Seeing that Uchiha Ketsue had not been affected, Orochimaru retracted his intimidating aura.
He took two steps forward, and his right arm suddenly transformed into a thick, giant python, lunging at Uchiha Ketsue.
Uchiha Ketsue was tightly coiled by the giant python, yet his expression remained largely unchanged. He simply stared at Orochimaru with his crimson Mangekyo Sharingan and said, "Orochimaru, be my subordinate."
The sudden request left Orochimaru stunned.
He repeated, somewhat uncertainly, "Be your subordinate?"
Uchiha Ketsue nodded. "The village of Konoha is now rife with corruption. Why don't we work together to uproot it and establish a new order in the ninja world?"
"Let's start by killing Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Seeing Uchiha Ketsue's serious demeanor, Orochimaru was amused, almost to the point of laughter.
It was often said that the stronger a member of the Uchiha clan became, the more like a madman they behaved. It seemed to be true.
"Kill Hiruzen Sarutobi?" Orochimaru couldn't help but say, "Don't you know that Hiruzen Sarutobi is my esteemed teacher?"
"I am the highly anticipated successor to the next Hokage. You want me to follow you?"
Uchiha Ketsue shrugged and continued, "There's no problem that can't be resolved, only a lack of bargaining chips."
"Orochimaru, you've always been very interested in immortality, haven't you? I can provide you with experimental equipment and materials. You only need to focus all your energy on exploring the mysteries of life, instead of wasting your time on battlefields like this."
"You should first survive my attack before you say anything else."
Orochimaru didn't want to listen to a madman anymore. With a thought, the giant python coiling around Uchiha Ketsue's body began to constrict with increasing force.
The next second, the sound of a thousand birds chirping erupted.
Countless bolts of lightning appeared on Uchiha Ketsue's body, instantly charring the giant python's body.
"Trying to escape?"
Orochimaru immediately charged towards Uchiha Ketsue, attacking him with various bizarre stances.
"It's useless. In front of these eyes, all attacks will be seen through."
Uchiha Ketsue's body continuously dodged, like a butterfly dancing on a knife's edge, always evading Orochimaru's attacks at the very last moment.
It looked incredibly perilous.
After a while of skirmishing, Uchiha Ketsue proactively distanced himself.
Given Orochimaru's talent in scientific research, such a person had to be kept alive.
Even if he defeated Orochimaru now, with the latter's personality, he certainly wouldn't be controlled. To get Orochimaru to do things, he would have to wait until the time was right in the future.
Therefore, Uchiha Ketsue had no intention of wasting too much of his ocular power on Orochimaru from the beginning.
"Let's end today's battle here, Kanna~"
Uchiha Ketsue raised his hand and swiped in front of him, and his entire being vanished as if erased.
"He's indeed a troublesome fellow..."
Orochimaru stood there, frowning.
He could sense that Uchiha Ketsue had no intention of fighting him, so after a battle, he gained no intelligence except that the opponent was proficient in various ninjutsu.
Looking at the distant battle, which was already at a fever pitch, Orochimaru sighed inwardly.
Even today's counterattack yielded no results. This battle could only end in Konoha's defeat...
"Damn it..."
Ay panted heavily, the initial excitement gone from his face.
He had somewhat overestimated himself.
Facing Sakumo Hatake, even with his "Lightning Release Chakra Mode," he had almost died several times.
Fast, high attack power... If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Ay would have found it hard to imagine that a person could hone their swordsmanship to such a degree.
Compared to the injured Ay, Sakumo Hatake was in much better condition. He gripped his short blade tightly and continuously pressed towards Ay.
"If I kill you, the battle situation should ease, right?"
Sakumo Hatake took a deep breath, channeling all his chakra. He seemed to merge with the short blade in his hand, transforming into a brilliant sword beam that slashed towards Ay.
"Can't dodge..."
Ay's eyes were cold, and he desperately channeled the last of his chakra.
If he couldn't dodge, then they would both go down together!
Just as the two were about to clash, a bolt of lightning knocked Ay's body aside, and the Third Raikage's hearty voice rang out: "Bullying my son won't do, Konoha's White Fang, I'll take you on!"
"Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite!"
The Third Raikage's finger and Sakumo Hatake's short blade collided with a thunderous crash.
Immediately after, the short blade shattered into countless fragments, and Sakumo Hatake was sent flying backward by the immense force.
"It's the Third Raikage-sama! We're going to win!"
"Brothers, follow Raikage-sama and charge!"
"Let those Konoha bastards fall into complete despair! Our Kumogakure is the strongest ninja village!"
Seeing the Third Raikage personally join the battle, everyone from Kumogakure became as if they had taken stimulants, launching a fierce attack on the Konoha ninjas.
The tide of battle instantly turned.
In the original story, the Third Raikage single-handedly faced over ten thousand Iwa ninjas led by Onoki, fighting for three days and three nights until he died of exhaustion.
This demonstrated the Third Raikage's formidable combat power.
The attacks of ordinary ninjas couldn't even break through the Third Raikage's defense, while the Third Raikage could easily kill anyone.
Under his full-force charge, the Konoha ninja's formation was quickly torn open.
"Damn it, at a time like this..."
"Why is the Third Raikage here? Aren't those guys from Kumogakure afraid of their Kage dying on the battlefield?"
"No, we can't stop him at all! Orochimaru-sama, Sakumo-sama, Jiraiya-sama, anyone! Someone come and save us!"
Under the powerful offensive of the Kumogakure ninjas, the Konoha ninjas began to gradually crumble... Facing this situation, the almost exhausted Sakumo Hatake could do nothing but watch helplessly as the situation continued to worsen.
Fortunately... the drums of retreat sounded from the rear, and the Konoha ninjas were greatly relieved, immediately fleeing desperately to the rear.
Jiraiya and Gamabunta stood at the very back, working together to unleash a combined technique—
"Toad Oil Bullet!"
A sky full of flames instantly blocked the pursuing Kumogakure ninjas, followed by a giant snake charging towards the Kumogakure ninjas.
Although they wanted to hit them while they were down, they couldn't let their own village's ninjas be killed.
The Third Raikage and Killer B could only stop and continue to deal with the attacks from Manda, Bunta, and Jiraiya.
Under the obstruction of Jiraiya, Bunta, and Manda, the Konoha ninjas finally safely withdrew from the battlefield.
However, there was no joy of surviving a disaster on their faces, only a spreading despair.
Gradually, this despair turned into dissatisfaction and anger!
If it weren't for the Third Raikage's sudden participation, they clearly had a chance to win... At such a crucial moment, where was their Hokage?!