Several massive purple sword slashes fell from the sky, enveloping Orochimaru within their range of attack and making his eyes widen in shock.
How was his position discovered?
There was no time to think. The enormous slashes struck the ground, causing the entire earth to tremble twice. Dozens of trees, along with the venomous snakes within them, were shredded into pieces, scattering rubble and dust everywhere.
In the distance, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio couldn't help but break into cold sweat.
"What a terrifying battle…"
On the other side, as the aftershock of Akashō's strongest attack dissipated, the ravaged landscape was revealed—and lying within it was Orochimaru, his entire body drenched in blood.
"He didn't just die, did he?"
Akashō hesitated. Had he gone too far? That wouldn't do—if Orochimaru died, wouldn't that be a huge loss for him?
"Bitten by so many venomous snakes, yet you're completely fine… your body is rather strange."
At that moment, a cold, sinister voice rang out. Akashō immediately cast aside his stray thoughts and activated the Transparent World to observe his surroundings.
But just a few seconds later, his brows lifted slightly as he looked toward Orochimaru's "corpse" not far away.
"If anything, I'd say your body is the strange one."
"Heh heh."
A pair of slime-covered hands pried open Orochimaru's mouth. In the next instant, a brand-new Orochimaru forcibly crawled out from inside his own corpse.
"You've got quite the mouth on you."
Faced with such an… indescribable scene, Akashō casually made a dry remark.
Orochimaru, who had been hoping to see whether Akashō would be frightened by his snake-style substitution technique, couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Your focus is rather… unique."
The two stood facing each other on the desolate land, and for a moment, neither made a move to continue fighting.
"Still want to fight?" Orochimaru asked calmly.
"No."
Orochimaru nodded. Indeed, this battle was meaningless to begin with. Continuing would only waste time.
"Next… comes the slaughter."
Akashō smiled as he looked at Orochimaru, but his words made Orochimaru freeze.
"Slaughter? What do you mean?"
"You don't get it? Then just watch."
Akashō suddenly moved, his entire body turning into an afterimage as he rushed toward the Konoha camp.
Orochimaru stared blankly in that direction. Slaughter… could it be—
"Kokushibo, get the hell back here!!"
His face twisted in fury as he chased after Akashō.
Akashō sprinted wildly, passing by the observing Ino–Shika–Chō trio along the way.
He had already taken their reputation points—there was no point wasting time on them. He needed to find new resources.
So he merely glanced at them before continuing toward the Konoha camp.
As Akashō's figure gradually shrank into the distance, the stunned trio still hadn't processed what had happened—when suddenly Orochimaru rushed past them, gripping a ninja blade.
"Kokushibo Kokushibo Kokushibo!!"
Orochimaru ran like a madman, repeatedly shouting Kokushibo's name.
As his figure also disappeared into the distance, the trio exchanged bewildered looks. They had never seen Orochimaru lose his composure like that—what exactly had happened?
Meanwhile, Akashō had already spotted the Konoha shinobi guarding the camp.
With a wild grin, he slashed out several gusts of blade wind, sending them flying. Then, with a single kick, he toppled the hastily built wooden barricades and charged straight into the Konoha camp.
"Who goes there?!"
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"
"Call for reinforcements!"
In front of Akashō, Konoha shinobi who had heard the commotion were already rushing over.
But before they could launch their attack, they saw Orochimaru in the distance, shouting from afar,
"Wait! Don't engage—retreat immediately!!"
"What did Orochimaru-sama say?"
Because of the distance, the Konoha shinobi didn't hear clearly.
"I think Orochimaru-sama said charge forward and don't retreat?"
"Oh, well, we weren't planning to retreat anyway."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"Kill!!!"
"Eliminate the intruder!!!"
With a roar, the Konoha shinobi drew their kunai and ninja blades and charged at Akashō.
Hundreds of meters away, Orochimaru felt his head spin when he saw this.
Damn it—why are my subordinates so… stupid!?
Akashō, who had originally planned to toy with them like a cat with mice, was also momentarily stunned seeing them rush at him.
In the past—whether at the Sand Village camp or the Stone Village camp—ordinary shinobi would usually run for their lives. But these Konoha shinobi… were they really this fearless?
"Well, fine. I'll just end this quickly."
Akashō smiled faintly, raising the Blade of Living Flesh horizontally.
"Moon Breathing…"
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo