Chapter 166: Achieving Kage Level
In mid-January of the 27th year of the Konoha Calendar, the Sand Ninja announced their surrender.
Elder Chiyo, currently acting as the representative for all matters in Sunagakure, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of the Land of Fire, negotiated and signed the surrender treaty in the Land of Rivers, located between the two great nations. The process took three days to complete.
The treaty stipulated that the Sand Ninja would return all captured Konoha ninja, cede ownership of three resource-rich rare mineral mines within the Land of Wind to Konoha, and pay total war reparations of approximately 100 million ryo to the victorious Land of Fire.
In exchange, the Land of Fire would return all captured Sand Ninja, sign a new alliance treaty, re-establish diplomatic relations and open markets with the Land of Wind, and formally promise to provide a certain degree of support should the Land of Wind face external attack.
With this, the war between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, which had lasted nearly four years, concluded with the victory of the Land of Fire.
Subsequently, all Konoha forces released from the Western theater of war received great commendation from the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Under the leadership of Orochimaru, Captain of the Anbu Second Platoon and Captain of the Hokage Guard First Squad, the troops were re-equipped and, with high morale, charged with lightning speed into the Eastern theater, which was facing the Land of Water.
Although the Land of Water did not possess a large army, the ceaseless stream of Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline Limit) users had led the Konoha ninja army into a deadlock.
However, with the addition of the fresh forces led by Orochimaru, it took only one year. At the cost of losing one-third of their own forces, they annihilated nearly half of the Land of Water's Mist Ninja army, forcing the Land of Water to concede defeat as well. They signed a surrender treaty with Konoha, agreeing to pay 80 million ryo in war reparations and ceding vast resources.
In total, the Second Great Shinobi War concluded after about five years with a complete victory for Konoha. The strength of both the Land of Wind and the Land of Water suffered immense losses.
Although the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning preserved their strength by not participating, both nations grew wary of the Land of Fire's terrifying increase in power. Nonetheless, they remained restrained, allowing the entire Shinobi World continent to enter a relatively stable post-war period of peace.
In both campaigns, Orochimaru, who had risen like a comet, truly spread his name to every corner of the Shinobi World continent. His prestige within his home village of Konoha reached an unprecedented peak. Upon his victorious return, the streets were completely emptied as the Konoha populace jostled along the main street, eager for a glimpse of the protagonist who had brought countless miracles and legends.
Achieving Kage Status
Inside Orochimaru's residence in Konoha Village, Land of Fire.
The clear night sky was cloudless, allowing the night canvas to be adorned with brilliant stars and a bright moon. The cold moonlight, mixed with the dazzling starlight, fell upon Orochimaru, who sat cross-legged on the courtyard grass, seemingly cloaking him in a dreamy, beautiful celestial robe. This emphasized his handsome, pale face, giving him an enchanting, ethereal quality.
This picturesque moment lasted for less than a breath. Suddenly, a dense, palpable, and astonishing killing intent erupted from Orochimaru's body.
The inky black killing intent coalesced behind Orochimaru, forming a massive black python—its scales full, its form lifelike, its demeanor savage and vicious.
The substantial, jet-black python coiled behind Orochimaru, instantly dispelling all starlight and moonlight. Orochimaru's dreamy, otherworldly aura was immediately replaced by a cold, ruthless presence, one that regarded all beings as mere pawns and treated life as worthless grass.
Chi, who had been faithfully standing guard in the shadows of a large tree, immediately slithered out. His dull, lifeless eyes, filled with both adoration and concern, intently watched the tall figure sitting under the moonlight, encircled by the massive python.
Since the end of the Second Great Shinobi War, Orochimaru, whose skill level was already at the Semi-Kage rank, had been constantly absorbing and digesting the Shukaku life force and Chakra sealed within the Ten Thousand Seals Technique. That vast reserve of life energy, along with the primal insights into Wind Style, Earth Style, and Sand Style it contained, greatly benefited Orochimaru.
In just one year, supported by this immense power, the lifeform evolution project he had been dedicated to finally reached nearly fifty percent completion. His body's structure and muscle ratio became increasingly perfect and powerful, firmly pushing Orochimaru's physical strength into the Kage level tier.
At this very moment, he was absorbing the final portion of the Tailed Beast life force and Chakra from the Ten Thousand Seals Technique—the most refined part. Orochimaru intended to use this final portion to break through the gate to the Kage level.
Chi, standing nearby, could clearly see brilliant, dazzling deep-blue Chakra light flashing from Orochimaru's right chest.
The last essence within the Ten Thousand Seals Technique was being drawn into Orochimaru's body and integrated into his Chakra system like a hundred rivers rushing to the sea.
This surging deep-blue torrent of Chakra, although Orochimaru exerted his utmost effort to control it, still raged wildly through his body like a breached flood. Finally, though reluctantly, it was guided by Orochimaru's control into his Chakra system.
Enduring the agonizing, tearing pain in his body, Orochimaru used his powerful mental strength to bind and control the unruly torrent of Chakra. He knew that once this crucial step was completed, the rest would be much easier.
The surging Chakra still contained Shukaku's savage, vicious, and destructive traits. However, the patient and experienced Orochimaru commanded his mental strength to sever and crush every trace of Shukaku's will within each portion of Chakra. Finally, he integrated it into his own Chakra system, converting it into power that was truly his own.
Under the dual torture of his body and spirit, in just one hour, the back of Orochimaru's clothing was completely soaked with constantly seeping cold sweat.
Just then, the small Yamata at Orochimaru's chest suddenly transformed into a pale golden bolt of lightning, darting out of Orochimaru's clothing and landing on his shoulder. It opened its mouth and exhaled a mysterious, pale golden breath directly toward Orochimaru.
The pale golden Yamata's Breath quickly permeated Orochimaru's body. Upon encountering Shukaku's Chakra, it pounced like a hungry tiger. In the blink of an eye, the Shukaku Chakra exposed to the Yamata's Breath became docile as a lamb, passively awaiting collection by Orochimaru's mental strength.
Seeing this situation, Orochimaru rejoiced and immediately accelerated the process.
Half an hour later, the final portion of Shukaku's Chakra from the Ten Thousand Seals Technique was fully absorbed, digested, and integrated into Orochimaru's Chakra system.
Next, the remaining sky-blue Shukaku life force was drawn out of the Ten Thousand Seals Technique by Orochimaru. With no interference from Shukaku's Chakra, the process of absorbing this life force became incredibly effortless and smooth.
The sky-blue Shukaku life force obediently flowed throughout Orochimaru's entire body and limbs under his control.
The pale golden Yamata's Breath also flowed with the Shukaku life force, integrating into Orochimaru's body.
The physical damage previously inflicted by the raging Shukaku Chakra healed at a visible speed.
Finally, the last injury healed, and the last remnant of Shukaku life force and Yamata's Breath was completely absorbed by Orochimaru.
The killing intent python coiled behind Orochimaru suddenly raised its head to the sky and let out a silent roar. Its entire body dramatically expanded and grew several times over.
Bang! The air around Orochimaru was suddenly squeezed and burst open by the explosive increase in his aura.
A terrifying aura, unique to a Kage level powerhouse, instantly shot straight to the heavens. It pierced the dark night sky, connecting with the clouds like a monumental jade pillar, incredibly conspicuous, announcing the birth of a new Kage level fighter to all the ninja in Konoha and proclaiming the emergence of a new dominant force in the Shinobi World.
The Kage level—a rare few in the Shinobi World, a status countless people dream of—Orochimaru had finally achieved it!!!
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