Chapter 216 : Stand Above Mortals!!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's true target was actually the First Hokage and the Second Hokage!

The Five Release: Great Combo Technique wasn't intended to defeat them, but to disrupt the bodies reanimated by the Reanimation Jutsu, creating an opportunity to break free from their control.

"Not good… this could go badly!" 

The instant Orochimaru realized this, he caught a glimpse of a shadow out of the corner of his eye. 

A blue figure suddenly appeared right behind him, bypassing the protection of the Susanoo barrier as if it were nothing. 

"Flying Thunder God Slash!"

A sharp killing intent filled the air as the blade gleamed like lightning, cutting through the air with terrifying speed. 

The atmosphere itself seemed to split as the blade moved, and Orochimaru's mind was instantly flooded with a powerful sense of imminent death.

Just as Orochimaru was about to be beheaded, Uchiha Sogetsu, as if anticipating the danger, struck out with two fingers shaped like a sword, moving just as fast as the blade.

*Clang!*

The short blade collided with Sogetsu's fingers, creating a burst of sparks. 

"Wind Release: Decapitation Blade!"

Sogetsu's five fingers curled slightly, gathering the surrounding air to form a thin, sharp wind blade. In one smooth motion, he slashed upward, bisecting the attacker at the waist.

Only now, as he finally reacted, did Orochimaru see who had tried to ambush him—it was none other than the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. A cold bead of sweat rolled down Orochimaru's forehead.

"That was close… just a little more, and I'd have lost my head!"

Clicking his tongue in irritation, Tobirama, seeing his attack had missed, showed no hesitation. Dragging his severed torso, he teleported away again with the Flying Thunder God Technique, waiting for his body to regenerate.

The three Hokages now stood side by side, watching Orochimaru from within Susanoo's defense.

"So close…" 

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed with regret, then quietly said, "Teacher, Lord First, I'll have to rely on you two now."

"Alright, go rest for a bit, Sarutobi," Tobirama replied as his body fully regenerated, pure killing intent radiating from his eyes. Chakra surged within him, causing the ground around him to crumble under the pressure.

It was clear that the Second Hokage had been thoroughly enraged by Orochimaru's actions.

"Big Brother, I'll leave that brat to you."

Tobirama spoke coolly, then walked forward with slow, deliberate steps.

"You're Uchiha Sogetsu, right?" 

The First Hokage looked at the person inside the Susanoo, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. He chuckled lightly and said, "You look a lot like an old friend of mine. It's been a long time since I've seen a Susanoo." 

Unfortunately, Uchiha Sogetsu, controlled by someone, showed no expression and didn't react at all. 

"Heh, I almost forgot," 

The First Hokage's eyes showed disappointment as he shook his head and sighed. "Oh well, you're the descendant of my dear friend. I won't make things difficult for you." 

*Thud!* 

He clapped his hands together and shouted: 

"Wood Style: Advent of the Tree World!" 

Boom! 

The ground violently shook as massive tree roots and stems erupted from the earth, breaking through the rock layers. 

Quickly, fueled by almost overwhelming chakra, the roots and branches of the trees began to grow at an astonishing rate, spreading wildly within the barrier! 

"Is this the legendary Wood Style jutsu?" 

Inside the Susanoo, Orochimaru looked at the thick roots and stems rapidly spreading across the barrier, growing into a massive forest. His pupils shrank, and he could feel the overwhelming vitality—something even he found terrifying. 

"Get rid of these things quickly!" 

As the roots and branches began to coil around the Susanoo, Orochimaru immediately gave the order. 

Uchiha Sogetsu, controlling the Susanoo, swung the giant golden sword and sliced through all the roots and branches that tried to ensnare him. 

But no matter how fast he cut, the trees grew even faster! 

Suddenly, a root appeared from beneath the Susanoo, wrapping around Orochimaru's ankle. 

By the time he noticed, the root was already pulling him out of the Susanoo with great force, throwing him away.

"It's bad, I've been focused on the present!" 

Orochimaru's pupils contracted, and he quickly opened his mouth, releasing a shadow. 

Whoosh! 

At almost the same time, a sharp short blade slashed down. 

The head rolled off, but Senju Tobirama didn't show any signs of joy. Instead, he turned his gaze to the shadow that had flown out, seeing a drenched Orochimaru with his lower body transformed into a snake, swiftly fleeing into the forest. He sneered coldly, "Substitution technique, huh? Your sensory skills are sharp, but how long can you run?" 

Then, he accelerated and chased after him. 

On the other side, Uchiha Sogetsu attempted to save Orochimaru, but before he could take a step, the First Hokage suddenly blocked his way and grinned at him, "Sorry, I can't let you pass." 

"Get out of the way!" 

He controlled his Susanoo, gripping his sword and gathering strength for a heavy downward strike. 

In an instant, a storm of wind wrapped around the sword's tip, creating a massive wave, violently cutting through the air and sending shockwaves in all directions. 

"Wood Style: All-Encompassing Forest Technique!" 

The First Hokage brought his palms together. As the ground shattered, enormous wooden hands appeared. 

Clang! 

The palms closed, trapping the descending sword perfectly. 

The residual force of the sword cut a deep trench into the earth, creating a ravine dozens of meters long. The explosion of wind howled, producing a sharp, eerie sound. 

The Susanoo, trapped by the palms, struggled to break free. But seeing the First Hokage change his hand signs again, he shouted: 

"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique!" 

In an instant, the thick vines surrounding them transformed into a lifelike wooden dragon, which wrapped tightly around the Susanoo, binding it completely. 

The more the Susanoo struggled, the stronger the binding power of the wood dragon became. Moreover, the chakra armor began to show signs of cracking under the pressure. 

But the most terrifying part of this technique was that the wood dragon could also absorb chakra. Realizing this, Uchiha Sogetsu acted decisively and dismissed his Susanoo. His left eye's Mangekyo Sharingan spun rapidly. 

Clearly, he planned to settle this with his eye technique! 

"Sorry, kid." 

The First Hokage seemed to have anticipated this, grinning as he said, "I'm not going to let you use your Mangekyo Sharingan." 

The Mangekyo Sharingan techniques of the Uchiha clan were often troublesome to deal with, and the First Hokage just so happened to be someone who hated trouble. 

So, he decided to be a bit 'rough.' 

"Kid, don't blame me when you wake up," the First Hokage thought to himself, then brought his palms together again. Black and green markings began to appear on his face, eyes, and brows.

In an instant, the First Hokage's aura changed completely, as if connected to the heavens and earth. The already terrifying chakra surged even more under the watchful gaze of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Senjutsu: Myōjin Gate!"

A massive red torii suddenly descended from the sky.

Uchiha Sogetsu quickly tried to retreat, but his ankle was caught by spreading roots. He used Wind Release to shred the obstructing vines, but was delayed for a moment.

And that moment decided the outcome.

The red torii crashed down with a thunderous roar, pinning Uchiha Sogetsu beneath it.

"Don't worry, kid."

The First Hokage's face returned to its normal expression as he looked at the Uchiha pinned under the torii. He smiled faintly and said, "The Myōjin Gate will only suppress your chakra. I don't want to harm a hero of Konoha, so... you can stay here and wait."

The battle here had come to an end.

On the other side, Orochimaru, despite his strange ninjutsu, was still unable to hold his ground against Senju Tobirama. He was forced into a dead end.

"It's over, Orochimaru."

Senju Tobirama held a sharp short sword to Orochimaru's neck and said coldly, "Your ambitions end here. The rest of your days... will be spent in a prison cell, living out your life."

For someone like Orochimaru, who had publicly betrayed the village, the best punishment wasn't death, but to make him repent for his actions in the endless darkness of prison.

However, even though Orochimaru was cornered and his life was now in someone else's hands, he showed no fear. Instead, a faint smile played at the corners of his lips, as if everything was still under his control.

"Heh, the time has come…"

"What... did you say?"

Senju Tobirama frowned, feeling uneasy. Orochimaru's calm attitude seemed as though he still had a trick up his sleeve.

"What I mean is…"

Orochimaru's eyes showed a hint of regret as he looked at the Second Hokage. A strange smile appeared on his cold face as he said, "It's time... to say goodbye."

Realizing something was wrong, Senju Tobirama decisively slashed with his short sword.

However, an unexpected scene unfolded. The sharp short sword slashed through, but there was no spray of blood as imagined, and Orochimaru's head was not severed.

Senju Tobirama's pupils narrowed. "What's going on here?"

No matter how many battles he'd fought, he had never seen such a strange ninjutsu. It was completely baffling!

Orochimaru seemed to… have become intangible!

Like a fleeting illusion, something that could be seen but not touched.

"Orochimaru… You've truly fallen!" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had just arrived, had a grim expression as he looked at his once-proud disciple with a heart full of sorrow.

"When did you… ever truly understand me?" 

Orochimaru's gaze was cold as he said lightly, "I've had enough of this suffocating emptiness. A limited life is the greatest constraint. But it's fine, because from now on… I will stand above mortals."

"The next time we meet…"

His black hair flew in the wind, and in Orochimaru's pale gold eyes, the figures of the two men reflected. He raised his lips into a mocking smile and said, "I… will shed this mortal body completely, like the white snake reincarnating, and walk the path to divinity!"

Then, his body slowly began to fade.

The next moment, right under their eyes, the culprit… Orochimaru mysteriously vanished into thin air!

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