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At the border between the Land of Rice Fields and the Land of Fire, in an endless sea of green forest.
Orochimaru stood on the shallow riverbank, staring across at the Root shinobi. His narrow, slit-pupiled eyes sent chills down the spine.
"Where's the thing Danzo promised?"
The Root operative remained expressionless, like a puppet, and held out a palm-sized glass gourd.
"Lord Orochimaru, please."
Orochimaru's vertical pupils flickered. A hand hidden inside his long sleeve turned into a snake, shooting out like a whip. In one fluid twist he caught the gourd in his mouth and pulled it back.
Examining the container in his hand, he gave a faint smile.
"Even Root shinobi can be followed now."
"Looks like Danzo's control over his subordinates has slipped."
The Root operative, who had stayed stone-faced the entire time, suddenly changed color. Before he could move, a cold kunai pressed against his neck.
"Don't move."
Kakashi appeared at his side without warning, voice icy.
"We're all Konoha shinobi. I'd rather not kill unnecessarily."
Staring at the cat-faced mask and that unmistakable shock of silver hair, Orochimaru's lips curled higher. His hoarse voice carried genuine praise.
"As expected of the White Fang's son."
"Every bit as excellent as your father."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. The usual calm in his gaze flashed with killing intent.
"Tenzou, take him!"
The moment the words left his mouth, thick tree trunks erupted from the riverbank, twisting and weaving into a cage.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes swept over the sudden forest of wood. A flicker of confusion crossed his face, but his hands never stopped.
"Wind Style: Wind Cutter Technique!"
Razor-sharp wind sickles flew in every direction, shredding the wooden prison to splinters.
"Wood Style?"
He muttered in confusion, then his eyes widened with delight.
"Who is it?!"
He had once cooperated with Danzo to transplant First Hokage cells into newborn children, trying to recreate the Wood Style.
All attempts had failed.
He never imagined he would encounter a shinobi who had actually mastered Wood Style right here!
He had planned to toy with Kakashi for fun, but now his mind was racing with excitement. He wanted nothing more than to drag that hidden Wood Style user back for research!
Seeing the ambush fail, Kakashi knocked the Root operative unconscious with a chop to the neck and charged forward with both hands forming seals.
"Tenzou, together!"
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Chakra pulled water from the river. Two massive water dragons formed and lunged at Orochimaru from both sides.
At the same time, Tenzou dropped from above, palms aimed at Orochimaru.
"Wood Style: Great Forest Technique!"
Ten fingers turned into coiling vines and branches, snaking forward to strangle Orochimaru.
Water and wood attacked from every direction, yet Orochimaru stood with hands clasped behind his back, completely fearless—even a hint of casual amusement on his face.
"Summoning Technique: Triple Rashomon!"
Both palms slammed the ground. Three massive demonic Rashomon gates burst up one after another, mouths gaping as if ready to devour every ninjutsu.
The violent clash of forces shook the air with deafening booms.
Orochimaru flicked out his long tongue and kept forming seals, immediately following with another summoning.
"Summoning: Manda!"
With a bang, smoke exploded outward.
A giant serpent's body scraped across the ground, scales rasping against rocks and broken branches with a sinister hiss.
When the dust cleared, Orochimaru stood atop the snake's head, towering above them, looking down at the tense Kakashi and Tenzou.
His gaze skipped past Kakashi and locked onto Tenzou.
The familiar face made him pause for a split second. Though the boy had shed his childhood softness, Orochimaru still recognized him instantly.
"So it's you."
He chuckled softly.
"Danzo actually lied to me."
"In that case, I definitely can't let you go."
"You were always meant to be my experiment!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Manda coiled and lunged at the two of them.
Its massive body tore through the air, bringing crushing pressure down on Kakashi.
"Tenzou, scatter!"
No reminder was needed—Tenzou was already moving.
"Water Style: Waterfall Basin Technique!"
A torrent of river water surged from underground, instantly washing the battlefield and forcing everyone apart.
Kakashi's battle instincts were razor-sharp. He rode the surging current, slammed a palm into the water, and roared,
"Lightning Style: Chidori!"
Crackling electricity stabbed the eardrums, racing along the water straight toward the colossal serpent.
Manda's scales scorched black under the lightning.
The giant snake thrashed in pain, blood-red eyes blazing with fury.
"Orochimaru, I want that one as my offering this time!"
"No problem."
Kakashi's body held no value to Orochimaru. He only wanted Tenzou!
Manda shook its head, flicking out a deep purple-black tongue. The charred scales peeled away as fresh, glistening ones slid into place beneath.
Looking up at those sixteen huge, icy snake eyes, Kakashi swallowed hard.
Orochimaru gave them no time to react. He whipped his tail, smashing hundreds of meters of trees in half. Dust flew, rocks collided, the noise endless.
After smashing Kakashi into a pulp and wrapping Tenzou in his tail, Orochimaru finally noticed a figure standing right in front of him.
The person slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of eyes far more sinister than Kakashi's Sharingan. The black magatama inside them spun quietly.
...
On the devastated riverbank shallows.
Kakashi's gaze darted between the genjutsu-trapped Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi.
For the first time, he truly understood just how terrifying a real Sharingan could be.