Hiruzen persuaded me to die

"Monsters!"

"These two... they're absolute monsters!"

Terumi Mei stood frozen, stunned by the clash unfolding before her.

After his failed assault, Orochimaru hadn't retreated—he had escalated.

No ninjutsu. No summons.

Just raw, brutal taijutsu.

And it was terrifying.

To Mei, Orochimaru's speed and strength were easily on par with a Kage-level shinobi. A Sannin at his peak—over forty, yet still dominating.

She knew—if she faced him in close combat, she'd lose.

Her bloodline limits and ninjutsu made her dangerous, but up close? Orochimaru would crush her.

Yet even that monster...

…wasn't enough.

Orochimaru couldn't land a single blow on Hyūga Naraku.

Not a scratch. Not even a ruffled sleeve.

Orochimaru, the fastest she'd seen in years—was still outclassed.

The realization chilled her.

Orochimaru might be her limit in ten years. Maybe. But Naraku?

Naraku was in a realm beyond her comprehension.

A blur. A god walking among mortals.

"Pffft!"

Another blow sent Orochimaru skidding backward across the clearing. He clutched his abdomen but didn't return to the fight.

He'd seen enough.

Naraku's speed, strength, and reaction time—all superior.

Worse yet?

Naraku was holding back.

That first punch? If he'd meant it, Orochimaru might be crippled already.

The speed difference alone made Orochimaru's full-strength attacks look like flailing.

Impossible.

He was Orochimaru.

For a moment, disbelief flickered in his eyes—then gave way to something else.

Curiosity.

"…How?" he murmured. "How did your physical abilities grow this strong, Naraku-kun?"

He knew Naraku prized speed, swordsmanship, and physical discipline.

But this?

This was evolution beyond logic.

This was transcendence.

Naraku's voice was calm. Cold.

"Don't measure me by the ceiling of an ordinary shinobi, Orochimaru."

The Tenseigan had rewritten everything.

Though not yet at true Six Paths level, the doorway had opened.

His body, his chakra, even his perception had transformed.

A complete, multidimensional upgrade.

"The shinobi limit…" Orochimaru whispered.

He had believed the peak of shinobi power belonged only to legends—Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara.

Now, Hyūga Naraku stood among them.

Madara and Naraku—gods with transcendent dōjutsu.

Hashirama and Naraku—masters of Wood Release.

"Perhaps… that's the key," Orochimaru thought. "Dōjutsu. Kekkei Genkai. Senju and Uchiha lineage…"

He'd tried for years to replicate Wood Release in the lab—every attempt failed.

Except Yamato.

And now?

New targets emerged: the Mangekyō, the Rinnegan, and Naraku's evolved Byakugan.

"I will keep researching," Orochimaru said softly. "Until I reach the true peak, Naraku-kun."

He smiled thinly, tongue flicking across bloodied lips.

"With my Living Corpse Reincarnation, I have all the time I need."

Naraku gave a slow nod.

"I'll be watching."

Let Orochimaru continue. Let him create abominations. It wouldn't be surprising.

Then, Terumi Mei stepped forward.

"Orochimaru," she said firmly, "the Yuki Clan child stays."

"Even if I can't defeat you, I'll hold you here until Lord Mizukage arrives."

"You trespassed in Kirigakure—you won't leave so easily."

She stood tall but tense. Neither man was to be taken lightly.

She needed to stall. Delay. Buy time.

"I'm not getting involved," Naraku said, casually flicking a hand.

Orochimaru didn't need help escaping.

And if Naraku did intervene, Orochimaru's pride might snap.

"Your Mizukage might be preoccupied soon," Orochimaru replied with a sly smile.

He pointed north.

"Before I arrived, I sensed strange movement from the Kaguya Clan. Something big."

His grin stretched, eyes gleaming.

That's why he'd entered Kirigakure so boldly.

The Kaguya Clan—one of Mist's last great bloodline clans—was preparing to revolt.

With rebellion erupting, the Mizukage would be too busy to pursue him.

Orochimaru might even help stoke the flames.

"Kaguya?!" Mei's eyes widened.

That clan was violent, aggressive, and blood-hungry.

If they were truly rebelling…

A thunderous war cry erupted from the Kaguya District.

"…They really did it," Mei breathed, panic rising.

She couldn't worry about Orochimaru now.

She just prayed he wouldn't make things worse.

She couldn't stop the Kaguya Clan alone.

She had to warn the Mizukage—immediately.

"It's not just the Kaguya Clan," Naraku murmured.

His gaze turned to the horizon—Kirigakure's skyline now veiled in smoke.

Explosions rang out across the city.

Paper bombs. Fire. Screams.

"What the hell is going on?!" Mei gasped.

"Didn't the Fourth break free from the masked man's control?!"

"Wasn't Mist recovering?!"

"It makes sense," Naraku said, nodding.

"You've been closing in on those compromised by the masked man. Before you expose them all… they strike."

"Let the pawns burn. One of them might even assassinate Yagura."

Orochimaru's smile didn't fade.

It aligned with his own intelligence.

At the last Akatsuki meeting, a masked man had appeared—the same one rumored to have controlled Yagura.

But why now?

With Naraku here, Mist's fate was already sealed.

Weakening the village further seemed pointless… unless the masked man had another motive.

A vendetta?

Orochimaru's curiosity deepened.

The screams grew louder. Closer. War had erupted.

"…Kirigakure's rotten to the core," Mei muttered.

From the shadows emerged figures—cloaked in black, their hair bound tight, brows marked with twin red dots.

The Kaguya Clan had arrived.

At their head, the patriarch stood—tall, brutal, grinning wide.

His eyes gleamed with bloodlust as he spotted the trio.

"Well, well… fresh prey."

"Kill them. Show them what the Kaguya Clan is made of!"