"Danzo-sama," Orochimaru said calmly, "at least try to die with dignity."
As he spoke, he condensed a Truth-Seeking Orb in his palm, intending to end Danzo's life painlessly.
But Danzo's expression shifted drastically—his eyes wide, full of resistance and fear. He clearly didn't want to die.
But it was no longer up to him.
The saying goes, "When the birds are gone, the bow is hidden." And Danzo was the bloodstained glove that Konoha had long used to handle its dirtiest secrets. Now that he had failed and become a liability, he wouldn't be granted a peaceful death.
"Aaagh…!"
The orb pressed against Danzo's chest, releasing the sealing jutsu that held him in place. But it was already too late—his body had no strength left to resist. All he could do was howl as the Truth-Seeking Orb crushed him, his form breaking down piece by piece.
Even so, the First Hokage's cells in his body gave him unnaturally strong vitality. Coughing blood, Danzo shouted through the pain:
"Ah… Orochimaru… I won't forgive you! This old man… this old man won't die here!"
"You… just wait! I'll come back! I'll resurrect like Uchiha Madara—!"
But the scream was cut short.
As Danzo was completely obliterated, Orochimaru sighed. "Unfortunately for you… there's no resurrection this time."
The Truth-Seeking Orb was a true power of the Six Paths. It destroyed not just the physical body, but the very soul. Danzo was gone—nothing left, not even ashes.
Still, Orochimaru had allowed him to keep hope until the very last moment. That was his final kindness.
He turned toward Fugaku and the others. "You may proceed. Just remember to carry out what I instructed."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama," Fugaku replied, but his gaze lingered on the scorched ground. Even with a Sharingan, he couldn't sense a single trace of chakra where Danzo had been. He'd been erased too thoroughly.
This man... is becoming terrifying.
The thought unsettled him. He glanced at his clansmen, gave a hand signal, and the group silently retreated into the forest.
As they vanished, another figure emerged behind Orochimaru, voice cold.
"You wasted all that time on such a lowly creature?"
"Lowly?" Orochimaru chuckled, glancing at the speaker—Jigen, the vessel of Isshiki Ōtsutsuki. "Danzo was a major player in the shinobi world. Over seventy percent of its major events had his fingerprints on them."
"Hmph. 'Shinobi world'..."
Jigen sneered openly, clearly unimpressed. "You brought me all the way here… for this nonsense?"
He glanced around with growing irritation. The natural energy here was subpar—far inferior to Ryūchi Cave. It made him question the true source of the high-quality chakra Orochimaru had offered him as part of their deal.
"Relax," Orochimaru said with a sly smile. "It'll come to us on its own."
He looked eastward, out to sea.
"Come to us? Are you playing games with me?" Jigen growled. "You'd better not be lying—otherwise…"
He trailed off. Though his tone was threatening, he had no real leverage left. His current power level couldn't match Orochimaru's, and the agreed-upon payment had already been delivered. If he pushed too hard, the entire partnership could collapse.
Jigen frowned, beginning to suspect he'd been outmaneuvered.
"I don't know what you're thinking," Orochimaru said lightly, "but I always keep my promises."
His tone was eerily sincere. "If you're impatient, go see for yourself."
He pointed toward a distant spot on the sea.
"Our target is about seventy or eighty miles out. Just… be careful not to disturb it."
Jigen narrowed his eyes at Orochimaru, then turned to the sea. Curiosity got the better of him, and he vanished into the air.
He returned less than fifteen minutes later, his face dark with confusion and awe.
"…What the hell is that thing?"
"You're asking me?" Orochimaru replied innocently. "If an ancient Otsutsuki like you doesn't recognize it, how would a lowly shinobi like me know?"
Jigen's expression twisted. "Don't lie to me. That thing's aura—it's the same as yours."
"Correction," Orochimaru said with a smile, "mine is the same as its."
Jigen was momentarily stunned. He realized what Orochimaru was implying—he was referring to sequence. Cause and effect. The chakra that Orochimaru possessed originated from that creature.
"How do you think I reached the Six Paths level in this barren shinobi world?" Orochimaru asked, raising his hand. "I merely borrowed a portion of its chakra."
The truth was, the Little White Snake—once split from him—had grown on its own… drawing chakra from that immense source.
Orochimaru knew Jigen was now wary of him. That was good. That was the plan.
"…Then how did you extract chakra from something like that?" Jigen asked.
The creature's chakra was enormous—far beyond even the combined might of the nine Tailed Beasts. He couldn't imagine it willingly offering its power. Even the Ten Tails resisted chakra extraction, and it lacked intelligence.
"I have my methods," Orochimaru said with a shrug. "But at this point, the best method is simple—battle."
He gave Jigen a pointed look. "Why? Is a mighty Otsutsuki afraid of a little fighting?"
Jigen knew he was being baited but didn't react emotionally. Instead, he began weighing the idea.
He wasn't at his peak. But if he could draw out a fight—use the enemy's chakra to sustain himself—perhaps he could recover… maybe even create a chakra fruit comparable to Kaguya's.
The only catch? He'd have to bring the immature Ten Tails larva into battle.
With a grim expression, Jigen made his decision.
"Otsutsuki never shy away from battle," he said flatly. "But since I'm not at full strength, you'll take the front."
"Inappropriate," Orochimaru laughed. "If I had a way to get chakra without your help, why would I even involve you?"
"In fact… I'm helping you."
Jigen's eyes narrowed. "Then tell me your method. We won't need to fight."
"That's not part of our deal," Orochimaru said, his voice playful. "Besides, it's the foundation of my power."
"If you really want to know, we can negotiate. What are you willing to offer?"
Jigen's temples throbbed. Orochimaru, strong as he was, behaved like a greedy merchant. It was infuriating.
But there was nothing he could do.
Suppressing his anger, Jigen asked coldly, "Then what do you want?"
"I was going to make you take the lead, but since you're weakened, I'll be generous." Orochimaru smiled innocently. "Let's just say… every man for himself?"
"…Fine."
Jigen spat the word and turned away.
"One hour, tops," Orochimaru said, gazing out to sea. "That thing will reach the coast. It won't land—it'll fight in the water."
He glanced at Jigen. "Can you fight in the ocean?"
"That's none of your concern," Jigen snapped before disappearing again.
Orochimaru smiled and followed.
---
Dark clouds rolled in overhead as the sky grew dim. Out at sea, a massive floating island—two or three hundred meters across—hovered just above the water, refusing to get closer to land.
The Little White Snake, once traumatized on the mainland, refused to return.
This reaction was expected. Orochimaru had never planned to take this alone—that's why he'd "shared" the opportunity with Jigen.
Hovering above the island, Orochimaru summoned the White Snake Sage. Before Jigen's astonished eyes, he fused with her, taking on a monstrous snake-man form.
Looking at Jigen, he said calmly, "It's starting. Are you still going to sit out?"
Without waiting for an answer, he dove into the sea.
A massive vortex formed around the floating island, the sea raging with unnatural power.
"Spiritual Art: Summoning!"
Jigen clapped his hands, summoning a huge, onion-like creature with a singular, crimson Rinnegan adorned with seven tomoe. The Ten Tails larva.
It howled mournfully as it appeared, spreading dense chakra through the sea.
"Calm down," Jigen said softly. "The chakra you seek is beneath us. I'll bring it to you."
Dark lines spread across his face, a single horn emerging—his Karma seal activating.
The larva's cries quieted, its Rinnegan fixed greedily on the sea below.
Jigen merged with it partially, standing atop its head.
"Begin!"
With that, the creature's ten tails whirled like a fan, propelling it downward into the depths.
Below the surface, two titanic beasts clashed.
The sea churned. Waves surged. Currents collided.
Though the Ten Tails larva was smaller, its aquatic control was astonishing—surpassing even the White Snake Sage.
It charged through the ocean with brutal power, clamping its jaws around the Little White Snake and tearing it apart.
"Did it… just die?" the White Snake Sage gasped.
She had fought the creature in over a dozen rounds without inflicting lethal damage. She knew how resilient it was. Even a careless bite could spell death by rampant bacterial regeneration.
"Don't worry about it," Orochimaru said, his eyes flashing with light. "Focus on our goal."
In his mind, if the Little White Snake ended up devouring the Ten Tails instead, that outcome would be just as acceptable.
_____________________
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