"Shura-sama!" Gotta arrived at the stone chamber entrance and reported in a low voice, "A Konoha's Ninja pursued us into the cavern and has been captured."
Inside the chamber, Menma was flipping through the historical scrolls of the Iburi Clan. Hearing this, he slightly raised his eyes.
He had already guessed that Kakashi would likely come after them.
And as for the following events, the scene where Yamato rescued Kakashi, and the two being taken away by Yukimi… those events would probably still unfold as expected.
"Leader! Yukimi! Yukimi has taken those two away!" Sure enough, not long after, a clansman came running to report in panic.
"What?!" Gotta's expression darkened upon hearing that Yukimi had released the two. A flash of anger crossed his eyes, and he glanced nervously at the tall figure standing inside the chamber, "My apologies... Shura-sama... I failed to discipline her properly..."
"It's fine." Menma shook the scroll in his hand, his tone indifferent, "I've already guessed the identity of that Konoha's Ninja. He won't harm Yukimi."
He paused, his voice low and composed, "Children will be rebellious at this age. She'll come home eventually. For now, you should focus on how to deal with Orochimaru."
Hearing Menma mention Orochimaru again, Gotta's expression turned grave.
…
The other side.
In a bustling marketplace on the outskirts of the forest, Kakashi and Kinoe, who had escaped, were strolling through the lively streets with Yukimi.
Having never left the underground caverns before, Yukimi was experiencing a market for the first time. Her wide eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked around at everything… now at this, now at that. She even bought a bolt of cloth to make a new dress.
Kakashi and Yamato temporarily put aside their mission and wandered around with Yukimi, even taking out money to buy some snacks that Yukimi was curious about.
Looking at the bright smile on Yukimi's face, Kakashi and Yamato, two Ninjas who have lived in Anbu and Root for a long time, were infected by her joy.
For a brief moment, they shed all their burdens and worries, simply enjoying themselves like three close friends in the marketplace.
…
At the same time.
"Huff… Huff…"
Clutching his injured abdomen, Orochimaru, with his body covered in blood, slowly made his way to the Iburi Clan's tree cavern.
"Orochimaru-sama!" A swirl of smoke materialized into two Iburi Clan's members, who rushed forward in concern, intending to support him.
But Orochimaru suddenly lashed out, seizing one of them and sinking his fangs into the man's neck!
"Ah! Orochimaru-sama!" The captured clansman screamed, trying to activate his Smoke Transformation ability… but the Cursed Seal Orochimaru had placed on him prevented it.
Feeling the blood draining from his body, the Iburi Clan's member was instantly drained of blood and his body quickly shriveled up.
Having replenished his blood, Orochimaru licked his lips, regaining some strength, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
He cracked his neck and then turned his gaping maw toward the other clansman, who stood frozen in terror.
Whoosh-
Just as Orochimaru was about to bite down, a blade of wind shot forth, forcing him to release his grip and leap back.
"Who's there?!" Orochimaru's golden snake eyes burned with malice as he looked up.
From the depths of the dimly lit cavern, Shinigami emerged like a specter, its scythe glinting coldly.
"Shura…" Orochimaru's snake-like pupils narrowed with deep wariness.
At the same time, he found Shura's mysteriousness utterly unfathomable.
'How did he know about the Iburi Clan?'
'And how did he get here before me?'
'What exactly is his purpose?'
Countless questions swirled in Orochimaru's mind.
"Orochimaru-sama! You-!" A swirl of smoke coalesced into Gotta, who stared in shock and fury at the drained corpse of his clansman. Even though he had been prepared, the sight still filled him with rage.
"Ah, Gotta…" Orochimaru's hoarse voice said coldly, "Are you betraying me?"
The other members of the Iburi Clan materialized from the smoke, standing behind Gotta. Their faces no longer held reverence for Orochimaru… only deep hatred!
Orochimaru had deceived their clan! He had caused the deaths of so many of their children! And now, he sought to wipe them out completely!
"Where are the children?!" Gotta gritted his teeth, his voice trembling.
He desperately wished for them to still be alive, even if Orochimaru had lied to him.
"Khu khu, it seems that you already know it..." Unfortunately, Orochimaru's sneering words shattered Gotta's last shred of hope.
"Shura, show yourself." Orochimaru raised his eyes, his gaze dark and venomous as he peered into the depths of the underground cavern.
Images of Konoha's Ninjas flashed through his mind, including those from the Anbu and Root, and even the Special Jonin from the Ninja Clans.
But despite his forty-one years of life, including his time in Konoha, Orochimaru couldn't recall a single Ninja who matched the description of Shura.
Tap-
A single footstep echoed from ahead.
The Iburi Clan's members immediately stepped aside in reverence, forming a path.
"It seems I've won." Menma walked up beside Gotta, his tone light and amused… yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Remember, your clan is now my property."
"Y-Yes… Shura-sama..." Gotta understood all too well that their clan lacked the strength to remain neutral in this 'war'. They had to choose a side.
And now that Orochimaru had completely betrayed them, the Iburi Clan had no other choice if they wanted to survive.
Their only option was submission to this person.
Seeing Shura standing before him, Orochimaru let out a furious, mocking laugh.
First, Shura had robbed the Hashirama Cells from him. Now, he had taken the Iburi Clan right from under his nose.
To be toyed with like this, again and again, was something Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, could never tolerate.
[Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes]
Suppressing the pain in his abdomen, Orochimaru crouched low and vomited forth a flood of venomous snakes.
Hundreds of arm-thick snakes, each wielding a blade in their mouths, surged toward Menma and the Iburi Clan like a tidal wave.
At the same time, Orochimaru activated the cursed seals on the Ibuki clan, preventing them from transforming into smoke.
"Agh! Aaah!"
Screams filled the cavern as the Iburi Clan's members clutched at the Cursed Seals on their necks, writhing in agony. Even Gotta was rendered powerless.
"Shinigami, Tennyo… protect them." Menma ordered calmly.
Now that the Iburi Clan was his property, he had no intention of letting Orochimaru kill even a single one.
Shinigami and the Tennyo swung their scythe and ribbons, effortlessly slaughtering the snakes.
These are just ordinary snakes, and two Elite Jonin-level Nine Masked Beasts can easily deal with them.
Meanwhile, Menma had already closed the distance, a pitch-black [Spiralling Ring] swirling in his palm. The violent Chakra tore through the swarm of snakes, creating a vacuum in its wake!
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he sensed the sheer brutality of that Chakra.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Orochimaru's right arm split into dozens of snakes, coiling like vines as they shot forward, attempting to ensnare his foe. At the same time, his jaws unhinged, revealing razor-sharp fangs.
"Spiralling Ring!" Menma raised the dark orb, its ultra-compressed Chakra wrapped in a ring of Wind Attribute Chakra, like the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. Its cutting range immense, and the snakes were instantly shredded into chunks of flesh.
Seeing the opponent approaching and the massive black sphere hurtling toward him, Orochimaru's pupils contracted, and he quickly formed hand seals.
"Summoning Technique!"
Bang!
Smoke erupted from under Orochimaru's feet.
A huge purple snake with horns emerged from the smoke.
But as soon as it appeared, it was hit by the Spiralling Ring.
"Roar! Orochimaru! You bastard!" The snake let out an agonized roar, and its body managed to withstand the attack from the Spiralling Ring.
"I demand a hundred sacrifices for this!" Manda threatened viciously, spitting out its tongue.
As the smoke cleared, one could see a section of Manda's body had been blown into a bloody mess, with many of its solid scales ripped away.