"What is this?!"
The colossal creature before him caused Hanzo's expression to change drastically.
The white serpent charging at him had grown even larger than his salamander summon. And all this had happened in such a short time.
The enormous white serpent roared, sinking its fangs into the salamander's body. The salamander writhed in pain, struggling violently.
Hanzo swiftly formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Technique!"
Three water dragons surged from the poisoned waters, crashing into the white serpent. The powerful impact forced the serpent's head back, compelling it to release its grip.
But the next moment, the water dragons vanished without a trace—not even a drop remained.
Instead, the white serpent grew even larger, swiftly coiling around the salamander and causing it to stagger, nearly throwing Hanzo off.
"What the hell is this thing?"
Hanzo forced himself to stay calm, scanning his surroundings.
The poisoned water's surface had receded to the point where the ground was almost visible.
The rocks and soil around them had long since disappeared.
These were all chakra constructs; even if they dissipated, it shouldn't have happened this quickly.
The answer was obvious.
"It absorbs chakra."
Hanzo quickly reached this conclusion as he watched the ever-growing white serpent gradually engulf the entire salamander.
A shadow loomed over Hanzo's head, but the salamander twisted its body in time, using its hands to shield him.
Hanzo knew that if this continued, he would be crushed to death by the serpent.
As the massive white serpent tightened its coils, the space around Hanzo shrank relentlessly.
Poof!
A cloud of smoke erupted, and the salamander vanished. If it had remained, it would have been crushed without a doubt.
With the salamander gone, the space within the serpent's coils expanded momentarily, causing it to lose control briefly and reveal a small gap. Hanzo seized the opportunity, leaping out and landing safely outside.
He drove his sickle hard into the serpent's head, but no blood spilled. The serpent didn't even seem to feel pain, instead opening its maw wide to bite at Hanzo.
At the last moment, Hanzo swung himself upward, narrowly avoiding the strike and landing on the serpent's head. He sprinted downward along its body.
The serpent twisted its head, realizing it couldn't reach Hanzo, and its body began to emit a faint white glow.
Hanzo's pupils contracted—this was bad.
The white light transformed into flames, and the serpent became a blazing fire snake, its entire body now composed of fire.
Hanzo struggled briefly before dissolving into mist within the flames.
Water Clone Technique.
Hanzo's real body had already vanished.
With no enemy in sight, the serpent coiled itself into a ball, transforming into a raging mountain of fire. Over time, the flames dwindled rapidly until not a single ember remained, leaving only scorched earth behind.
"Was that… Lord Orochimaru's power?"
The Konoha shinobi watching from the sidelines shuddered, gazing at Orochimaru standing before them with newfound reverence.
Having such a powerful ninja in Konoha filled them with pride.
"Orochimaru's strength is incredible."
Might Dai was equally astonished. He had never seen such a massive creature before.
He wondered if he could kill it with a single kick.
Looking at Orochimaru's expressionless face, Might Dai sighed again.
Orochimaru's power was beyond comparison unless he opened the Eighth Gate.
That endlessly growing serpent gave off an invincible aura.
"Did it work?"
Orochimaru stared at the spot where the flames had died out. The white serpent was nowhere to be seen.
As for Hanzo's escape, he had already anticipated it.
That jutsu—
Undying Seal Method: Final Form—Infinite Serpent!
It was a technique he had developed based on the Undying Seal Method.
Its primary function was to absorb chakra to increase its size. As long as chakra existed in the surroundings, the white serpent could expand indefinitely.
Its body was fundamentally earth-natured, though it lacked sufficient hardness, making it vulnerable to blades.
However, the serpent could repair itself using chakra, compensating for this weakness.
The attribute transformation—changing from earth to fire—was part of a second jutsu.
This ability depended on talent.
Though he had expected it, seeing the jutsu's power for the first time filled Orochimaru with awe.
"The Infinite Serpent is indeed strong, but it has too many limitations."
Orochimaru pondered silently.
This was his first time using it in battle. He had developed it while fighting in the war, completing it only recently.
However.
Despite its apparent strength, the Infinite Serpent had a fatal flaw: its chakra consumption rate.
If not for the vast amount of water Hanzo had spewed—which contained a significant portion of his chakra—the Infinite Serpent wouldn't have grown so quickly.
The serpent consumed its own chakra to maintain its existence, though the absorption rate outpaced the depletion.
In normal conditions, if the serpent went without chakra for more than a minute, its body would shrink.
Against taijutsu specialists, the Infinite Serpent wouldn't be able to showcase its full power as it had today.
Moreover, the serpent's chakra absorption had a limit.
Meanwhile, its consumption increased with its size.
True infinity remained out of reach.
Still.
This was only the initial version. He could continue refining and improving it.
Once the Infinite Serpent was perfected—
"Perhaps I'll reach the level of the First Hokage."
But his own research pace might not be enough.
What if he brought Uchiha Kin into the project?
A gentle smile crossed Orochimaru's face.
As his student, it was only right for Kin to serve his teacher. Surely, he wouldn't refuse.
Though they had no formal relationship, in essence—
Uchiha Kin had inherited many of his abilities.
As for Kin disagreeing?
Orochimaru didn't consider that a possibility.
"After all, Kin, you still can't defeat me."
Upon returning to camp, Orochimaru received unexpected news.
"Kirigakure has joined the war?"
His brow furrowed.
But with Kirigakure's involvement, the Uchiha clan had already deployed their full strength there.
The Uchiha were formidable; they could hold off Kirigakure's advance.
However, with battles raging on all fronts, Konoha's remaining forces were stretched thin.
If Kumogakure also joined—
Konoha would have no reserves left.
Turning to the messenger, Orochimaru asked, "What did the old man say?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen had always hoped Kirigakure wouldn't enter the Second War, as it would make the Uchiha's achievements impossible to suppress.
But Konoha had no extra troops to replace the Uchiha.
"The Hokage said to be wary of Kirigakure shinobi appearing."
Kirigakure specialized in assassination. They might send squads to eliminate key figures in each battlefield, ensuring victory for the other villages.
After all, these villages had one common goal—
to bring down Konoha.
"Tell the old man that Iwagakure seems poised to attack the Earth Front."
"Understood."
The messenger vanished.
Orochimaru's words were merely a notification.
The real responsibility lay with Jiraiya.
...
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(End of Chapter)