Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 88: "If Necessary, I Can Be the Spy Sent to Danzo" (BONUS)

"Kill him!"

Sasori's voice was filled with murderous intent!

"Universal Pull!"

Nagato raised his hand, his command echoing through the cavern!

With his Rinnegan flaring to life, a terrifying gravitational force erupted from his palm, locking onto the fleeing Orochimaru!

"This brat..."

Orochimaru immediately grasped the situation.

If Nagato had indeed been sick before, then it wasn't Tsunade who healed him—it was Shigen! And the Yin Seal technique he was using might have also been something Shigen personally taught him!

He had nearly forgotten...

Even though Tsunade was credited with developing the Yin Seal, it was likely that she had received guidance from Shigen when she was a child!

As Orochimaru was yanked backward by the gravitational force, paper tags rapidly attached themselves to his body—one of them clearly marked with an explosive seal!

"Die!"

Konan lifted her hand!

The explosion ignited across Orochimaru's body!

However, in that split second, Orochimaru's mouth stretched open unnaturally, spitting out a long snake. From the snake's mouth, another Orochimaru emerged!

This time, his lower body had transformed into a serpentine tail, allowing him to slither away at incredible speed!

"You won't escape!"

Sasori immediately gave chase!

While he didn't care about Akatsuki's power shift, his desire to kill Orochimaru had never faded!

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Orochimaru rapidly formed seals, summoning a massive brown python that lunged at Sasori with its fangs bared!

"You think something like this will stop me?"

Sasori sneered. With a flick of his fingers, chakra threads shot out, slicing the python into pieces, its blood spraying across the cavern!

Sasori sprinted through the crimson mist, determined not to let Orochimaru escape!

The Deva Path, Nagato, and Konan followed close behind, their bodies soaring through the air in pursuit!

This lineup...

Could easily level an entire ninja village.

And it was all focused on just one man—Orochimaru!

"Hmph!"

Orochimaru pressed two fingers together.

Although he doubted he could control Shigen, who had been resurrected via Edo Tensei, he still wanted to attempt it.

But before he could even try, he realized his connection to Shigen had been severed—Shigen had undone the Edo Tensei's control himself.

"As expected..."

Orochimaru clenched his teeth.

He should have known—Edo Tensei's control would be useless against Shigen!

Atop the Gedo Statue, Shigen calmly retracted his hand, having effortlessly dispelled the Edo Tensei binding.

Unlike the last time he was forcibly revived, this time he had no need to hide his ability to break free. In fact, from the memories of Tobirama, he had already learned Edo Tensei himself.

Whoosh!

A black rod shot from Shigen's hand!

The Yin-Yang infused black receiver struck Orochimaru's shoulder!

Immediately, Orochimaru felt his chakra flow being disrupted. Without hesitation, he yanked the rod out and continued his desperate escape!

"Orochimaru!"

Konan's paper wings spread wide as she soared after him, her voice cold and resolute. "You will not escape today, no matter what!"

"Not necessarily..."

Orochimaru's snake-like pupils darted around, assessing his pursuers. Suddenly, he spewed a thick cloud of purple mist toward them!

"Poison!"

Nagato quickly warned the others.

"Wind Release: Gale Surge!"

Nagato formed seals and unleashed a wind technique.

The gust scattered the poisonous mist out of the cave!

In such a confined space, Nagato and the Deva Path couldn't unleash their full power—any large-scale jutsu risked collapsing the entire base!

Orochimaru knew this.

Having witnessed the power of the Rinnegan before, he understood he couldn't escape through brute force. They would never stop hunting him down!

Nagato, the Deva Path, and Shigen...

Three wielders of the Rinnegan could crush him effortlessly!

But staying here meant certain death!

Orochimaru's hands rapidly formed a seal. When it came to escaping and survival, he doubted anyone in the ninja world could surpass him!

After all...

He had survived a direct confrontation with the Deva Path before.

The next moment—!

Orochimaru's body dissolved into a swarm of white serpents!

The snakes slithered toward the darkest corners of the cavern, making it nearly impossible to distinguish which one was the real Orochimaru.

Or perhaps...

They all were.

"Damn it... This guy is slippery!"

Nagato's face darkened.

"I'll track him outside."

The Deva Path shot out of the cavern without hesitation. "Find the snake and kill it! Konan, with me!"

"..."

Nagato and Konan followed him out.

"..."

Sasori gritted his teeth in frustration but also ran out—he knew Orochimaru wouldn't remain inside.

"..."

Kakuzu's black threads wriggled anxiously. "If Orochimaru escapes and exposes Akatsuki and Lord Shigen's return..."

"That won't happen."

Shigen shook his head. He leaped from the Gedo Statue, his palm pressing against the ground as he extended his senses.

A moment later—!

The earth trembled!

The entire cavern shook violently!

Outside, Nagato and the others felt the sudden tremors.

"How could I forget—Earth Release techniques!"

Nagato groaned, rubbing his forehead. "I really have been relying too much on the Rinnegan..."

The Rinnegan's power was overwhelming, making him neglect the fact that he had already mastered six chakra natures and all mainstream jutsu.

"Not necessarily."

Konan shook her head. "At least when the poison mist appeared, you still thought to use Wind Release."

Inside the cavern...

Under Shigen's Earth Release technique...

The cracks and gaps in the ground were steadily shrinking.

Orochimaru's scattered snakes were being crushed to death one by one, rapidly limiting his options for escape.

One snake finally gave in, slithering out from a crevice. Its mouth opened wide—vomiting out Orochimaru's true body!

A streak of emerald light flashed before his eyes!

A ten-meter-long Chakra Scalpel blade shot forth, piercing Orochimaru's chest and pinning him to the cave wall!

Chakra Scalpel!

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Once again, a medical ninjutsu had been repurposed for battle!

In all of Akatsuki, only one man could wield Chakra Scalpel with such precision—only one could use it as an extension of his own will to impale Orochimaru!

Most terrifying of all...

His sensory ability...

Had detected Orochimaru the instant he emerged!

"Urgh—!"

Orochimaru coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Surrender."

Shigen retracted his Chakra Scalpel and watched as Orochimaru slumped to the ground, approaching him calmly.

"You know you're no match for me."

"..."

Orochimaru's eye twitched.

This man...

His composed demeanor radiated an overwhelming presence!

But...

That was to be expected.

Shigen was a terrifying shinobi.

His confidence in his own senses and techniques was absolute—his precision with the blade left no room for doubt!

Orochimaru clenched his teeth. His neck suddenly elongated unnaturally, snapping toward Shigen with fangs bared!

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

Before he could reach Shigen, Kakuzu intercepted, his fist turning jet-black before smashing into Orochimaru's extended head!

Boom!

Orochimaru's head snapped back!

"Almighty Push."

Shigen raised his palm.

With precise control, the repulsive force crushed Orochimaru against the cave wall, further devastating his already injured body!

Orochimaru staggered...

Then coughed up blood.

His lips curled into a wry smile.

"If necessary... I could be your spy sent to Danzo."

Silence.

Then...

Shigen narrowed his eyes.

And listened.

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