He turned toward Sasuke, still wearing that carefree smile.
"So, you're Uchiha Sasuke, huh?"
"I've heard a lot about you, yo!"
Sasuke looked at Killer B with mild surprise.
The Jinchūriki's reaction was completely different from what he had expected.
"You're not afraid?"
Sasuke asked.
"Afraid of what?"
Killer B shrugged.
"We all die sooner or later, yo!"
"Instead of struggling pointlessly here, I'd rather walk forward with style, yo!"
"Killer B..."
A's voice caught in his throat.
"Besides, I've heard that your Divine Court wants to unify the shinobi world and bring peace, yo!"
Killer B continued.
"If it can truly end all these meaningless wars, then I'm willing to contribute my strength, yo!"
His words stunned everyone present.
Even Sasuke hadn't expected a Jinchūriki to cooperate voluntarily.
"You really mean that?"
Sasuke asked.
"Of course!"
Killer B nodded.
"Gyūki agrees with me too, yo!"
"He says that instead of being used by ambitious fools to start wars, he'd rather follow someone who actually has the power to change the world, yo!"
Sasuke remained silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Good."
"What about the Four-Tails Jinchūriki?"
"Old Man Roshi is stubborn."
Killer B patted his chest confidently.
"But I'll convince him, yo!"
"Just give me some time!"
A looked at his younger brother.
Pride and pain filled his heart simultaneously.
Killer B had always been like this.
Whenever things became most difficult, he somehow found the best solution.
"I'll go get Roshi."
A spoke quietly.
"If Killer B has already made his decision, then I can't be the one holding everyone back."
Soon afterward, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Roshi, was brought over.
The middle-aged man looked furious.
His face was dark with resentment.
"A."
"You're really going to hand us over to this brat?"
Roshi demanded angrily.
"Old Man Roshi, don't say it like that, yo!"
Killer B immediately stepped forward.
"Look at the situation, yo!"
"Resisting will only get more innocent people killed!"
"So what?!"
Roshi clenched his teeth.
"I'd rather die than become someone else's tool!"
"You already are a tool."
Sasuke suddenly spoke.
"When you served Kumogakure, weren't you also being used as a weapon?"
"Now you're simply changing masters."
"You..."
Roshi was left speechless.
It was true.
The fate of a Jinchūriki was to become a village's weapon.
In that regard, the Divine Court was no different from the other villages.
"Besides."
Sasuke continued calmly.
"The Divine Lord seeks to end the wars of the shinobi world."
"Your power will be used to preserve peace rather than create conflict."
"Isn't that more meaningful?"
Roshi remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he sighed.
"Forget it."
"I've lived long enough anyway."
"As long as you promise not to harm innocent villagers, I'll go with you."
"Agreed."
Sasuke nodded.
"Kumogakure may retain its current structure."
"You only need to acknowledge the Divine Court's authority."
A felt a slight weight lift from his chest.
At the very least, the village would survive.
Under the circumstances, that was already the best outcome possible.
"So when do we leave, yo?"
Killer B asked.
"Now."
Sasuke turned around.
"The Divine Lord is waiting to meet both of you."
Just then—
A massive explosion echoed from the distance.
Everyone immediately turned toward the source.
Thick black smoke was rising from another section of the village.
"What happened?!"
A shouted.
A Cloud shinobi rushed over in panic.
"Lord Raikage!"
"This is bad!"
"Someone attacked the rear mountain sector!"
"Who?"
"It's... it's Orochimaru!"
"He brought a group of modified humans and is attacking our defensive lines!"
At the mention of that name, killing intent flashed across Sasuke's eyes.
Orochimaru.
That snake really was impossible to get rid of.
"Looks like someone wants to profit from the chaos."
Sasuke sneered.
"Perfect."
"I've been wanting to deal with that snake myself."
He looked toward Killer B and Roshi.
"Wait here."
"I need to clean up some trash."
As soon as he finished speaking, he leapt into the air and sped toward the source of the explosions.
Kumogakure Rear Mountain
Chaos had engulfed the area.
Orochimaru led dozens of modified shinobi in a relentless assault against Kumogakure's defensive installations.
Their objective was obvious.
While Sasuke was occupied with negotiations at the front gate, they intended to launch a surprise attack from behind and seize the Jinchūriki.
"Orochimaru-sama."
One of the modified shinobi reported.
"Kumogakure's resistance is stronger than expected."
"It doesn't matter."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"My goal isn't to occupy this place."
"I only want those two Jinchūriki."
"As long as I capture them, this operation will be a success."
Greed flickered within his eyes.
The power of the Four-Tails and Eight-Tails was simply too valuable for his research.
"Besides..."
"Uchiha Sasuke should be tied up at the front."
"He won't discover our actions anytime soon."
The moment those words left his mouth—
A cold voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Really?"
"Then I think you're going to be disappointed."
Orochimaru spun around instantly.
Then he saw a sight he would never forget.
Uchiha Sasuke stood calmly in the distance.
His purple Rinnegan stared at him coldly.
At Sasuke's feet lay more than a dozen corpses.
Modified shinobi.
Every one of them dead.
"Impossible!"
Orochimaru's eyes widened.
"How did you get here so quickly?!"
"You underestimate the Divine Court's intelligence network."
Sasuke replied indifferently.
"From the moment you entered the Land of Lightning, we were already aware of your presence."
Orochimaru's face turned pale.
The elaborate ambush he had planned so carefully had been monitored from the very beginning.
"Since you're already here..."
Sasuke slowly raised his right hand.
"Then you might as well stay."
"I've actually been curious."
"How effective would the Rinnegan be against an immortal like you?"
"Banshō Ten'in!"
A tremendous attractive force exploded outward.
Orochimaru and several nearby modified shinobi were instantly dragged toward Sasuke.
But Orochimaru was worthy of being one of the Legendary Sannin.
His reaction speed was extraordinary.
As he was pulled through the air, his body suddenly softened and twisted unnaturally like a living serpent, attempting to escape the force.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Dozens of venomous snakes erupted from his sleeves.
Their mouths opened wide as they lunged toward Sasuke.
Sasuke merely waved a hand.
"Shinra Tensei."
Boom!
The snakes were instantly blown apart into bloody mist.
Orochimaru himself was blasted backward and slammed heavily into the mountainside.
Crash!
"Cough... cough..."
Orochimaru climbed out from the rubble.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"As expected of a man possessing the Rinnegan."
"Your strength truly is terrifying."
He wiped away the blood.
Then a trace of madness appeared in his eyes.
"But do you really think that can kill me?"
Orochimaru opened his mouth.
A completely intact giant snake emerged from within.
His previous body was discarded like a shed snakeskin.
"Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement."
Sasuke recognized the technique immediately.
"A troublesome ability indeed."
"Hahaha!"
Now restored to perfect condition, Orochimaru laughed loudly.
"This is the secret of my immortality!"
"No matter how many times you kill me, I can always return!"
"Is that so?"
A cold smile appeared on Sasuke's face.
"Then let's find out."
"How many times you can come back."
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