Chapter 77: The Leaf Belongs to the Uchiha
The Eight-Headed Serpent charged again and again, relentlessly throwing itself at endless, invisible slashes, showing no signs of retreat.
Above, Minato Namikaze teleported from place to place, hurling kunai and casting the Shadow Shuriken technique with no regard for the chakra cost.
The massive snake heads of the Eight-Headed Serpent could no longer regenerate as fast as the attacks destroyed them.
Nothing is truly eternal. Not even the so-called immortal Eight-Headed Serpent Technique could escape its limits.
Kagami Uchiha remained calm. Minato, however, was anxious.
The sooner Orochimaru was defeated, the sooner Minato could try to negotiate with the remaining Leaf ninja, saving as many lives as possible. After all, this chance was bought with his unconditional cooperation.
Orochimaru, however, had no such concerns.
The battle had devolved into Minato fiercely clashing with Orochimaru while Kagami offered occasional assistance.
Kagami wasn't in a hurry to kill Orochimaru because he knew it wouldn't matter.
Orochimaru would undoubtedly have a backup plan to ensure his revival.
Defeating Orochimaru wasn't the challenge; eliminating him permanently was the real difficulty.
Orochimaru was like an unshakeable plague on the ninja world—a persistent nuisance Kagami had no interest in permanently eradicating.
If he appeared again, Kagami could just kill him again.
---
At that moment, a figure approached Kagami. It was Sakumo Hatake, carrying an unconscious Kakashi on his back.
Sakumo was momentarily stunned by the bloody battlefield and the overwhelming carnage before him.
Once he calmed himself, his gaze fell upon the grotesque sight of Danzo imprisoned within a flaming cage.
Then he saw it—the Sharingan embedded in Danzo's arm.
As understanding dawned, fury welled within him.
So it was Danzo!
"Kagami! I have urgent news for you!" Sakumo called out.
Glancing briefly at Kakashi, Kagami replied in a calm tone, "It's about Obito, isn't it?"
"You already know? Kagami, Danzo brainwashed Obito through his experiments, and he's awakened a terrifying Sharingan!"
"Did you get Obito's location out of him? We need to save him quickly!"
"But... I see you're tied up here..."
…
Kagami was momentarily speechless.
Where did you even get that kind of information?
Not everything can be blamed on Danzo!
Raising a hand, Kagami sighed, "I know about Obito. Don't worry, I have plans for him."
Sakumo hesitated, then turned his gaze to Minato, who was still fighting Orochimaru.
For a moment, he was unsure who was the enemy.
Logically, they should be on the same side.
After all, I'm the one aligned with Kagami, aren't I?
"Who am I supposed to kill?" Sakumo finally asked, just as he had years ago when they first fought together.
He was still not used to making major decisions and trusted Kagami's judgment implicitly.
"You should assist Minato in killing Orochimaru," Kagami replied.
"I see. Understood."
With his short blade drawn, Sakumo charged into the fray.
Sakumo couldn't discern right from wrong anymore, but he trusted Kagami to lead him to the right answer.
---
Orochimaru noticed the flash of white light and grimaced.
I'm just one of the Three Legendary Sannin...
Why is it that I'm facing not just the Crimson Eye and the Yellow Flash, but now the White Fang as well?!
Have you mistaken me for Hashirama or Madara?!
Against Sakumo and Minato, who fought at full strength, with Kagami providing support, Orochimaru didn't last long.
The colossal serpentine body was gradually reduced to shreds, rivers of blood flowing freely.
The once-massive serpent shrank smaller and smaller, finally revealing Orochimaru's true form amidst the devastation.
Summoning the last remnants of the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique, Orochimaru unleashed a desperate surge of power, forcing Minato and Sakumo to retreat momentarily.
"Kagami Uchiha!!"
Orochimaru's hoarse voice echoed as the remaining snake heads hissed furiously, lunging forward.
The massive serpent body reached out like a desperate hand, trying to grab hold of something.
But layer by layer, the serpent was stripped away by the relentless, invisible slashes.
The ground was gouged out, creating a massive crater.
No matter how hard Orochimaru tried, he couldn't close the distance to Kagami.
For the first time since the battle began, Orochimaru's golden snake-like eyes locked onto Kagami's crimson gaze.
Such beautiful Sharingan...
So beautiful...
Absolutely mesmerizing.
Kagami, you might just be the perfect being.
Such a powerful body. Such divine eyes.
One day...
I will possess you!
Reaching further, Orochimaru's skeletal arm extended, stripped of flesh yet still grasping.
There was no fear, no despair.
In his eyes, there was only admiration for beauty.
---
Kagami's lips curled into a faint smile.
"I acknowledge your persistence, Orochimaru."
"Although I know this isn't the end for you, I'll ensure your departure is memorable."
"In the legends, it was Susanoo who slew the Eight-Headed Serpent."
A black-and-red chakra skeleton formed around Kagami, solid and imposing.
In its hand, the blade Mingzun was encased in a layer of chakra, growing to a length of tens of meters.
A wave of pressure rippled out, a suffocating aura of power that felt divine and otherworldly.
Every cell seemed to scream in response, flooding the body with adrenaline. Hearts raced, pupils dilated, and blood coursed through veins like molten fire.
"This is Susanoo—the power that resides in the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Its destructive force rivals the Nine-Tails."
"Remember this, Orochimaru. Even in your next life, don't forget."
---
Shinra Myriad Forms—All Cleaved to Silence!
---
The world fell silent.
A black-and-red slash severed Orochimaru's form and extended far into the distance.
Mountains on the horizon shattered, their peaks crumbling into nothingness.
Orochimaru's satisfied smile vanished into the dark-red light.
---
The Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, Orochimaru, was dead.
---
The battlefield grew still.
Even the Uchiha, momentarily stunned by the divine power displayed before them, forgot to fight.
Everyone was frozen, their minds blank, trying to etch this moment into their memories.
---
Minato appeared atop the ruins with a flash of yellow light.
"The battle is over!" he declared.
"Lay down your weapons!"
He gripped his special kunai tightly, his voice firm and commanding.
"For those unwilling to surrender, I will personally be your opponent!"
Clang... Clang...
The sound of weapons dropping to the ground echoed.
One by one, more and more ninja surrendered, some collapsing to the ground in tears.
Even among the victorious Uchiha, there was no joy.
Defeating their fellow villagers brought no satisfaction.
War...
War was never something to celebrate.
---
As if on cue, the summer sky opened up, pouring rain over the battlefield.
Bloodstains were washed away as torrential rain soaked the earth.
Half a day had passed since the battle began.
---
Kagami waded through the blood-soaked ruins, stepping over broken walls and lifeless bodies.
His face was expressionless as he walked toward the village.
Toward the new Hidden Leaf.
The Leaf that belonged to the Uchiha.
End of Chapter
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