Konoha: The Absolute Justice of the Uchiha

Chapter 170 The Unyielding Spirit of Absolute Justice! Orochimaru Panics

Minutes earlier, deep in the forest, the branches and leaves cut through the pale moonlight, which, combined with the light from the lava and flames behind, cast distorted and swaying shadows across the earth.

Orochimaru's figure moved swiftly through the forest like a ghost, his golden vertical pupils flashing with a cold, urgent expression in the dim light.

"To be an enemy of a junior from Konoha, and in the end only be able to flee in disgrace... Heh heh, how utterly disgraceful." Orochimaru muttered self-deprecatingly with a sinister expression, his voice hoarse and deep.

To buy time, he didn't hesitate to quickly form hand seals—Shadow Clone Technique!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang...

Dozens of puffs of white smoke exploded, and dozens of identical Orochimarus with sinister eyes instantly appeared behind him. Like a splitting swarm of snakes, they did not hesitate at all and immediately fled wildly in all directions, even in directions opposite to the real Orochimaru.

Each clone was moving non-stop while speeding along.

Some quickly scattered poisoned senbon needles, setting up wire traps that were difficult to see with the naked eye.

Some people quickly inscribed explosive symbols on tree trunks and rocks.

Some even tore open the scrolls to summon hissing swarms of venomous snakes, which then coiled up in the only path they could take...

The entire forest seemed to have become a giant and deadly trap, with chilling killing intent lurking in every corner.

If an ordinary ninja were to step into this place, they would likely perish quickly. However, all the traps Orochimaru set up were merely to delay Uchiha Izumi's pursuit.

Because he knew these traps wouldn't be able to kill his opponent.

"Ten minutes...no, maybe only eight minutes!"

Orochimaru licked his dry, cracked lips, feeling the burning pain in his lungs.

"As long as I can create enough distance, he will never be able to catch up with me again."

As he spoke, a strong sense of annoyance and humiliation welled up in his heart.

Orochimaru thought that his multiple preparations would be enough to suppress or even capture this "container" with amazing potential.

However, the power displayed by Uchiha Izumi far exceeded Orochimaru's worst expectations.

"Ha, I was careless... I completely misjudged his growth rate..."

This familiar sense of defeat involuntarily reminded him of the crushing defeat he suffered years ago when he coveted those divine eyes.

The overwhelming power emanating from the Rinnegan of that Akatsuki leader is strikingly similar to that of this righteous brat who is relentlessly pressing forward.

They also possess powers that transcend common sense.

The same applies to thinking...

Paranoid and extreme.

"Ha... Perfect timing. The Akatsuki are also planning to hunt down Uchiha Izumi... Let them fight like dogs. No matter who wins or loses, I'll remain calm and collected."

"Uchiha Izumi's corpse will eventually fall into my hands, with only a negligible price to pay."

"If that brat manages to win by chance, the Akatsuki will be severely weakened, which would be a huge benefit for me to break free from their control."

anyway.

He's not at a loss!

Although his current situation is somewhat embarrassing, Orochimaru still feels that he has won. He dares to predict that Uchiha Ikezumi's future situation will definitely be even more embarrassing than his current one.

But at this moment.

call out--! ! !
A sharp, ear-piercing sound suddenly exploded from very close behind me!
The deadly warning was like a cold icicle piercing Orochimaru's spine!
His body, which had undergone countless modifications, softened beyond human limits in a fraction of a second—his entire torso bent backwards as if it had lost its bones, and his head snapped back at an unbelievable angle.

The next instant, a visible, semi-transparent wind blade, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air, almost grazed his nose and his fluttering black hair.

Until it slashed fiercely into the dense forest dozens of meters ahead!

*Snap snap snap snap!*

Like a hot knife slicing through butter, dozens of towering trees that would take several people to encircle were cleanly cut in half, the cuts as smooth as mirrors.

The upper half of the tree trunk collapsed with a sickening groan.

"This is... the Wind-Cutting Technique?"

Orochimaru broke out in a cold sweat.

However, the deadly sense of crisis did not disappear; instead, it swarmed back from behind like a leech.

The intense, chilling killing intent almost froze the surrounding air.

Without the slightest hesitation, Orochimaru flipped his wrist, and the Kusanagi sword was back in his hand.

He didn't even have time to turn around completely. Relying solely on his beast-like instincts, he frantically poured chakra into the sword, instantly covering the blade with an incomparably sharp wind-style chakra!
A chilling arc of light suddenly appeared in the dim forest.

puff!

The dull thud of a blade slicing through flesh rang out. The Kusanagi sword had precisely cleaved through the neck of the pursuer behind them, slicing off half of Uchiha Izumi's head.

However, the expected splatter of blood did not occur.

The cut surface of the "wound" had no bones or muscles, only a reddish, viscous substance, like volcanic lava, slowly flowing and dripping.

It emitted scorching heat, instantly igniting the grass blades it touched, and even the soil on the ground spontaneously combusted.

Orochimaru's pupils suddenly contracted.

Alarm bells rang in my heart.

The next second, a terrifying fist made of pure magma, larger than a human head, with terrifying heat capable of melting steel and howling wind, rapidly enlarged in his field of vision!
The air was distorted by the high temperature, and he could even clearly see a few strands of hair on his forehead instantly curl and turn black!
"hiss!"

Orochimaru let out a non-human hiss, his body suddenly dropping downwards in an extremely awkward posture, narrowly avoiding the devastating magma punch.

At the same time, his neck shrank back strangely, like a rubber band.

Then, at a tricky angle that defies human anatomy, it bypassed Uchiha Ikezumi's magma-transformed arm like a venomous snake hunting its prey.

The large mouth, filled with sharp teeth, bit down hard on the other's seemingly vulnerable neck.

Ouch!
There was no sensation of biting into a solid object, only the harsh sound of a red-hot iron being pressed onto an ice cube.

An unimaginable, terrifyingly high temperature, enough to instantly carbonize flesh and blood, spread wildly through his teeth and mouth.

Orochimaru didn't even have time to feel the excruciating pain. His clenched jaw, the inside of his mouth, his tongue, and even the front of his throat completely lost sensation the moment they came into contact with the magma.

The nerves were killed instantly.

The tissue was directly carbonized!
All he could see was the part below his lips, crumbling and peeling off sparsely like burnt charcoal!
But in that split second of contact, Orochimaru had already achieved his goal.

Dense, writhing black seals, like ink dripping into clear water, surged wildly from the bite wound on Uchiha Izumi's neck and began to spread rapidly along his magma-like body.

"Success!" Orochimaru thought with a sinister sense of triumph.

He abruptly pulled back his half-destroyed head and swung the Kusanagi sword without hesitation!
puff!
The sharp blade cleanly and decisively slit his own throat.

Crimson blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the withered leaves beneath their feet.

However, from that horrific gaping wound gushing blood, a brand new head covered in slime and blood struggled to emerge!

His wet hair clung to his cheeks, and his new skin was deathly pale. Orochimaru took a deep breath of the scorching air, which smelled of blood and sulfur, through his new mouth.

"Huh...huh..."

He slowly straightened up, his movements carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

Behind him, the old body, headless and resembling a tattered sack, silently slumped down.

"Two molts..."

"That's quite a drain on resources..."

He reached out and brushed his wet, blood-stained long hair away from his newly formed golden snake eyes, his gaze fixed on Uchiha Ikezumi, who seemed to be held still by the power of the cursed seal.

"Wow...that's amazing speed and insight."

Orochimaru's voice, though breathless, was still filled with a chilling coldness: "I never imagined that the resurrected First and Second Hokage would be so utterly vulnerable before you... Even my Shadow Clone Technique couldn't delay you for a second; you instantly locked onto my true form..."

"It seems my technique is still far from perfect, and I haven't even been able to reproduce one-tenth of the power of the two Hokage at their peak. Otherwise... holding you off for half an hour should have been a piece of cake."

"Even killing you is not impossible."

He licked the newborn's lips: "However, you were still careless..."

Just then, Orochimaru's words came to an abrupt halt, as if an invisible hand had choked him.

The golden vertical pupils suddenly contracted into thin lines due to extreme shock.

Before his eyes, Uchiha Izumi, whose body had been infused with the power of the cursed seal, began to unnaturally flow and scatter like a melting candle!
A portion of the magma, enveloped in dense black curse marks, separated from the main body on its own, like rejected filth.

With a "plop," it dripped onto the ground, forming a pool of scorching lava that continuously emitted black smoke.

The re-formed Uchiha Izumi's original body, with its magma form, was as smooth as new, without a trace of the cursed seal!
Elemental stripping?
He manipulated the Lava Release chakra, discarding the cursed seal along with the magma material that contained it.
"Damn it!"

Orochimaru was shocked. This Uchiha brat's development and application of bloodline limits had reached an unbelievable level.

Pure physical attacks are ineffective, and even curse seals can be forcibly removed. Are you kidding me?
Does he have any weaknesses?
Is it only overwhelming power that can defeat him?
A strong sense of crisis prompted Orochimaru to make a decision instantly.

The tip of the Kusanagi sword in his hand suddenly pointed at Uchiha Ikezumi like the forked tongue of a venomous snake!
laugh--!
The sword instantly transformed into a silver-white streak that tore through the air, faster than the limits of visual perception, piercing through Uchiha Izumi's newly formed chest without any hindrance.

The lava continued to flow, but it still did not cause any real damage.

But this was just a feint.

Orochimaru had already completed a series of complex and dazzling hand seals in front of his chest, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

"Ninja Art: Snake Swallowing Technique!!!"

Without warning, the ground beneath Uchiha Ikezumi's feet trembled violently and bulged!
With a deafening roar and flying debris, a terrifying snake's mouth, large enough to swallow a house, burst from the ground, covered with ferocious fangs!

A foul stench filled the air, and thick saliva dripped to the ground with a sizzling, corrosive sound.

With lightning speed, the giant snake suddenly snapped its upper and lower jaws shut.

He swallowed Uchiha Izumi whole, along with a large amount of surrounding soil and rubble.

The giant snake's belly swelled up visibly, and a chilling "gurgling" sound came from inside—that was the frantic secretion of highly corrosive gastric acid, trying to dissolve its terrible prey.

However, the digestion process lasted less than a second.

Boom! ! !

A violent surge of magma erupted from the center of the giant serpent's bulging belly, the crimson magma bursting through the tough serpent skin like a volcanic eruption.

The enormous, psychic serpent was instantly blasted into countless charred fragments.

Amidst the scattered flames and thick smoke, Uchiha Ikezumi's figure stood up again, completely unharmed.

His eyes, as cold as ice, pierced through the billowing smoke and fragments of flesh, locking firmly onto Orochimaru.

The murderous intent in his eyes.

It has already solidified into a tangible form!
Orochimaru almost instinctively abruptly turned his gaze away, daring not to meet those eyes for even a moment.

He held the Kusanagi sword.

The tip of the sword trembled slightly.

As Uchiha Izumi's heavy, oppressive footsteps, accompanied by the sound of dripping lava, drew ever closer, Orochimaru could only retreat step by step.

Every step he took was on muddy ground mixed with the blood of summoned beasts.

"Tsk!"

Sensing that the situation was extremely bad, Orochimaru suddenly pulled out several specially made scrolls from his pocket and threw them forward.

The scroll unfurled automatically in mid-air with a "whoosh".

Orochimaru slammed his hands together again.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
After five huge plumes of white smoke flashed by, five grotesque missiles, gleaming with a metallic gleam and spewing scorching flames from their tails, appeared out of thin air—these were Orochimaru's usual hobby creations, and their technological sophistication was absolutely top-tier in the ninja world.

They slightly adjusted their direction in mid-air, emitting a sharp locking sound.

Then, with a deathly howl, it shot towards Uchiha Ikezumi like an arrow released from a bow.

Boom, boom! ! !

The deafening series of explosions instantly engulfed the area, blinding flames shot into the sky, and the violent shockwaves swept in all directions like giant hammers, uprooting the surrounding trees.

A scorching shockwave, carrying shrapnel and dirt, swept out like a storm. Even Orochimaru, far away, had to raise his arms to protect his head and face, his body staggering several steps backward from the shockwave.

Smoke and flames obscured all vision.

"Heh heh... Uchiha Ikezumi..."

Orochimaru was panting, his long hair was disheveled, and his brand-new clothes were tattered, making him look more disheveled than ever before.

He stared at the devastating epicenter of the explosion, his voice hoarse and sinister as he sneered, "You think I'm your only enemy? In the shadows of this ninja world... there are countless people coveting your life! Can you withstand the hunt of the dark world? The Akatsuki... they've got their eyes on you!"

While spouting threats of not backing down, he didn't hesitate to bite his thumb hard until it bled.

Blood gushes out instantly.

Orochimaru quickly took out a summoning scroll from his pocket, unfolded it, and pressed his bloodied thumb hard into the center of the scroll.

"Besides... you can't keep me here at all!"

Orochimaru tossed the scroll aside.

Clap your hands.

"Ninja Art: Reverse Summoning Technique!!!"

……

Meanwhile, deep within the sacred land of Ryuchi Cave, a giant purple serpent, which had been resting on a massive stone seat, suddenly opened its cruel and violent, icy vertical pupils.

A contractual connection that transcends space is instantly established; it can feel Orochimaru calling it.

But it wasn't a request for me to go and help in the battle.

It was Orochimaru calling for help!

"Hiss... Orochimaru?"

Manda's deep, greedy voice pierced through the barriers of time and space, resounding in Orochimaru's mind like muffled thunder: "Want me to save your life? A hundred sacrifices aren't enough! If you want me to drag you here... five hundred! And they must be living sacrifices! And they can't be older than thirty. If you're even one less... I'll devour you alive!"

"...They really are...insatiably greedy!"

Orochimaru's eyelid twitched violently.

Five hundred strong, healthy human sacrifices—that will keep him busy for quite some time.

After all, his subordinates had just been slaughtered by Uchiha Ikezumi, so he had no choice but to do it himself.

"……make a deal!"

Orochimaru was practically gritting his teeth.

He responded in his mind.

……

Inside the Dragon Cave, the Ten Thousand Snakes let out a satisfied hiss, opened their huge mouths, and bit off the tip of their own thick tongue!
Snake blood splattered out like raindrops, landing precisely on the ground.

A massive reverse spirit communication array was quickly sketched out!

The summoning array in Ryuchi Cave instantly connected with the summoning scroll in Orochimaru's hand, which was far away.

However, at this moment.

call out--

A golden chain, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, shot precisely toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's sense of danger instantly surged to its peak!

But it was too late to dodge.

puff!

The golden chain pierced through the snake's left shoulder without any resistance, like a red-hot steel needle piercing tofu, causing the snake to groan in pain.

"This is……"

Orochimaru felt a sense of unease.

"A sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan?!"

Orochimaru attempted to sever his left shoulder with the Kusanagi Sword, but it was too late. He only had time to raise his hand before a puff of white smoke enveloped him.

After the white smoke dissipated, the spot was completely empty.

Orochimaru was gone; the golden chain that pierced his shoulder was also gone.

However, what Orochimaru didn't know was that... Uchiha Izumi, at the other end of the golden chain, had also vanished without a trace along with him!

……

The air in Yongji Cave is extremely humid and sticky, filled with the fishy smell of snake molts that have accumulated over thousands of years, as well as a faint natural miasma.

“Huff… huff…”

The cold air, mixed with a strong fishy smell and miasma, rushed into Orochimaru's violently heaving chest like ice water.

He knelt on one knee on the cold stone platform where thousands of snakes coiled, one hand covering his still bleeding left shoulder, the other hand bracing against the slippery ground, panting heavily without regard for his image.

Cold sweat mixed with blood slid down his paper-pale cheeks, dripping onto the slimy rock surface.

"Heh heh... Finally, we've gotten rid of that righteous madman..."

In Orochimaru's eyes, Uchiha Ikezumi had transformed from a righteous brat into a righteous madman.

A wave of exhaustion, as if he had just escaped death, washed over him, and his nerves, which had been stretched to their limit, could finally relax a little. He breathed in greedily, even though the air was filthy, it represented safety at that moment.

"Hmph..." He forced a tired and twisted smile, his voice hoarse as he muttered to himself, "I've revealed too many of my trump cards to him today... It probably won't be so 'easy' when I see him again. That is, if he can survive the endless pursuit of the Akatsuki."

Orochimaru's so-called "ease" came at the cost of two skin molts, a large amount of chakra, countless clones, a meticulously laid trap, and the penetrating wound on his shoulder at this moment.

Anyone else would probably be dead already!
"Orochimaru."

A voice like a rumbling thunder, filled with undisguised mockery and greed, crashed down from above Orochimaru's head: "Tsk, I never thought you'd have such a pathetic day, like a stray dog ​​running back to its den."

Manda's enormous purple head slowly lowered, its cold, vertical pupils focusing like searchlights on the tiny Orochimaru.

“Remember, you promised five hundred living sacrifices, not a single one can be missing. And, it must be…”

But at that moment, Manda's words came to an abrupt halt!

Its massive head stiffened abruptly, and its cold, vertical pupils instantly contracted into dangerous slits.

Because an extremely unfamiliar presence, carrying a destructive and scorching aura, like a branding iron thrown into ice water, rudely intruded into the senses of the myriad snakes in this familiar area!
Its gaze instantly bypassed Orochimaru and locked onto a certain spot.

"Orochimaru!"

Manda's voice suddenly rose, filled with anger and vigilance: "Who did you bring in? Who is this brat? What's he doing in Ryuchi Cave?!"

This thunderous question pierced Orochimaru's relaxed nerves like a needle.

until now.

Orochimaru only belatedly realized...

The pungent sulfur smell, which should have dissipated with the reversal of spiritual communication, not only failed to lessen but lingered around my nose like a leech!

A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and he looked down sharply at his aching left shoulder.

The golden chain that pierced through the shoulder was still there!
The other end of the chain seemed to extend towards...

He looked in one direction in disbelief.

In the shadows, a figure stood silently, like a demon emerging from hell's lava. Crimson magma slowly flowed and dripped from his body, and the scorching heat continuously evaporated the surrounding moisture, causing the air to hiss.

The icy eyes of the lava figure pierced through the thin smoke.

Firmly pinned to Orochimaru!
"...Uchiha Ikezumi!"

Orochimaru's voice was distorted and twisted by extreme shock and absurdity.

The next second, Orochimaru instantly understood Uchiha Ikezumi's methods.

The cold, relieved smile on his face also disappeared.

His eyes held an unpredictable expression.

"You used a sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan to forcibly 'bind' your body to mine, thus deceiving the judgment of the Reverse Summoning Technique. In other words, you used my technique to make me bring you into Ryuchi Cave?!"

"bingo."

Uchiha Izumi finally spoke, his voice icy and devoid of any emotion, each word striking Orochimaru's soul: "I can reward you by making your death a little quicker."

The golden chains shattered instantly, and Uchiha Izumi raised his arm, which was dripping with magma, unleashing a torrent of killing intent.

Orochimaru's face turned extremely ugly.

Being targeted by this righteous madman who is so obsessed with justice is more disgusting than being bitten by the most venomous snake in the world.

Orochimaru was starting to wonder why the Third Hokage would leave such a madman in Konoha.
Isn't Sarutobi-sensei afraid of being attacked by Uchiha Ikezumi?

This guy doesn't seem like the type to take the Hokage seriously.

Suddenly, alarm bells went off in Orochimaru's mind.

Orochimaru's body exploded with speed beyond its limits as he slammed his feet against the ground.

Ignoring the excruciating pain from the tear in his left shoulder, he stumbled backward with a clumsy and awkward motion.

At the same time, Orochimaru immediately shouted at Manda, "Manda! He is the enemy I have encountered! If you kill this brat with me, I will immediately fulfill my promise of five hundred sacrifices. No! Not just five hundred sacrifices, but a thousand living sacrifices!"

Wanshe narrowed its eyes, its ferocity instantly ignited.

Its enormous snake tail, like a purple steel whip that appeared out of nowhere, lashed out at Orochimaru with a piercing whistle that tore through the air, at a speed beyond visual perception!

Snapped!
The snake's tail precisely wrapped around Orochimaru's waist as he flew backward. The immense force caused Orochimaru to grunt, but it also pulled him away from his spot with great difficulty!

Just as Orochimaru was swept away—

Boom! ! !

Where Uchiha Ikezumi stood, the earth suddenly exploded like a volcano!

A torrent of lava, containing destructive power and carrying terrifyingly high temperatures and shockwaves capable of incinerating everything, roared forward.

Wherever the terrifying lava passed, the slippery rocks were instantly melted into dark red, glassy forms, and the giant snake was reduced to ashes.

Even the ancient miasma that permeated the air was instantly ignited.

A stone forest area that was originally covered with moss and strange fungi was instantly transformed into a lava inferno filled with bubbling bubbles and black smoke!

On the other side, Manda used its tail to firmly place Orochimaru on its massive head.

The cold, vertical pupils stared intently at the newly formed lava inferno and the figure bathed in the center of the magma.

The monstrous serpent slowly raised its massive upper body, its enormous shadow covering almost half of the platform, looking down condescendingly at the tiny intruder.

The deep voice rolled like muffled thunder, carrying the hissing sound unique to snakes and a chilling killing intent: "Hiss... You ignorant brat! How dare you defile the sacred land of Ryuchi Cave with ninjutsu!"

The snake's tongue flickered dangerously, and eerie green venom seeped from the tips of its fangs.

Even without Orochimaru's "sacrifice" encouragement.

Manda also became unusually irritable and angry.

"Even if I were to devour you alive today, even if I were to digest your bones completely, for causing such devastating damage to Ryuchi Cave... the White Snake Sage would not utter a single word of blame against me!"

Uchiha Ikezumi slightly raised his head.

He looked at the enormous Manda.

"You... are also a red-named villain."

"Looks like we've come to the right place."

Uchiha Ikezumi said indifferently.

……

……

(End of this chapter)