"Konoha shinobi, it's been a while." As the dust settled, a massive purple snake coiled up, preparing to attack, while Orochimaru, in his signature red cloud cloak, stood atop its head, looking down on them.
"Orochimaru…"
The pressure from his summoning, Manda, was immense. The special jōnin present were sweating profusely, and even the jōnin like Nagai Seiichi and Inuzuka Kaze felt overwhelmed by the sheer size of Manda.
"Orochimaru, are these the sacrifices you promised me?" Manda's cold, vertical pupils stared at the group, speaking in a low, hissing voice. "This isn't enough."
"Inaho, Zaito, take everyone back. Leave this to me." Seiryu's Sharingan spun with three tomoe, and lightning flickered around him. "Kakashi, protect everyone."
Kakashi pulled down his mask, revealing his own Sharingan. "Are you sure you can handle this alone?"
Seiryu burst out laughing, forming hand seals at lightning speed. "Do you know why I always worked solo during the Third War? Lightning Release: Azure Dragon!"
A surge of violent lightning chakra exploded from Seiryu, making Kakashi's eyes widen in shock as he pulled his teammates back.
Within seconds, Seiryu was surrounded by thick plasma, waves of savage lightning roaring and crashing like a storm.
At the center of this thunder sea, Seiryu looked like a demonic god descended to earth.
Only now did everyone recall that on the Third War's battlefield, Seiryu had earned the nickname "Azure Thunder Dragon" by slaughtering 15 Mist jōnin squads single-handedly with these large-scale, powerful Lightning Release jutsu. In situations like this, staying near him would only hold him back—he wouldn't be able to use his full power for fear of hurting allies.
"But… that chakra volume is just absurd…" Kakashi muttered, retreating with the others while staring at Seiryu in the lightning sea. He'd only heard about Seiryu's fighting style before, but seeing it in person—he couldn't help but feel jealous. Other than Uzumaki Kushina, the Jinchūriki, Kakashi had never seen anyone with chakra reserves that could truly outclass Seiryu.
At that moment, Seiryu, at the center of the lightning sea, let out a low shout. From the surging lightning, a massive blue dragon—just as big as Manda—roared out, charging at the enemy.
Wherever it passed, giant trees snapped and burned black from the wild lightning. Manda's eyes widened in terror. "Orochimaru! What have you gotten us into?!"
"Seiryu-kun's grown even stronger these past years…" Orochimaru, standing atop Manda, looked grave. This level of Jutsu, used so casually, was something only his teacher had done in his youth. That meant Seiryu now was at least as strong as the Third Hokage at his peak—and he hadn't even revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan powers yet.
Orochimaru canceled the summoning. Against an opponent like Seiryu, whose attacks were all wide-area, devastating jutsu, Manda's size just made him a target. Landing on the ground, Orochimaru bit his finger and slammed his hand down.
"Summoning Jutsu: Triple Rashōmon!"
Three enormous gates, each painted with terrifying oni, shot up from the earth to block the incoming lightning dragon. When the two clashed, the resulting shockwave tore up everything nearby. Even though Kakashi's team had retreated hundreds of meters, the blast still knocked them off their feet. Koharu Taki, missing an arm and with no one to help him, was blown dozens of meters before crashing to the ground unconscious.
"Guh…" Nagai Seiichi swallowed nervously—hard to believe that the man who caused such destruction was drinking with him just last night.
"Is your clan leader always this over-the-top?" Hyūga Ken asked, dazed, looking at Uchiha Inaho, who had helped him retreat.
"Of course! He's the strongest of our entire clan!" Inaho replied, eyes shining with fanaticism.
"Ken! Quit chatting! Check the blast center!" Kakashi shouted.
Ken snapped out of it, activated his Byakugan, and peered into the explosion's center.
"Clan Leader Seiryu—he's charging Orochimaru, and they're already fighting!"
Although the Triple Rashōmon had weakened the attack, Seiryu's Lightning Release: Azure Dragon still forced Orochimaru to retreat. Drawing his sword, Seiryu dashed after him, lightning at his feet.
Orochimaru drew the Kusanagi blade, and in a few moments, the two exchanged several blows.
Even Orochimaru, a master swordsman, found Seiryu's speed overwhelming. Each strike was as fast as lightning and aimed right at his vitals.
"Is this like the Lightning Chakra Mode used by the Cloud Ninja?" Orochimaru thought. "This is tricky…"
Seiryu, relentlessly pursuing, furrowed his brow. Orochimaru's swordsmanship was excellent, and the modifications to his body let him block even Seiryu's most unorthodox strikes.
After another sword clash, they broke apart again.
"So this is the power of the Uchiha… How terrifying," Orochimaru said, running his long tongue over his entire face.
"You're not half bad yourself, Orochimaru. You really are one of the legendary Sannin," Seiryu replied with a light laugh.
"I hear you've awakened the same Mangekyō Sharingan as Madara Uchiha. May I see it for myself?" Orochimaru asked suddenly.
"Mangekyō, huh? Well, let's see if you can make me use it." Blue lightning exploded around Seiryu again, as he charged Orochimaru.