Chapter 63: Hidden Mist Descent
The earth trembled violently.
Massive fissures and scorching lava instantly engulfed nearly half of the Jashin Cult's elite forces.
Without even a chance to scream, they melted away.
Those who dodged in time were horrified, immediately using the Body Flicker Technique to escape the range of the combined ninjutsu and regroup at a safe distance.
Tsukasa seized this opportunity and swung his sword with full force.
Uchiha-Style: Iai Slash!
A crescent-shaped arc of chakra blazed forth, and
In an instant, the katana severed six spears before him, three Fire Release: Flame Bullets, and one Wind Release: Wind Cutter.
As he struck the seventh spear, the blade snapped with a sharp crack.
However, this was more than enough.
Tsukasa tilted his head slightly, the final black spear grazing past his cheek.
Then he took off running, no longer needing to worry about how to break through the sixteen Jashin Cult elite forces.
Seeing him approach, Mei Terumi immediately formed hand seals:
Ram-Snake-Ram.
Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique.
She parted her lips and exhaled, sending pitch-black fog rising instantly.
Mei Terumi's Hidden Mist Technique surpassed even the future Demon of the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi—capable of even buying teammates precious moments against Madara's Rinnegan.
The fog thickened dramatically, instantly obliterating the vision of all Jashin Cult elite forces present.
"What is this?!"
"The fog is so thick, I can't see anything!"
"It's Kirigakure! How did they find us?!"
"Have we been exposed?!"
Seeing this, the Jashin Cult squad leader frowned, lowering the Lightning Release-enhanced spear he'd been clutching.
Immediately, he shouted to rally his troops:
"Hold your positions!"
"Wind Release users, immediately use your ninjutsu to disperse the fog!"
"Everyone, move to the cave entrance and defend it. Don't give them any openings!"
The fog rose steadily, spreading outward, engulfing half the fortress.
Sunlight scattered through the mist, casting a dreamlike image across the structure, its blurred outlines tinged with golden light.
Even with his Sharingan, Tsukasa's vision was severely limited.
Then,
A hand grasped his wrist, pulling him back, shifting positions away from where he'd been standing.
"Let's go! We need to get inside the fortress. I've found where they're holding Hidan."
Mei Terumi ran while recounting her findings.
"Besides, this place is more dangerous than we thought."
"Jashin Cult members are gathering outside, and there are three smaller squads hanging back. They're led by one of the few Jonin from Yugakure, and that guy isn't even wearing a missing-nin forehead protector."
"How strange! The core members of this organization are all from the same shinobi village."
"Are they really the Jashin Cult, or just Yugakure in disguise?"
Tsukasa pondered for a moment, unable to figure out what had gone wrong, and shook his head.
"Let's proceed according to plan."
With that, the two of them scaled the fortress's inner wall through the thick fog.
They had finally escaped the Jashin Cult's pursuit and achieved their immediate objective.
However,
An unexpected individual
Had been waiting for them on the inner wall for some time.
This person wore a distinctive combat uniform with a purple rope belt tied at the waist. He
Had long black hair, golden serpentine pupils, purple eyeshadow extending to his nose, pale skin, and blue magatama earrings.
Seeing the two climbing the wall, he laughed with a hoarse voice:
"Kukuku..."
"How very strange. A Kirigakure kunoichi traveling alongside an Uchiha."
Tsukasa and Mei Terumi's pupils contracted simultaneously.
This person was none other than one of the Legendary Sannin, one of the most infamous shinobi in the entire world—
Orochimaru!
Orochimaru was clearly smiling, but his gaze was so cold it felt like being trapped in an icy prison. He slowly observed the two of them, like a venomous snake sizing up its prey before striking.
Silently, an invisible killing intent spread through the air.
Under this oppressive threat, Tsukasa merely frowned but quickly regained his composure.
Calculating the timeline—after the Second Shinobi World War, Orochimaru had witnessed the deaths of Tsunade's younger brother Nawaki and her lover Dan Kato, as well as losing his own parents. He'd experienced firsthand the fragility of life and harbored
A profound obsession with achieving immortality.
During this period, he'd likely already infiltrated Konoha's Forbidden Jutsu archives and studied numerous forbidden techniques.
Simultaneously, he'd begun forging his own path forward.
The Living Corpse Reincarnation was a key component, and this required Shinnō's Forbidden Technique: Physical Regeneration—a super-fast cellular regeneration ability.
Furthermore, no hostile system notifications appeared, indicating that Orochimaru wasn't particularly focused on him specifically.
Therefore, the Sannin's current target wasn't them—
But Shinnō.
Orochimaru glanced coldly at the two, unconcerned about why an Uchiha was here.
It was no secret that the Uchiha clan undertook missions outside the village, nurtured clan shinobi, and had secured the long-term contract of guarding Hell Valley in the Land of Hot Water.
Instead,
The fact that this Uchiha brat was cooperating with an heiress from a prominent Kirigakure bloodline clan
Was far more intriguing to him.
But at the moment, he had other priorities. Without further preamble, he turned to Tsukasa and asked coldly,
"I've received intelligence that a doctor has been traveling with you."
"Hooded figure, gray hair, yellow medical coat."
"Tell me—where is he now?"
Hearing this, Tsukasa thought to himself: As expected.
Shinnō had saved his life, after all, so he naturally wouldn't betray the man's location.
He simply exchanged a cold glance with Orochimaru, scoffed, and replied,
"I don't know."
As a high-ranking member of Root and Danzo's right hand, Orochimaru naturally held animosity toward the Uchiha clan.
Furthermore, if Orochimaru attacked him at this moment, it would likely be dismissed as an unfortunate accident.
After all, this man was temperamental, murderous when provoked, and utterly devoted to his twisted scientific research.
It wouldn't be surprising if he suddenly decided to capture an Uchiha as an experimental subject on a whim.
So at this moment, Tsukasa wasn't afraid of him attempting murder.
"We have plot armor insurance, so we can speak with confidence!"
Hearing this defiant response, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint gradually rising in his golden serpentine pupils.
[Orochimaru believes you're courting death.]
"Is that so?" He sneered, extending his unnaturally long tongue to lick the corner of his lips, his gaze toward Tsukasa becoming increasingly predatory.
"I hope you can maintain that tough attitude... later."
Tsukasa shook his head, smiled faintly, and opened his crimson Sharingan, meeting the Sannin's gaze calmly.
"I've always preferred taking the hard stance over the soft one."
"What's the matter, Orochimaru? Planning to attack me?"
As Tsukasa finished speaking,
The atmosphere subtly shifted,
Growing tense as if gunpowder was about to ignite at any moment.
Hearing Tsukasa address him by name without even the courtesy of an honorific,
Orochimaru's smile grew even colder and more sinister. His
Golden vertical pupils were now completely devoid of warmth—nothing but frigid calculation.
He stared at Tsukasa as if examining a future corpse.
[Orochimaru wants to dissect your brain and study it.]
End of Chapter 63
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