The moment the technique ended, the soul-shaking pressure vanished abruptly.
The Shinigami that had bound Hiruzen's soul, along with the severed soul fragments of Orochimaru's hands, vanished into thin air as if they had never existed.
Sasuke's Sharingan desperately tried to track it, but could find no further trace of it. Whether Chakra or Reiatsu, it had all dissipated without a trace.
"Ugh, aaaaaah…!"
Orochimaru knelt on the ground, looking at his hands, which is now like dried twigs, and let out a roar of agony.
"You old bastard!"
He abruptly looked up, staring intently at Hiruzen's still-warm corpse, his snake-like eyes full of hatred.
"How can you still be smiling?!"
"Give me back my hands!!!"
Along with his hoarse roar, the Four Violet Flames Formation that had imprisoned the entire battlefield let out a series of crisp cracking sounds like shattering glass and dissipated.
The prey was dead.
But the hunter had also paid the corresponding price.
"Orochimaru-sama!" The Sound Four flickered to his side, supporting the extremely weak Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's expression was dark. He cast one last resentful glance at the corpse, gritted his teeth, and spat out, "The operation is over..."
"Let's go back!"
He was exhausted. The intense pain and weakness from his arms made it almost impossible for him to muster any chakra.
Two of the Sound Four quickly hoisted him up, leaped into the air, and prepared to leave the battlefield.
"Don't even think about escaping!" Several elite Anbu who had just been freed roared and gave chase.
"Wishful thinking!"
Kidomaru, the one with six arms, performed a bizarre mid-air turn and violently spat out a giant white spider web from his mouth.
It spread out like a net from the heavens, covering the pursuing Anbu.
The Anbu, unable to dodge in time, were about to be ensnared.
At that moment, a bolt of lightning that tore through the air flashed by, accurately slicing the tough spider web in half!
It was Kakashi.
Seeing Orochimaru about to escape, he didn't hesitate. Along with the freed Anbu, he accelerated again in pursuit.
However, just as they were about to rush out of the arena's boundary…
A flat yet clear incantation sounded from the roof without any warning, clearly entering everyone's ears.
"Sprinkled on the bones of the beast!"
"Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm."
"The sound of warring spears fills the empty castle!"
Kakashi's pursuit suddenly paused, and he turned back in shock, looking toward the source of the voice.
On the roof, Sasuke had, at some point, stood atop the chimney. One hand was raised high, his expression terrifyingly calm.
The elegant, rhythmic incantation now sounded chilling.
"Hado #63: Raikoho!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to resonate in the depths of everyone's soul.
In his palm, an energy ball formed from madly intertwining and compressing black and white lightning suddenly took shape.
The destructive aura it emitted made every Jonin present feel a palpitation in their hearts.
But the target of that lightning ball wasn't the fleeing Orochimaru.
A thick cannon of black and white lightning roared forth from his hand. Instead of pursuing the distant enemy, it flashed past less than a meter in front of Kakashi and the several Anbu!
The lightning grazed the ground, plowing a terrifying trench half a meter deep, its edges showing a vitrified, charred texture.
That trench was like a natural moat, lying across between them and Orochimaru.
A wave of scorching heat hit their faces. Kakashi stood frozen, looking in disbelief at the charred mark, then slowly raised his head to look at the boy who still maintained his one-handed, forward-reaching posture.
Sasuke lowered his hand. Across dozens of meters, he looked calmly at Kakashi.
No explanation. Only a clear message.
Do not, cross this line.
"Captain Kakashi..." The Anbu beside him spoke hoarsely, his voice filled with shock and confusion.
They didn't understand why Sasuke would attack his own people, why he would stop them from pursuing the killer of their Hokage.
Kakashi didn't answer. He just stared intently at Sasuke, complex emotions he couldn't understand churning within him.
Startled by the sudden attack, Orochimaru and his group, who were preparing to retreat, also stopped.
Orochimaru turned around. His snake-like eyes landed on Sasuke with interest. His uncomfortable voice held a hint of amusement, "What an interesting move, Sasuke-kun. I thought we were enemies now?"
Sasuke ignored the commotion on Kakashi's side and turned his gaze to Orochimaru.
"You can't die yet."
"Oh?" Orochimaru forced out a smile.
"You need to take me to find Itachi." Sasuke's voice was flat, yet it sounded like an unquestionable order.
"And after that?" Orochimaru extended his long tongue, licking the corner of his mouth.
"After that, you can go die."
"How ruthless, Sasuke-kun. Well then, we shall part ways here."
Orochimaru gave Sasuke a meaningful smile, then turned and prepared to leave under the protection of the Sound Four.
And Kakashi and the several Anbu could only watch, hindered by that lightning moat, intimidated by Sasuke's silent pressure, not daring to advance.
On the other side, Jiraiya's gaze was fixed intently on Hiruzen's corpse on the roof.
His expression was complex.
There was sadness, anger, but more than anything, a sense of understanding and relief.
He had seen it long ago. His teacher had resolved to die from the very beginning.
That Four Violet Flames Formation was less a cage trapping his teacher and more the grave his teacher had chosen for himself, undisturbed by anyone.
This was also why Jiraiya, after dealing with Shukaku, hadn't chosen to force his way through the Four Violet Flames Formation.
His teacher wanted to use his own life to settle things finally with his most beloved disciple.
That was his teacher's resolve. It was his final dignity as Hokage.
No one had the right to disturb that.
Jiraiya let out a long sigh and slowly withdrew his gaze.
Then, he heard the thunder that tore through the air and saw the lightning moat that split the earth.
His gaze finally shifted, ultimately settling on the strange standoff.
"Orochimaru..." Jiraiya's voice was low. He stepped forward, his tall frame blocking the space between Kakashi and Sasuke.
"And..."
He turned his head, looking at the black-haired boy with unprecedented seriousness for the first time.
"Uchiha brat."
Seeing Jiraiya's appearance, the smile on Orochimaru's face faded slightly. A trace of wariness flashed in his snake-like eyes.
"Jiraiya... you always like to show up and cause trouble at times like this."
"This is my village. My teacher died here." Jiraiya's voice was calm, "Do you think I'd let you leave so easily?"
Orochimaru didn't answer. He just turned his gaze toward Sasuke.
Jiraiya's gaze also fell upon Sasuke.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the area became extremely tense.
The legendary Sannin, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and the unfathomable Uchiha survivor...
Three forces formed a subtle standoff at this moment.
Jiraiya looked at Sasuke, his brow furrowed. There were many questions he wanted to ask.
'Why stop Kakashi? Why make a deal with Orochimaru?'
'What... have you become?'
But in the end, only the most direct question emerged.
"Kid, which side are you on?"
Sasuke met his gaze, his face expressionless.
"I'm not on any side."
He slowly sheathed Takemikazuchi. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
"I only stand on my side."
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