The battlefield had already descended into chaos.
Smoke drifted through the air, mixed with the faint metallic scent of blood. Broken weapons lay scattered across the ground, and the earth itself bore the scars of violent clashes.
At the center of it all stood Ryoma Aburame.
His expression, usually cold and emotionless, now carried a faint trace of anger.
Before him, several Root elders—once proud and powerful—had already been defeated by Nono and her team.
Even someone like Ryoma, whose emotions had been deliberately suppressed through Root training, couldn't completely ignore the frustration boiling inside him.
"What a useless bunch of trash," he muttered coldly.
His gaze swept over the fallen figures.
Especially Wuwei—who had already lost an arm.
Originally, Ryoma had planned to support Orochimaru against their main enemy.
But after witnessing the battlefield—
After seeing Hirakawa Qingshui holding his ground against the First and Second Hokage simultaneously—
He immediately changed his mind.
That battle is not something I can interfere in, he concluded.
Instead, he shifted his focus.
His mission.
His responsibility.
Nono… and the three young ninjas behind her.
If he could capture them, the operation could still be salvaged.
Otherwise—
Everything would be a complete failure.
And failure… was not something Root tolerated.
Without hesitation, Ryoma raised his hand.
A dark mass surged forward.
Countless parasitic insects burst forth from his sleeves, swarming into the air like a living black cloud.
They moved with terrifying speed, rushing straight toward Nono and her team.
"Watch out!"
Nono reacted instantly.
She stepped forward, placing herself between the insects and the three young ninjas—Kurenai and the others.
Though the trio had performed exceptionally well in the earlier battle, they were still young.
Their chakra reserves were nearly depleted.
Continuing the fight head-on would be suicide.
"I'll handle this," Nono said firmly.
Her hands formed seals in rapid succession.
A thick, poisonous mist erupted from her body, spreading outward like a creeping tide.
The swarm of parasites flew straight into it—
And immediately began to drop.
The toxin was potent.
Even the smallest exposure would paralyze an ordinary person.
Now, engulfed completely—
The insects fell in droves.
Dead.
Or so it seemed.
But then—
A portion of the swarm broke through the mist.
Still alive.
Still advancing.
"What…?!"
Nono's eyes widened in disbelief.
That shouldn't have been possible.
Her poison was carefully formulated—deadly, precise, effective.
Even a trace amount could incapacitate a target.
Yet these insects… endured it.
"Parasitic insects are not like ordinary creatures."
Ryoma's calm voice echoed across the battlefield.
"They evolve."
He adjusted his glasses slightly.
"In a matter of moments, they can develop resistance to toxins."
"Your poison… is already useless."
Nono's expression darkened.
She hadn't anticipated this.
But she didn't panic.
Instead, her mind raced.
If poison doesn't work… then use something else.
Without hesitation, she reached into her pouch and pulled out a stack of explosive tags.
"Let's see how you handle this!"
She ignited them and hurled them forward.
Then—
She leapt back.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions tore through the battlefield, engulfing the swarm in fire and shockwaves.
This time—
Nothing survived.
The air cleared.
Ash drifted downward.
"No matter how much they evolve," Nono said coldly, "they can't become immune to explosions."
Ryoma's expression darkened behind his sunglasses.
She was right.
Evolution had limits.
If his insects could adapt to everything instantly—
The Aburame clan would have already dominated the world.
But even so…
"I'd like to see how long you can keep that up," he replied.
Once again—
He released another wave.
More insects.
More pressure.
Nono didn't hesitate.
She responded immediately—throwing out another set of explosive tags.
The battlefield erupted once more.
But this time—
She didn't stop there.
Using the opening created by the explosions—
She charged forward.
A kunai flew from her hand—
And in the next instant—
Her chakra scalpel flickered into existence.
A precise, deadly weapon.
Ryoma moved.
But what Nono struck—
Wasn't him.
"Insect Clone Technique."
The fake dissolved into a swarm.
The real Ryoma appeared behind her.
Silent.
Deadly.
Striking.
But Nono wasn't an ordinary ninja.
Years of experience as a spy had sharpened her instincts to a razor's edge.
She sensed it—
And reacted instantly.
She twisted her body—
Dodged the attack—
And countered.
The chakra scalpel slashed across Ryoma's abdomen.
Blood spilled.
For the first time—
He was injured.
Nono pressed forward immediately.
"Die!"
But before she could finish—
Another swarm of insects surged between them.
Forcing her back.
As she retreated—
She threw senbon.
Each needle coated with poison.
They flew in rapid succession—
Striking Ryoma's arm.
The toxin took effect instantly.
His muscles stiffened.
His arm went numb.
Ryoma didn't hesitate.
Without even a flicker of emotion—
He drew a kunai.
And—
Cut off his own arm.
Blood splattered.
The severed limb fell.
Kurenai and the others turned pale.
They had seen death before.
But this—
This level of ruthlessness—
Was something else entirely.
The insects immediately swarmed the wound—
Sealing it.
Stopping the bleeding.
Only Nono remained calm.
She had seen worse.
She understood Root.
And she knew—
This battle was far from over.
She attacked again.
Relentless.
Forcing Ryoma into retreat.
Meanwhile—
Elsewhere on the battlefield—
A far more terrifying battle unfolded.
Qingshui.
Versus the First and Second Hokage.
Wood Release surged forward—
Massive wooden structures erupting from the ground.
But Qingshui didn't retreat.
Instead—
He infused Wind Release chakra into his blade.
And slashed.
The wood split apart instantly.
Like cutting through paper.
At the same time—
Tobirama rushed in.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
But—
Qingshui kicked him.
Hard.
The reanimated Hokage was sent flying—
Crashing toward Orochimaru.
Orochimaru dodged.
But in that moment—
Qingshui disappeared.
Flying Thunder God Technique.
He reappeared—
Behind Orochimaru.
Sword thrust forward—
Straight toward the heart.
Got him.
But—
The blade passed through.
A substitution.
"Hehe…"
Orochimaru's voice echoed from behind.
"So you know the Flying Thunder God Technique…"
His expression was tense.
Cold sweat formed on his forehead.
He had prepared carefully for this battle.
Gathered intelligence.
Made plans.
And yet—
Qingshui continued to surprise him.
Again and again.
"Orochimaru," Qingshui said calmly.
"Your strength isn't impressive."
"But your ability to survive…"
"Is exceptional."
The words were true.
Orochimaru's greatest strength—
Was not power.
It was survival.
But to Orochimaru—
They sounded like mockery.
"I've been underestimated," he said coldly.
His hands formed seals.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
The ground trembled.
A massive shadow appeared.
Manda.
The giant serpent of Ryuchi Cave.
Its massive body coiled across the battlefield, its eyes glowing with cold malice.
"Orochimaru…"
Its voice was low.
Dangerous.
"You'd better prepare one hundred sacrifices for me."
"Or I'll kill you myself."
Orochimaru didn't hesitate.
"You'll have them."
Satisfied—
Manda turned.
Its massive jaws opened—
And it lunged at Qingshui.
At the same time—
The First and Second Hokage attacked again.
Wood Release.
Water Release.
A coordinated assault.
Three overwhelming forces—
All converging—
On one man.
Qingshui stood still.
His blade gleamed.
His eyes calm.
And the true battle—
Was only just beginning.
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