"Eh?"
"That's the puppet that destroyed the trap earlier..."
"Sasori?"
Kazuyama Gekkō's eyes locked onto the massive puppet standing amidst the sea of snakes, unfazed by their relentless attacks. He refrained from mentioning Sanshōuo's name since Orochimaru and Shinnosuke Sarutobi were present.
"So that's Chiyo's grandson?"
"Not bad craftsmanship."
Orochimaru and Shinnosuke observed Sanshōuo and couldn't help but acknowledge its quality. Every village had its own prodigies, and it was evident that Chiyo's grandson was one of them.
"Piss off! Hiding behind a puppet?"
"Keep dreaming."
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Kazuyama wasn't about to let Sasori slip away. This was his chance to make the legendary puppet master experience the dreaded Snake Bath. The snakes struck fast, lunging straight for the joint beneath Sanshōuo's shield.
Having read the original story, Kazuyama knew exactly where the puppet's weak point was. Under the impact of the attack, the armor on its back trembled before breaking apart.
Sasori, who had been concealed within Sanshōuo, was instantly exposed.
"Impossible! How did you figure out Sanshōuo's weak point?!"
"Aaahhhhhhh! Snakes!"
No matter how skilled Sasori was, he was still just a teenager. With his defenses shattered, a swarm of snakes slithered all over his body. His agonized scream echoed through the forest.
[Ding!
The host has shattered Sasori's puppet, leaving him completely exposed! Now drowning in a sea of snakes, his disgust and hatred for them have reached new heights—unknowingly adding another sworn enemy for Orochimaru.
Special bonus awarded!
Kekkei Genkai fusion progress: 10% (Current total: 25%)]
Kazuyama grinned as he heard the familiar system prompt and saw Sasori's wide, panicked eyes.
"Objective complete. I'd say they've taken heavy losses."
"But given the current situation… should we add fuel to the fire?"
Orochimaru and Shinnosuke exchanged glances with Kazuyama—then, as if sharing the same cruel thought, all three smirked.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!" — Shinnosuke
"Fire Release: Fireball Technique!" —Kazuyama
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!" —Orochimaru
Combined Ninjutsu—Activate!
The ground churned into a raging river of earth, fireballs rained down in a relentless barrage, and an army of serpents slithered through the chaos, striking without mercy.
The Iwagakure vanguard would never forget Konohagakure's "warm hospitality."
As their jutsu struck, the trio wasted no time retreating, leaving behind only devastation. Sunagakure's forces writhed in agony, engulfed in a fiery sea of snakes—their screams echoing through the battlefield, blending with the crackling flames.
When the fire finally died down, the scorched battlefield was littered with the charred remains of snakes and shinobi alike.
Of the original 200-man squad, fewer than 80 remained. Those who survived were either gravely wounded or still struggling—desperately clawing at the snakes that refused to let go.
"Damn it! Damn you, Orochimaru! This isn't over!"
"I'll kill you! I'll turn you into a puppet!"
"Ugh! Disgusting!"
Suppressing the wave of nausea rising in his chest, Sasori used a puppet to extract himself from Sanshōuo's body. He landed on a tree trunk, his expression twisted in revulsion.
His gaze swept over the battlefield—the shattered limbs, the smoldering wreckage—and his fury ignited.
Meanwhile, the three Orochimaru clones responsible for the destruction had already retreated to their defensive positions.
"Hahaha! This is incredible!"
"Rokudenashi, your plan was brilliant! The three of us stalled the enemy forces, and after that combined jutsu, I doubt many on the other side are still standing!"
Even Shinnosuke, a veteran of countless battles, had never felt such a rush. First, they used summoned beasts to throw the enemy into disarray. Then, they reshaped the terrain to break their formation. And finally, the overwhelming surge of summoned snakes crushed their will to fight.
A feint, a surprise attack, the snakes swarm tactic, and a devastating finishing blow—each move flowed seamlessly into the next, striking at the enemy's heart.
It was perfect. Absolutely perfect.
"Heh heh heh, Kazuyama, I didn't realize you had such a tactical mind."
"I'll make sure the Hokage hears of your contribution."
Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Skill in battle was one thing, but the ability to manipulate the battlefield? That was far more valuable.
Kazuyama merely smiled, saying nothing. He had already achieved his goal. Even if his actions had indirectly stirred up trouble for Orochimaru, it hardly mattered. Sasori and Orochimaru were bound to clash sooner or later—his interference only sped up the inevitable.
Orochimaru smirked.
You really are an exceptional disciple. But honestly, does it even matter if Sasori hates me? It's not like he can do anything about it.
"Orochimaru, now that our mission is complete, Rokudenashi and I will withdraw," Shinnosuke stated.
"Sunagakure has already declared war—Iwa and Kumo won't be far behind."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod. The ANBU operated outside his jurisdiction, and they had their own orders to follow. Still, he left Kazuyama with one final remark.
"Kazuyama, we likely won't see each other for a while. When you return to the village, stop by my lab. I've left something for you—it might be useful."
Kazuyama blinked in surprise.
Orochimaru… left something for me? Since when did the sun start rising in the north?
Noticing his disciple's stunned expression, Orochimaru chuckled.
"But if there are any… restrictions, you'll have to deal with them yourself. Don't worry, there aren't as many as before."
"Just a few dozen."
Kazuyama: #@#!@%!#
There's no way he prepared this just for me… Otherwise, why the hell would there be so many damn restrictions?!
As Kazuyama's figure disappeared into the distance, Orochimaru's lips curled into an amused smirk.
"Kazuyama… don't die. The pursuit of scientific truth awaits us both."
…
Without stopping, he returned to the village.
"Rokudenashi, you can go home and rest first. I'll report the situation to Lord Hokage."
"But don't go out. If a mission comes up, I need you to return to the team immediately. Understand?"
Kazuyama nodded. With Sunagakure already mobilized, war was imminent, and the ANBU had to be on standby at all times.
However, instead of going home, he headed straight for Orochimaru's laboratory.
Just as Orochimaru had said, more than twenty doors stood in his way. Staring at the layers of prohibitions, Kazuyama's face darkened.
"Should I call my Sensei overly strict or just completely unreasonable?"
Chōmei burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying the sight of Kazuyama painstakingly dismantling the traps one by one.
After over two hours of effort, Kazuyama finally stepped inside.
"Damn, was all this really necessary?"
"Poison gas, explosions, venomous snakes—"
"The worst part? He even rigged sulfuric acid!"
He slumped onto the floor, feeling completely drained. That sulfuric acid had come within ten centimeters of his face! If not for Chōmei's quick reaction—using a burst of chakra to trigger an explosive counter—he would have been permanently scarred.
"Geez, Kazuyama, I gotta say, your teacher is something else!"
"He's just like you! The only difference is, he plays defense while you go on the attack!"
Kazuyama had no retort.
Two full hours just to step inside, and he hadn't even reached the research room yet. There were still more traps waiting for him.
For a brief moment, he considered giving up. But then he thought about all the treasures hidden in Orochimaru's lab—his motivation instantly reignited.
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