The vast land stretched endlessly under the sunlight, yet a mysterious aura radiating from Orochimaru seemed to block it.
Orochimaru slowly crouched, pressing his palm against the ground.
There was a glint of anticipation and amusement in his eyes.
Then, with a sudden strike, he slammed his hand onto the earth!
In an instant, dust flew into the air, and three enormous, ominous Rashomon gates slowly rose from the ground.
Each gate towered over a hundred meters high.
The heavy stone doors exuded an ancient and sinister aura, as if they were entrances to the underworld itself.
Orochimaru straightened up and gestured lightly to Uchiha Yu, signaling him to attack.
Uchiha Yujin stood his ground, taking a deep breath.
His hands moved swiftly into hand signs as he muttered under his breath, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball quickly formed before him.
Then, like an arrow released from a bow, it shot straight at the three Rashomon gates with a deafening roar!
The fireball slammed against the gates, exploding in flames and sparks.
Yet, the Rashomon gates only trembled slightly at the handles, remaining completely unharmed.
The five Sound ninjas stood on a nearby hill, watching everything with cold, detached eyes.
Sakon smirked, the corners of his mouth curling in disdain.
"Does Lord Orochimaru really need to train a mere Uchiha boy like this? He's just an inexperienced brat," he said softly.
Kidōmaru nodded in agreement.
"Lord Orochimaru is personally unleashing the Triple Rashomon. In my opinion, even having the two of you cast a single Rashomon would be enough for this boy to spend his whole life looking up in awe."
The two-headed freak, Sakon and Ukon, laughed loudly.
"That 'tiny' little flame thinks it can pierce the Rashomon's defense? Ever since the First Hokage created the Fivefold Rashomon, only Lord Orochimaru can perform the Triple Rashomon. And geniuses like us can only manage a single Rashomon."
"Even a single Rashomon is untouchable by Konoha's ninjas! This is the strongest defensive ninjutsu in the world!"
Tayuya bent forward, laughing in agreement.
"That little Konoha brat acts like he's never seen the world. It's pathetic! Being noticed by Lord Orochimaru is a debt that even ten lifetimes of loyalty couldn't repay."
Jirobo, his body wrapped in thick bandages, clutched the wound carved into him by Kakashi's Lightning Blade.
He gritted his teeth, glaring with rage.
"Everyone keeps saying the Uchiha's Sharingan are terrifying. I don't see it."
Kidomaru, with his six monstrous arms, snorted in disdain.
"Even injured, Jirobo could crush that little brat to death."
Among the Sound Five, four of them threw out sour remarks one after another.
Only Kimimaro remained silent, refusing to join in the mockery.
Before the massive gate, Uchiha Yujin steadied his breath once more.
His hands blurred into seals, faster and faster, as chakra surged violently through his body.
The blue Mask of the Earth Grudge Fear on his chest opened a wicked mouth, greedily devouring the surrounding air.
Seeing his movements, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with appreciation.
With a loud shout, Uchiha Yujin roared:
"Composite Ninjutsu — Flame Wind Chaos Wave!"
In an instant, a firestorm many times stronger than the previous Great Fireball roared outward.
Scorching flames fused with a violent whirlwind, forming a colossal dragon of fire that lunged toward the Triple Rashomon!
The moment fire collided with the gates, a deafening explosion shook the earth beneath them.
Even the ground trembled under the overwhelming force!
The Triple Rashomon stood firm against the violent impact, yet cracks appeared on the gaping mouth of the first gate — as if it were groaning in agony.
It wasn't a full breakthrough… but this was Orochimaru's Rashomon!
Far tougher than Sakon and Ukon's single-layer Rashomon by countless degrees.
If it had been theirs, the result would've been completely different.
The Sound Five, who had been talking big moments ago, immediately shut their mouths.
Such scale and destructive power… was a dream far beyond their reach.
Even Kimimaro could destroy a single gate — but the price would be immense.
It was not something that could be done while still standing and simply panting for breath.
Just as the Sound Five finally recognized Uchiha Yujin's strength…
He began forming seals again!
Jirobo stared in disbelief.
"That brat still has chakra left!?"
Kidomaru's eyes widened — with his extraordinary vision, he saw it clearly.
"He's activated the Cursed Seal of Heaven — Second Stage. That amount of chakra… is no less than ours!"
One second later…
The Sound Five froze as they stared at the complexity and sheer number of seals Uchiha Yujin was forming.
Tayuya gasped in shock.
"What kind of jutsu is that!? He's already done over ten seals!"
Before the words fully left her lips — Uchiha Yujin had already completed thirty seals.
Seeing the number of seals, Kimimaro's eyes flickered with admiration.
"Water Release…"
As the hand seals continued to form, the very air around them seemed to bend toward Uchiha Yujin.
Thin strands of moisture began gathering from every direction.
The once-dry ground slowly became covered with a faint mist — a mist that moved as if alive, surging toward Yujin.
At this moment, Yujin's eyes were sharp and unwavering.
His fingers danced like butterflies, weaving seal after seal, not slowing down in the slightest.
Forty-four seals…
The Sound Five held their breath, eyes wide, fixed entirely on Uchiha Yujin.
The usual arrogance on Sakon's face had completely vanished, replaced by shock and disbelief.
Kidōmaru's six arms trembled involuntarily, as though sensing the overwhelming power about to erupt.
Jirōbō even forgot the pain from his wounds — his body leaning forward beneath the bandages, awe filling his gaze toward this unfamiliar ninjutsu.
Tayuya's cheeks flushed slightly, the admiration in her eyes growing stronger by the second.
This was still five years before Orochimaru's assault on Konoha.
The Sound Five were still young — far too young to have ever witnessed a Konoha shinobi this powerful.
Finally — Yujin slammed his hands together!
He stomped the ground and roared:
"Water Style — Water Dragon Bullet!"
In an instant, a colossal water dragon burst from behind him!
Stretching dozens of meters long, its entire form radiated a chilling blue glow.
Its scales shimmered like crystal beneath the sunlight.
The dragon roared with a savage might, surging toward the Triple Rashōmon like a tidal wave ready to swallow everything in its path.
Wherever it passed, the earth split into a deep trench, towering walls of water erupting upward like a grand cascading curtain!
BOOM—!
The deafening explosion echoed through the battlefield as the dragon crashed into the first gate of the Triple Rashōmon!
The massive barrier shuddered — and a crack slowly split open from the center.
That fissure widened…
Until a human could pass through it.
It didn't completely destroy the gate — but this level of force alone left everyone stunned.
Even a skilled Tokubetsu Jōnin would struggle to inflict this much damage on such a formidable defensive technique.
Orochimaru stared at the scene before him, amusement swirling in his eyes.
That smile carried both recognition of Uchiha Yujin's strength, and a hint of delight at this unexpected surprise.
He slowly stepped closer to Uchiha Yujin, speaking with a low, serpentine tone.
"You've truly surprised me today. Would you be willing to learn my technique — the Triple Rashomon Gate? Consider it a trade… in exchange for your wings."
A sharp glint flashed through Uchiha Yujin's clear eyes.
"In that case," he replied with a calm confidence, "can you throw in one more technique since my performance satisfied you so much?"
****
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