Amidst the perplexed expressions of Chiyo and Ebizō, Takeshi smiled and shifted his stance.
"This is just basic manoeuvring, don't make a fuss. Now, I'll give it my all."
Chiyo was momentarily taken aback, then burst into an irritated laughter.
The Sand Ninja encircled Takeshi, glaring at the culprit who had inflicted heavy losses on them and tarnished their reputation.
"Lady Chiyo, our defeat this time..."
"Enough—!"
Chiyo glared at the leading Sand Shinobi with icy severity. "Go and intercept Homura Mitokado. You idiots are not required here!"
"Um..."
Under Chiyo's scolding, the Sand Ninja were disoriented, casting glances toward Ebizō, who bore a serious expression as well.
"You've both disappointed me and my sister." Ebizō shook his head in disappointment.
The assembly of Sand Ninja dispersed once again, prompting Takeshi to quip, "Chiyo, you really do have a temper."
"Oh, really?"
Chiyo gazed at Takeshi from a distance, then smirked mischievously, "What I see isn't always what it seems, and I've changed my mind now."
"Well, what is it?"
Observing Chiyo's demeanour, Takeshi had an inkling that something was amiss, but before he could react, Chiyo's form suddenly materialized from behind him, while the earlier one turned out to be composed of sand!
"Sand Prison Seal!"
"What?!"
Countless grains of sand erupted from the ground, enveloping Takeshi. The sand churned violently as an immense sandbag formed rapidly, trapping Takeshi within its confines!
"Hahaha! Little devil, your lack of caution has trapped you in my barrier, and you won't escape."
With her hands against the sandbag, Takeshi could sense a faint suction sapping his chakra, but it held no threat.
"You've been ensnared in my sand prison, your chakra will deplete soon, and I shall capture you alive."
Chiyo's pride swelled as she confessed to having concealed her previous vexation.
"With such an uncanny power, you must be a special Konoha ninja, right? After apprehending you, I long to witness Senju Tobirama's astonishment. It'll be a way to recoup our losses."
"Yes."
Within the sandbag, Takeshi's hand brushed against the sand-made interior, imbued with a layer of chakra.
But I utilize true essence, your limitations won't hinder me!
Takeshi struck the sand wall with a powerful punch, causing the sand to crumble, yet it rapidly reconstituted itself.
"I've fought puppets and poison before, and now you aim to sap all my chakra... Intelligence indeed often dictates battle outcomes."
Takeshi could escape at any moment, yet he opted to shut his eyes, letting his spirit extend outwards. His formidable will surged forth, undergoing a staggering transformation in the confined space!
"Orochimaru!"
In the void, an ethereal figure emerged, not materializing into a corporeal form but fusing directly with Takeshi. In an instant, the amalgamation of white and shadow intertwined, emitting an indiscernible yet profoundly intense soul resonance.
"Come forth, true self, let's explore our current limits!"
"Fusion, let's test our boundaries!"
"Crack—!!"
Unbeknownst to when it occurred, the sky cloaked itself in dark clouds, withholding raindrops. A bolt of purple lightning streaked down, alarming Chiyo, who remained enclosed in her barrier. A dreadful awakening seemed imminent!
"What's this? Why do I sense an unaccountable foreboding?"
Even Ebizō couldn't fathom the astronomical anomaly. Following the reunion of the two souls, Takeshi and Orochimaru merged once more, fully integrating their bodies and abilities!
Chiyo's barrier proved inconsequential, only hindering her.
Countless white serpents swathed Takeshi's figure, forming a snake cocoon within the sandy enclosure. Within it brewed formidable energies!
"Could it be this kid?!"
While there wasn't a substantial chakra reaction, the trace of bloodline pressure arising from the amalgamation of souls jolted Chiyo, compelling her to retreat from her barrier.
"How can this be?!"
"Boom!"
As though a bomb detonated beneath a sand dune, the once-solid mound shattered, dissipating into dust.
Chiyo instinctively stepped back, observing thousands of white snakes surge forth from the wreckage. At the center, a form encased in a cocoon of purple radiance ascended into the sky.
The figure gradually parted its serpent eyes, releasing a wordless roar!
"Union of Two Souls!!"
"Boom!"
The eruption of intense purple brilliance rendered vision near impossible. The wind pressure, akin to the force of heaven and earth, compelled Chiyo and Ebizō to retreat, inch by inch!
"Damn it..."
On the faraway Ryūchi Cave, the White Snake Sage, with its golden snake eyes, took a long puff from its pipe.
"At last, the temptation of trial becomes irresistible? The initial fusion is indeed potent. Ah, the reminiscence of bygone years..."
In the vicinity of Konoha's base camp, a mass of sand erupted, birthing a colossal, thirty-meter-tall serpent.
Appearing devoid of rationality, it had even spewed out its stomach acid, disgorging the six people it had consumed. Then, it reburrowed into the earth, descending into slumber once more.
"Well, what's this?"
Before grieving the loss of comrades, the Shadow Squad leader overcame his discomfort and stood up.
"We're... near Konoha Camp?"
Tsushima's eyes fluttered open, weakened by the poison.
"I hadn't anticipated Black Snake had prepared an escape route. Damn it, I miscalculated our foe's strength, resulting in failure."
Tsushima, wearing a remorseful expression, rose to his feet, scanning his surroundings.
"Huh? Where's Black Snake and the others?"
"What?!"
With the exception of the unconscious Tiger, the team fell into panic, Takeshi was missing.
"Could it be that he...?"
Falcon clutched the Daito ( a long sword) bestowed by Takeshi, his head lowered as he brooded in silence. Though his fists clenched, his nails dug into flesh.
"No, the captain likely had his reasons."
Nightingale seemed to catch a glimpse of understanding, her gaze fixed on the battlefield, where an unusual sky stretched out, a complex expression crossing her features.
"Let's return first. This battle isn't over yet!"
Tsushima and the rest hastened back to Konoha camp.
Amidst Chiyo and Ebizō's gaze, a mysterious figure floated silently in the air. There was an absence of any detectable breath, as if the very essence of heaven and earth itself lifted him aloft.
The celestial apparition gradually dissipated, yet the uncertainty within their hearts persisted.
"Strength coursing through my veins."
Takeshi observed his pale hand, gradually closing it into a tight fist. The faint trace of purplish electric energy also subsided.
Turning his attention back to the pair before him, Takeshi's lips curled into a self-assured smile.
"I assume you've already deduced it, haven't you?"
Having united the two souls within him, Takeshi suspended himself in the air. The very forces of nature converged around him, seemingly ready to heed his command.
The upper garments lay in tatters, while the lower half was clad in the customary black shinobi pants.
A subtle, azure energy pulsed beneath his fair skin, and his figure bore an aura of unyielding might, as though forged by blades and hammers.
Two sections of a white sash rested on his shoulders, fluttering behind his head in an almost ethereal dance, unaffected by the wind's touch. A dull green serpent tattoo adorned his back.
Takeshi still concealed his visage behind the dark mask and purple eyeshadow, but his stature had matured, rendering recognition improbable.
From his brow extended twin streaks of purple-blue, sweeping back towards the sky. Lavender hair cascaded over his shoulders, fluttering gently in the breeze, a manifestation of an otherworldly essence.
This was Takeshi with the fusion of Orochimaru's will and power, yet still largely dominated by his own determination, reminiscent of his original self.
Yet his might had transformed, felt even by Chiyo and Ebizō, both nearing the level of Kages themselves, compelled by the weight of his power.
"You... you...!"
Though their mouths moved, the two were left speechless by Takeshi's presence. The Kusanagi sword rested in his grasp, its blade adorned by the same purple-blue luminescence, emitting a soft resonance.
"Did you enjoy the battle earlier?"