Chapter 106 – Death of the Scorpion
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
The battlefield was lit by the blazing flames, the night as bright as day. Dozens of serpents erupted from Orochimaru's sleeve, surging forward with terrifying speed.
Sasori's crimson eyes narrowed, bloodshot with fury.
"Orochimaru! So it really was you! You dare betray the Akatsuki?!"
Orochimaru gave no reply. His face remained cold as he poured chakra into the technique, the snakes growing even thicker and larger.
The massive serpent construct lunged down. Sasori reacted quickly, forcing the Third Kazekage puppet to erect another Iron Sand Wall, enclosing them both within. But before he could counterattack, the snakes swallowed the barrier whole—only for a tide of boiling oil, enhanced by Fukasaku's wind and Shima's fire, to crash over everything.
Seeing his chance, Orochimaru severed his own snakes with a flick of his blade-like fingers. With a whoosh, his figure vanished—replaced by a wooden log that plummeted into the boiling oil below, dissolving with a hiss.
From within the engulfed serpent, a muffled, agonized scream echoed, then was cut short.
Orochimaru, standing calmly on a nearby branch, looked down without expression.
Below, Jiraiya continued spewing more oil, his toad partners fueling the technique. The endless tide of burning liquid flooded the ground, melting trees and rock alike. Within the torrent, the hastily erected Iron Sand Wall eroded, breaking open to reveal Sasori and his puppet.
The boiling oil surged into the gap instantly. The Third Kazekage puppet disintegrated first, consumed into ash before Sasori himself was swallowed whole.
For a moment, Orochimaru's golden eyes flickered. When Sasori's outer puppet dissolved, no bones appeared—only a smaller body hidden inside.
So that's it… Orochimaru thought, amused. This fool was wearing a puppet as armor all along. No wonder he always looked so strange.
Sasori's true body was revealed at last: that of a boy, eternally frozen in youth. But within seconds, even that form was devoured by the searing oil, leaving nothing behind.
Fukasaku and Shima immediately sensed the end of their enemy's chakra and relayed the news to Jiraiya.
Only then did Jiraiya cease his attack, coughing slightly as he dispersed the jutsu. His reserves of special oil were nearly depleted, but the battle was over.
Releasing Sage Mode took him far longer than entering it, and without his toad masters' aid, the natural energy faded slowly. The markings on his face receded, but the telltale pimples on his nose remained. Jiraiya rubbed them roughly until they burst, blood and pus trickling down. With a piece of cloth, he wiped it clean and shrugged.
If only Tsunade were here… he thought briefly, before dismissing the notion.
"Little Jiraiya," Fukasaku croaked, "since the fight is over, we'll head back now."
Shima added, "If we wait too long, our food will get cold."
Jiraiya grinned. "Alright, Boss, Ma, take care!"
With a puff of smoke, the elder toads vanished, leaving Jiraiya standing alone with Orochimaru.
The Snake Sannin's golden eyes gleamed as he inspected Jiraiya's bleeding nose. "Any side effects?" he asked, his tone calm but edged with curiosity.
Jiraiya waved him off. "I'm fine. Just as we agreed—you've seen the strength of Sage Mode, and we've taken down Sasori. Now, it's time for you to return to Konoha with me."
Orochimaru inclined his head. "Of course. If you're ready, we can leave now."
But his gaze lingered on the scorched pit where Sasori had perished. If I had learned of Sage Mode sooner, perhaps I wouldn't have severed ties with Akatsuki so quickly… The thought soured his mood. Still, there was no going back. Sasori was dead, Akatsuki would discover the truth soon, and their wrath would follow.
For now, Ryūchi Cave and the mysteries of Sage Mode would have to wait. Returning to the Leaf was the better choice—for there, the secrets of the Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan awaited.
Jiraiya stretched, brushing the dirt from his robes. A glint of determination flashed in his eyes. "Good. Let's head back. I want to see for myself whether the rumors about the Uchiha clan are true."
…
Land of Fire – Border Outpost.
In his tent, Uchiha Yashiro sat cross-legged, refining his chakra in silence. Suddenly, with a muffled bang, a ninja cat appeared in a puff of smoke.
The sleek feline licked its paw lazily, a small scroll tied to its neck.
Yashiro's eyes narrowed. He untied the scroll and opened it. His expression hardened as he read the message within.
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