In the forest, several giant snakes stood tall, their bodies towering over the surrounding trees.
Their tails lashed out, smashing trees one after another and clearing a wide area.
On the heads of two of the giant snakes stood figures wearing black cloaks with red clouds.
One of them had short black hair, no eyebrows, jagged teeth, and a large cross-shaped scar on the left side of his face.
He was Biwa Jūzō, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist, now a missing-nin and a member of the Akatsuki.
The other had long black hair, pale skin, and purple eye shadow around his eyes. He was the rogue ninja Orochimaru, also now a member of Akatsuki.
Not far from them stood two boys and a girl.
All three wore the Uchiha clan crest and were children of the Uchiha clan.
Frightened by the killing intent emanating from the two Akatsuki members, the boys' eyes widened, and their faces turned pale.
Their bodies were frozen in fear, unable to move.
The girl was Uchiha Izumi. Though pale from fear, she stepped forward with a kunai in hand. Two tomoe spun in her Sharingan as she stood protectively in front of the boys, facing Orochimaru and Biwa Jūzō.
"What beautiful eyes," Orochimaru said, licking his lips as he stared at Izumi's Sharingan.
Hiss—
One of the giant snakes slithered forward under Orochimaru's command, tongue flicking, its massive jaws opened wide enough to swallow a person whole.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique—!"
Despite the overwhelming pressure, Izumi's breathing quickened, but she did not retreat.
Forming hand seals, she launched a straight line of flame toward the charging snake.
Chi-chi—
The fire struck the giant snake, making it recoil in pain. Its massive tail lashed out toward her.
Boom—
Izumi leapt into the air, dodging the swinging tail.
While airborne, she hurled two kunai—each tipped with an explosive tag—toward the snake.
Boom! Boom!
Two explosions tore into the snake's flesh, but its massive size made the injuries negligible.
Its gaping jaws lunged toward Izumi in mid-air.
Swish—
As the snake closed in, Izumi threw a shuriken tied with steel wire. Wrapping the wire around the snake's body, she yanked hard, changing her trajectory in the air and landing on the serpent's back, dodging its jaws.
But the snake writhed, flinging her off its back.
She tumbled across the ground several times.
Gurgle, gurgle—
While she battled the one snake, two others moved toward the paralyzed boys.
The boys had finally regained some mobility, but they were no match for the snakes and were swallowed whole.
"Haruto, Ikki…!"
Izumi called out in horror, but she had no time to help them. The giant snake she had battled charged again.
She rolled to her feet and bolted away.
Boom—
The place she had just stood exploded as the snake's tail slammed down, cracking the ground open.
Had she not moved, she would've been reduced to pulp.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique—!"
While retreating, she quickly formed hand seals and exhaled a massive fireball.
Boom—
The fireball struck the snake's head directly, and flames erupted violently.
Scorched burns spread across the serpent's head, some parts roasted black.
But the creature's size made it resilient. It twisted in rage, flinging debris at Izumi.
"The firepower isn't enough!"
She narrowly avoided the flying stones and widened the distance.
With both hands forming seals, she prepared a stronger jutsu.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet—!"
Three fiery dragons spewed from her mouth, attacking the snake from three directions.
The fire dragons struck, then enveloped the snake's head and upper body.
Engulfed in flames, the snake thrashed in agony.
This B-rank fire style ninjutsu was many times stronger than her earlier techniques.
Though enormous, the snake couldn't withstand it.
Thud—
After a few final spasms, the creature collapsed, its upper body charred.
The air filled with the scent of roasted flesh.
"Huff… Huff…"
Izumi panted heavily, the technique having drained much of her chakra.
"At her age, she's quite the genius. The Uchiha clan truly produces talent."
Orochimaru commented from atop the snake.
This type of giant serpent was easy for him to summon, but defeating it was no feat a Genin could manage.
To see a young girl take it down—truly worthy of being called a genius.
A cold smile tugged at his lips.
Hiss—
The two remaining snakes twisted toward Izumi, tongues flicking, fangs bared.
"Is this where I die…?"
Despair filled Izumi's heart.
Just one snake had nearly killed her.
Now two were coming.
She thought of escaping—but the two men on the snakes, whose killing intent dwarfed even the snakes', were watching closely.
One step, and they would strike.
"Fire Style: Flame Dragon Flame Bullet—!"
Swish—
Flames surged in waves as a figure appeared beside her.
The fire swept forward, instantly incinerating the two advancing snakes.
Their massive forms didn't even twitch before turning to charcoal and collapsing.
The ground blackened and smoked, scorched by intense heat.
"Clan leader…"
Izumi's eyes widened in surprise.
She was saved.
The one who arrived was the Uchiha clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku.
He possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. With him here, not even those two enemies could harm her.
Then she remembered her two comrades.
"Ikki and Haruto were swallowed. Clan leader, please save them!"
Fugaku followed her gaze to the two serpents that had consumed the boys.
Puff—
In the next moment, both snakes collapsed, sliced open.
The boys tumbled out from the slashed bellies.
Covered in mucus, they were unconscious but alive.
Swish, swish—
Fugaku flashed to their sides, grabbed them, and reappeared beside Izumi.
Then he turned to face Orochimaru, who still stood atop his snake.
"Orochimaru, attacking the juniors of my Uchiha clan—does that not shame your status as a Sannin?!"
(End of this chapter)
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