Satori has tough skin and thick flesh. Being hit directly in the chest by a thick stone whip, it was surprisingly unharmed.
But its head... oh, it doesn't have a head. Its mind is a bit mixed up, with the most prominent feeling being shock.
—'Did Orochimaru truly ignore its ability?'
Orochimaru naturally couldn't ignore Satori's ability.
If he had to deal with it himself, he would need much greater speed, more fierce power, and timely sealing jutsu to completely defeat this agile Blue fly.
But now, at least in terms of speed and power, it doesn't form an overwhelming advantage. And Orochimaru doesn't have a targeted jutsu like Nagato's 'Bansho Tenin' to easily win.
So, at this moment, he can only let his substitute take over.
Satori's ability is indeed troublesome, but in the end, it's only effective against humans. When facing the Genie Lamp, it's not enough.
As a higher-dimensional being in an information state, if he doesn't want to, no one can even confirm his existence, let alone peek into his consciousness and emotions.
Of course, although the Genie Lamp is extraordinary, he also has his limitations.
When controlling the 'Little Snake-Orichima,' he can only fight using previously recorded skills. His flexibility in adapting to situations is somewhat lacking.
However, this isn't a big problem. Fighting with fixed skills is something the Genie Lamp was very familiar with even when he was human.
Bang, bang, bang!
Watching Orochimaru lift 'Satori,' and beat it soundly, the faces of the two great kekkei genkai families, including Kakuzu, turned grim.
But fortunately, although the process was different, Satori did manage to hold Orochimaru back. They immediately began to retreat.
Uchiha Jinsuke and his group wanted to stop them, but being near Manda, with over a dozen thick earth-serpents blocking them, they couldn't act immediately.
Uchiha Jinsuke shouted, "Orochimaru-sama, they are escaping!"
Orochimaru glanced down and nodded slightly. He stopped beating Satori and instead restrained it.
The earth-serpents' bodies coiled like vines, wrapping around Satori's exposed spine and limbs, making it unable to move.
After doing all this, Orochimaru regained control of his body.
Just as Orochimaru was worrying about how to deal with this thing, Satori suddenly stopped struggling.
"You indeed used some trick. You really can't maintain that state forever!"
It looked at Orochimaru and let out a series of wild laughs. If its hands and feet weren't bound, it would have pointed at Orochimaru's nose and mocked him.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, ignored the thing, and gazed in the distance at the Kusagakure Ninja who were rapidly pulling away.
During this delay, they had already gotten quite far.
Just as Orochimaru was about to signal the Konoha squad to get on the snake and pursue, Satori's body suddenly contracted rapidly, instantly turning into a puff of smoke, and breaking free from the sand snake's restraints.
Then, flying back into the air, it transformed back into a black-winged monster, skillfully dodging Orochimaru's attacks and began to flee quickly.
As it left, it didn't forget to make threats, "You're not getting away with this, Orochimaru. Next time, you wait to die!"
"..."
Orochimaru watched the rapidly disappearing figure, released Manda's Summoning Technique, and his form descended from the sky, landing steadily on the ground. ...
Uchiha Jinsuke approached and asked, "Orochimaru-sama, aren't we going to chase after them?"
Orochimaru shook his head, "There's no need."
He didn't really have much intention to kill them from the start. Otherwise, when he saw them appear, he would have summoned the whole 'Ryuuchi Cave' family and surrounded them.
But for now, the conflict between Konoha and the Kusagakure Ninja cannot escalate.
Until he is truly capable of defeating Nagato without significant losses, the damage from any battles must be controlled.
That day is not far off.
Orochimaru summoned the previous viper, pulled out the unconscious White Zetsu from its mouth, and threw it to Uchiha Jinsuke. "This guy is the eyes of the Kusagakure Ninja underground. Try to see if you can control him with genjutsu."
"Yes!"
Uchiha Jinsuke responded, grabbed White Zetsu's shoulder with one hand, and pried open White Zetsu's eyelids with the other.
His eyes swirled with tomoe, and a scarlet color gradually filled White Zetsu's eyes. But before the genjutsu could be successfully cast, a strange fluctuation came from Daichi, making White Zetsu's clone's gaze clear.
White Zetsu let out a sinister laugh, "Trying to control me? Heh heh, no way!"
Fine spikes suddenly grew all over its body, and it immediately broke free from Uchiha Jinsuke's restraint. But just as it was about to fight to the death, an earth spear pierced its torso.
Orochimaru waved his hand, signaling everyone not to panic, and said to Uchiha Jinsuke, who looked a bit grim,
"It's not your fault. White Zetsu clones have a strange connection. It was likely its companion that helped break the genjutsu just now."
The advanced genjutsu of the Uchiha clan only increased the success rate and made it difficult for the target to break free, but it was helpless against a third party helping to break it.
In this situation, unless it's the Mangekyo of the user, the White Zetsu, which are like one mind, can completely break Ninjutsu by disrupting each other's Chakra.
"It seems that relying on controlling White Zetsu clones to turn the tide of battle is impossible."
Orochimaru licked his lips, put the corpse of White Zetsu into a scroll, and then looked around, his gaze stopping at Kakashi, especially his left eye.
Although he had heard from the Genie Lamp long ago that Kakashi's Sharingan might be a Mangekyo, just like Obito's, seeing it in person was still somewhat surprising.
Little did he know that the Genie Lamp was also a bit surprised.
Although both awakened Mangekyo Sharingan when Rin died, unlike Obito, who was a killing machine from the start, Kakashi's body could barely handle the power of Mangekyo until more than ten years later.
"It seems the breathing technique training has significantly improved Kakashi's physique."
However, he is still just an ordinary person. Even with pure Uchiha blood, the Mangekyo Sharingan gets worse with every use.
Orochimaru thought for a moment, took out a pale green syringe from the scroll, and casually threw it to Kakashi.
"Inject this into your vein. It will make your body feel better."
This was the earliest version of Yamato cell fusion fluid. Although expensive, its effects were very unimpressive compared to now.
Using it now as a body nutrient for Kakashi was a form of waste utilization.
Kakashi took the syringe and bowed, "Thank you, Orochimaru-sama." ...
Orochimaru nodded slightly. After dealing with Kakashi's problem, he began to treat the injuries of the heavily wounded members of the squad.
A team of twelve people naturally included medical ninjas, but since Orochimaru was willing to handle it, the two medical ninjas didn't mind assisting.
Ten minutes later, after treating everyone's injuries, Orochimaru looked around and said, "Take a break for now. We'll return to the village soon."
The Konoha squad members exchanged glances. Kakashi said, "Orochimaru-sama, you might not know, but we came on this trip to buy rare minerals from Kumogakure. We can't return to the village yet."
Ninjas prioritize their missions. The threat from the Kusagakure Ninja was almost negligible due to Orochimaru's presence, so Kakashi and the others naturally wanted to ensure the mission was completed.
"There's no need. Today's ambush by the Kusagakure Ninja was clearly planned. If I believe there was no leak from the Land of Thunder, I would be a fool."
Orochimaru looked at Kakashi and said slowly, "If you go now, you'll likely just be going for nothing."
The logic made sense, and Kakashi and the others understood.
But now that Orochimaru was here, as long as the team proceeded as planned to the Land of Frost for the trade, they could use Orochimaru's power to force the Kumogakure Ninja to hand over the minerals.
"You have quite a plan."
Orochimaru saw their expressions and knew what they were thinking. He chuckled slightly,
"But it's unnecessary. Go back and use the excuse of being ambushed to have Kumogakure deliver it."
Uchiha Jinsuke frowned upon hearing this, "But what if Kumogakure outwardly agrees to our demands, and then says they also shipped it, but it was intercepted by the Kusagakure Ninja on the way? Then what?"
The other members of the Konoha squad also looked upset.
It was evident from this operation that Kumogakure had some connection with the Kusagakure Ninja. They could very well play such a trick.
After all, Kumogakure would very much like to see conflict between Konoha and the Kusagakure Ninja. But the village's current policy was to be conservative.
Doing so might end with no resolution.
"You're thinking about it the wrong way."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a slight smile, and he said calmly, "It's just some mineral business. There's no need for Kumogakure to do such a thing."
"Lying like that would only give them leverage."
"Great ninja villages cannot lose face. If Kumogakure were to say that the Kusagakure Ninja robbed their goods, the old man would invite them to jointly confront the Kusagakure Ninja, and they would have no reason to refuse."
"Conversely, the Kusagakure Ninja would never rob Kumogakure's goods. That would be slapping Kumogakure in the face."
It's the same batch of goods, but whether they are in Konoha's hands or Kumogakure's hands, it has completely different meanings.
The ninjas of the Konoha squad looked at Orochimaru in surprise, never imagining that something which they felt required risking their lives could be resolved in this manner.
But Uchiha Jinsuke still had doubts, "But will Kumogakure be so obedient and just send the things over?"
"Why wouldn't they?"
Orochimaru glanced at him and said indifferently, "I am Orochimaru."
If he were there, this shipment wouldn't even need Konoha to rush them; it would have already been delivered. ...
The overall deterrence of Konoha with Orochimaru present and without Orochimaru present is like two different villages.
...
The sky was overcast, and the rain kept falling.
The rain was not heavy, falling softly on the black spires that rose from the ground, and mist filled this steel jungle.
On the east side of Amegakure, inside an inconspicuous gray spire.
The air in the hall suddenly warped, and Obito stepped out of the Uzumaki. His first words were, "Orochimaru has returned. He appeared in Sunagakure."
"Hmph, as expected. Rather, it's a bit late."
Tendo Pain's eyes were indifferent. He said calmly, "Are you here just to inform me of such a thing?"
Orochimaru's return was almost a certainty. The relevant counter-strategies had already been provided by Wu Wei and others a year ago. Now, it was just a matter of proceeding according to plan, hardly worth a fuss.
"I have already reviewed his strategy, but there is one point I need to remind you of."
Obito's eyes flickered red. "Orochimaru is not alone. You should be well aware of how much trouble he caused me with those immortal warriors."
Tendo Pain's expression sank.
As the leader of a force, especially one that is growing, he was beginning to understand the power of ninjas gathered together.
Moreover, the performance of those warriors was unlike ordinary ninjas.
Pierced through the chest and abdomen, internal organs damaged... these injuries would incapacitate most ninjas.
How could the Hyuga clan contend with the former Uchiha Clan? They are known as one of Konoha's two great dojutsu clans, but it's the Gentle Fist that complements the Byakugan, which can inflict fatal injuries on the enemy's body at any time, and ordinary medical ninjas have no good way to treat them.
But now, for those warriors, these are not problems.
During the two attacks by Satori in the Box of Ultimate Bliss, one of them encountered those warriors. This force, comparable to a normal Tailed Beast, was contained by their fierce fighting with minimal casualties, holding on until Jiraiya arrived.
This was unimaginable in the past.
Many ants can bite an elephant to death, and these ninjas are not ordinary ants.
Even with the Rinnegan, Nagato had to consider what would happen if there were many such individuals.
Obito looked at Tendo Pain, who was lost in thought, and a slight smile flickered on his lips, his eyes glowing red.
WhatOrochimaru, what warriors, what body enhancement surgery... to him, these were just excuses.
He wished Nagato would go to war with Konoha sooner, abandon this messy group, and place his hope for unifying the ninja world on collecting the Tailed Beasts.
No matter how strong Orochimaru is, no matter how extraordinary the physique of those surgically enhanced ninjas, they are just insects in the face of the power of a perfected Ten-Tails.
Once the Tailed Beasts are collected, all of this will be insignificant.
Conversely, if Konoha and the Kusagakure Ninja are allowed to develop steadily, it might be unfavorable.
When the Akatsuki organization is no longer a disruptor of the existing order, no longer standing in opposition to the great ninja villages, but a part of the powers of the ninja world, perhaps unexpected things will happen.
Having witnessed the Akatsuki organization grow step by step and then suddenly be destroyed, Obito knew very well what kind of person Nagato, who was behind Pain, was.
Going with the flow, content with his lot... this guy's fundamental desire was different from his own. It wasn't peace in the ninja world, but his small family.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have used some tricks to create that hatred and destroy the original Akatsuki organization...
"Whether Orochimaru's surgery is that successful is still debatable."
Tendo Pain said calmly, "Otherwise, the first people to undergo surgery wouldn't have been those warriors from the Land of Iron. We'll have to see more details."
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