It was no wonder Orochimaru said that.
Looking around the battlefield, apart from that black-and-white cactus, the rest were all young men—at least younger than him. One had turned into a snake, his expression twisted with madness. Another had those ringed eyes, equally deranged. And the last was the most outrageous—not even human anymore, just a puppet warrior. His face showed nothing, but the hatred in his movements revealed the frenzy inside.
"Ah, I'm getting old. I can't keep up with the minds of the young anymore.
But one thing I know I got right—if you want to become strong, you have to stop being human!"
Orochimaru's face darkened for a moment, but then he threw himself into the madness, body turning limp. Using his own Soft Physique Modification, he became snake-like, slithering toward Sasori of the Red Sand.
"Hateful snake! Fire!"
Sasori's hatred for snakes had reached a level words could no longer describe. He raised both hands, cylindrical tubes emerging from his palms, and in the next instant, two dragons of flame roared into the air.
The heat was so intense that even the plants around them withered instantly.
"Oh? Flames driven by chakra?
No… supported by scrolls?"
Orochimaru's body twisted unnaturally as he slipped past the fire, his serpent eyes fixed on Sasori's movements. He quickly noticed the three scrolls on Sasori's back—clearly three distinct sets of techniques. Fire was just one of them.
"Hmph, cunning snake. Still watching me?
Even if you see through me, what of it?
Iron Sand Drizzle!"
Black iron sand poured down like a storm, aiming to bury Orochimaru alive.
"The iron sand is poisoned… can't touch it carelessly…"
Dodging with a smirk, Orochimaru called on Manda to attack. Even through brief contact, he was already analyzing Sasori's techniques. Truly worthy of the title of one of the Sannin.
"Roar!
Little puppet, I'll crush you!"
Manda, with its massive body, plowed straight through every puppet blocking the way. Shards of broken puppets scattered through the air as its gaping maw lunged for Sasori, ready to swallow him whole.
"You think you can eat me? Dream on! Ibuse!"
A massive puppet suddenly rose before Manda, its enormous shield raised high. It was Ibuse, a puppet built for ultimate defense.
Sasori hadn't even planned to keep this one, but since he had been teaching the boy named Kabuto puppet techniques, he had kept it close. Who knew it would come in handy today.
"Oh? This puppet… Hehehe."
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru clearly recognized it. After all, back during the ambush in the Land of Rivers, he had personally witnessed this puppet being destroyed. Its weak points were crystal clear to him.
Several snakes shot out like blades, striking directly at the cracks in Ibuse's shield.
"Hmph! So it was you!
That battle in the forest of the Land of Rivers! You're the bastard who destroyed my Ibuse!
Orochimaru!!!"
The shield was shattered the instant it appeared, and Sasori's mind flashed back to the humiliating memories of that battle. Snakes. Always those damned snakes.
Kill! Kill every last one of them!
The battle flared hotter.
Unlike Orochimaru and Sasori, who traded blows in a deadly rhythm of offense and defense, the clash between Kazuyama Gekkō and Nagato was pure chaos.
"Ahahaha! Nagato! Your Rinnegan is just a bunch of circles, isn't it?
All those rings, makes my eyes spin just looking at them!
And that black-and-white cactus! Attacking with roots and stems? What a joke!
I'll slaughter you all!"
In Sage Mode, Kazuyama was ferocious beyond reason. The massive Titan Python rampaged forward without caring who stood in its path, taunting even as it attacked.
Nagato, furious, summoned five bodies at once. The full power of the Six Paths erupted, while Zetsu joined the battle from the side.
Roots and stems pierced into the ground like Wood Release, surging toward Kazuyama in a storm. Yet each time they struck, they were blocked by a flash of crimson light—the red snake formed from Tagitsuhime.
"The Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave… troublesome…
But that puppeteer fighting Orochimaru… now that one is interesting."
Zetsu, half black and half white, split its focus. White Zetsu fought, while Black Zetsu observed the other battlefield. That puppeteer, with his refined puppet techniques and even a puppet body, was formidable. A talent worth recruiting into Akatsukigakure.
"Shinra Tensei!"
"I'll block it!"
"Banshō Ten'in!"
"I'll charge it!"
"Missiles! All kinds of missiles!"
"I'll curl up!"
Nagato was so angry he could spit blood.
Kazuyama fought like a brute, simply tanking his attacks head-on. Fueled by surging Senjutsu energy, the Titan Python's body was tougher than steel. No matter how many strikes landed, nothing could break through.
"Nagato, if this isn't working, retreat for now. Our goal isn't to fight him!
Besides, I may have found a new target…"
Black Zetsu's voice whispered into Nagato's mind, but Nagato was too consumed by rage to listen. All four of his other Paths, save the Hell Path, charged into battle, summoning countless beasts to the field.
Nagato himself stepped back, pressing his palms together. His chakra surged wildly, clearly preparing an even deadlier attack.
"Hm?"
"That feeling…"
"Kazuyama, be careful. I've got a bad premonition!"
Tagitsuhime shattered the incoming branches again, then turned her massive head toward Nagato. A flicker of dread flashed in her serpent eyes, and even she was startled. As a Snake Princess who had cultivated for a thousand years, such feelings were rare.
A faint black glow was already forming in Nagato's hands.
Kazuyama's eyes narrowed.
"Hm? That's Chibaku Tensei, isn't it?
Good grief, he's really going all out!
You think I'm afraid of you?!
Sage Art! Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!"
He claimed he wasn't afraid, but his hands moved faster than lightning. Clapping them together, he summoned without hesitation.
The Titan Python opened its enormous jaws, spewing forth a torrent of serpents.
A snake spitting snakes!
Across the battlefield, Orochimaru watched and let out a satisfied smile.
"As expected of my disciple. That stance is just like mine.
The Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes infused with Senjutsu chakra… not bad.
In that case, I should show what I can do too.
After all, I've got my own original techniques as well."
These days, who didn't?