After the First and Second Hokage were temporarily sealed, transforming into two static cocoon-like objects, only one target remained in the field: Orochimaru. Did this guy escape in the chaos? Just now, he used a Water Clone as cover, and his true body disappeared without a trace.
However, within the Perception range of Kagura's Mind Eye, it was impossible for him to completely hide. Menma was confident he could ferret him out.
What's more, even if 'Menma's' power dissipated later, Naruto's main body could still use his perception of life energy to find that slippery snake.
Just as Menma concentrated his senses, preparing to give chase.
"Wait!"
The Third Hokage's urgent voice suddenly rang out. Menma turned his head in confusion, seeing the Old Man's face taut, his lips slightly moving, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat, unable to form a coherent sentence.
A hint of confusion rose in Menma's heart. Although this 'Menma's' identity was indeed not entirely above board, this operation was clearly to protect Konoha. Why did this Old Man look so hesitant to speak?
"Roar—!!!"
Just as this brief standoff occurred, a sharp shriek, completely unlike a normal creature, suddenly came from the side! Following this, a huge shadow was cast, covering part of the rooftop.
Menma felt he had heard enough roars from giant creatures today. What was it this time?
He turned his head to look, only to see a colossal beast coiled within the already dilapidated main arena of the Chunin Exams! Although it wasn't as towering as a Tailed Beast, it was undoubtedly a giant beast.
It possessed a body as pale as bone, and no less than eight constantly shrieking, writhing heads, corresponding to eight wildly flailing tails!
"Eight Branches Technique..." Menma's gaze under his mask narrowed as he recognized the technique, "Is this the ultimate transformation you've been so obsessed with, the one where you abandon your human form, Orochimaru?"
"Hiss—!!"
One of the giant Eight-Headed Serpent's ferocious snake heads shot out like an arrow from a bowstring, carrying a Blood Wind stench, and lunged fiercely at Menma on the rooftop!
"Whoosh!"
Menma simply raised his hand casually, and an extremely condensed wind blade instantly slashed out!
"Pfft!"
Blood splattered! The attacking snake head was severed with a sound, crashing heavily to the ground. However, the remaining seven heads let out even more frantic, chaotic shrieks, and the other snake heads still glared menacingly.
Not far away, Kakuzu had already retreated to a safer distance to observe, having been affected by Menma's battle with the previous Hokage.
Although the aura and form displayed by this strange snake were quite terrifying... he calmly assessed, but for the leader, it was probably just a matter of spending a little more time.
His gaze swept over the gradually calming Konoha Village below. With Ichibi's defeat and the appearance of that golden Nine-Tailed just now... Kakuzu realized that Konoha seemed to possess an incredible power far exceeding his previous estimates.
At this moment, the remaining Sunagakure and Otogakure (The Village Hidden in the Sound) forces on the battlefield, having witnessed Shukaku's defeat and the arrival of the golden Nine-Tailed, had completely lost their will to fight. They either knelt in surrender or fled in panic, while the rest were quickly subdued and captured by Konoha Ninja.
It seems this farce... is finally coming to an end. Kakuzu thought to himself. Now, it's time to rendezvous with them.
With the activation of the Body Flicker Technique, Kakuzu's figure silently vanished from his spot.
— — — — — —
Outside Konoha Village, in the dark forest,
An inconspicuous, pure white snake, no thicker than a finger, was silently and swiftly moving through the fallen leaves and bushes.
When it came to escape and life-saving trump cards, throughout the entire Ninja World, apart from those Ōtsutsuki, perhaps no one could surpass Orochimaru.
Indeed, when the small white snake swam to a relatively secluded tree root, its body suddenly began to 'melt' like a wax figure. Its mouth opened, and a viscous, humanoid substance was slowly'spit' out.
As the small white snake's life force completely dissipated, the substance rapidly expanded, finally transforming into a soaking wet, pale-faced Orochimaru.
"Cough..."
Orochimaru coughed violently a few times, feeling his Chakra almost depleted. He had paid a huge price to use the Eight Branches Technique to stall Menma.
But at this moment, he had no time to waste, not even to clean the slime from his body.
All core plans—capturing the Nine-Tailed, destroying Konoha—had completely failed. Now, only the last backup plan remained.
Damn it... Orochimaru gritted his teeth unwillingly, but his eyes immediately became sharp as an eagle's. He forced his weakened body to begin carefully sensing, searching for residual traces of specific Chakra in the air.
— — — — — —
Meanwhile, in another relatively secluded corner of the forest.
Temari had just found a clean stream, filled some water in her waterskin, and carefully handed it to Gaara. "Here, Gaara, drink some water." Her voice carried a hint of imperceptible probing and nervousness.
Gaara silently took the waterskin and responded in a low voice. "Hmm... thank you."
Although he tried to act natural, this soft thank you made both Kankuro and Temari, who were on guard nearby, simultaneously freeze, their faces showing uncontrollable surprise.
Gaara... said "thank you" to us? Such a memory was already as blurred as something from a past life in the minds of the two siblings.
What on earth happened? Temari and Kankuro were very puzzled. The chilling aura that used to emanate from Gaara had disappeared, and his eyes were no longer filled with dead numbness... Although he seemed a bit fragile now, this Gaara was far easier to get along with than the terrifying younger brother they knew.
"Crunch."
Suddenly, a subtle rustling sound of a dry branch being stepped on came from the dense forest to the side!
"Who?!" Kankuro reacted extremely quickly, instantly summoning his puppet 'Crow' in front of him, its mechanisms clanking. Temari also immediately gripped the Three-Star Fan on her back, her expression wary as she looked towards the source of the sound.
Was it a passing wild animal? After a brief silence, Temari and Kankuro's tense nerves tried to reassure themselves this way.
However, the next moment, a huge shadow unexpectedly enveloped the sunlight above their heads.
The two subconsciously looked up, only to see an abnormally large giant snake, its scales shimmering with an eerie glow, silently coiled in the tree canopy above them!
"Hiss—!"
Before they could react, several slender venomous snakes shot out from the giant snake's head like arrows from a bowstring!
"Watch out!"
Kankuro manipulated Crow to try and block, and Temari also wanted to swing her fan, but it was all too late. The venomous snakes precisely avoided the puppet's interception, instantly coiling around Temari's and Kankuro's arms and necks, their sharp fangs piercing the skin, and potent paralyzing venom immediately surged into their bloodstream!
"Ugh!"
"Gaara... quick... run..."
Temari and Kankuro only managed to let out short gasps and muffled warnings before feeling all their strength instantly drained, their vision went black, and they collapsed heavily to the ground, losing consciousness.
Gaara watched in terror as everything unfolded in a flash, seeing his older siblings instantly fall, his mind a blank.
Amidst this fear and helplessness, he heard that cold, hoarse, nightmare-like voice resound in his ear.
"Come with me, Ichibi Jinchuriki!"
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