Chapter 371: Fate, Part Five
"Lord Jiraiya, Leaf Jonin Itachi Uchiha, here to assist."
Itachi's voice carried as he entered the battle with the signature fire style jutsu of the Uchiha clan.
"Tch. A petty trick."
Orochimaru sneered. The Uchiha's combat abilities were formidable, but their techniques had become predictable after centuries of refinement, and Orochimaru had studied them thoroughly. He had analyzed every weakness, every detail, leaving nothing in their arsenal that could surprise him.
Jiraiya felt a surge of hope at Itachi's arrival. In a stalemate where neither he nor Orochimaru could gain the upper hand without serious risk, Itachi's intervention might shift the balance. As one of the Uchiha's rising stars, his reputation spoke volumes; together, they could overpower Orochimaru.
But Orochimaru was unphased, sidestepping with serpentine grace as he unleashed a fresh wave of venomous snakes through his Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands technique. The sheer number forced Itachi to summon his Susanoo as a shield and continue his approach.
As Orochimaru's poisonous swarm poured forth, Jiraiya found himself wondering: did the snake summons of Ryuchi Cave even have enough serpents left to sustain such attacks?
Itachi pressed forward with Susanoo, its powerful defenses and overwhelming force clearing a path through the relentless snake onslaught. While Jiraiya closed in with coordinated attacks, Orochimaru was visibly strained, fighting to keep up.
He cast a scornful glance at Manda in the distance, locked in a grapple with Gamabunta. "Useless creature," he spat, focusing his attention on the two warriors advancing toward him.
"So, it's all up to me," Orochimaru muttered, as he prepared his next move with a dark smirk. His hands moved in rapid, intricate seals, summoning chakra that radiated an eerie, malevolent energy.
"Look well, Jiraiya!" Orochimaru's voice boomed as he completed the sequence. "This is the ultimate form I have pursued!"
Forbidden Technique: Eight Headed Serpent Jutsu!
Orochimaru's body swelled rapidly, transforming into a towering, monstrous form with eight serpentine heads. He became a mountain of scaled horror, each head radiating malice, exuding chakra as powerful as that of a tailed beast.
"What is that?" Itachi murmured, momentarily taken aback by the fearsome sight. Even he had never seen a form as grotesque and intimidating as this.
Unfazed, Jiraiya steadied himself, the battle hardened confidence he had cultivated through years of conflict grounding him. While Itachi might be younger, Jiraiya's experience and resolve bolstered them both in the face of Orochimaru's monstrous form.
"Stay sharp, Itachi. This jutsu is an S class forbidden technique it's deadly. I'll take point; support me as needed," Jiraiya instructed calmly.
Itachi acknowledged him with a nod, retreating slightly to maintain strategic distance. Privately, Itachi felt a rare sense of comfort, knowing he had such a capable and trustworthy ally beside him.
Watching from a concealed vantage point, Ye Wen shook his head. Orochimaru's transformation was impressive, but he knew Orochimaru's weakness all too well. His body had already undergone one soul transfer, compromising its resilience to certain genjutsu. Had Itachi been able to utilize his Mangekyo Sharingan's full power earlier, he might have subdued Orochimaru with a powerful illusion.
But that time had passed. Orochimaru had opted for his monstrous transformation, nullifying Itachi's primary advantage in genjutsu for the time being.
In the original timeline, Itachi easily vanquished Orochimaru in this form, but that was against a weakened Orochimaru, not one at full strength.
One of the heads parted its jaws, revealing Orochimaru's half formed figure within it, eyes glinting with dark amusement.
"Give it up, Jiraiya. In this form, you two stand no chance against me. You've already captured one target go home and consider your mission complete. But if you truly insist on this path, you'll only have yourselves to blame for the outcome."
Jiraiya, however, was unperturbed. "If you think you can defeat me so easily, think again, Orochimaru. Today, one way or another, you're coming back with me!"
The unwavering resolve in Jiraiya's voice made Orochimaru's face twist in disgust. Jiraiya's obstinate loyalty, his clinging to past bonds these traits were as naive as they were irritating.
With a thunderous hiss, all eight heads of Orochimaru's monstrous form reared back. Eight simultaneous elemental attacks surged forth, including powerful gusts, searing flames, cascading waves, and venomous mist.
Under the right conditions, elemental techniques required hand seals to shape, but Orochimaru's form bypassed that restriction. The scale and power of these attacks, magnified by his immense size, meant even basic jutsu were magnified to A rank. A direct hit could spell doom.
Itachi tensed, recognizing the attacks' lethality. He reinforced his Susanoo, preparing to withstand the barrage, while Jiraiya launched into a series of counterattacks, darting between elemental blasts.
"It's time to end this, Orochimaru!" Jiraiya shouted as he prepared his next move.
Watching from his hidden location, Ye Wen observed the clash of these three titans, each of whom had honed their craft to the peak. Though Orochimaru had chosen a perilous, lonely path, the vast power he wielded as a result now lay bare.
Smirking to himself, Ye Wen mused, "If only they could see the full scope of what lies beyond their world."
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