Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as Enma, transformed into a black iron staff, clashed against the Kusanagi blade. The Third Hokage and Orochimaru had already exchanged several blows.
Leaping back, Sarutobi Hiruzen flicked out several shuriken, his hands flashing through seals.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!
The blades multiplied midair, whistling toward Orochimaru. But the Third's hands didn't pause.
Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags!
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. Hidden among the shuriken were explosive tags.
He slammed his palms on the ground.
Summoning: Triple Rashōmon!
BOOM!!!
The massive blast shook the underground laboratory to its core. Not far away, Uchiha Shion, who had been watching, frowned.
Turning to Kō, he said:
"Use Wood Release to shield them. If the chamber collapses, they'll be crushed."
Kō nodded, forming seals before slamming his hands down.
Wood Release: Domed Wall!
A circular barrier of giant trees rose, encasing ANBU Squad Six. Kō glanced across the field.
"They're using only high-level techniques. The Third is taking this seriously."
Shion gave a short laugh.
"Think, Kō. Why would the so-called Professor of Ninjutsu choose Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags here? Don't you realize his purpose?"
Realization struck. Kō gave a bitter smile.
"So… Lord Third still can't harden his heart."
Shion replied coolly:
"He's just a decaying old man now. Soft, indecisive… the 'Professor' is long gone. The hero of shinobi he once was doesn't exist anymore."
…
Stone fragments rained down as Sarutobi muttered under his breath.
"Orochimaru…"
Enma frowned.
"Hiruzen, are you really going to let him go? This is your last chance!"
The Third gave no reply, silently waiting for the ground to collapse.
That explosive tag he slipped inside Orochimaru's summoned serpent's gullet—once Orochimaru used Summoning again, it would detonate.
A warning… a lesson. I can only hope you remember it.
…
BOOM!!!
The underground laboratory caved in.
On the rubble, giant trees arched upward, shielding Squad Six. Aside from the two ANBU already dead in the earlier blast—bodies completely destroyed—the rest survived. Sarutobi's two subordinates were also saved, tossed clear by Enma.
But Orochimaru… had vanished.
Sarutobi blocked the escape route. His voice was heavy.
"From this day forward, list Orochimaru as an S-rank missing-nin."
Kō glanced around at his squadmates. Two comrades gone, reduced to nothing—and all for the designation of "missing-nin"?
Before bitterness could fester further, Shion clapped Kō's shoulder.
"We're directly under the Fourth Hokage, aren't we? Shouldn't we only follow his orders?"
Kō blinked, then nodded hesitantly.
"That's true, but…"
"Then there's no problem."
The Mangekyō spun in Shion's eyes.
"That slippery snake is hard to pin down. I can't guarantee even this attack will kill him. Most likely… it won't."
"But as the new member of Squad Six, if I just stand by while two seniors die, wouldn't that be disgraceful?"
"Besides, the ground is already clear from the collapse. Perfect for this move—no risk of burying you alive."
HUMMMM!!!
Susanoo!
In an instant, blue chakra roared to life, forming a colossal half-bodied warrior that lifted Shion high.
The giant's form crystallized, bow of pure chakra taking shape in its hand.
It aimed straight in the same direction Hiruzen was watching.
"Uchiha Shion!!!"
From the giant's forehead, Shion looked down at the Third.
"Lord Third… maybe you can intercept this attack. Care to try?"
The air grew heavy. All the ANBU present turned to Hiruzen.
If the Third actually tried to block Shion, his already faltering reputation—ever since Danzō's death—would collapse entirely.
He didn't dare. Not now. Not with history watching.
The chakra arrow drew taut.
Far away, Orochimaru, who thought he'd escaped, felt his heart jolt.
He turned—and froze.
That enormous blue giant loomed in the distance, its bowstring drawn. The cold, oppressive chakra locked on him, chilling him to the bone.
He quickly formed seals.
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Five Orochimarus scattered in different directions, while the real body slipped underground with Earth Release.
But—
What?!
The chakra arrow ignored every clone, following the real body below ground with unerring focus.
Shua!
The blue arrow streaked forth, tearing through trees and earth.
BOOM!!!
The detonation thundered across the forest, the blast leveling everything like a typhoon.
The Susanoo giant dissolved. Shion landed lightly, gazing at the smoking crater.
Even so…
He doubted Orochimaru had died.
In his memory, that man was impossible to kill—if anyone in the shinobi world could claim unrivaled escape arts, it was Orochimaru.
"Is he dead?" Kō asked.
Shion shook his head.
"Unlikely. Even if he hadn't fled, killing him would've been difficult. He's too resourceful."
Kō let out a strained laugh.
"As expected of one of the Legendary Sannin. To survive that…"
His gaze slid back to Shion.
"But compared to him, you're even more frightening. At your age, to wield such power—unbelievable."
"Ugh…"
Shion suddenly groaned, clutching his eyes. A trickle of blood slipped between his fingers, dripping to the ground with a splatter.
Kō's face tightened. He glanced at the grim-faced Third before whispering urgently.
"I'll get you back to the medical corps right away!"
He hoisted Shion onto his back, signaling Squad Six to withdraw.
Not one of them saluted the Third Hokage.
All of them, weighed down by grief and anger, walked away in silence.
The unspoken resentment toward Sarutobi Hiruzen deepened—and it would spread once they returned to Konoha.
The public might remain unaware, but among the ANBU under the Third and Fourth, word would spread quickly.
…
"Back there… that blue giant. Was it the Uchiha's dōjutsu power?"
On Kō's back, Shion answered weakly.
"You guessed right. The Mangekyō's abilities always demand a price. Susanoo—the ultimate power of the Mangekyō Sharingan. But the cost… is vision."
His voice trailed.
Kō stopped dead in his tracks. Squad Six halted as well.
"Until… blindness?" he asked quietly.
Shion, still weak, nodded.
"Every overwhelming power demands a price. Even your Wood Release, Kō—it exists only because countless experimental subjects died to create it. Power is never free."
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