Orochimaru had created an exceptionally powerful body, one brimming with boundless potential, to use for himself in the future.
In theory, he had already touched the threshold of immortality.
As long as he kept switching bodies, he could live on forever.
To Makoto, such a thing was utterly taboo.
Immortality was far too distant and unimaginable for him.
However, if Orochimaru continued extending his life, he would remain an insurmountable mountain looming over Makoto forever.
Makoto came to Orochimaru's lab this time specifically to find that body and destroy it.
But when he stepped into the room, he was stunned by the sight before him.
All the mechanical instruments were operating normally, and every indicator showed perfect stability.
The only exception was the figure inside the circular glass container — it was no longer the young boy he had seen last time.
It was Anko!
Yet the chakra emanating from Anko was exactly the same as that of the boy's body from before!
Makoto was dumbfounded for a long moment before finally realizing what had happened — Orochimaru had given the body he had created to Anko!
But why? Where was Orochimaru himself?
Makoto quickly searched the machinery for a control switch and pressed it.
"Makoto."
Orochimaru's voice suddenly echoed throughout the room, coming from all directions, followed by an eerie, unfathomable laugh that made one's skin crawl.
Makoto had already scouted the entire lab and realized that the voice was pre-recorded.
Orochimaru knew he would come…
"Makoto, are you here to cut off my retreat?"
The voice reverberated around him, low and hoarse, like a thread piercing through paper, making it deeply unsettling.
Makoto stood motionless in the quiet room, saying nothing at all.
Orochimaru had anticipated that Makoto would make a move against him.
The reason he hadn't targeted Minato was that he wanted to observe the attitudes of the Third Hokage and Jiraiya.
Then why hadn't he struck at Makoto?
"Makoto, it seems you've calculated everything perfectly. Are you trying to use this opportunity to eliminate all threats, including me?"
Orochimaru's voice continued.
"I'm not angry, because you're afraid of me."
"..."
"Your fear of me brings me joy."
"That's the reason I haven't killed you. I will ensure you live in this fear forever."
The voice gradually faded, and the room returned to silence.
Orochimaru's message carried a distinct sense of farewell.
Swoosh—
The glass container suddenly reacted.
The nutrient solution inside drained rapidly, and the needles inserted into Anko's body detached on their own.
Eventually, the circular container slowly opened, and Anko tumbled out.
Makoto caught her in his arms just in time.
Upon quickly examining her, he confirmed that Anko had normal female characteristics—Orochimaru had indeed changed the body's gender.
Anko slowly regained consciousness in his arms, her eyes dazed as she looked at Makoto.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
After saying that, she closed her eyes and fainted again.
Makoto held Anko close, took off his coat to cover her bare body, and left the research facility with her.
.........
The sky suddenly began to rain.
Ayari sat quietly alone on the corridor's bench, gently caressing her high, rounded belly, watching the fish in the garden pond joyfully leap out of the water.
"There's wind; be careful not to catch a cold."
Ayano came out with a thick coat and draped it over Ayari's shoulders.
"It's fine, I'm not cold," Ayari said.
"Even though it's raining, the weather has already warmed up."
The village was in chaos, but the Hyuga clan had no need to seek refuge.
The entire clan grounds were securely guarded by Hizashi and his men, making it extremely safe.
"I wonder what Makoto is doing right now," Ayari said softly.
"Lord Makoto must be doing something important to protect the village," Ayano said.
Ayari simply lowered her gaze to her belly.
The scent of spring grew stronger and stronger.
After this rain, the cherry blossom tree in the yard would likely bloom.
What a blessing it was for the child to be born in such a beautiful season...
Meanwhile, on the streets of Konoha.
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza stood silently, looking down at Shikaku's lifeless body on the ground.
They were Shikaku's closest companions, and seeing his death here filled their hearts with sorrow.
"Shikaku... Is this what you wanted?" Inoichi murmured.
He had tried to persuade Shikaku more than once, but Shikaku had been obsessed, stubbornly sticking to his path.
The rain showed no sign of letting up, washing Shikaku's blood clean from the ground.
"Minato, where are you?"
In the distance, the sounds of battle between the Third Hokage and the Raikage echoed through the air.
Choza let out a furious roar, his body rapidly swelling until he became a towering giant, taller than any house.
Wielding a massive iron staff, his gaze locked onto the distant Third Raikage, and he charged at him with wild fury.
The ground shook violently beneath his steps, but despite his rage, Choza's attempt to unleash his anger was thwarted.
His massive size only made him an easy target for the Raikage.
"Choza! Get back!" Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted urgently.
The Raikage was faster.
In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance, his fist carrying immense destructive force as it slammed into Choza's chest.
Boom!
The giant's body toppled instantly.
The Raikage, relentless in his assault, surged forward with a burst of brilliant blue lightning, aiming to utterly crush Choza.
"Iron Claw Thunder Axe!"
Bang!
Just as the attack reached Choza, it was suddenly blocked.
The Raikage thought it was the Third Hokage, but when he saw who it was, his eyes widened in shock.
The person had stopped his powerful kick with a single hand — something the Raikage had never seen before.
"Did you really think Konoha was a soft target?"
A blonde woman spoke in a low, icy voice, her eyes cold and unyielding.
The Raikage leaped back, only to sense a sudden surge of energy from behind.
"Rasengan!"
Caught off guard by the sneak attack, the Raikage had no time to dodge.
He spun rapidly, raising his arm to shield himself.
Bang!
A massive force sent the Raikage flying off the rooftop.
"Tsunade, Jiraiya!"
Hiruzen let out a long breath of relief upon seeing the newcomers.
"Getting more and more useless, aren't you? Letting others run wild in your own village," Tsunade scoffed, showing no mercy in her words toward Hiruzen.
"How did the Raikage get loose? I remember Minato had sealed him," Jiraiya asked.
The two of them had not been in the village earlier but had been ten kilometers away on Adofuku Street.
Upon receiving the news, they had rushed back at full speed.
Hiruzen had no explanation, simply replying, "The reason is still unclear."
"Where's Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked.
"..."
"And Minato?"
"..."
Tsunade's anger flared further. "The village is in crisis, and those two are nowhere to be found?!"
"They probably have other matters to attend to," Jiraiya offered.
Tsunade glanced at Hiruzen, who remained silent, and laughed bitterly in fury. "So this is how the great Hokage defends Konoha? Did you toss the vows from your inauguration down a dog's throat?!"
In the distance, the Raikage emerged from the rubble, his hair standing on end.
His muscular body was brimming with explosive energy, arcs of lightning coiling around him.
"Ah, the legendary Sannin. It's truly an honor to face the Third Hokage and two of the Sannin simultaneously today," the Raikage remarked.
Tsunade's face was stern, her brows furrowed as she glared at the Raikage.
She yearned to kill this man herself, but given her current condition, engaging in battle was unwise.
Earlier, she had risked much by intercepting the Raikage's attack to protect Choza.
If she were to bleed, she would become a liability.
"Jiraiya," she called out.
"Kill him!"
Jiraiya responded gravely, "You don't need to tell me."
The battle entered a new phase.
Tsunade withdrew from the front lines, leaving Jiraiya and the Third Hokage to confront the Raikage.
Tsunade examined Choza's injuries.
His body had returned to its normal size, but his internal organs were severely damaged, and several ribs were broken.
Fortunately, his life was not in danger.
Had she not blocked the Raikage's attack, he might have died.
Inoichi quickly approached.
"Lady Tsunade, how is Choza?"
"He'll live," Tsunade replied, somewhat irritably, as she used her healing techniques on Choza. "Take him to the hospital later."
"I understand," Inoichi said with a sigh of relief.
"What's wrong?" Tsunade noticed Inoichi's troubled expression and inquired.
"Shikaku... is dead."
Tsunade paused her healing, stood up, and said, "Take him to the hospital."
"I'll do that right away."
"Wait."
She added, "Tell me where Orochimaru and Minato are."
........
At this moment, Minato had just escorted Kushina back home and released the sealing technique on her.
"Minato, where are you going?" Kushina asked hastily as she saw him preparing to leave.
"The village is still in crisis; it needs me now," Minato replied.
Kushina clung tightly to his arm, unwilling to let go.
Regardless of the village or anything else, she cared only about staying by Minato's side.
"Minato, don't leave me," she pleaded.
Minato looked at her with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry, I'll be away just for a little while to help quell the rebellion in the village. I'll be back soon."
"Minato..."
He gently patted her hand, signaling her to release him, but Kushina continued to look at him with a pleading expression.
"Kushina."
Minato sighed softly. "As a Konoha ninja, I can't stand by idly."
With that, he gently pried her fingers away.
He solemnly promised her, "After today, we'll get married... wait for me to come back!"
After speaking, Minato left the room without looking back.
To ensure Kushina's safety, he also set up several sealing techniques around the area.
After completing these preparations, he took a deep breath.
Everything should come to an end.
Orochimaru...
"Do you hate?"
A sudden voice echoed in his ear, as if it were his own inner thoughts speaking.
"You do hate, don't you?"
Minato sensed something was wrong and shouted sharply,
"Who's there?!"
He saw his shadow on the ground suddenly writhing.
From it, a figure in a black robe rose.
Beneath the robe was pitch darkness, revealing nothing.
"Who are you?"
"I am you," the black-robed figure said in a low voice.
"I am your other side."
Minato sneered, "Stop pretending to be mysterious!"
He struck swiftly, instantly forming a Rasengan in his hand and hurling it at the black-robed figure.
The lightning-fast attack hit nothing but air, as the black-robed figure vanished by slipping into his shadow.
"The Hokage title was taken from you, the woman you love was taken from you — don't you hate it?"
The voice echoed around him, bombarding Minato's mind.
Did he hate it... did he hate it...
Minato clenched his fists in silence.
He leaped onto the rooftop, gazing at the distant battlefield.
The Raikage, the Third Hokage, and Jiraiya were locked in fierce combat.
He suddenly looked downward, spotting a tall figure standing on the empty street.
Their gaze met, as if they had been searching for each other.
Orochimaru!
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