I'll leave this to you."
As Orochimaru's voice faded into the forest, a figure leapt from the shadows and landed gracefully in the clearing.
Both of Kumogakure's Jinchūriki followed his gaze—and immediately recognized who it was.
"Uchiha Shisui?"
Yugito narrowed her eyes. She'd fought this man before—long enough to remember the strange shield-like object he'd wielded. There was no mistaking him.
With a growl, Matatabi's vessel bared her teeth. The massive blue-flamed cat opened its jaws and unleashed a fireball in a burst of heat and rage.
But Killer B felt something wasn't right.
Why would Orochimaru entrust this spot to Shisui… unless…
A sharp suspicion ran through his mind. If this was who he thought it was...
Without hesitation, B's eight tentacles shot toward Shisui like spears.
Despite their different reactions, both Jinchūriki were now fully hostile.
Shisui's expression sharpened. The tomoe in his Sharingan began to spin, quickly merging into a more intricate form—the shape of a four-pointed shuriken.
The power in his eyes surged.
"Susanoo!"
An instant later, a towering emerald warrior burst forth from Shisui's body. Clad in full armor and gripping a spiraling sword, the spectral giant radiated power. Its presence alone rivaled the tailed beasts in size and force.
Boom! Boom!
With two massive swings, the fireball and tentacles were cleaved apart. Shisui didn't pause—he directed Susanoo straight toward the Jinchūriki.
Killer B's heart dropped.
"So it is the Uchiha's forbidden eye…"
Just from the sheer force of its strikes, he could already tell—Yugito was at a disadvantage, and he himself might not fare much better.
Between Orochimaru and Shisui, this battle wouldn't be easy.
But there was no time to hesitate. B regenerated his severed tentacles, lashing them toward Susanoo once more.
Yet after deflecting them, Shisui didn't press the attack on him—instead, he turned his full focus toward Yugito.
Susanoo absorbed several fireballs, then raised its spiraling blade and hurled them back toward her.
B blinked.
He's ignoring me?
It didn't make sense. As long as B didn't interfere, Shisui seemed to disregard him entirely.
Even more bizarre—Orochimaru stood high on a tree branch nearby, completely uninvolved, watching in silence.
"Weird. I don't get what they're planning!"
Killer B wanted to figure it out—but there was no time. Yugito couldn't hold out much longer. Susanoo's power was overwhelming, and if he didn't step in soon, she'd take heavy damage.
No more thinking. Time to fight.
The Eight-Tails roared. Killer B redirected his full attention toward Shisui's avatar. Two of his massive tentacles reared into the sky, then came crashing down like whips of pure muscle and chakra.
The clash between tailed beasts and Susanoo had truly begun.
Susanoo staggered as a strike landed on its back, momentarily halting its assault. But even after regaining its footing, it continued its relentless attack on Yugito, completely ignoring the Eight-Tails behind it.
Killer B was shocked by its durability.
This thing… it's like a wall.
Changing tactics, he sent his tentacles slithering like serpents, coiling around Susanoo's legs in an attempt to restrict its movement.
Forced to respond, Shisui slashed several times to break free of the Eight-Tails' grip.
He was determined—no matter the risk of injury, he would not let up on Yugito. Even if his body broke down, his attacks would not.
Killer B narrowed his eyes. He's desperate. But why?
Glancing toward the treetop where Orochimaru once stood, he realized the man was gone.
"Brother… this is going to be rough."
He understood now. Shisui wasn't meant to win—just to delay. As long as Killer B stayed occupied, Yugito would fall. And if she fell, she wouldn't be able to retreat.
But there was a silver lining. That kind of power couldn't be sustained forever. Shisui's explosive state had limits.
Realizing this, the Eight-Tails opened its mouth wide, beginning to condense a massive sphere of chakra—Yin and Yang swirling in perfect balance.
Yet even as that immense energy built behind him, Susanoo didn't react. Shisui continued hammering Yugito with unrelenting attacks, as if the beast at his back didn't exist.
---
Elsewhere…
"I didn't expect Shisui to hold off both of Kumogakure's Jinchūriki on his own," Orochimaru muttered, a rare note of admiration in his voice. "The genetic serum worked even better on him than I anticipated."
A shadow beside him chuckled. "It's not just the serum. He's also pushing his Sharingan to its absolute limit. The serum only enhances the body—it doesn't boost the eyes."
The man speaking leaned forward, revealing a sly grin. "Still… if we can recover Manda, the frontal assault will go much smoother."
Orochimaru nodded, then turned to him again. "But can you really stop the Raikage?"
Stopping the Jinchūriki was one thing. But if they couldn't delay the Raikage, all their strategy would fall apart.
"I can't," the man admitted with a glint in his eye. "But you can."
He smiled wider. "Don't forget—my job is to be the Djinn. I make the impossible possible… for a small price."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. He remembered now. When they first met, the man had spoken of the three types of Djinn.
And suddenly, he realized the cost might be more than he wanted to pay.
---
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM!
The battlefield shook.
Flashes of blue chakra slammed repeatedly into a crimson barrier. Even amid the chaos of war, the sheer sound of Raikage's attacks was thunderous.
The Fourth Raikage, clad in Rainbow Chakra Mode, unleashed his full might. The Uchiha Flame Formation—once a mighty defense—was visibly cracking.
It wouldn't last much longer.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, the wind split as a figure landed just outside the barrier.
The four Uchiha jōnin holding the barrier looked back, recognized the newcomer, and immediately ceased channeling chakra.
With their support gone, the crimson wall shattered under Raikage's next strike.
Yet there was no triumph in the Raikage's expression. His sharp eyes scanned the battlefield—and immediately caught sight of something that made his face darken.
More enemies. Unexpected ones.
His voice rang out like thunder. "Kumogakure forces, fall back from this area—NOW!"
He remembered too well the horrors Orochimaru unleashed that night. He couldn't let it happen again.
The Kumogakure shinobi, shocked by the sudden command, quickly disengaged and scattered outward, away from the threat.
Meanwhile, the Konoha ninja didn't pursue. Instead, they surged straight toward Kumogakure's fortress.
"Orochimaru! Where are Killer B and Yugito?" the Raikage roared. "What did you do to them?"
Orochimaru stepped forward with a cold smile. "Don't worry. They're still alive. You'll see them soon enough."
He licked his lips and drew the Kusanagi blade from the mouth of a summoned viper.
"Now, shall we begin? This is the first time I'm using this body in a real battle. It won't last long, so I'd like to enjoy it while I can."
"You think you can take me in close combat?" the Raikage snarled, rage building into a storm.
Crackling with electricity, he vanished in a flash of light.
"Die, damn snake!"
__________
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