Pedomaru: Monster.

Orochimaru's movements froze for a moment.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise.

He continued to search the area with his tongue flicking out, as if he were looking for something.

"Don't look around," came the calm voice again. "I'm right behind you."

Orochimaru, still disguised as a woman, whipped his head around, his golden eyes locking onto the figure standing behind him.

A man, wearing sunglasses and a windbreaker, was perched on a tree branch. He hadn't noticed him earlier.

It was Kirito, Naruto's teacher.

"You found me already?" Orochimaru rasped in a hoarse voice.

Kirito didn't respond, only giving a faint smile.

At that moment, Orochimaru fully understood why Kirito had been staring at him earlier. It wasn't because of his beauty in disguise, but because Kirito had already discovered his true identity.

No wonder Danzo had gone to such lengths to have him killed.

As Orochimaru saw Kirito's calm demeanor, the surprise in his eyes melted into cold amusement.

"Don't touch my disciples. You can do whatever you want with everyone else," Kirito spoke again, his voice low and stern.

Orochimaru flicked his snake-like tongue and licked his fingers. "Oh, which disciple are you talking about?"

He pointed at Naruto and the others, a provocative gleam in his eyes. "How do you intend to stop me?"

Kirito remained silent, his expression as steady as ever.

When his provocation didn't seem to have an effect, Orochimaru continued, "What will you do if I attack them? What can you do with your title, 'Golden Flash'? I wonder if you're as strong as they say."

Orochimaru's mocking words carried the belief that he could do whatever he pleased, no matter the rumors surrounding Kirito's strength.

"Then you can try," Kirito's cold voice cut through the tension.

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Hahaha… Let's see. Danzo promised me a favor if I kill you. But before I kill you, I'd like to have a little fun."

With those words, Orochimaru leapt from the tree, diving toward Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura with blinding speed.

A series of air-breaking sounds filled the space as he plummeted.

Naruto and his friends, still recovering from the tension, stood up.

"Sasuke, what is that thing?" Naruto asked, pointing at the descending figure with confusion.

"Idiot, that's the enemy!" Sakura snapped.

"No, that's not what I meant…" Naruto trailed off, squinting. "Is that a human, or a snake?"

From their perspective, Orochimaru's neck elongated as he fell, his mouth spitting out snake-like tongues, and his upper body seemed to transform into something resembling a giant python.

Before Naruto and the others could process the sight, Orochimaru glanced back at the spot where Kirito had been standing moments ago.

Why wasn't Kirito reacting? Had he not noticed the attack?

But Orochimaru soon forgot about that, his focus returning to Sasuke. The chakra and Sharingan within Sasuke were the perfect vessel for him to be reborn into.

His excitement grew, his smile becoming more ferocious.

Sasuke, now with two tomoe in each of his Sharingan, saw through Orochimaru's disguise. Though he didn't know who this woman was, it was clear that this was no ordinary ninja. Even Mitarashi Anko, the senior ninja, hadn't seen through the deception.

"Naruto, run! Get the senior ninjas!" Sasuke pushed Naruto and Sakura out of harm's way.

The gravity of the situation hit them all at once, and though they wanted to fight, it was too late.

Before they could react, Orochimaru was almost upon them.

Then, just as Orochimaru reached them, Kirito made his move.

He raised his arm, pointing his finger at the descending Orochimaru.

A brilliant golden light shot from his finger.

Before Orochimaru could reach Sasuke, a loud *bang* echoed through the air.

Orochimaru's head flew from his body, rolling to the ground.

His body dropped lifelessly, but it wasn't over yet.

The head quickly decayed into a pile of black liquid, and the headless body twitched.

To everyone's shock, the body reanimated. It stood up, and the neck began to writhe as if it was regrowing.

In mere seconds, Orochimaru's head reformed, but this time, it had a new appearance. His golden vertical pupils flashed in anger and surprise.

The sight left Naruto staring, his jaw slack. "What the hell is this?"

"Damn…" he muttered, unable to fully comprehend what he had just witnessed.

Sakura was still in shock, while Sasuke narrowed his eyes, searching for any clue as to what was happening.

Kirito's calm voice broke the silence. "Do you want to try again?"

Orochimaru, now visibly flustered, snorted coldly. He quickly made hand seals and slammed his hands on the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu, Ten Thousand Snakes!"

Orochimaru had no intention of underestimating Kirito any longer. He summoned his most powerful beast—Ten Thousand Snakes—a massive, purple serpent with two pairs of horns that emerged from the ground.

Orochimaru stood confidently on the snake's head, looking down at Kirito and the others.

The sight of the massive creature didn't faze Kirito. He simply spoke, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Speed is weight."

"Have you ever been kicked by light, Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru ignored the words, but his eyes glinted with mockery.

Then, in a flash of golden light, Kirito vanished.

Before anyone could react, he appeared before the head of the Ten Thousand Snakes. His right leg transformed into a streak of golden brilliance as he delivered a powerful kick.

Orochimaru, standing on the snake's head, felt a chill run through him. Without a moment's hesitation, he cast a substitution jutsu, disappearing just before the kick landed.

The ground shook with a deafening *boom* as the massive snake's head exploded, blood and chunks of flesh splattering through the air.

Orochimaru's substitution jutsu had barely saved him.

The snake writhed and gasped for air, its eyes wide with confusion. Its head had seemingly vanished into thin air.

Orochimaru stared in horror, his mind racing.

'What kind of monster is this… this monster!'