Seeing that Orochimaru was unharmed, Sasori quietly let out a breath.
This so-called Flame Oni of Konoha was monstrously strong. It had only been a short exchange, yet several of his puppets were already destroyed.
If Orochimaru fell first, Sasori knew very well—
Alone, he would stand little chance against Uchiha Akihito.
"Tch. Is that all you've got, snake?"
"If you can't handle it, step aside and watch me perform."
Sasori's mouth was fiercer than his actual situation. Despite having lost most of his puppets in his fight with Tsunade, he still spoke as if he ruled the battlefield.
Orochimaru ignored the provocation. Now was not the time for internal strife.
He needed Sasori.
"You attack with your puppets," Orochimaru said calmly.
"I'll cover you."
"Don't order me around," Sasori scoffed.
But his fingers were already moving.
Three puppets shot forward, surrounding Akihito.
"Red Secret Technique: Mechanism Triangle Kill!"
Poisoned projectiles flooded in from all angles. With Tsunade in his arms, Akihito had to leap skyward to evade.
Orochimaru's eyes flashed.
He slithered closer with serpentine movement. When he was near enough, his neck suddenly elongated—
And he bit into Akihito's neck.
"Secret Technique: Cursed Seal Bind!"
Dark markings spread instantly across Akihito's body.
He froze.
Orochimaru smiled.
"Got you."
"Your young Uchiha body… is mine."
Akihito's three-tomoe Sharingan spun into view.
"Orochimaru."
"Aren't you celebrating a bit early?"
Orochimaru immediately averted his gaze. Even now, he wouldn't risk eye contact.
Sasori added mechanical chains, binding both Akihito and Tsunade tightly together.
Tsunade's face burned.
What kind of position is this?!
Sasori said flatly, "Both are excellent materials. I'll turn them into masterpieces."
"Not acceptable," Orochimaru replied darkly.
"Tsunade is yours."
"Akihito belongs to me."
They were already dividing the spoils.
Tsunade shot Akihito a glare and whispered in frustration, "Trying to play hero without the ability? Now you've dragged yourself down with me."
Akihito leaned close and murmured with a faint smile, "I was just letting them feel good for a moment."
"Besides… holding you like this isn't bad."
Her face turned scarlet.
Evil Uchiha brat.
At that moment—
A massive surge of chakra erupted.
Bones formed.
Muscle layered.
A towering armored tengu manifested around him.
Susanoo.
The so-called Power of the Gods of the Uchiha.
The cursed seal shattered instantly. The chains snapped like twigs.
Akihito stood free—still holding Tsunade.
Orochimaru's pupils narrowed.
"So this… is Susanoo."
He had researched the Uchiha for years.
But witnessing it firsthand?
Entirely different.
Excitement surged in him.
"Sasori—attack!"
"Thousand Needles Shower!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Enhanced by wind, the poisoned barrage gained terrifying penetration—comparable to Raikiri.
It struck Susanoo—
And did absolutely nothing.
Not even a ripple.
Sasori's heart tightened.
"What kind of defense is that?!"
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"The legendary power of the Uchiha."
"They say once you see it… death follows."
Even Sasori felt a chill.
Akihito retaliated immediately.
"One-Sword Style: Susanoo Spirit Blade Slash!"
A colossal crescent cleaved through the battlefield.
Orochimaru's instincts screamed.
He bit his finger.
"Summoning Technique: Triple Rashōmon!"
Three massive gates rose from the earth—an ultimate defensive art passed down from Hashirama's era.
BOOM.
All three shattered instantly.
Even with his supreme defense, Orochimaru and Sasori were blasted backward, battered and disheveled.
So this… is Susanoo?
Orochimaru's desire for Akihito's body intensified—
But so did caution.
Revenge could wait.
Survival first.
As the smoke cleared—
Both figures vanished.
They had retreated.
Akihito blinked.
Just like that?
Orochimaru might not dominate every fight—
But in escaping?
He was unmatched.
"I may lose," Orochimaru lived by one principle.
"But I rarely die."
Akihito didn't pursue.
Tsunade frowned.
"You had the advantage."
"Why didn't you chase them?"
He answered casually, "Your hemophobia triggered, and you're poisoned. If you're not treated immediately, it could leave complications."
Her cheeks reddened slightly.
He stayed… because of her?
She had wanted to prove herself on this mission—
Instead, she became a burden.
Meanwhile, Akihito's true reason was simpler:
It wasn't time to completely tear faces with the Akatsuki.
And chasing Orochimaru without Flying Thunder God?
Pointless.
Return to Konoha
After basic treatment, Akihito ordered:
"Flying Thunder Formation. Return to the village."
In a flash—
They arrived near Konoha Hospital.
ANBU rushed forward.
"Akihito-sama! What happened?"
"Tsunade is injured. Are you blind?"
"Notify the hospital. Inform the Hokage."
The ANBU scrambled immediately.
Akihito sat down, Tsunade still in his arms.
After consecutive battles against Yagura, Sasori, and Orochimaru—
Even he felt fatigue.
Three Kage-level opponents in succession.
Few in the world could manage that.
Tsunade, strangely, had fallen asleep against him.
Since losing her brother and lover, she had lacked a sense of security.
Akihito didn't disturb her—
Even when she drooled slightly onto his clothes.
Only when medical staff arrived did he gently hand her over.
System Evaluation
Entering his internal system interface:
Fire Release Chakra Mode (98.8%)
Mangekyō Sharingan (99.6%)
Extreme Style Taijutsu — Gate of View (48.7%)
Great Sword Saint Level Swordsmanship (5.4%)
Overall Rating: Peak Super-Kage (Comparable to Tobirama Senju)
Fire Mode and Mangekyō were nearly ready to evolve.
His taijutsu alone could now rival Might Guy's Morning Peacock.
His swordsmanship had entered Great Sword Saint territory.
At present—
Across the shinobi world—
Only Nagato could truly match him.
Obito's space-time technique?
Predictable with prior knowledge.
Nagato's crippled legs limited him.
For now—
Akihito stood at the ceiling of the era.
Temporarily.
Because when the Fourth War began—
Monsters would descend one after another.
His path was still long.
A Shocking Report
An ANBU returned.
"The Hokage requests your presence in the council chamber."
As Akihito prepared to leave—
Yakushi Nono slipped him a scroll discreetly.
He opened it.
His eyes narrowed.
"Three days ago, ANBU recruit Uchiha Itachi killed two teammates during a mission and sold classified intelligence to an enemy nation. He has defected…"
Akihito closed his eyes.
As expected.
He had only left the village briefly—
And Hiruzen had already completed the brainwashing.
Stage a defection.
Insert Itachi into Akatsuki as a spy.
Classic Third Hokage maneuver.
The game board—
Had just shifted again.
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