BOOM... RUMBLE.
A deafening crash echoed as Orochimaru's laboratory was smashed to pieces by a golden Susanoo. An enraged roar followed. "Orochimaru, you betrayed me!"
Though the Susanoo was only in its initial skeletal form, each of its attacks was devastating.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
The surrounding buildings collapsed one after another under the relentless assault.
Orochimaru dodged left and right, evading the Susanoo's onslaught, his body twisting into impossible angles. "Hehehehe, Kawasaki-kun, how could you call this a betrayal? I have yet to settle the score with you for using Kotoamatsukami on me."
"You...!" Kawasaki's face paled.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, wore a triumphant smirk. With a chilling laugh, he leaped into the air and his fingers formed a hand seal.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A colossal figure appeared on the scene. "Orochimaru, is this the brat?"
Orochimaru stood atop the head of Manda. "Rest assured. Once he's dealt with, I will deliver on my promise." A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Manda opened its massive jaws, releasing a foul stench. "Excellent. I am most pleased with this deal!" Its voice was so thunderous it made the entire area vibrate.
"Kawasaki, I do hope you enjoy this little gift," Orochimaru cackled maliciously from above.
Kawasaki sneered as his ocular power flared. Chakra surged from his entire body, and the golden Susanoo instantly expanded from its skeletal frame. It grew to a height of fifty meters, towering a full head over Manda.
Its immense shadow fell over the great serpent, and for the first time, Manda felt a sense of pressure. It spoke cautiously, "Orochimaru, this battle might require an additional sacrifice."
Atop Manda's head, Orochimaru formed a seal with both hands. "Don't worry. Defeat him, and we can discuss anything."
"Eight Branches Technique!"
His form shifted, and Orochimaru swelled into a giant white serpent. The number of snake heads multiplied until, in moments, he had transformed into the legendary Eight-Headed Serpent.
Hiss!
With a piercing shriek, the eight-headed beast lunged forward alongside Manda. Kawasaki drew the Susanoo's weapon and severed one of the serpent's heads with a single slash, but more immediately swarmed forward to entangle him.
Seeing Orochimaru's commitment, Manda joined the fray. The Susanoo battled the two colossal snakes, the shockwaves of their clash reducing the surrounding buildings to rubble. Dust and debris filled the air.
Yet amid the chaos, not a single person came to investigate.
On a nearby rooftop, the Third Hokage and Jiraiya stood side by side. An ANBU member was reporting to them. "Lord Hokage, all civilians in the vicinity have been evacuated. The barrier team is ready."
The Third Hokage waved a hand. "Proceed. Activate the barrier."
"Yes, sir!"
After the ANBU departed, a translucent blue barrier rose swiftly around the area, enveloping Kawasaki, Orochimaru, the Third Hokage, and Jiraiya within its confines. This barrier wasn't meant to block entry or exit, but to seal off all sound. Once it was in place, the thunderous sounds of the battle were completely silenced to the outside world.
With the barrier fully deployed, the Third Hokage threw off his robes to reveal his battle attire beneath and rushed toward the battlefield with Jiraiya.
The two giant snakes had been locked in a fierce struggle with Kawasaki's Susanoo. Five of the Eight-Headed Serpent's heads were now gone, and Manda's scales were torn open, revealing gruesome gashes. The Susanoo's blade, however, had been shattered by a strike from Manda and had vanished.
The combatants separated for a moment. Kawasaki stood atop the Susanoo's head, breathing heavily. Manda was already considering retreat.
However, Orochimaru slithered out from the mouth of his Eight-Headed Serpent form and spoke to his summon. "Manda, if you defeat him, I will grant you a thousand more sacrifices."
Greed flashed in Manda's eyes. "Orochimaru, you'd better not go back on your word."
Orochimaru's gaze met Kawasaki's. "Rest assured. When have I ever lied to you?"
With a long hiss, Manda's fighting spirit was reignited. The severed heads of Orochimaru's serpent form began to regenerate one by one.
At the same time, Kawasaki once again forged a weapon in the Susanoo's hands. He poured more of his ocular power into it, and the blade grew progressively sharper. The Susanoo strode forward, swinging its new blade as Manda charged to meet it head-on, with Orochimaru's Eight-Headed Serpent lagging slightly behind.
CLANG...
In an instant, Manda's head flew into the sky. Its eyes still held a desperate craving for its promised sacrifices and utter disbelief at what had just happened. *Why... why is his weapon so sharp now? Just a moment ago...*
BOOM.
Manda's head crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust as blood rained down upon the earth. The serpent's body was not yet dead. "Wh... why... This great..."
Before it could finish, its pupils constricted, and the light faded from its eyes.
Orochimaru showed no remorse at seeing Manda slain. He commanded the Eight-Headed Serpent to coil around the Susanoo. Kawasaki's construct was clearly taking a toll on him; its movements had become sluggish. Despite repeated slashes, the heads of the Eight-Headed Serpent continued to regenerate.
Finally, after a violent collision, the Susanoo and the serpent broke apart again. Kawasaki wiped his cheek, a motion that seemed to smear away a trail of blood.
Orochimaru, though panting, managed a grin. "Give it up, Kawasaki-kun. I know the weaknesses of your Susanoo all too well. How much longer can you maintain it in your current state?"
Kawasaki took a deep breath. "Long enough to kill you..."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "Oh?" As if to prove his point, the headless neck of the serpent beside him began to grow a new head.
Kawasaki's expression soured. He seemed to have no effective way of dealing with Orochimaru's relentless regeneration.
The Third Hokage leaped into the battlefield. "That's enough, Kawasaki. Let's talk this over."
Jiraiya, now fully prepared for battle, stood behind him. "It's over, Kawasaki. You're surrounded by ANBU."
Kawasaki covered his eyes and burst into manic laughter. "What a pathetic joke! You people from Konoha have wanted to wipe out the Uchiha from the very beginning. You expect me to surrender? In your dreams!"
His entire body seemed to ignite as a massive amount of chakra erupted from him. "Aaaargh!" Blood seeped through the fingers covering his face as he screamed in agony.
Driven by his immense ocular power, the Susanoo began to grow even larger. The armor plating covering its body became more defined, and its blade shimmered with an ominous light. An overwhelming pressure washed over the entire area.
The Third Hokage's heart sank. Things were heading in the worst possible direction. Jiraiya began to prepare to enter Sage Mode.
...
"Stop, Lord Kawasaki! If you want Itachi to live."
It was Kakashi's voice.
Kawasaki lowered his hand from his face and stared. Kakashi was on the field, holding an unconscious Itachi hostage with a tanto pressed against his neck.
Kawasaki immediately grew still, his raging chakra subsiding. "Kakashi! Let Itachi go!"
Facing the Susanoo that stood dozens of meters tall, Kakashi remained calm. "Lord Kawasaki, Konoha only wants to coexist peacefully with the Uchiha. Please, stop fighting. I'm sure Lord Hokage can handle this matter properly."
Seeing Kakashi's display of unwavering loyalty to the village, a cruel sneer spread across Kawasaki's face. The massive Susanoo slowly dissipated into the air, and Kawasaki leaped down from the sky.
"You absolute fool!" Kawasaki's voice was like a clap of thunder. "The White Fang's death was orchestrated by Danzo, and the Third Hokage turned a blind eye! And you're still slaving away for Konoha!?"
Kakashi froze, his body going rigid as if struck by lightning.
In that instant, Kawasaki used the Body Flicker Technique, snatching Itachi back from his grasp.