Shigeo was the embodiment of all mysteries. Why—why could he wield so many kekkei genkai?
Standing in the same storm of questions was Orochimaru. He had already realized that, in this place, if they fought directly, no one could match Shigeo. With that, Orochimaru slipped into the shadows, vanishing from sight.
Shigeo released his Hyōton (Ice Release), glancing at the stone walls of the cavern. Hiruko was dead—now only Orochimaru remained.
But due to the strange magnetic field here, his sensory techniques couldn't pinpoint Orochimaru's exact location.
So—he waited for him to appear.
Before long, Orochimaru emerged on the cliff wall, holding a golden robe marked with red sealing talismans. He tossed it onto the ground.
He stood exactly where Fu and Shaku were imprisoned in side-caverns, with three bodyguards at his side.
That robe was one of Hiruko's own creations—similar to the sealing garment Fu had worn earlier. But unlike hers, which suppressed bijū chakra, this one sealed away a person's entire chakra system.
"Hyūga Shigeo, put it on—or I kill them." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed coldly as his hands tightened around Fu and Shaku's throats.
"Help me! I'm sorry, Shigeo, it was my fault! I never should've insulted you. Please don't let him kill me—I'm so scared!" Shaku sobbed, his knees buckling.
Fu, pale and barely able to breathe, still shouted hoarsely, "Shaku! Be a man for once—stand up straight!"
"I don't want to die! I'm terrified! It's all my fault—I misjudged people. I actually followed that liar. Shigeo, save me!" Shaku wailed like a coward.
"What's wrong, Shigeo? Are you just as cold-blooded as me? Will you really watch them die in my hands? You know me—I never think twice about consequences. A Jinchūriki of the Nanabi, hm? I wonder what Nanabi blood looks like?"
Though his mouth spoke Fu's name, Orochimaru's eyes never left Shigeo.
On the ground, Shigeo's deep blue eyes returned to normal. He walked up to the golden robe and picked it up.
"If I put this on, you'll really let them go?"
"Of course. My word is absolute," Orochimaru said with a predator's smile, watching the boy—only seven years old—fall into his snare.
"Don't! That's a chakra-sealing robe! Shigeo, don't believe him!" Fu cried desperately.
Orochimaru's fingers clenched tighter, choking off her words. Her tears streamed down.
Shigeo slipped into the robe, and instantly his body collapsed to the ground. Looking up toward the cavern, he rasped, "Let them go."
"Hahaha! Put him in the cage we prepared! As for these two—one's trash, but she'll serve well enough for organ experiments. The other, a rare Jinchūriki… should I gift her to the Akatsuki? Or keep her for my own tests? Such a difficult choice, hahahaha…"
For Orochimaru, nothing outweighed the pursuit of immortality.
"You… liar…" Fu gasped, barely able to speak.
"Yes, today I'll lie. Shigeo has killed me twice already—if I don't take revenge, I don't deserve the name Orochimaru. Cage him, slice him, make him into samples—that would be his honor!" Orochimaru sneered, his snake-like eyes as cold as ice.
"Is that so? Then what if I make you the experiment?"
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind him. Orochimaru whirled around—only for Shigeo's hand to clamp tight around his throat.
The three guards nearby froze in shock. How had he appeared there? They had no chance to react—Orochimaru was already caught.
Originally, Shigeo had planned to use Mokuton: Mokuzai no Jutsu (Wood Release: Wood Spike Technique). But that technique caused explosions from within corpses—too risky, since Orochimaru was holding Fu. He couldn't let her be harmed.
With guards nearby, a direct approach was best. So he used Ikkūkan Ten'i (Dimensional Shift), instantly appearing behind Orochimaru and seizing him by the neck.
Orochimaru twisted, stretching his serpentine neck to bite into Shigeo's arm. His grip loosened on Fu and Shaku as his hands clawed toward Shigeo.
"You've been marked by my Curse Seal! From now on, you're mine. I knew it couldn't be that easy—you tricked me with a clone earlier!" Orochimaru hissed, teeth still sunk into Shigeo's arm, eyes glinting with deranged delight.
"Is that so?" Shigeo retorted. He kicked Orochimaru skyward, then, ignoring the bite, grabbed Fu and slipped her safely into his Ikkūkan space.
Shaku screamed from his cage, "What about me? Save me too!"
But Shigeo didn't even look at him. Spinning, he yanked Orochimaru's throat tighter. "Yōton… (Lava Release)!"
Molten chakra spewed forth, flames flooding the cavern. The three guards staggered back, unable to approach.
The firestorm roared, and through it came Orochimaru's mocking laughter.
"Shigeo, do you really think I'd show you my true body after you killed me twice already?"
Before Shigeo's eyes, Orochimaru's body writhed—then unraveled into a mass of snakes.
"If you could curse me with your seal, then one of these snakes must be you!" Shigeo sneered. Without hesitation, he stomped down on a single white snake that showed not the slightest burn.
The Curse Seal required Orochimaru's true presence—it couldn't be planted by a mere clone.
So Shigeo knew—this one was real.
Sure enough, the snake tried to dart away into the rock, but Shigeo snatched it up. Producing the golden sealing robe again, he wrapped the snake tightly, binding its chakra flow.
"Mmph—Shigeo, what are you doing?" Orochimaru's muffled voice hissed from within.
"Obviously—turning you into the experiment."
With that, Shigeo hurled the bound serpent forward. "Fūton: Senpū Ranjin! (Wind Release: Thousand Blades Gale!)"
A storm of blades tore through, slicing the bundle into shreds. And as the remnants scattered, Shigeo inhaled deeply—
"Yōton: Dōwa (Lava Release: Ground Fusion)!"
(End of Chapter)
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