Naruto: Naruto's Uchiha girlfriend is too arrogant

Chapter 282 Alternative Plan

After the First and Second Hokage were temporarily sealed away, turning into two still cocoon-like objects, only one target remained in the arena: Orochimaru. Did he escape in the chaos? He used his water clone as cover, and his true form has vanished without a trace.

However, within the range of Kagura's Mind's Eye, there was no way he could completely hide. Menma was certain she could find him.

Moreover, even if the power of "Menma" dissipates in a while, Naruto's main body can still find the slippery snake by relying on his ability to sense life energy.

Just as Menma was concentrating his senses and preparing to set off in pursuit.

"Wait a moment!"

The Third Hokage's urgent voice suddenly rang out. Menma turned his head in confusion and saw that the old man's face was tense and his lips were slightly moving, as if he had a thousand words stuck in his throat but could not form a sentence for a long time.

Menma felt a sense of confusion. Although Menma's identity was not exactly honorable, this operation was clearly to protect Konoha, so why did the old man seem so hesitant to speak?

"roar--!!!"

Just as the stalemate was at its most intense, a sharp, inhuman screech suddenly came from the side! Immediately afterward, a huge shadow fell, covering part of the roof.

Menma felt that she had heard enough roars from these giant creatures today, so what was it this time?

He turned his head and saw a colossal creature perched on the dilapidated main venue of the Chunin Exams! Although it was not as towering as the Tailed Beasts, it was still an undeniably enormous beast.

It has a pale, bony body, eight heads that constantly hiss and twist, and eight tails that dance wildly!

"The Eight-Headed Serpent Technique..." Orochimaru's gaze, hidden behind the mask, narrowed slightly as he recognized the technique. "Is this the ultimate incarnation you've been so persistently pursuing, the one that transcends your human form? Orochimaru."

"hiss--!!"

One of the massive, ferocious heads of the Yamata no Orochi shot towards the rooftop like an arrow, carrying a foul stench!

"Whoosh!"

Mianma simply raised his hand, and an extremely condensed wind blade was instantly unleashed!

"Pfft!"

Blood splattered! The attacking snake head snapped off and crashed heavily to the ground. However, the remaining seven heads emitted even more frenzied and chaotic shrieks, and the other snake heads continued to glare menacingly.

Not far away, Kakuzu, having been caught up in the earlier battle between Menma and the previous Hokage, had already retreated to a safer distance to watch the fight.

Although the monstrous snake's aura and form were quite terrifying... he calmly assessed the situation, but for the leader, it was probably just a matter of spending a little more time.

His gaze swept over the gradually calming Konoha Village below. With the defeat of the One-Tailed Beast and the appearance of the golden Nine-Tailed Beast just now... Kakuzu realized that Konoha seemed to possess an incredible power far exceeding his previous expectations.

At this moment, the remaining soldiers of Sunagakure and Otogakure on the battlefield, having witnessed Shukaku's defeat and the arrival of the golden Nine-Tails, had completely lost their will to fight. Some knelt down and surrendered, while others fled in panic, and the rest were quickly subdued and captured by Konoha ninja.

It seems this farce... is finally coming to an end. Kakuzu thought to himself. Now, it's time to go and meet up with them.

With the activation of the Body Flicker Technique, Kakuzu's figure vanished silently from the spot.

------

Outside Konoha Village, in the dark forest,

An inconspicuous little white snake, no thicker than a finger, was moving silently and swiftly among the fallen leaves and bushes.

When it comes to trump cards for escaping and preserving one's life, looking across the entire ninja world, apart from the Otsutsuki clan, probably no one can surpass Orochimaru.

Sure enough, when the little white snake swam to a relatively hidden spot under the tree roots, its body suddenly began to "melt" like a wax figure. The snake's mouth opened, and a viscous, human-shaped substance was slowly "spit out".

As the little white snake's life force completely dissipated, the substance rapidly expanded, eventually transforming into a giant Orochimaru, soaking wet and as pale as paper.

"cough……"

Orochimaru coughed violently a few times, feeling his chakra nearly depleted. He had paid a heavy price to use the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique to hold off Menma.

But at this moment, he had no time to waste, not even to clean the slime off his body.

All the core plans—to seize the Nine-Tails and destroy Konoha—have completely failed. Now, only the last backup plan remains.

Damn it… Orochimaru gritted his teeth in resentment, but his eyes immediately sharpened like a hawk's. He forced himself to stay strong and began to carefully sense and search for the specific traces of chakra remaining in the air.

------

Meanwhile, in another relatively secluded corner of the forest.

Temari had just found a clean stream, filled her water bag with water, and carefully handed it to Gaara. "Here, Gaara, have some water." Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible probing and nervousness.

Gaara silently took the water bag and responded softly, "Um... thank you."

Although he tried to appear natural, his soft thank you startled Kankuro and Temari, who were on guard nearby, and their faces showed undisguised surprise.

Gaara... said "thank you" to us? This memory was so blurred in the minds of the two siblings that it seemed like something from a past life.

What exactly happened? Temari and Kankuro were puzzled. The chilling aura that once emanated from Gaara had vanished, and his eyes were no longer filled with lifeless numbness... Although he seemed somewhat vulnerable now, this Gaara was far more approachable than his fearsome younger brother.

"Crunch."

Suddenly, a faint sound of a dry branch snapping underfoot came from the dense forest to the side!

"Who?!" Kankuro reacted swiftly, instantly summoning his puppet "Crow" to his front, its mechanisms clattering. Temari also immediately gripped the three-star fan on her back, looking warily toward the source of the sound.

Was it a wild animal passing by? After a brief silence, Temari and Kankuro tried to reassure themselves with this thought.

However, the next moment, a huge shadow suddenly loomed over the sunlight above them.

The two instinctively looked up and saw an enormous snake, its scales shimmering with an eerie light, silently coiled in the treetop above them!

"hiss--!"

Before they could react, several slender, venomous snakes shot out from the giant snake's head like arrows!

"Be careful!"

Kankuro tried to block with his crow, and Temari tried to swing her fan, but it was too late. The venomous snake precisely avoided the puppet's interception, instantly coiling around Temari and Kankuro's arms and necks. Its sharp fangs pierced their skin, and a powerful paralyzing toxin instantly flooded their bloodstream!

"Ugh!"

"Gaara...run...quick..."

Temari and Kankuro only had time to utter short exclamations and mumbled warnings before they felt all their strength drain away in an instant. Their vision went black, and they collapsed heavily to the ground, losing consciousness.

Gaara stared in horror at everything that had happened in the blink of an eye, at his brother and sister collapsing in an instant, his mind going completely blank.

In his fear and helplessness, he heard that cold, hoarse, nightmare-like voice ring in his ears.

"Come with me, you One-Tailed Jinchuriki!"