Outside the arena, Baki stared at Gaara's bewildered, terrified face. He glanced at the boy's abdomen, expecting to see the Tailed Beast breaking loose. Instead, there was nothing. As absurd as it was, Baki had to accept reality.
For some reason, the One-Tail refused to appear. Their strongest trump card had failed!
'It's afraid to even break the seal?!' Baki clenched his teeth, cursing inwardly. 'What kind of Tailed Beast is this?! What kind of ultimate weapon is this?!'
"It has come to this…" Baki muttered, preparing to issue a new command. "Everyone, prepare to—"
"Wait!" Temari's urgent voice abruptly cut him off.
Baki frowned. Temari's face was ashen, her rigid gaze fixed on the towering VIP viewing platform. The Giant Folding Fan in her hand trembled slightly as she pointed.
"That… that is…" Temari's voice trembled, as if she were trapped in a terrifying genjutsu. "Father… how could it be…"
She inhaled sharply, summoning all her strength to scream, "—Orochimaru in disguise?!"
"What?!" Baki's entire body quivered. A loud buzzing filled his mind, making him doubt his own ears. He turned his head, following Temari's line of sight toward the VIP box.
The figure wearing the Kazekage robes had discarded their conical hat. Long black hair flowed freely around a pale face with golden, serpentine eyes and a sinister smirk. Baki's breath hitched. It wasn't the Fourth Kazekage.
It was Orochimaru.
'What on earth is happening?!' Baki screamed inwardly. 'This wasn't part of the plan! Lord Kazekage was supposed to be there as a collaborator, cooperating with Orochimaru at the crucial moment to personally restrain the Third Hokage! Why is Orochimaru disguised as him?!'
'If that's the case… then where is the real Fourth Kazekage?'
A terrifying speculation froze Baki's blood. It wasn't the first time a Kazekage had mysteriously vanished in Sunagakure's history.
Beside a column in the VIP box, Tejima Shinichi stood calmly, watching the unmasked Sannin. Clad in a simple, dark combat uniform, his eyes gazed indifferently at Orochimaru, as though they were merely exchanging a routine greeting.
The momentary stiffness on Orochimaru's face vanished, replaced by an even broader smile. His snake-like eyes narrowed as he surveyed Shinichi, admiring him like an unexpected treasure.
"So it's you, Shinichi…" Orochimaru purred. "What a pleasant surprise. It seems you're quite concerned about our teacher's safety." He grew visibly excited, his long tongue sliding out to lick his pale lips.
"But, Shinichi…" Orochimaru tilted his head, his tone mocking. "If you are relying solely on the fact that you managed to subdue a Tailed Beast in the Forest of Death… keeping me here will require far more than that!"
Orochimaru's confidence was palpable. He acknowledged Shinichi's strength, but it wasn't enough to concern him—not even if Shinichi teamed up with Hiruzen Sarutobi. Because Orochimaru possessed a forbidden technique. With it, he could completely ignore any numerical disadvantage.
Shinichi scoffed disdainfully. Stepping out from the shadow of the column, he emerged into the sunlight of the viewing platform, standing directly in the line of sight of both Orochimaru and Hiruzen.
He stared into Orochimaru's eyes and spoke slowly. "Have you ever witnessed… my full power?"
The smile on Orochimaru's face faded, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes. He hadn't witnessed the entire battle in the Forest of Death, but from Shukaku's tragic state and the ruined terrain, he could infer the level of power Shinichi possessed. Judging by his tone… was that not even his limit?
A dark premonition rose in Orochimaru's chest.
However, Shinichi had no intention of giving him time to think. He turned toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was already poised for battle.
"Sensei," Shinichi said. "Follow the plan."
His gaze swept over the chaotic arena below—which was gradually falling under Konoha's control—and the distant sectors where Jiraiya's forces were intercepting the invaders. Then, he turned back to the sullen Orochimaru.
"I'll handle things here." Shinichi raised his right hand, palm facing Orochimaru, his fingers curling into a concise grasping gesture. "I will deal with him personally."
Hiruzen stared deeply at Shinichi and gave a firm nod. "Be careful."
Leaving only those two words, Hiruzen did not linger. He trusted his student. The Third Hokage ripped off his ceremonial robes, revealing his battle attire beneath. In the next instant, he leapt from the platform, plummeting straight into the center of the arena to clash with the Sunagakure shinobi...
"Well then," Shinichi said, slicing through the remaining tension in the air. "Now, it's just you and me."
Orochimaru's golden eyes flickered. Suspicion lingered, but his pride outweighed his unease. "Just as I wished, Shinichi. Let me fully taste the true power contained within your perfect vessel!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Orochimaru's sleeves billowed as several thick, venomous snakes shot outward, their fanged jaws snapping open to strike at Shinichi's vital points.
"Multiple Striking Shadow Snakes!"
"Cheap tricks." Shinichi didn't even bat an eye.
His hands rose from his sides, forming a hand seal at his chest before clapping his palms together.
Smack!
The crisp sound of his palms colliding drowned out the hissing of the vipers.
"Wood Release: Magnet Wood Dragon Technique!"
Rumble!
The reinforced floor beneath Shinichi exploded with a thunderous crack. A massive entity burst from the earth, raising its head to the sky. It was a dragon—a colossal wooden serpent covered in violet, magnetic patterns.
Roar!
The dragon's maw opened wide, lunging directly at Orochimaru. Wherever it passed, the VIP box was torn apart, metal debris magnetically drawn into the beast's wooden body.
Orochimaru's expression shifted drastically. "Overkill, wouldn't you say?!"
He unleashes a few snakes, and Shinichi countered with this?!
Orochimaru acted instantly.
Snick! Snick! Snick!
The venomous snakes extending from his sleeves were severed. Simultaneously, chakra erupted violently beneath his feet, launching him backward.
Swish!
Boom!
Leaving behind an afterimage, Orochimaru narrowly evaded the massive jaws of the Magnet Wood Dragon, the impact shattering the platform where he had just stood.
Shinichi stood his ground, his gaze sweeping over the destruction. On the floor lay the severed snakes, crushed into a blood-soaked mush by the sheer force of the technique. Ahead loomed the towering, violet-patterned wooden dragon, completely dominating the space.
No more words were needed. The outcome was clear.
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