---
The term "Three Years of Reincarnation" didn't mean Orochimaru's body could last only three years. Instead, it indicated that after performing *Living Corpse Reincarnation*, Orochimaru had to wait three years before he could transfer into a new body again. This limitation wasn't just physical; it was mental as well. In essence, the three-year mark was the *minimum* time required—not the *maximum* limit.
In theory, Orochimaru could potentially remain in a single body indefinitely, provided nothing went wrong.
But something had gone wrong.
The damage caused by the *Dead Demon Consuming Seal* had far exceeded Orochimaru's expectations. Initially, he had only lost the use of his arms, but as time passed and his experiments continued, he felt his body deteriorate. The corrosive effects of the seal had begun spreading from his hands to the rest of his body. If left unchecked, his entire body would eventually be destroyed. Orochimaru knew he needed to transfer his soul into a new body before that happened—or risk being consumed by the curse.
This urgency explained Orochimaru's eagerness when Menma had suggested a possible solution, as well as his unusual willingness to approach Tsunade for assistance. His problem went far beyond his paralyzed arms.
Unfortunately, Tsunade had refused his request, and Menma's solution was still in its early stages. Without further testing or access to reliable data from Konoha, Orochimaru found himself with limited options.
The only solution left was the *Living Corpse Reincarnation* technique. If successful, this would buy him time, allowing him temporary freedom from the seal's effects and restoring some functionality to his arms, though only for a limited period.
But the relief would be *temporary.*
The seal still held his spiritual arms trapped in the stomach of the Shinigami. Ultimately, Orochimaru would need to rely on Menma's research to find a permanent solution. For now, he had to undergo the *Living Corpse Reincarnation* to extend his life.
"Now? But Orochimaru-sama, Uchiha Sasuke will likely arrive in two or three days. With Menma-kun overseeing the operation, surely we can wait?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his voice calm yet concerned. As Orochimaru's most trusted subordinate, Kabuto understood his master's obsession with the Sharingan and the power of an Uchiha body. Orochimaru's desire to possess the Uchiha's abilities had shaped many of his actions for years.
Orochimaru let out a raspy laugh, shaking his head weakly. "Do you think my body can last that long? If it weren't for the need to stay hidden from Menma's perception, I would have already transferred into a new body. The corrosion from the seal is spreading faster than I anticipated." He broke off into a weak cough, leaning back with a weary expression. This was the weakest he had felt since his defection from the Hidden Leaf, worse even than when Uchiha Itachi had nearly killed him.
Kabuto's expression hardened as he understood the severity of the situation. "Understood, Orochimaru-sama. I'll prepare the ritual immediately."
Kabuto couldn't fully comprehend Orochimaru's suffering, but he recognized the urgency. With a bow, he left to make the final arrangements for the soul transfer.
Left alone in the darkened chamber, Orochimaru's sickly eyes gleamed with a feverish intensity. "*Sharingan*... It isn't time yet. But one day, Itachi-kun… Whether it's you or Sasuke-kun, everything about the Uchiha will belong to me… It will *all* belong to me."
A low, almost maniacal chuckle escaped his lips, echoing through the shadows.
---
**Meanwhile**
From Konoha to the western border of the Land of Fire, Naruto and his team were in relentless pursuit of the Sound Four, who were transporting Sasuke.
Due to the interference from Konoha's forces, strategically placed to block their route, the Sound Four were forced to take numerous detours and fight off obstacles. A journey that should have taken less than two days was now dragging out, as Konoha's Genin and Chunin delayed them at every turn.
Several Konoha shinobi had lost their lives in these skirmishes, but their sacrifice bought Naruto, Shikamaru, and the others the time they needed to close the gap.
After more than a day of non-stop pursuit, Naruto finally spotted the Sound Four in the distance, with Sasuke sealed in a large barrel slung over Jirobo's shoulder.
"You idiots! Bring Sasuke back!" Naruto's voice roared with determination, his chakra flaring up with intensity, far beyond what anyone would expect from a Genin.
The outburst caught the Sound Four's attention.
"Hmph, more of these Konoha losers," Tayuya sneered, glancing back at Naruto and his team, still several hundred meters behind. "They don't know when to quit."
Confident in her own abilities, Tayuya's eyes held nothing but disdain. The Sound Four had been handpicked by Orochimaru himself and were powerful enough to take down most Chunin. Once they activated their *Curse Marks*, their power rivaled even some Jounin. These Konoha kids didn't stand a chance in her eyes.
"Same plan as before," Tayuya muttered. "We take them out quickly and keep moving."
"No," Sakon interrupted sharply. "We've wasted too much time already. Orochimaru-sama won't tolerate any further delay. Jirobo, Kidomaru, you stay behind and handle them. Tayuya and I will take Sasuke and go on ahead. You don't need to beat them—just stall long enough for us to get away."
Sakon's command was firm. In Kimimaro's absence, he was the de facto leader of the group, and the others didn't question him.
"Don't worry, Sakon. These brats won't slow us down," Kidomaru said, a smirk on his face as he eyed Naruto and his team with cold malice.
Jirobo grunted in agreement, hefting Sasuke's barrel to Sakon, who quickly took it and nodded.
With that, Sakon and Tayuya sped off with Sasuke, while Jirobo and Kidomaru activated their *Curse Marks*, their bodies transforming as they turned to face Naruto's team, ready for battle.
---
There was no room for hesitation.
This was Jirobo's strongest stance, unleashing raw power.
"Boom!"
The ground trembled as a burst of chakra surged through it.
"Earth Style: Earth Prison Dome of Magnificent Nothingness!"
In his Cursed Seal state, Jirobo lifted a massive chunk of earth high above his head, hurling it forward with terrifying force.
The crushing boulder hurtled toward the Konoha team at deadly speed.
"Scatter!" Shikamaru's voice rang out, his sharp command cutting through the chaos.
"Whoosh!"
Naruto, Neji, and the others reacted instantly, leaping out of the boulder's path with mere seconds to spare, narrowly avoiding the devastating attack.
At that moment, Kidomaru readied his specialized longbow, pulling arrows and nocking them with lethal precision.
"Swish!"
The arrows tore through the air, aimed directly at the scattered Konoha team.
These weren't attacks that any ordinary Genin or even Chunin could easily dodge.
"Rotation!"
"Secret Technique: Insect Wall!"
Neji and Shino were the quickest to respond, activating their strongest defenses. Neji's chakra spun around him in a perfect sphere, while Shino's insects formed a dense barrier in front of him.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
"Thud!"
The arrows struck Neji's Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation and Shino's Insect Wall, deflected without breaking through.
Jirobo and Kidomaru's expressions shifted slightly.
They weren't boasting, but few shinobi had ever blocked their attacks so effectively—and certainly not a group of teenagers barely twelve or thirteen years old.
"Are they stalling us!?" Shikamaru muttered, quickly analyzing the situation.
They had chased this group across most of the Land of Fire, and now they were dangerously close to the border. If Sasuke crossed it, their mission would grow far more complicated.
"We need to stop them before they cross," Shikamaru resolved, determination flaring in his eyes.
"Neji, Shino, Choji!"
The moment he called their names, they knew what to do.
"They're buying time!" Shikamaru deduced.
If their opponents were stalling, then they needed to divide their forces. Some would stay to fight while the others continued the pursuit.
"You guys go on ahead, Shikamaru. Leave these two to us," Neji said with a calm confidence.
"No worries, we've got this," Shino added, his tone steady as ever.
Choji nodded firmly. "We understand."
This was Shikamaru's best call. It optimized their fighting power, giving them the best chance to stop the Sound Four and bring Sasuke back at any cost.
"Naruto, Kiba, Lee—let's go!"
Without hesitation, the four of them dashed around Jirobo and Kidomaru, resuming their pursuit.
Seeing their prey slip past, Kidomaru and Jirobo prepared to intervene.
"Human Boulder!"
"Insect Drizzle!"
Choji and Shino launched their attacks, forcing Jirobo and Kidomaru back. Choji barreled toward Jirobo, while Shino's insects swarmed Kidomaru, cutting off his angles.
Neji moved quickly, closing the distance between himself and Kidomaru in an instant.
Each Konoha team member moved with the precision and strength of an elite Chunin, surprising their opponents.
"Damn you!" Kidomaru snarled, unable to believe these kids were keeping up so well.
Enraged, he activated the second stage of his Cursed Seal, his body contorting into a grotesque, monstrous form.
Jirobo did the same, his muscles bulging as dark chakra filled the air.
The malevolent chakra radiated around them, its intensity forcing Neji, Shino, and Choji to brace themselves.
"Bang!"
"Boom!"
The clash escalated, with both sides pouring their full power into the fight.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side, Shikamaru, Naruto, Kiba, and Lee raced through the forest, following the scent trail Kiba had locked onto. They were rapidly closing in on Tayuya and Sakon.
"Damn it!" Sakon cursed, feeling the Konoha team's approach.
"What the hell are Jirobo and Kidomaru doing!? How did they let those brats catch up!?" Tayuya snapped, irritation clear on her face.
They emerged from the forest onto a wide-open plain, with no cover in sight.
Sakon clenched his jaw, realizing they had no choice. "Tayuya, take Sasuke and get out of here. I'll hold them off."
He quickly passed the barrel containing Sasuke to Tayuya.
"Got it!" Tayuya understood the urgency. She couldn't risk fighting now, not when the Konoha team was so close. Without wasting a second, she sped away with Sasuke.
Sakon activated his Cursed Seal, dark markings spreading across his skin as he unleashed its full power. As his transformation completed, a second head emerged from his shoulder—his brother, Ukon.
"Time to work, brother!" Sakon growled as Ukon fully manifested.
With a low, beast-like snarl, Sakon entered the second stage of his Cursed Seal, dark chakra radiating off him like a sinister aura.
Naruto and Shikamaru, arriving on the scene, paused momentarily at the sight of Sakon's transformation.
"What the…?" Naruto's eyes widened in shock.
Shikamaru's gaze narrowed as he processed the strange sight before them.
---