Orochimaru's shoulder was grazed by the enemy's blade, drawing just the faintest trace of blood. Such a minor wound was nothing to him—he didn't even bother to use his Substitution-Skin Shedding Technique of the Substitution Stream.
By contrast, his opponent was in dire straits—multiple venomous serpents had sunk their fangs into his neck, shoulders, and limbs. It was obvious he wouldn't survive for long.
"Mutora (OC), why attack me?" Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed on the one he called Mutora, a base manager.
This man had once been an orphan—handpicked and cultivated by Orochimaru himself. Normally, he revered Orochimaru with fanatical loyalty, a true devotee.
Why would such a person suddenly turn on him?
And why had his strength increased so drastically?
Orochimaru found it baffling. Karin was even more perplexed, because throughout the assault, she hadn't sensed the slightest hint of malice from the attacker. If she hadn't seen him strike with her own eyes, she never would have believed Mutora had attacked Orochimaru.
Crack, crack, crack—
The man called Mutora suddenly emitted a string of bizarre sounds.
Before Orochimaru and Karin's astonished gaze, cracks began splitting across his face. Where the snakes had bitten, large patches of skin peeled away.
The "man" was sloughing off his outer layer. In moments, his true form was revealed.
This wasn't Mutora at all—
It was a puppet.
Such a masterful disguise.
Because it wasn't a Transformation Jutsu, it had fooled even their sensory abilities. Puppets themselves bore no malice, and so Karin hadn't been able to sense the murderous intent of the true controller.
Clack, clack, clack—
Several more puppets appeared at the laboratory doors.
"It doesn't seem to be Sasori's work… I didn't expect another top-class puppeteer to emerge in the ninja world." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he studied the constructs, searching for a clue to the puppeteer's real body.
But to his surprise, the manipulator had hidden themselves so well that even he could detect no opening.
They were deeply concealed.
"Could it be the Sand?" Orochimaru tested, probing for a reaction. When none came, he mused aloud: "No… you don't seem like Sand-nin."
"Orochimaru, there's no need to test them. These puppets won't answer you."
A voice suddenly echoed through the chamber.
From the ground, a figure slowly emerged.
"That voice?" Orochimaru's pupils narrowed. "I assumed it was Sunagakure's doing—but it turns out to be you of Iwagakure."
The speaker, an elite jōnin of the Stone—one of their strongest, ranking only below Akatsuchi, Kurotsuchi, and Kitsuchi.
"What do you mean by this?" Orochimaru asked, momentarily taken aback.
"It won't hurt to tell you—we've come to invite you to our side."
Another figure rose from the earth. His face remained shrouded in shadow, even Karin couldn't make out his features.
The sight made Orochimaru's expression shift. "Oh? You? When did you ally yourself with the Stone?"
He clearly recognized the man, and even spoke with some familiarity.
"Not just the Stone," the shadowed man corrected coldly. "Our organization is far greater than you imagine. Orochimaru, you'd do well to consider the consequences."
Threaten me? With just two jōnin and a handful of puppets?
Do you fools even realize who you're speaking to?
One of the Legendary Sannin!
In his raspy, iconic voice, Orochimaru replied:
"Oh? And if I refuse?"
For there was nothing he loved more than saying "No" to those who thought themselves above him.
"Orochimaru, this isn't up to you," the shadowed man's voice hardened. "Today, you will come with us."
"Hehehe… have you forgotten my terror so quickly?" Orochimaru sneered. Even with his arms sealed, making ninjutsu more difficult, he wasn't about to be intimidated by a pair of Stone jōnin and some puppets.
He was about to strike when suddenly—his body stiffened.
Poison?
In an instant, Orochimaru understood the situation. So that was why they had been so confident—they had poisoned him.
But what poison could possibly incapacitate me?
His jaws distended grotesquely, and pale hands reached out from his gaping mouth. With a wet, slithering sound, another Orochimaru crawled forth, leaving a trail of mucus behind.
Substitution Stream: Shedding Technique!
The poison should be purged now… wait—how can this be?
Just as he prepared to counterattack, his legs buckled beneath him. A wave of dizziness swept through his body.
Instead of being neutralized, the poison had only grown more virulent after his shedding.
"Fall! Fall! Fall!"
The shadowed man cried out in manic glee.
With a final thud, Orochimaru collapsed heavily to the ground.
"This is a toxin crafted by Kuro-sama himself—not a material poison, but one born of Yin–Yang Release." The man laughed with pride.
"It cannot be neutralized by physical means."
"It was prepared specifically for you."
"So, Orochimaru-sama… be a good guest and come with us."
With a wave of his hand, he commanded the Ōtsutsuki puppets:
"Take him away!"
Even though Orochimaru lay weakened, the man dared not touch him directly. No matter his bravado, this was one of the Legendary Sannin—who knew what other tricks he might still have hidden?
"Orochimaru-sama!"
At last, Karin—who had been silent—cried out. Her hands glowed with green healing chakra as she rushed forward to aid him.
In a flash, she appeared before one of the Ōtsutsuki puppets, driving her fist squarely into its head.
Boom!
Shards scattered everywhere.
With a single blow, Karin shattered the puppet's head completely.
"What terrifying strength!" the shadowed man flinched. He knew well how durable those constructs were—harder than steel. Yet even that hadn't withstood Karin's monstrous punch.
It's as if Tsunade herself were standing before me…
"Stop her!" Bun'ya shouted.
Several more Ōtsutsuki puppets swarmed toward Karin.
But she simply sneered: "Raw power makes miracles!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, the puppets were smashed apart under her fists.
Too savage—monstrous strength was the natural nemesis of puppetry. The Great Ninja Wars had proven it time and again.
One might think she was desperately trying to rescue Orochimaru—but no.
"Orochimaru-sama!" she cried again, her voice carrying.
"Over here!"
Outside the laboratory, the sound of rushing footsteps grew louder—Orochimaru's subordinates were on their way. The thunder of Karin's fists served as a beacon to guide them.
Leaping clear of the encirclement, Karin pointed at the Ōtsutsuki puppets and shouted:
"Hurry and stop them! Orochimaru-sama is being taken by these monsters!"
She had been stalling all along, waiting for reinforcements.
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