. The soil in front of her surged upward, transforming into countless sharp spearheads that shot rapidly toward him!
Innumerable sharp spears pounded and sliced across the ground, kicking up clouds of dust and debris.
Those that buried themselves deep in the earth immediately shot upward again, forming an unending, looping barrage that cut and slashed through every corner of the cavern.
"Remarkably sharp and precise ninjutsu... This woman is no ordinary shinobi..."
Transforming his body to move like a lithe serpent, Kabuto weaved rapidly through the cavern, dodging the countless sharp spears. His narrow eyes flashed with sharp focus as he quickly assessed the situation in his mind.
Transforming his body to move like a lithe serpent, Kabuto weaved rapidly through the cavern, dodging the countless sharp spears.
His narrow eyes flashed with sharp focus as he quickly assessed the situation in his mind: "But... just these few women alone are no match for me... The only thing I need to worry about now is whether or not Kaoru Uchiha has followed them here..."
Susanoo!!!
Suddenly, Kabuto's eyes narrowed sharply. A piercing sound cut through the air beside his ears. He saw a dark arm — formed entirely of chakra and skeletal structure — slice through the space before him and whip violently toward his body!
"Incredible speed... What is this...?!"
Kabuto was shocked. Wan'er's movements were far faster than he had imagined. He saw her surrounded by a barrier of dark skeletal armor, while simultaneously launching one massive arm straight at him.
In the blink of an eye, Kabuto was struck squarely by the dark construct. It pierced deep into his body and pinned him firmly against the ceiling of the cave, completely immobile.
"Susanoo: Spiral Spear!!!"
After one arm of the Susanoo had impaled Kabuto's body, another dark skeletal arm materialized around Wan'er.
It spun rapidly, condensing into a sharp, spiraling spear, which she thrust directly through Kabuto's entire torso!
SPLAT!!
Blood splattered everywhere. Wan'er's movements were lightning-fast and executed in one fluid motion.
Yet, even after piercing Kabuto's body completely, not a trace of joy appeared on her face.
"Be careful... it's the Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique..."
She called out a sharp warning to Kurotsuchi and Hinata, her scarlet eyes scanning every corner in search of Kabuto's true form.
As the figure impaled by the Susanoo's spear gradually softened, it sloughed off like a wet pile of skin and fell to the ground — a grotesque, empty husk, utterly repulsive to behold.
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