A New Snake In The Shinobi World

The Tailed Beasts are fragments of the Ten-Tails, and their destructive power is immense.

When they go berserk, if there isn't a shinobi of Kage-level strength or higher to subdue them, they can easily wipe out an entire village.

What is the Tailed Beast's most powerful attack?

Without a doubt, the Tailed Beast Bomb.

Its explosive force is comparable to a nuclear detonation, utterly devastating.

However, in the face of true Wood Release and dojutsu surpassing the Mangekyō Sharingan, a Tailed Beast is nothing more than a minor threat.

For shinobi possessing Wood Release or powerful ocular jutsu, eliminating a Tailed Beast without a Jinchūriki is as simple as executing a single move.

Gate of the Great God. Hokage-Style Sixty-Year-Old Technique: Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands. The Mangekyō Sharingan.

At this point, it's important to note that Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts complement each other.

A Tailed Beast without a host can be controlled with just the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Just like how Madara controlled Kurama in the past or how Obito manipulated it on the Night of the Nine-Tails' attack.

But against a Jinchūriki?

Dojutsu alone isn't enough.

The only way to win is through overwhelming raw power, as seen when Sasuke fought Bee.

He thought his Mangekyō was invincible, until Bee nearly punched a hole through his chest.

Right now, Kurama had been forcibly extracted from Kushina using Orochimaru's Tailed Beast Unsealing technique.

At this moment, it was a Tailed Beast without a Jinchūriki.

And in this state, even Obito could easily suppress it, let alone Orochimaru and Pain.

The instant Kurama emerged, Pain had already leaped into the air, launching a barrage of black rods.

Tail. Claws. Head. Abdomen. Waist.

Every vital point was impaled.

These rods, fragments of the Ten-Tails itself had an absolute suppressive effect on Tailed Beasts.

Kurama was completely restrained, unable to move despite its struggles.

"This power… belongs to the old man…?"

Kurama, who had been seething with rage just moments ago, suddenly paused.

It wasn't the black rods piercing its body that caught its attention.

It was the black shield that had blocked its earlier attack.

That shield was composed of Truth-Seeking Orbs—pure Six Paths chakra.

Why was it in Orochimaru's possession?

Truth-Seeking Orbs weren't just overwhelmingly powerful, they could change form freely.

They could become black rods, staff weapons, the Totsuka Spear.

Seeing that same power now on Orochimaru of all people was shocking.

But Orochimaru had no time to explain.

"Your body is truly unique," Orochimaru murmured, focusing on Kushina.

"Even after losing your Tailed Beast, you're still clinging to life."

As he spoke, he channeled a stream of synthesized life energy into her body.

The Uzumaki Clan… their physical resilience was on a completely different level.

Even Bee, a fellow Jinchūriki, didn't possess life force as strong as hers.

This…

This was the power of bloodline inheritance.

Kushina let out a weak chuckle.

"Oh? Are you saying… you've studied plenty of Jinchūriki like me before?"

"I've examined most of them except for the One-Tails' host."

"And… the others?"

"Three are dead. Three are still alive. One is currently without a Jinchūriki."

"I see…"

Feeling her strength gradually returning, Kushina hesitated, then asked:

"Sir… may I ask you something?"

Orochimaru withdrew his hand, signaling that the treatment was complete.

"Go ahead."

"Why… are you capturing the Tailed Beasts?"

Kushina's eyes narrowed slightly.

"With your power, unifying the shinobi world wouldn't require Tailed Beasts at all. So why bother?"

Orochimaru was silent for a moment.

Then, in a low voice, he asked.

"Kushina… have you ever heard of the Ten-Tails?"

"Ten… Ten-Tails?"

---

Land of Sound

Two figures moved swiftly through the dense jungle.

"Tsunade-sama… are we really supposed to be sneaking out like this…?"

"There's nothing wrong with it," Tsunade replied.

"I just want to see him. The technique Orochimaru described is beyond belief, how can I rest easy without seeing it for myself?"

"...Fair point."

Hearing that, Mikoto sighed and continued following silently.

Tsunade picked up her pace, and before long, Orochimaru's Otogakure came into view.

At the village entrance, a familiar figure was overseeing the loading of supplies.

Short light-brown hair. A face she knew well. A warm, sunlit smile.

Nawaki?!

Tsunade's breath caught in her throat.

"This bastard… Orochimaru actually…!"

Her voice trembled.

"It's unbelievable…"

---

Land of Wind, Sunagakure

The desert sun blazed mercilessly, casting long shadows over the village.

The sky was thick with swirling sand.

Inside the Kazekage's office, Rasa paced back and forth, his face creased with tension.

Lately, his anxiety had only grown worse.

Two reasons.

One—Suna's morale was at an all-time low.

Two—The Land of Lightning's request for aid.

During the Third Great Ninja War, the sudden reappearance of the First and Second Hokage had forced Sunagakure into an unconditional surrender.

That single event had shattered Suna's morale.

And before they could recover.

A secret message arrived from the Land of Lightning.

According to their intelligence, Konoha was planning to annex the entire shinobi world.

Their attack on Kumogakure was only the beginning.

The Raikage was now urging Sunagakure to send reinforcements immediately.

Rasa felt trapped.

What was he supposed to do?

Send reinforcements? Engage Konoha in battle?

With Suna's current morale, could they even win?

And it wasn't as if this was their first time joining a coalition against Konoha.

The results had never been in their favor.

But if they didn't act.

Once Konoha crushed Kumogakure, how long before they turned their attention here?

What was the right move?

Suddenly—

"Not good…! Not good…! NOT GOOD!"

A Sand shinobi rushed into the office, gasping for breath.

Three times in a row—"Not good"—his panic was unmistakable.

Rasa's brows furrowed.

"What are you panicking about?"

"Orochimaru… Orochimaru is here!"

"Orochimaru?!"

Rasa's heart skipped a beat.

From the Raikage's intel, he knew Orochimaru's power had evolved beyond recognition and that he was actively capturing Tailed Beasts.

If he had come to Sunagakure…

Could it be—?!

His face darkened.

"Find Chiyo, tell her to hide Gaara immediately. The rest of you follow me!"

"Yes, Lord Kazekage!"

At the entrance of Sunagakure, four figures stood against the backdrop of swirling sand.

Three of them wore black cloaks embroidered with red clouds.

The last—

Red-haired.

Short-sleeved attire.

There was no mistaking them.

Orochimaru. Pain. Sasori of the Red Sand. Uzumaki Kushina.

***

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