A green figure darted across the battlefield with blinding speed.
The Hidden Rain Village stood no chance against Might Dai's overwhelming velocity. The explosive tags on their bodies were mere decorations, detonating harmlessly in the air before they could even react.
"As expected of Lord Dai," murmured the Konoha shinobi in awe.
Unlike in the original timeline, Might Dai was now revered on the battlefield. His greatest virtue was his unwavering determination to save every comrade, even when others like Orochimaru were too preoccupied with their own battles to spare a thought for allies. Such selflessness naturally endeared him to his peers.
"Watching Dai fight never feels like a shinobi's battle," Orochimaru mused.
Shinobi combat typically revolved around strategy and psychological warfare; raw power alone was rarely enough. Every possible advantage had to be exploited to secure victory.
But Might Dai?
He cared nothing for flashy tactics or mind games.
A single punch, a single kick—his opponents were crushed before they could even deploy their schemes.
Nearby, the Jōnin Lan watched with a complex expression as Might Dai dominated the battlefield. The gap between them was stark. If Dai were officially recognized as a Jōnin, he would undoubtedly be promoted to Elite Jōnin—a leader capable of commanding Konoha's forces in battle.
Yet, he remained a Genin.
With the village stretched thin, there was no one left to conduct evaluations, leaving Dai's rank unchanged.
As Might Dai carved through the enemy lines, the Rain shinobi redoubled their assault. Explosive tags detonated in rapid succession, flames licking the air.
Orochimaru's tongue flicked out, tasting the tension.
"Deceptive intelligence, perhaps?"
It seemed Chiyo and Hanzo's clash had finally reached a stalemate.
A purple mist began to spread across the battlefield.
The Rain shinobi abruptly retreated.
Then—
BOOM!
A massive figure plummeted from the sky, shaking the earth.
The gargantuan salamander, Ibuse, stood imposingly in the center of the fray. The poisonous fog it emitted forced even Might Dai to fall back, landing beside Orochimaru.
"Dai, protect the others for me," Orochimaru said, his golden eyes fixed on the figure standing atop Ibuse.
Hanzo of the Salamander had arrived.
"Understood, Lord Orochimaru."
Might Dai knew he was no match for Hanzo; the toxic mist was his natural counter.
"I leave it to you."
With that, Orochimaru charged forward, signaling for all Konoha shinobi to retreat. A direct assault would be suicide—Hanzo's poison would decimate the camp.
But Orochimaru could fight without fear for his rear.
Might Dai was someone he could trust.
Rolling up his sleeves, revealing intricate seals, Orochimaru slammed his hands onto the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A colossal purple serpent erupted from the earth, locking eyes with Ibuse.
"Orochimaru!" Hanzo's voice was heavy with caution.
This opponent was no pushover. Only after recent power gains had Hanzo dared to face him again.
"Did you defeat Chiyo?" Orochimaru asked, perched atop Manda's head.
Hanzo offered no reply. Instead, his hands flew through seals.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Tilting his head back, he spewed a tidal wave that engulfed the surroundings. Ibuse joined in, ejecting a stream of purple venom.
"Toxic Spray."
The water and poison merged, forming a bubbling, corrosive river that hissed like molten rock.
"AGH!" Manda roared in pain.
Though not fully submerged, the venomous water seared his scales.
Orochimaru responded swiftly, weaving another set of seals.
"Undying Seal Method: Technique Reversal!"
A translucent barrier enveloped Manda. The toxic water surged into it as if drawn into a void, only to fuel the barrier's glow.
Hanzo wasn't surprised. Having fought Orochimaru before, he knew the Sannin could repurpose enemy techniques.
A troublesome ability indeed.
With a command, Hanzo sent Ibuse charging forward.
CRASH!
The two titanic creatures collided head-on, the impact reverberating like thunder.
Orochimaru and Hanzo clashed simultaneously.
Snakes and water surged in a chaotic dance, their movements flickering like shadows between the battling summons.
While Hanzo specialized in Water Release, Orochimaru was more versatile. Their power was comparable, but Orochimaru's vast arsenal of Earth Release techniques allowed him to reshape the battlefield—creating rocky islands amidst the toxic sea.
Their duel shifted to these makeshift platforms, blades flashing as they exchanged blows.
"You've grown stronger, Hanzo," Orochimaru remarked, licking the blood from Kusanagi's blade.
Hanzo clutched his shoulder, where a deep gash oozed poison—though his own toxins quickly neutralized it.
"You, however, remain stagnant," Hanzo shot back, nodding at Orochimaru's purpling arm. Venom dripped from the wound.
This timeline was different.
Here, they were evenly matched.
They clashed again.
Though Orochimaru seemed to press the advantage, Hanzo's true strength lay in the ever-present poison mist. Even Orochimaru would eventually succumb in such an environment.
"Earth Release: Hiding in Swamp Technique!"
Orochimaru's attack liquefied the ground beneath Hanzo, attempting to drag him under.
But the swamp swallowed only a puddle of water.
Hanzo emerged from the toxic river, his sickle aimed at Orochimaru's throat—only for the Sannin's body to dissolve into a swarm of snakes.
Snake Clone Technique.
The real Hanzo, meanwhile, had used a Water Clone.
They reappeared atop their respective summons, warily assessing each other.
"You're as troublesome as ever, Hanzo the Salamander."
"Likewise, Orochimaru."
With a cold smile, Orochimaru pressed his palms together.
"I have one last technique. If you survive it, Konoha will withdraw from the Land of Rain."
Hanzo's eyes narrowed. For Orochimaru to make such a declaration, this jutsu had to be formidable.
And yet, he was being warned in advance?
"Ready yourself, Hanzo!"
Orochimaru slammed his hands onto the ground.
"Undying Seal Method: Finale! Infinite Serpent!"
A tiny white snake slithered from his palm—then began to grow.
Inversely, the surrounding water, rock, and earth shrank, as if being absorbed.
By the time Orochimaru's body dissolved into a swarm of snakes and Manda vanished in a puff of smoke, the white serpent had already swelled to Ibuse's size.
It lunged at Hanzo.
...
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(End of Chapter)