The earth trembled violently beneath their feet as massive bone spurs erupted from the ground in a thunderous symphony of destruction. Each spike pierced through the terrain with the force of a battering ram, transforming the once-peaceful outskirts of Sound Village into a deadly forest of calcium carbonate weapons.
"Boom! Boom! BOOM!"
The bone spurs continued their relentless assault, each one thicker than a tree trunk and sharp enough to pierce through steel. Shisui's eyes widened as he processed the unprecedented attack, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning rapidly as he analyzed the threat. Without hesitation, both he and Itachi activated their Susanoo, the ethereal warriors materializing around them in brilliant displays of blue and red chakra.
"Everyone, get out of the Sound Village perimeter now!" Shisui's voice cut through the chaos like a blade, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The skeletal ribs of their Susanoo deflected the smaller bone fragments that flew through the air like deadly shrapnel. Itachi's crimson Susanoo moved with fluid precision, each step calculated to avoid the larger spurs while maintaining formation with his partner. The bone spurs had erupted in a pattern—not random, but strategic. Orochimaru had been planning this trap from the moment they'd cornered him.
The ANBU operatives, seasoned veterans all, immediately recognized the wisdom in Shisui's command. They'd been positioned at a safe distance precisely because both Uchiha had anticipated some form of desperate counterattack from the legendary Sannin. The sudden transformation of the battlefield into a bone graveyard confirmed their tactical foresight.
"Shunshin no Jutsu!" Multiple voices called out simultaneously as the ANBU forces employed the Body Flicker Technique. Their forms blurred and vanished in swirls of leaves and smoke, reappearing hundreds of meters away from the expanding bone forest. Even from their new vantage point, they could feel the residual chakra emanating from the massive jutsu—dark, cold, and utterly alien.
As the last of the Konoha forces cleared the immediate danger zone, the patterns within Shisui and Itachi's eyes shifted, their Mangekyō Sharingan focusing with deadly intent. The bone spurs had created a labyrinth around them, but they were far from trapped. If anything, Orochimaru had simply given them a clearer target.
"Susanoo: Tsukumo!" Shisui's voice rang out with authority, his green Susanoo raising its ethereal weapon.
"Yasaka no Magatama!" Itachi's response was immediate, his red Susanoo forming the iconic curved projectiles of pure chakra.
The two attacks launched simultaneously, creating a devastating combination assault. Green and red light intertwined as they carved through the bone forest, each projectile spinning with enough force to level a small mountain. The magatama tore through the calcium barriers like paper, while Shisui's sword techniques cleaved through anything that remained standing.
The sound was deafening—a continuous crack-crack-CRACK as bone after bone shattered under the combined assault. White fragments filled the air like snow, each piece catching the light of their chakra constructs. The very ground shook from the impact of their attacks, and for a moment, it seemed as though they had eliminated every obstacle in their path.
But when the dust settled and the last echoes faded, the area around the three combatants had been transformed into something resembling a petrified forest. Massive bone pillars still stood throughout the region, some reaching toward the sky like twisted monuments to death itself. The attacks had been devastating, but the sheer scale of Orochimaru's jutsu meant that complete destruction was impossible.
"These bones..." Itachi's voice carried a note of genuine surprise as he examined the remains of their assault. "They're harder than steel. The density is incredible."
Shisui nodded grimly, his analytical mind already working through the implications. "I know what this is," he said, his voice heavy with recognition. "The Corpse Bone Pulse—Shikotsumyaku. This is the kekkei genkai of the Kaguya clan from the Land of Water."
The realization hit them both like a physical blow. The Kaguya clan had been notorious for their savage fighting style and their ability to manipulate their own skeletal structure. They were warriors who turned their very bones into weapons, and their bloodline limit was considered one of the most dangerous in existence.
"So Orochimaru has claimed the body of that young Kaguya," Itachi murmured, his mind racing through the tactical implications. "The one who followed him during the Konoha Invasion. The Third Hokage's reports mentioned someone matching this description."
Shisui's experience with the Hidden Mist Village had given him extensive knowledge of the various bloodline limits from the Land of Water. The Kaguya clan had been wiped out during one of their characteristic berserker rampages, but apparently, at least one survivor had made it into Orochimaru's collection of test subjects.
"Itachi, be careful!" Shisui's warning came just as the ground beneath them began to tremble once more.
But this time, it wasn't bones that emerged from the earth.
"Sanjū Rashōmon!" Orochimaru's voice echoed from somewhere within the bone forest, filled with dark amusement.
"Ding! Ding! DING!"
Three colossal gates burst from the ground in rapid succession, each one bearing the carved face of a different demon. The first gate showed a snarling oni with bulging eyes and fangs like daggers. The second displayed a rakshasa with a crown of flames and a expression of pure malice. The third bore the visage of a hungry ghost, its mouth opened wide in an eternal scream of want.
The Triple Rashomon formed a perfect triangle around the two Susanoo, the demonic gates rising high enough to block out the sun. Each gate was easily fifty meters tall and constructed from chakra-reinforced material that had withstood the attacks of the legendary Sannin themselves. The psychological impact was immediate—they were no longer hunters, but prey trapped in Orochimaru's web.
"We can't let him escape!" Itachi's voice carried the weight of absolute determination. His Sharingan blazed with renewed intensity as he considered their options. If they allowed Orochimaru to slip away now, after coming so close to finally capturing him, it could be years before they had another opportunity.
"ROAAAAR!"
Itachi's Susanoo underwent a dramatic transformation. The ethereal warrior, which had been in its basic humanoid form, suddenly became encased in a second layer of armor. The red chakra deepened to the color of fresh blood, and intricate patterns of ancient design covered every surface of the massive construct. The armored Susanoo stood like a god of war, radiating power that made the very air around it shimmer with heat.
The armored giant clenched its right hand, and red chakra began to flow and condense in its palm. The energy took the shape of a gourd, its surface covered with the same intricate patterns as the armor. From the gourd's mouth, more red chakra extended outward, flowing like liquid light before solidifying into the form of a blade.
"Totsuka no Tsurugi," Itachi whispered, naming the legendary sword that was said to seal away anything it pierced.
Shisui's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He had fought alongside Itachi countless times, had seen him push his Susanoo to its limits, but he had never witnessed this level of manifestation. The sword in the armored Susanoo's hand seemed to cut through reality itself just by existing.
But Shisui was not one to be outdone. He shared Itachi's conviction completely—Orochimaru could not be allowed to escape again. The Sannin had caused too much suffering, corrupted too many lives, and represented too great a threat to the ninja world.
His own Susanoo began to transform, green chakra deepening to the color of jade as a second layer of armor formed around the construct. Where Itachi's armored Susanoo radiated raw power, Shisui's emanated precision and speed. The green warrior's movements became even more fluid, and in its hands, a spiral sword of pure chakra began to take shape.
The two Susanoo stood back-to-back, their combined presence creating a pressure that made the very air difficult to breathe. They moved in perfect synchronization, their weapons sweeping outward in a coordinated attack that spoke to years of partnership and trust.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
The spiral sword and the Totsuka blade struck the Triple Rashomon simultaneously, and the sound was like thunder splitting the earth. The demonic gates, which had withstood attacks from the strongest ninja in history, began to crack and splinter under the assault. The carved faces seemed to scream in agony as the chakra weapons tore through their forms.
But the two Uchiha didn't stop there. They continued their attack, their weapons carving through the gates like butter and then extending outward to level the entire bone forest. Every spike, every twisted pillar, every fragment of Orochimaru's calcium construction was reduced to powder in the face of their combined might.
When the destruction finally ceased, the area around Sound Village looked as though it had been hit by a natural disaster. The ground was scarred with deep trenches, and a fine white dust covered everything like snow. The air itself seemed to sparkle with residual chakra from their devastating assault.
Both Mangekyō Sharingan turned simultaneously, their enhanced vision piercing through the settling dust and debris. Their eyes locked onto the same point almost instantly—a figure moving through the devastation at the edge of what had once been the bone forest.
Orochimaru had indeed survived their attack, but he was no longer the composed predator who had orchestrated this trap. His movements were more urgent now, more desperate. The destruction of his jutsu had cost him valuable time and chakra, and he knew that his window for escape was rapidly closing.
The two Susanoo moved in perfect harmony, launching the same type of long-range assault that had proven so effective against the Rashomon gates. Chakra projectiles and energy blades shot across the battlefield, their paths calculated to cut off any possible escape route.
But Orochimaru was still one of the legendary Sannin. Without even turning around, he seemed to sense the incoming attacks. His body moved with inhuman flexibility, bending and twisting in ways that would have been impossible for anyone without his unique modifications. The attacks missed him by mere inches, their destructive force carving new scars in the earth behind him.
As the two Susanoo began to close the distance, Orochimaru's expression shifted from desperate flight to cold calculation. His pale face, which bore the distinctive markings of the Kaguya clan, twisted into a grimace of dark amusement.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," he hissed, his voice carrying that characteristic serpentine quality. "But you're about to learn why I am called one of the three legendary Sannin."
The hand seals he formed were complex and rapid, each one flowing into the next with practiced precision. The chakra that began to gather around him was different from anything they had sensed before—it was wild, primal, and tinged with something that felt ancient and dangerous.
"Senpō: Hakugeki no Jutsu!" Orochimaru's voice rose to a shout as he completed the technique.
From his mouth emerged a sphere of pure white chakra, its surface rippling with barely contained energy. As it took shape, the sphere began to transform, stretching and coiling until it resembled a Eastern dragon. In the dragon's claws, a pearl of concentrated chakra formed, pulsing with a light that was almost too bright to look at directly.
The transformation was accompanied by a visible change in Orochimaru himself. His skin, which had been pale but normal, began to lighten further. Strange black markings appeared across his body, spreading like ink through water before beginning to fade. The curse seal markings that had been etched into his flesh were being consumed, their power being channeled into this single, devastating technique.
"All of his sage chakra at once," Orochimaru muttered through gritted teeth. "Every bit of natural energy I've managed to accumulate, plus the full power of the curse seal. This had better be worth it."
The dragon-shaped chakra construct shot toward the two Susanoo with incredible speed. As it traveled, the dragon's body began to coil around the pearl in its claws, wrapping tighter and tighter until only the pearl itself was visible. The white light emanating from the compressed chakra grew brighter and brighter, until it was like staring into a miniature sun.
When the construct finally reached them, it had condensed into a single point of devastating light floating just meters away from Itachi and Shisui.
"Bzzzzzzt! Bzzzzzzt! BZZZZZZT!"
The sound began as a low hum but rapidly escalated into something that seemed to bypass the ears entirely and attack the brain directly. The light from the pearl became impossibly bright, brighter than the sun at noon, brighter than the flash of an explosion. It was a light that seemed to penetrate not just the eyes but the soul itself.
"RING! RING! RING!"
The piercing sound that accompanied the light was like a bell being struck directly against their eardrums. It was a frequency that seemed designed to disrupt chakra flow and mental concentration. The combination of the blinding light and the deafening sound was overwhelming, attacking multiple senses simultaneously.
Both Itachi and Shisui instinctively closed their eyes, but the light was so intense that it penetrated their eyelids easily. Their Mangekyō Sharingan, which had been their greatest advantage in this battle, now became a liability. The enhanced vision that allowed them to see chakra and predict movements was being overloaded by the sheer intensity of the technique.
The sound was even worse. It seemed to shake their brains inside their skulls, making coherent thought nearly impossible. The careful chakra control required to maintain their Susanoo became increasingly difficult as the technique continued its assault on their senses.
Gradually, inevitably, the ethereal warriors that had protected them began to fade. The red and green chakra constructs flickered like candles in a strong wind before beginning to dissipate entirely. Without their Susanoo, both Uchiha were left vulnerable, their most powerful defense crumbling under the sensory assault.
Orochimaru watched the technique take effect with grim satisfaction. The White Stimulus Technique was one of his most costly jutsu, requiring him to expend all of his accumulated natural energy in a single burst. But it was also one of the most effective, particularly against opponents who relied heavily on their enhanced senses.
For a moment, he considered pressing the attack. Both Uchiha were disoriented and defenseless, their Susanoo completely dissipated. A few well-placed strikes could eliminate them entirely, removing two of Konoha's most dangerous operatives and securing his escape.
But wisdom prevailed over vengeance. The technique had cost him dearly, and he could feel his chakra reserves running dangerously low. The longer he remained in the area, the greater the chance that reinforcements would arrive. The smart play was to escape while he still could.
However, as Orochimaru began to move toward the edge of the devastated area, the very air in front of him seemed to tear apart.
"Raikiri!"
Lightning chakra condensed into the form of a blade, crackling with electrical energy as it embedded itself in the ground not far from where he stood. The technique was perfectly executed, the lightning maintaining its shape and intensity even after striking the earth.
In a blur of motion, a tall figure appeared beside the lightning blade, one hand still crackling with residual electrical energy.
"Hatake Kakashi," Orochimaru's voice carried a note of genuine irritation. Of all the people who could have arrived to block his escape, Kakashi was perhaps the most problematic. Kakashi's analytical mind and vast repertoire of techniques made him an extremely dangerous opponent, especially when Orochimaru was already weakened from his earlier jutsu.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" Kakashi's voice rang out clearly, his hands forming the familiar summoning seals.
But instead of a ninja hound, what appeared was a coordinated barrier technique. Purple flames erupted from the ground around the entire perimeter of Sound Village, forming walls of chakra that reached high into the sky. The flames danced and writhed, but their formation was precise and unbreakable.
"Shishō Fūin: Shisekiyōjin!" Multiple voices called out in unison as Konoha's barrier specialists completed their encirclement.
The Four Violet Flames Battle Encampment was one of the most powerful containment techniques in Konoha's arsenal. Once activated, it created a barrier that could withstand attacks from even the most powerful ninja. More importantly, it prevented anyone from entering or leaving the enclosed area.
The timing was perfect. Kakashi had been the first to arrive in the Land of Sound, tasked with gathering intelligence on Orochimaru's activities and the Sound Village's defenses. His reconnaissance had provided the information necessary for this coordinated assault, and he had been positioned to prevent exactly this kind of escape attempt.
"BANG!"
The sound of Orochimaru's White Stimulus Technique being forcibly disrupted echoed across the battlefield. Both Itachi and Shisui had managed to locate and destroy the source of the sensory assault, their vision and hearing gradually returning to normal. They stood with their backs to each other, their eyes fixed on Orochimaru with expressions of deadly intent.
"One year," Shisui said quietly, his voice carrying a note of professional respect despite his animosity toward their opponent. "In just one year, he's become significantly more powerful than he was during the Konoha Invasion."
Itachi nodded grimly. "The Kaguya bloodline is truly extraordinary. Combined with his existing abilities and knowledge, he's become something approaching a perfect weapon."
The body of the young Kaguya clan member had provided Orochimaru with access to one of the most feared kekkei genkai in existence. The Corpse Bone Pulse allowed him to manipulate his skeletal structure at will, creating weapons and defenses that were literally part of his body. Combined with his already extensive knowledge of forbidden techniques and his experience as one of the legendary Sannin, he had become exponentially more dangerous.
But now he was trapped. The barrier around Sound Village was impenetrable, and three of Konoha's most skilled jonin had him surrounded. His chakra reserves were severely depleted from the techniques he had already used, and the longer the battle continued, the more likely it was that additional reinforcements would arrive.
Orochimaru's eyes moved from opponent to opponent, calculating odds and possibilities. His serpentine pupils dilated as he assessed the situation, and slowly, his expression shifted from frustrated anger to cold amusement.
"If you insist on making this difficult," he said, his voice carrying that characteristic hiss, "then I suppose I'll have to show you exactly what this new body is capable of."
His form began to shift and change, the transformation starting at his core and spreading outward. His skin took on a distinctly reptilian appearance, scales replacing flesh as his body elongated and expanded. The process was both fascinating and horrifying to watch, as a human form was replaced by something altogether more monstrous.
"Hiss..."
The sound that emerged from his throat was no longer entirely human. His body had split apart and reformed into the shape of a massive serpent, but this was no ordinary snake. Eight distinct heads emerged from the elongated body, each one bearing Orochimaru's face but with distinctly serpentine features.
"Yamata no Jutsu!" The eight heads spoke in unison, creating an eerie chorus that seemed to echo from multiple directions at once.
The Eight-Headed Serpent Technique was one of Orochimaru's most powerful transformations, turning him into a living embodiment of the legendary Yamata-no-Orochi. Each head was capable of independent thought and action, effectively giving him eight times the attack potential of a normal opponent.
"Master Jiraiya once told me that Orochimaru's vitality is extraordinary," Shisui remarked, his tone carrying a note of warning. "Even in this situation, we can't assume that the Yamata-no-Orochi is his final gambit."
The reminder was well-timed. Orochimaru had survived situations that would have killed lesser ninja multiple times over. His mastery of forbidden techniques included methods of cheating death itself, and his willingness to experiment on his own body meant that he likely had contingencies they hadn't even considered.
But despite the obvious danger, Itachi found himself smiling. It was a cold expression, one that spoke to his absolute confidence in their ability to handle whatever Orochimaru could throw at them. The Sannin had made one critical error in his desperation to escape—he had revealed the full extent of his current capabilities.
With a thought, red chakra began to flow around Itachi once more. The familiar form of his Susanoo began to take shape, but this time, he was already channeling the armored version. The blood-red construct materialized in its full glory, and in its right hand, the gourd-shaped chakra focus began to form once again.
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