Chapter 287: U↗zu↘ma↗ki↘ Na↗ru↘to↗
Manda's enormous vertical pupils contracted into thin lines from extreme terror, staring fixedly at that continuously condensing Tailed Beast Ball emanating destructive waves before it. It could clearly sense the terrifying energy contained within—enough to completely erase its massive body from this world! Death's shadow tightly gripped its heart.
"ROAR—!!!" It released a terrified yet futile hiss, struggling with all its might, attempting to break free from the restraints. However, before Naruto's exquisite sealing techniques that could even suppress Tailed Beasts, all its struggles appeared so pale and powerless.
"Orochimaru! You bastard! Hurry and release my summoning! Hurry!!"
Manda finally completely panicked, releasing desperate roars, no longer caring about any strong one's dignity.
As for Orochimaru at this moment, his situation was equally dire. Having consecutively used Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement, what little chakra remained had nearly bottomed out, his body in an extremely weakened state. How could he not want to immediately release the summoning?
Manda, as his strongest summoned beast, though each summoning required offering one hundred living people as sacrifices, for him with numerous "test subject" sources, this merely counted as "somewhat troublesome" resource consumption.
But right now, forcibly releasing the summoning had only one method—with sealing technique mastery far surpassing Naruto's, forcibly overwrite or break through the Four Symbols Seal applied to Manda.
For his current state, this was simply an impossible task.
And the reason Naruto's heart held murderous intent toward Manda was simple and direct—living human sacrifices.
Orochimaru didn't currently possess any cloning technology... Originally, when Orochimaru had colluded with Shimura Danzo, to create Wood Style ninja they'd secretly kidnapped sixty innocent children as test subjects, engaging in human trafficking, and ultimately only one child had barely survived.
In the past, when Orochimaru still bore the "Sannin" title fighting on battlefields, summoning Manda could use enemy ninja to satisfy its appetite, barely concealing it as "acts of war"...
But now, having completely fallen, the "sacrifices" Orochimaru provided Manda... where else could they come from?
BOOM—!!!!
The Tailed Beast Ball at extremely close range slammed solidly into the exact center of Manda's massive head! Destructive energy instantly erupted, completely devouring Manda's entire head and even half its body!
Manda couldn't even release a single desperate wail. Its hard skull and scales before the Tailed Beast Ball's absolute power instantly vaporized, disintegrated! Terrifying explosion shockwaves expanded outward in a sphere, pulverizing all soil, rocks, and trees in their path!
However, Naruto noticed that around his own body, golden chakra automatically condensed once again, forming a solid fox head phantom that steadily blocked the Tailed Beast Ball explosion's violent aftershocks outside.
He hadn't actively controlled this... the only one who could accomplish this was that tsundere big guy.
When the explosion's smoke and chaotic energy flows slowly dissipated, where Manda had coiled, only a shocking massive scorched crater remained. At the crater's edge, some charred, shattered massive skeletal remains from the tail section lay scattered.
The weakened Orochimaru was even more viciously sent flying by this terrifying explosion aftershock! Of course, before firing the Tailed Beast Ball, Naruto had already created a shadow clone that had taken Gaara to a safer, more distant location beforehand.
Bang!
Orochimaru's body heavily struck a giant tree trunk before barely stopping. He struggled to stand again, blood trickling from his mouth, his appearance utterly disheveled. The last time he'd been this disheveled... when was that? He'd almost forgotten this feeling.
However, before he could catch his breath, golden light flashed before his eyes! Naruto's true body closed in again!
Bang!
Another heavy blow landed on his shoulder. The massive impact force made him fly backward uncontrollably once more, slamming hard onto the ground.
Orochimaru raised his sinister eyes, staring fixedly at the relentlessly advancing Naruto. However, even having reached such desperate straits, his eyes showed neither despair nor fear.
As long as... curse mark inheritors still existed in this world, his own soul could be reborn in new vessels... he would never truly die! This was his greatest trump card. Moreover, it was still far from needing to completely rely on that backup plan.
"Old man! Found him! Over here—Orochimaru's already been subdued by Naruto!"
Just then, a familiar, resonant voice came from the forest not far behind.
Naruto turned his head to look. He saw Jiraiya pushing through shrubs, excitedly pointing this way. Following close behind was Hiruzen Sarutobi with a grave expression.
Looks like the earlier Tailed Beast Ball's earth-shattering explosion had drawn them here.
Naruto turned his head, his pupils locking onto Orochimaru once more. "Don't worry—I'm not going to kill you."
This statement made Orochimaru obviously freeze.
Of course, Naruto's decision not to kill Orochimaru stemmed neither from mercy nor compassion. On the contrary, it was because he knew that with Orochimaru's life-preserving methods, this guy could extremely likely resurrect through curse marks on other vessels, then simply hide even deeper—that would be troublesome.
Therefore, the most secure method was letting him "live" while losing all ability to resist and commit evil. First completely seal him, then... find a way to use those Mangekyou Sharingan's power to fundamentally modify his will!
"I'll seal you away." Naruto stepped forward, voice cold. "Don't think about escaping. Even if you hide at the world's end, with this, I can find you."
His gaze swept toward Orochimaru's shoulder—there, a Flying Thunder God mark unique to him was already clearly branded.
Realizing he'd truly reached a dead end, Orochimaru slowly, somewhat staggeringly stood up. However, beyond everyone's expectations, not only did he show no despair, but beneath his lowered head, the corners of his mouth slowly curved upward, outlining an extremely bizarre arc.
"The old man placed such high hopes in you, even wanting you to become Hokage..."
Orochimaru's voice carried a strange excitement. This bizarre statement not only made Naruto frown, but even Jiraiya and the Third Hokage behind, who'd originally slowed their steps slightly due to Naruto's decision not to kill, froze.
"But now, I'm going to completely sever his unrealistic wish!"
"Uzumaki Naruto!"
Orochimaru suddenly raised his head, shouting hoarsely toward Naruto ahead. Those serpent pupils burned with nearly insane excited light.
"Why does an ordinary civilian ninja like you possess such astounding space-time ninjutsu and sealing technique talent?!"
"Why did you become the Nine-Tails' vessel?!"
"Why has no one even told you who your deceased parents were?!"
This series of questions made the Third Hokage's expression change drastically!
"Stop talking!"
The Third Hokage shouted sternly, charging recklessly toward Orochimaru!
"There's only one answer!" Orochimaru completely ignored the Third's attempt to stop him, his voice becoming even sharper from excitement.
"Shut up!"
Jiraiya also instantly understood his intent, face ashen as he rushed forward together, trying to stop him.
Amid chaos and shouting, Orochimaru used his last strength to make his proclamation.
"Uzumaki Naruto! Because you are—the biological son of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, who sacrificed himself to protect Konoha and seal the Nine-Tails!!"
Whoosh—!
The instant his words fell, several brilliant golden chains instantly shot from behind Naruto, precisely and swiftly wrapping Orochimaru's body in layers, firmly imprisoning him!
However, in that final moment before the chains tightened, the shock, confusion, sorrow, or disbelief Orochimaru had anticipated on Naruto's face didn't appear on that young visage.
What he saw was only calm. As though what he'd just thrown out was already known fact.
After completing the final seal, Naruto merely pressed his palm wrapped in sealing runes expressionlessly onto the chest of the chain-bound, immobile Orochimaru.
"Eight Trigrams Seal!"
***
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