"Did you believe that just the two of you could take me on?" Orochimaru sneered darkly.
In his eyes, Sasuke's Sharingan didn't matter so much. It was Tō's eyes that fascinated him—her jutsu, requiring no chakra, yields destructive power that even Madara would envy.
"I'll perform the Uchiha's true forbidden dojutsu now. Sasuke, buy me some time!" Itachi whispered.
Sasuke nodded, thrusting Chidori Sharp Spear toward Orochimaru. Instantly, his Susanoo manifested—with ribs of bone and a black ember of Amaterasu in its left hand. The blazing black flame shot like an arrow at Orochimaru.
"Impressive," Orochimaru commented coldly—then his body was engulfed in the black flame, turning into a white snake that slithered into the ground.
Sasuke smiled, plunged his hand into the earth—Earth Style was weak to Lightning. His Sharingan spun, seeking Orochimaru's location.
"Your clan's gift is mighty, but you're nowhere near Itachi!" Orochimaru's voice echoed from all directions, prompting a frown from Sasuke.
He kept cool: "I might be weaker, but at least I always use my power. You don't." With that, he stabbed his sword into a rock. It cracked under the force, and Orochimaru reappeared.
Palms weaving hand seals, Orochimaru spat a white snake at Sasuke. The blade of Chidori blocked it, and then Kusanagi appeared. But Sasuke moved with lightning speed; the Raijin Sword deflected Kusanagi as natural lightning crackled along its body—lightning that needed no chakra and could paralyze Orochimaru if connected.
Ever ready, Orochimaru formed hand seals again:
"Sage Art—Ten-Thousand Serpents Formation!"
Suddenly, four thick pythons emerged from Orochimaru's arms, and countless snakes arose in a vast swarm, aiming to bite Sasuke. Chills rose even on Sasuke's nerves.
Yet Susanoo shielded him, and in its left hand, Amaterasu's black flames flared across the sky.
Sasuke yelled:
"Flame Release—Black Flame Rain!"
Black flames rained down, spreading across the serpent swarm with explosive force, shaking the island so violently that the giant turtle itself began to flip over. "Naruto, we need to retreat—the turtle will break!" Killer Bee shouted, narrowly evading more snake attacks.
Naruto nodded toward Sasuke. In that glance, everything was understood. They leapt upward, intent on escaping across the sea—except for the Hokage, Madara, Tō, and Orochimaru, who stayed and fought.
The island rolled wildly while Orochimaru scanned his allies. Nagato's Rinnegan was the only force capable of controlling the Golem. Madara could—but that would drain his chakra, and Obito would never allow it. If Tō could hold back both Madara and the Hokage, then Orochimaru's force would drop massively.
Yet Orochimaru loved scheming. As chaos continued, Tō grew increasingly stressed. Holding back Madara, the First and Second Hokages, even as Nagato, Itachi, and Sasuke fought Obito, her chakra supply was limited. The enemies, being Edo-Tensei, had endless reserves. She had to eliminate the Golem first—once the foe's jinchūriki could awaken, the Ten-Tails shell would be unstoppable.
Just at that moment, the turtle island began to tip, and a towering wall of ocean surged toward Tō. She leapt clear of a blow from Madara and slapped the incoming wave. The water's momentum shifted—all of it slammed straight into the Ten-Tails Golem.
With a thunderous roar, the massive golem toppled. Even Madara and Obito never expected that. Tō smirked internally: she hadn't just redirected water—she'd compressed atmospheric pressure from the wave's rebound, unleashing tremendous force, like a major jutsu.
"Orochimaru—no!" Obito's voice broke out. At once, he cast Fire Formation to shield the Golem. The golem itself staggered, feeling a painful disorientation.
Obito tossed a gourd and scroll into the golem's open mouth. Tō gasped: He annexed the power of the Eight-Tails, tied into Orochimaru's schemes. The golem shook—under that infinite chakra energy, Majestic to Madara's planning.
Tō realized: she had set the Golem's seal to lure Obito out—and lure Illusionary Madara and Orochimaru into conflict. If she could destroy the Golem now, it would eliminate Obito's leverage over the Ten-Tails form.
But now… controlling the battle across three fronts—and several legendary opponents—was becoming too much. She had to retreat near the turtle's edge, where Land carved a new plan.
With determination in her eyes, Tō vanished, flipping toward the far side of the island—her mind already racing to neutralize the Golem before the Ten-Tails shell could resurrect itself.