Whether it was Jigen or the little white snake, both were threats to Orochimaru. If they could kill each other in the process… well, that would be ideal.
Of course, he wasn't counting on such luck. Orochimaru knew neither of them would go down that easily.
---
Hissss...
The familiar sound of tearing flesh echoed as the little white snake hissed—either in pain or fury. It manipulated the surrounding seawater, trying to keep it from becoming its own prison. Simultaneously, it sprouted countless serpents from the part being bitten by the monstrous creature, retaliating by trying to devour it in turn.
This tactic wouldn't work against Orochimaru or the White Snake Sage, who never approached the creature without caution. But against the ten-tailed larva, the effect was surprisingly effective—assuming the snake could bite through.
Unfortunately, that was the issue.
The ten-tailed larva, though far from maturity, was as tough as the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. The snake's gaping maw, lined with teeth like stone pillars, barely scratched the surface of its hide.
Meanwhile, the monstrous creature greedily devoured chunks of the little white snake's body. Countless root-like tendrils erupted from its base, stabbing into the serpent's body and feasting without restraint.
Jigen, feeling the chakra flowing steadily into him from the ten tails, couldn't suppress his excitement.
"It's been a long time since I had this much fun," he said, eyes gleaming.
At this rate, not only could he return to his prime, but he might even birth another chakra fruit—perhaps one rivaling Kaguya's.
Watching this unfold, the White Snake Sage grew uneasy. She spoke telepathically to Orochimaru.
"Are you sure about this? It feels like we're feeding a tiger."
Her concern was understandable. While they had done most of the fighting, it was the ten-tailed larva that was growing stronger by the second.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "It's fine."
He was no longer worried. After studying the secrets of the Karma seal and mastering the Six Paths power—including the Truth-Seeking Balls—he no longer feared Jigen or the ten tails.
No matter how powerful that larva became, its ceiling was that of a complete Divine Tree. And Jigen—Ōtsutsuki Isshiki—was bound by his human vessel. Even with more chakra, he would only extend his peak-state time.
In contrast, Orochimaru's growth wasn't limited by biology.
Still, none of that mattered when it came to the little white snake. In the ocean, with an endless supply of organic matter, it was practically immortal.
Even now, though the ten tails were devouring it, its size hadn't visibly shrunk. To beat it, they'd need to wait until nightfall, exhaust its natural energy, and let the ten tails consume it completely.
This battle wasn't about power. It was about endurance.
Each side had a nemesis it couldn't fully counter and a target it could focus on. The outcome would depend on who could outlast whom.
---
HISSSSS!
Suddenly, the little white snake let out a piercing shriek, abandoning its fight with Orochimaru and the White Snake Sage. It turned all its fury toward the ten tails, perhaps realizing instinctively that the real threat was beneath it.
A massive shadow engulfed the larva as the snake's colossal body folded inward, swallowing it whole.
Neither Orochimaru nor the White Snake Sage could stop it. In the ocean, the snake was practically invincible.
"Jigen! Are you okay?" Orochimaru's voice rang through the sea, more for show than concern.
But there was no response—just the stillness of the ocean and the coiled form of the serpent.
After a moment, Orochimaru pulled a metal ring from his sleeve and injected chakra into it. A moment later, a translucent image of Jigen flickered to life.
"What is it?" Jigen snapped. "I don't have time for this."
Orochimaru smirked. "Ah, still alive. That's good to know."
"Hmph." Jigen scoffed. His spectral form glanced down at the snake's undulating body and muttered, "Foolish thing. It just sealed its own fate."
With that, he vanished again.
Orochimaru turned to the White Snake Sage. "We can back off for now. It looks like they don't need us anymore."
The Sage nodded, but her golden eyes never left the writhing form below.
---
They didn't have to wait long.
Less than fifteen minutes later, massive tendrils of wood tore through the snake's belly, sending torrents of seawater into the sky.
Orochimaru watched quietly, unmoved.
Though the little white snake had been born of his flesh, it had become a dangerous anomaly—just like Jigen.
---
HISSSS...
The snake shrieked, its enormous body breaking apart and floating toward the surface. It stopped attacking the ten tails, abandoning the fight.
Even on land, Orochimaru and the Sage could tear it down piece by piece. But now, it had met a true natural predator.
Still, it didn't run.
Instead, the snake began spreading across the ocean's surface, transforming itself into something like a solar panel, drawing energy directly from sunlight in an attempt to hold off the devouring larva.
Orochimaru stared. "Drinking poison to quench your thirst..."
This tactic might have worked on him or the Sage. They would need time to digest the influx of energy. But the ten tails? It simply consumed and grew, without delay.
"The ending is obvious," the White Snake Sage murmured. She understood the truth of evolution—talent alone wasn't enough.
Orochimaru licked his lips. "Let's take our share before it's all gone."
The Sage followed, flickering across the sea. Nearly one-fifth of her scales glowed—a secret technique to store raw, indigestible natural energy.
"Are you really going to kill it?" she asked.
Orochimaru shook his head. "It's not up to me."
If the little white snake wanted to escape, it could've dispersed into bacteria—impossible to detect. But it hadn't.
Even now, it hadn't tried to flee.
Why?
Because dispersing would weaken it—and Orochimaru would grow stronger in comparison. That gap would eventually become fatal.
The little white snake understood this.
To live, it had to stand tall. Escape meant death in a different form.
Character shapes fate—and the snake's nature gave it only two choices: live standing, or die standing.
The White Snake Sage crushed some stone-like fragments in her jaw and sighed.
"What a pity."
But she didn't stop eating.
The ten tails devoured far faster than she could. Time passed, and the sun rose high overhead.
Jigen—undoubtedly the greatest beneficiary—could no longer hide his glee.
The ten-tailed larva had absorbed so much energy that it was ready to transform. All he needed was one Ōtsutsuki sacrifice to birth a perfect chakra fruit.
Looking at the still-motionless little white snake, his eyes lit up.
Endless natural energy... With this, reaching godhood was no longer a fantasy.
Suddenly, the sea stirred.
The "island" that was the little white snake began to shift, and from it emerged a massive serpent—over a kilometer long—abandoning its solar feeding and surging toward the shore.
"Running away now?" Jigen mocked.
The ten tails reacted instinctively, launching roots to hold it back, but the snake didn't resist. It simply carried the parasite along, barreling toward land.
Orochimaru frowned.
In the sea, only the ten tails could reach it. But on land, both he and the White Snake Sage would be able to join the fight.
It made no sense—unless...
"Wait," he told the Sage. "Don't chase yet. Let's see what it does."
The serpent tore through the jungle, flattening trees until it reached solid ground.
Then, as if mimicking memory, the earth around it shifted, forming a massive stone hammer—identical to the one once used to beat it.
What is it doing?
Even Jigen was confused.
Then came the answer.
The serpent grew two massive arms, gripped the hammer, and slammed it down on the ten tails.
BOOM!
Even the larva's tails and roots couldn't withstand the blow—it was nearly knocked loose entirely.
"ROOOAR!"
The beast screamed in fury.
But the little white snake didn't stop.
Its lower body disintegrated as it lifted the hammer again—using everything it had.
Orochimaru watched the shockwaves tear through the jungle.
And muttered, "It's choosing to fight... foolish."
_____________________
The story is Finished on patreon (394 Chapters)
Join my patreon
patreon.com/Silver757
Or Tip me on
coff.ee/silver7959
http://buymeacoffee.com/silver7959