Chapter Nine: The Battle of the Serpent and the Weasel

Orochimaru and Itachi Uchiha were destined to clash eventually.

According to the original course of events, Orochimaru possessed Sasuke’s body for that battle, using nearly every trick at his disposal. Yet since he had intentionally arranged his own death at the time, the question of who was truly stronger remained unresolved.

Now, Orochimaru and Itachi were about to fight once more, but this time, Orochimaru had taken over Hinata’s body.

“The Byakugan, a bloodline limit, can see the flow of chakra—no opponent can execute a jutsu without these eyes catching it. Let’s see, then, what happens when the Byakugan faces off against the Sharingan,” Orochimaru mused, brimming with fighting spirit.

With Edo Tensei at his command, capable of summoning four Kage-level fighters, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kisame had no intention of intervening. Orochimaru himself had no plans to use the technique either; it was tacitly agreed that this would be a duel—one-on-one.

With a thunderous roar, the battle began.

—

Meanwhile, turmoil swept through the ninja world. Several days had passed since the destruction of the Leaf Village. After the initial shock, the world finally sprang into action to address the crisis.

The villages of Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure established emergency communications. Sunagakure called upon the reclusive Chiyo as their representative in place of the Kazekage.

“Let’s hear everyone’s thoughts—what should we do?” asked Mei Terumi, the Fifth Mizukage.

Onoki, the Tsuchikage, cleared his throat. “What else? Of course we should unite and take down the Sound Village. Orochimaru is a rogue, and if he could crush the Leaf, he could do the same to us!”

The Leaf’s strength was acknowledged by all; renowned as the foremost village of the ninja world, it was no mere boast.

The Raikage, A, chuckled. “It’s just the Sound Village, hardly worth our immediate attention. With the Fire Country left without a ninja village to keep order, many rogue ninja are running rampant. We should move in and restore order first.”

His words veiled another intent: occupying the Fire Country meant dividing its considerable wealth among themselves, now that it was left defenseless.

Onoki retorted, “You’re too young, Raikage! If we don’t get rid of Orochimaru first, and he comes after your village next, do you think you could stop him?”

The Raikage’s eyes flashed coldly. “Let him come. Don’t overestimate Orochimaru, Tsuchikage. He was only able to destroy the Leaf because it was a shell of its former self. Since the Fourth Hokage’s death, their strength has withered—it’s no longer the village it once was.”

Onoki shot back, “You refuse to listen because of your youth! Orochimaru can summon four Kage-level fighters with Edo Tensei—he could topple your village single-handedly, believe it or not!”

A bristled. “Just four dead warriors—how strong could they be? Let him try!”

“Enough!” Chiyo of the Sand Village interjected.

Among the Four Great Ninja Villages, Chiyo commanded the most authority, for Sunagakure had participated in the plan to destroy the Leaf and therefore understood Orochimaru’s power better than any. Ironically, though they had emerged victorious, they realized too late they had been manipulated. Their own Kazekage had been killed by Orochimaru.

This was confirmed beyond doubt; the Sand had recovered the Kazekage’s body, and the secret code he left behind identified Orochimaru as the murderer.

Chiyo said, “Orochimaru must be eliminated, the Sound Village razed. Though we of the Sand Village played a part in the fall of the Leaf, the crucial strength came from Orochimaru’s side. If he infiltrates any of your villages, the consequences could be catastrophic. The destruction of the Sound Village is our highest priority!”

—

After the meeting, the Four Great Ninja Villages jointly announced to the world that they would soon sanction the Sound Village.

The ninja world was in an uproar. Aside from the already-ruined Leaf, it was exceedingly rare for the Four Great Villages to act together, given their constant friction. Only a threat of utter annihilation could unite them.

Orochimaru’s Sound Village instantly became a household name.

—

As news of the impending joint sanction spread, the battle between Orochimaru and Itachi raged on.

Orochimaru had now transformed into his Eight-Headed Serpent form, his violent chakra palpable from afar. He wielded the Kusanagi sword, the cold, serpentine heads trained on Itachi.

Itachi summoned Susanoo, manifesting a giant red energy warrior wielding the divine Yata Mirror as a shield in one hand and the Totsuka Blade in the other—majestic and imposing.

“Heh, the Yata Mirror and Totsuka Blade,” Orochimaru chuckled. He had an obsession with collecting legendary weapons, and had once searched everywhere for these two artifacts, to no avail. Before his rebirth, he hadn’t known they were in Itachi’s possession, which had cost him dearly. Though it hadn’t changed the ultimate outcome, it still rankled.

“In this state, I truly have no answer for you,” Orochimaru admitted. Susanoo, awakened only by those with Mangekyō Sharingan in both eyes, boasted an impenetrable shell and formidable power. Offense and defense both—Orochimaru had no certain way to break through it.

“But I can still try.”

Orochimaru borrowed Hinata’s eyes to study Susanoo. As it turned out, the Byakugan offered some resistance to Sharingan genjutsu—not outright immunity, but it allowed the user to anticipate when genjutsu would be deployed. This foreknowledge provided a crucial edge in preparing defenses.

For Orochimaru, knowing when Itachi would cast a genjutsu allowed him to resist and avoid falling prey to it. In this regard, the Byakugan helped shore up one of his greatest weaknesses.

Moreover, the Byakugan could discern Susanoo’s vulnerabilities. Since Susanoo was composed entirely of chakra, the Byakugan could see where its flow was thinnest.

“So, the weak point is three inches below the neck.”

The eight serpent heads arched upward, converging as they opened wide. Vast natural energy gathered above the open jaws, coalescing into a black sphere of concentrated chakra.

Itachi and the distant onlookers—Jiraiya and the others—were shocked by this sight.

“That attack… It’s a Tailed Beast Bomb!”

Though not a Tailed Beast himself, Orochimaru was unleashing an attack of similar destructive power.

Itachi drove his Susanoo forward, blade ready to strike the serpent heads. Orochimaru split three of the heads off to intercept the sword.

With a vicious slash, the three heads were severed. As Itachi tried to activate the sealing power of the Totsuka Blade, Orochimaru decisively cut away those three bodies, severing them completely.

Meanwhile, the remaining five heads finished forming the “Tailed Beast Bomb.”

Without hesitation, Orochimaru launched the attack, striking Susanoo precisely at the weak spot below the neck.

Explosions erupted. After the smoke cleared, Susanoo’s red form wavered, growing unstable and nearly dissipating.

Itachi, desperate, forced out more chakra, blood streaming from his eyes, barely holding Susanoo together—but it was clearly weakened.

Just as he prepared to strike again, Orochimaru shook his heads and said, “Enough. This battle is meaningless now. You cannot kill me.”

At this point, victory and defeat were indistinct, but Itachi had discerned Orochimaru’s method of possessing Hinata—through the cursed seal.

That meant anyone bearing a cursed seal could become a vessel for Orochimaru’s resurrection.

Realizing that Itachi had uncovered this secret, Orochimaru proposed ending the fight.

For Orochimaru, the value of this bout lay in testing the Byakugan against the Sharingan in actual combat, while also displaying his power to Itachi and the others. It was not a duel to the death, nor a contest of supremacy.

This was enough.

Itachi dismissed Susanoo, blood pouring from his eyes. When he reopened them, they seemed a little duller—the price of using the Mangekyō Sharingan was diminishing eyesight.

Orochimaru laughed softly and beckoned to Kabuto.

With the matter settled, it was time to leave; he returned to Hinata’s body.

As for the Third Hokage and the others, Orochimaru paid them no mind, nor did he instruct Kabuto to do so.

Jiraiya and Tsunade, tacitly understanding, took the Third Hokage and the others and followed behind Orochimaru. Since they could not kill him, their only option was to remain at the Third Hokage’s side and protect him.

They did so without a word.

Itachi also departed, leaving with Kisame, but not Sasuke. As long as Itachi lived, Sasuke was safe with Orochimaru.

Kabuto grew ever more awestruck and respectful toward Orochimaru. Only Orochimaru, faced with such an alliance, could handle it all with such composure.

Following Hinata, Kabuto reported, “Lord Orochimaru, while you were fighting Itachi Uchiha, the Four Great Ninja Villages jointly issued a statement to the ninja world: they will soon sanction the Sound Village.”

“Oh?” Orochimaru’s voice came from Hinata’s body.

“Let them try.”

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Joyful thanks to “(?—△—)?” [Note: That name was a pain to type!] and “Tearful Flower” for their votes, and to “Wandering Servant,” “Heavenly Calamity Star X,” and Yuqingti for their previous support. I’ve decided there will be double updates on Saturday.