The battle started quickly, and ended even faster.
In less than three minutes, the entire interior of the northeast base had no survivors apart from Sora.
A thick smell of blood permeated the cold air, mixing with the original scent of disinfectant to form a nauseating odor.
Sora dispersed the Lightning Release Chakra Mode and partial beast transformation covering his body, reverting to human form.
His expression was blank as he swept his gaze over the devastated base, his eyes finally settling on the sealed chamber emitting a special energy fluctuation.
He stepped up to the chamber door, finding it secured with a complex electronic lock and sealing formula.
Sora simply glanced at it for a few moments before placing his chakra-covered hand directly on it.
"Super Strength!"
Boom!
The heavy metal door was violently blasted open, twisting and collapsing inward.
The scene inside the chamber came into view.
In the very center was a cylindrical, transparent cultivation tank.
The tank was filled with pale green nutrient fluid, and suspended within the fluid were several slightly pulsating chunks of tissue with a peculiar wood-like grain.
An essence of pure and vast life force, along with a trace of the oppressive aura belonging to Senju Hashirama, the "God of Shinobi," emanated from these tissue chunks.
Even separated by the cultivation tank, Sora could clearly sense the astonishing power contained within.
Wood Release cells!
Standing before the cultivation tank, a genuine smile finally appeared on Sora's face beneath the mask.
This was... an unexpected surprise!
After a careful look, Sora took out a blank storage scroll from his robe. His hands quickly formed seals, then he pressed one palm onto the scroll's surface.
Poof!
Accompanied by a puff of white smoke, the cultivation tank holding the Wood Release cells was perfectly sealed into the scroll.
"Orochimaru is probably going to vomit blood over this."
Sora laughed heartily.
The precious materials Orochimaru had painstakingly collected and cultivated were now benefiting him instead.
This felt good.
After securing his most valuable trophy, Sora continued without pause.
He packed up all visible paper documents, experimental notes, and data disks, sorting them into categories and stuffing them into several other prepared scrolls.
Orochimaru's expertise in biotechnology and forbidden techniques was top tier. The value of these materials was inestimable. Even if only one tenth of it proved useful, it would save him a great deal of trial and error time.
Next, Sora walked over to the corpse of the jonin who had been instantly killed and sealed it into a scroll.
The Impure World Reincarnation technique, though evil, could produce miraculous effects in certain situations.
A jonin-level combatant was not to be wasted.
As for the chunin corpses... Sora did not even glance at them.
They were too weak. Even if reincarnated, they would only be cannon fodder, a waste of chakra, and held no value.
...
Having finished all this, Sora once again surveyed this base filled with the aura of blood and sin.
It was time to make this place completely disappear.
His figure flickered. He swiftly retraced his path along the original route. After a few leaps, he rushed out of the fissure and emerged into the open air above.
Sora hovered mid air, took a deep breath, his chest slightly expanding.
The next moment, he opened his mouth and exhaled.
"Boro Breath!"
Boom!!!
A massively thick pillar of scorching light erupted from his mouth, pouring precisely into the fissure below!
Sky piercing flames and thick smoke billowed from the fissure and the cracks in the surrounding ground, dyeing half the sky a deep red.
All traces, whether of battle or experiments, were utterly erased under this single attack.
Having accomplished this, a flash of lightning crackled around Sora. Activating Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he transformed into a streak of light, speeding fiercely towards the direction of the dense forest where he had previously hidden.
...
Not long after, Sora returned to the top of the large tree serving as his temporary base.
He suppressed his presence and waited quietly.
As time passed, one Shadow Clone after another dissolved itself upon completing its mission, transmitting information and memories back to the main body.
Scenes of the other four bases being destroyed flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
One base's guards attempted a desperate last stand, only to be crushed by the overpowering force of the Shadow Clones infused with Dragon Vein chakra.
Another base was in the midst of conducting horrifying human experiments. The Shadow Clone unhesitatingly ended the suffering of those experimental subjects and reduced everything to ashes.
Then there was the base also housing a jonin, located underground in the center of the Land of Rice. Its resistance was the most fierce, even triggering some self destruct mechanisms. Yet, under the Shadow Clone's relentless assault and scavenging efforts, important materials and items from the core area were still successfully seized before the entire base was transformed into ruins by a massive explosion.
All five bases, none escaped!
All operations were launched simultaneously at exactly 12:00 noon. With the force of a thunderbolt, the destruction and scavenging were completed within an extremely short time frame, allowing no time for any reaction or message sending.
By evening, four figures flew over one after another from different directions, landing in the area around the tree where Sora was.
These were the four Shadow Clones carrying the most important trophies.
"Main body, mission accomplished, packing up."
One Shadow Clone threw a scroll over.
"Tsk tsk, you didn't see it. Orochimaru really collected a lot of good stuff in that base. He's going to feel the sting from this one for a long time, right?"
Another Shadow Clone also tossed a scroll, chiming in.
"More than just a sting, I think he'll vomit three mouthfuls of blood when he finds out. We cleaned the place out completely, didn't leave him a single scrap."
"Serves him right. How dare he scheme against us. Consider this a down payment on the interest."
"Right. Let him know we're not to be trifled with."
The Shadow Clones bantered back and forth, their tones filled with mockery and schadenfreude towards Orochimaru.
Sora's main body caught the four scrolls. They felt weighty in his hands, containing not just the experimental data from each base, but possibly some precious materials as well.
He carefully sorted and stored these scrolls. They were valuable resources for future development.
"Well done," Sora nodded to the four Shadow Clones.
"Of course."
"Take a look at whose clones we are."
The Shadow Clones looked quite pleased with themselves. Then they glanced at each other and laughed in unison.
"Well then... we'll be going first."
Poof. Poof. Poof. Poof.
Four puffs of white smoke flashed as the Shadow Clones simultaneously dissolved, their final memories and sensations instantly returning to the main body.
A massive stream of information flooded into Sora's mind. He narrowed his eyes slightly, rapidly digesting the complete process and gains of this operation.
A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes. He glanced towards the direction of Konoha, then towards the front line battlefield with Iwagakure.
The corner of his mouth curled into a cold arc.
Orochimaru, I hope you enjoy this "gift."
Without further delay, Sora turned and transformed into a blurry black shadow, speeding fiercely towards the direction of Ascension Island in the Land of Whirlpools.
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