The Susanoo, the third power that can only be unlocked by opening the Mangekyo Sharingan, is known as the power of the gods.
It has several forms, each with different levels of power.
Shisui Uchiha used the first form.
It only has an upper body, in the shape of a skeleton, without a dedicated weapon, and can use ordinary swords or fists.
However, its defensive power is good. Unless it is an extremely powerful attack, it cannot be penetrated.
As Shisui Uchiha was young and injured, activating the first form of Susanoo was already his limit at this time.
He initially thought it would suffice, but upon seeing this eight - headed serpent as large as the Susanoo, his calm expression turned grave.
Three years ago, in his first confrontation with Orochimaru, he won by a fluke.
At that time, Orochimaru either didn't use the Eight Branches Technique, or didn't want to fight, or hadn't learned it yet.
This allowed Shisui Uchiha to barely gain the upper hand with the Susanoo and Genjutsu.
But now, a troublesome situation has arisen.
With such a large body, the eight - headed serpent no longer needs to fear the first form of the Susanoo.
And with its eight heads and eight pairs of eyes, which one should he control?
If the systems of the eight heads are separate, it implies that he would have to use Kotoamatsukami eight times, and that is simply an impossible feat.
Using it continuously in such a short period of time would only lead to one outcome: blindness.
In the moment he hesitated, Orochimaru launched an attack.
The eight tails wrapped around the Susanoo, and the eight snake heads bit towards Shisui Uchiha.
His idea was quite simple: swallow him whole and then announce to the outside world that Shisui Uchiha had been digested by him.
Surely Tanzo Shimura or Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't ask him to cut open his own stomach to see if he had really digested him, right?
A deafening rumble resounded.
Shisui Uchiha was protected by the Susanoo, and the attacks of the eight snake heads were ineffective.
However, the powerful force made him feel a strong tremor.
If this continued a few more times, he wouldn't be able to hold on.
Shisui Uchiha controlled the hands of the Susanoo to grab four tails each and pull them apart.
But Orochimaru took the opportunity to use the eight tails to tie up the arms of the Susanoo, and they fell into a stalemate again.
The eight heads rammed forward with all their might once more.
Shisui Uchiha gritted his teeth and output a huge amount of pupil power.
A forty - meter - long sword appeared in the right hand of the Susanoo.
Since it was the first form, the sword was an ordinary one. But no matter how ordinary it was, with such a large size, an ordinary person couldn't withstand it.
The sword swung horizontally, covering four heads.
Orochimaru was shocked. The speed was too fast, and the sword appeared suddenly. He couldn't avoid it.
Clang!
The heads didn't fall off.
But an unbearable pain came.
Orochimaru's eight heads roared simultaneously, and the attack became even more frenzied.
Meanwhile, Tanzo Shimura wasn't idle either.
He was facing Itachi Uchiha.
The eight Root Jonin he brought went around to set up a barrier.
He had to guard against the sudden arrival of Hiruzen Sarutobi and others, which might disrupt their plan.
Tanzo Shimura originally thought it would be easy to deal with a kid, but he found that Itachi Uchiha was quite troublesome.
Especially since he didn't have many Sharingan at the moment, only two.
He was reluctant to waste his efforts on Itachi Uchiha.
So, he simply resorted to using Wood Release to engage in combat.
In the distance, Jiraiya stood there, utterly stunned.
Everything he had witnessed today had caught him completely off guard.
Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Orochimaru's Eight Branches Technique.
Tanzō Shimura's Wood Release.
These events left him at a loss as to what to do next.
Jiraiya fell into deep thought for a moment.
Ultimately, he decided to stop the fight first, save Shisui Uchiha, and then see if he was the one mentioned in the prophecy.
He was well aware that if the battle continued, it would no longer be a fight among just the four of them, but could escalate into a war between Konoha Village and the Uchiha Clan.
Jiraiya bit his thumb and pressed it against the ground, activating the Summoning Jutsu.
Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima appeared.
In such a terrifying battle situation, Jiraiya had no choice but to enter the fray in Sage Mode.
However, the Sage Mode he could activate on his own didn't last long, so he summoned the two sages to assist him.
"Little Jiraiya..."
Sage Fukasaku was about to speak when he was immediately drawn to the battle in the distance.
More precisely, he was drawn to Shisui Uchiha.
Those Mangekyo Sharingan eyes that emitted an evil aura.
"Could these be the special eyes the old master talked about?"
Sage Fukasaku couldn't help but ask.
"Maybe, but I'm not sure."
Jiraiya formed hand seals, and the unique eye shadow and patterns of Sage Mode appeared on his face.
"I need to stop them. If Shisui Uchiha dies, I won't be able to find out anything. So, I need your help."
"No problem."
Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima immediately jumped onto Jiraiya's shoulders.
Gatai!
Jiraiya took a deep breath. After a moment, he charged into the battlefield and shouted, "Stop!"
But Orochimaru didn't give him any face.
However, the battle between Tanzō Shimura and Itachi came to a halt.
The former was troubled by Jiraiya's unexpected appearance.
The latter saw a glimmer of hope.
Itachi knew well that if the fight continued, Shisui Uchiha would have to use Kotoamatsukami.
But whether it would be effective against Orochimaru with his eight heads remained uncertain.
Moreover, besides Orochimaru, there were also Tanzō Shimura and eight Root Jonin.
No matter how you looked at it, they were at a disadvantage.
Jiraiya's appearance changed the situation.
Compared to Orochimaru and Tanzō Shimura, Jiraiya had an excellent reputation.
He was a perfect embodiment of the Will of Fire.
In other words, he represented the Hokage lineage of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Itachi quickly explained the situation. "Lord Jiraiya, Orochimaru and Tanzō Shimura kidnapped my younger brother, which is why we started this fight."
Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat. He never expected such a turn of events.
The reason he was here was that he had been tracking and investigating Shisui Uchiha and Itachi recently.
He had also heard about Sasuke Uchiha's disappearance.
He had thought it was the work of a ninja from another village.
"Orochimaru! Stop right now!"
Jiraiya roared.
Hearing his words, Shisui Uchiha put aside the idea of using Kotoamatsukami for the time being.
He tried to control one of the snake's heads with ordinary Genjutsu, but it was useless.
Apparently, the eight heads were independent.
Perhaps there was a main head.
But Shisui Uchiha hadn't noticed it yet.
Meanwhile, like Itachi Uchiha, he trusted Jiraiya.
This man's reputation was obvious to all.
Besides, there was no other way but to trust him.
Itachi Uchiha hadn't awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, and he himself couldn't further improve the form of Susanoo.
More importantly, Shisui Uchiha would never break with Konoha Village.
Orochimaru still remained indifferent.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes and immediately formed Hand Seals.
Sage Art: Goemon!
Jiraiya used oil, Sage Fukasaku used Wind Release, and Sage Shima used Fire Release.
The combination of the three instantly created a great fire that could burn everything.
Orochimaru felt the crisis and quickly separated Susanoo, retreating backward.
Although the defense of his snake body was amazing, it was impossible for him to withstand Jiraiya's Sage Art unscathed.
After the flames subsided, Jiraiya stood in front of Shisui Uchiha.
The middle head of the eight - headed serpent slowly opened its mouth, and Orochimaru's upper body appeared. With a gloomy face, he said coldly, "Jiraiya, what are you doing? Shisui Uchiha has attacked me, which is an act of treason against the village."
"I didn't! I'll never betray Konoha!"
Shisui Uchiha had dispersed Susanoo and shouted loudly, "It was you who threatened Itachi with Sasuke first!"
Susanoo consumed too much.
He didn't have Hashirama cells. Also, because of his young age, his pupil power and Chakra were insufficient.
Maintaining it for so long had reached his limit.
However, he had to reserve the pupil power for using Kotoamatsukami just in case.
After being attacked by Orochimaru and Tanzo Shimura, he only half - trusted Jiraiya.
"This matter should be handled by the old man."
Jiraiya couldn't tell who was telling the truth in a short time. The best way was to find Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hiruzen has assigned the investigation of Sasuke Uchiha's disappearance to Root."
Tanzo Shimura brought up Hiruzen Sarutobi's previous order and said, "Jiraiya, you should assist me in arresting the suspects."
What a self - serving plan!
Jiraiya and Orochimaru simply ignored his words.
But at this moment, they were in a deadlock.
"What a wonderful scene."
A slightly smiling voice came.
Jiraiya and the others instinctively looked in the direction of the voice.
A strange young man wearing a tiger - striped mask was holding the unconscious Shisui Uchiha, who was covered in blood.
It was Natsume.
Shisui Uchiha's attention had been entirely on Orochimaru, Tanzo Shimura, and Jiraiya.
He had let down his guard against the person behind him.
After Natsume exchanged for the Sage Body, his speed was astonishing. So he knocked Shisui Uchiha unconscious with a single blow.
A good strike!
Natsume originally wanted to appear as the leader of a mysterious organization. After careful consideration, he decided to add another identity and pretend to be Obito Uchiha.
This way, he could shift the blame and gain destiny value.
When Itachi Uchiha met Obito Uchiha again, would he still want to cooperate in the clan's extermination?
It seems highly unlikely that Orochimaru would join the Akatsuki organization again.
"Who are you?!"
"Let go of Brother Shisui quickly!"
Two different voices rang out.
The former was Jiraiya, and the latter was Itachi Uchiha.
Orochimaru had recognized Natsume's voice.
However, their deal was a secret, and he wouldn't acknowledge and greet Natsume in front of everyone.
He didn't expect Natsume to suddenly appear and interfere.
But Orochimaru wasn't panicked at all; instead, he was excited.
This is Konoha Village. He has Jiraiya and Tanzō Shimura on his side. Couldn't the three of them beat you?
By then, he would find out his true identity.
Tanzō Shimura noticed this as an opportunity.
He disappeared from everyone's sight at an extremely fast speed.
The next moment, he appeared behind Natsume.
The kunai in his hand was infused with a thick Wind Release, transforming into the sharpest blade and stabbing into Natsume's body.
Seeing that his attack had succeeded, Tanzō Shimura couldn't help but smile.
Apart from Wood Release, he was most proficient in Wind Release.
Speed was his forte.
Besides, it was worth a try.
Of course, it would be best if he succeeded.
If he failed, could this masked man stop him?
He didn't believe it.
After obtaining Hashirama cells and Wood Release, there were few people in the ninja world stronger than him.
Clone?
Seeing that no blood was splashed, Tanzō Shimura immediately abandoned the kunai and grabbed at Shisui Uchiha with his right hand.
The Mangekyo Sharingan was the most important thing.
Instantly, Natsume's wooden clone turned into vines and wrapped around Tanzō Shimura.
"Wood Release?!"
Tanzō Shimura's heart skipped a beat, and instinctively, he thought of Orochimaru.
This chapter isn't over yet!
"Aaaaaaah! My hand!"
The next moment, he let out a shrill scream.
The ground cracked.
Natsume suddenly appeared, and with a blade formed by condensed chakra in his hand, he cut off Tanzō Shimura's outstretched right arm.
He had seen the two Sharingan on the right arm earlier.
For Tanzō Shimura, who could use Izanagi, these were two chances of resurrection.
So Natsume wanted to disable this cheat first.
Moreover, he suspected that these two eyes belonged to Kagami Uchiha.
Tanzō Shimura was from the same school as him, but given his character, after Kagami Uchiha's death, his eyes definitely wouldn't have remained intact.
Natsume suddenly had an interesting idea.
After taking Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami, he could transplant Kagami Uchiha's Sharingan of the same bloodline to Shisui.
If Shisui witnessed the night of Itachi Uchiha's clan's extermination and the dirty deeds of the Konoha high - ups with his own eyes, would he awaken a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan?
And two pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan from close relatives could merge into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
Neither in the manga nor in the 'Shinden' (a supplementary material of Naruto) was it clearly stated that it had to be the eyes of biological brothers.
So Natsume thought it was worth a try.
Even if it didn't work, having an extra pair of Mangekyo Sharingan would be great.
"Give it back to this old man quickly!"
Tanzō Shimura covered the severed arm, his eyes bulging with rage as he let out a crazy scream.
If it were an ordinary arm, he naturally wouldn't care, but this was an arm cultivated with Hashirama cells.
With the Sharingan installed, he could use Izanagi.
After cutting off his right arm, the masked man immediately put the arm into a storage scroll, clearly aware of his secret.
It's Orochimaru!
Tanzo Shimura's face contorted.
This was the only explanation he could think of.
Only Orochimaru knew his secret, and the masked man could use Wood Release.
Tanzo Shimura instinctively turned his head, only to find that Orochimaru had vanished.
Could it be true?
"Sorry, Orochimaru, I can't let you have him."
Natsume turned his head and saw a huge snake's head about to swallow Shisui Uchiha.
Orochimaru ignored his words.
In the form of the eight - headed serpent, he wasn't afraid of Wood Release at all.
Natsume clapped his hands symbolically.
The Sage Body, the life force and physical energy of the Sage of Six Paths.
Put more simply, it was Yang Release.
Why was Hashirama Senju's Wood Release so powerful?
Because he played a life - burning strategy, adding Yang Release.
After Natsume exchanged for a temporary Sage Body, he could use many Wood Release Ninjutsu that he couldn't use before.
Wood Release: Nativity of a Sea of Trees!
An extremely large amount of chakra and life force gushed out.
The ground rumbled and split open, and countless trees emerged from the cracks.
The original forest was thrown into complete chaos.
The eight - headed serpent transformed by Orochimaru was instantly entangled by thick and large branches and couldn't move.
At this moment, Natsume suddenly remembered Hashirama's words, "Nine - Tailed Fox, you're too strong and need to be sealed."
This is quite a farce.
Sure enough, the more honest a person seems, the more scheming they are.
The outer barriers dissipated, and the eight Root Jonin, just like Orochimaru, were completely bound.
So were Tanzo Shimura and Itachi Uchiha.
Only Jiraiya managed to escape.
His face was full of horror at this moment.
This was the signature Ninjutsu of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and one of the things that allowed him to dominate the ninja world.
But now it was being used by a mysterious masked man. It was simply magical.
After a moment of stunnedness, Orochimaru immediately struggled.
But it was useless.
How could this guy be so strong?
Orochimaru was still in a state of lingering fear. Fortunately, he hadn't fallen out during the previous deal.
At the same time, he knew that the situation was irreversible.
Jiraiya and the mysterious masked man's successive interventions had completely ruined his plan to capture Shisui Uchiha.
He originally had a trump card, which was Impure World Reincarnation.
But an ordinary Impure World Reincarnation was far from the strength of the original.
When he realized this, he simply gave up.
After all, using Impure World Reincarnation was too taboo, and it was a hundred percent certainty that he would become a runaway.
Natsume looked up. Many dark shadows were approaching in the distance.
The commotion he caused by instantly creating a forest was really too big.
Jiraiya also noticed this scene.
He swallowed hard and immediately formed hand seals.
Such a powerful enemy must be stopped.
Sage Art: Goemon!
The flames that burned everything reappeared.
The nearby forest immediately caught fire.
Jiraiya let out a sigh of relief. There was hope.
But the burned forest regrew, causing the flames to slow down significantly.
Natsume formed hand seals symbolically.
Wood Release: Complete Capture!
Suddenly, a huge wooden palm materialized right in front of Jiraiya and landed a resounding slap on him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others arrived on the scene and beheld this astonishing sight.
Jiraiya, who had activated Sage Mode, was sent flying with a single slap.
"Is this Wood Release? The Wood Release of the First Hokage?"
"How is that possible?!"
"Have even Lord Jiraiya and Lord Orochimaru been defeated?"
"Who the hell is this guy?"
Everyone couldn't help but gape in shock and blurted out in amazement.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his heart skip a beat.
He never imagined he'd see this Ninjutsu again.
Could it be that Lord Hashirama Senju had been resurrected?
If he were to learn of his title as the strongest Hokage, would he burst out laughing?
Natsume took a quick look around and instantly raised his eyebrows.
He spotted Tsunade.
Tsk.
The grown - ups are here. Time for the brats to make a run for it.
Besides, the goal has been accomplished. No need to squander any more destiny value.
Oh, well!
As for killing them, it's even less necessary. They're all his 'cash cows'.
Natsume gave a gentle push, and countless trees grew wildly, shoving Orochimaru and the others away and forming an imposing wooden wall.
"Attack!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled and shouted in a hurry.
The Ninjas who came with him fought back their fear and formed Hand Seals.
Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!
Water Release: Water Dragon Shot!
Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!
...
In an instant, countless Ninjutsu were hurled at the wooden wall.
Those who could sense the commotion and arrive in time were all Jonin or Chunin.
The power unleashed by such a massive amount of Chakra combined was definitely beyond human endurance.
But to their despair, the wooden wall remained unscathed.
"Lord Hokage, he's gone."
Hiashi Hyuga peered intently through his Byakugan, and the shock in his voice was still palpable.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, glanced at Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the one - armed Tanzo Shimura, and asked, "Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on?"
Thankfully, this mysterious powerhouse didn't seem to be an enemy of Konoha. Otherwise, today would definitely turn into a bloodbath.
In a small forest not far from Booklet Street.
This was the spot where Ena Uzumaki usually trained.
Natsume laid the unconscious Shisui Uchiha down.
He planned to have Kabuto Yakushi remove Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan and transplant the Three - Tomoe Sharingan presumably belonging to Kagami Uchiha.
Eye - replacement surgery in the ninja world was as straightforward as treating a common cold, so there was no problem.
But for safety's sake, Kabuto Yakushi would take some extra precautions with Shisui Uchiha to prevent future betrayal.
[Due to your actions, Shisui Uchiha's fate has been altered. You've gained 99 destiny value.]
[Owing to your actions, Tanzo Shimura's fate has been transformed. You've obtained 99 destiny value.]
[As a result of your actions, Hiruzen Sarutobi's fate has shifted. You've acquired 28 destiny value.]
[Thanks to your actions, Orochimaru's fate has been modified. You've gained 37 destiny value.]
[Because of what you've done, Obito Uchiha's fate has been changed. You've earned 27 destiny value.]
]
[Due to your actions, the destiny of Itachi Uchiha has changed. You have gained 16 points of destiny value.]
Putting aside the 30 points of destiny value he spent to exchange for the Sage Body, he earned back 276 points within one minute.
Natsume made a huge profit this time.
But he wouldn't replace his eyes with Shisui Uchiha's.
Ordinary people really couldn't handle it.
Just look at Kakashi Hatake.
Natsume has the Tamaki of Destiny, which allows him to directly transfer all the abilities of the Mangekyo Sharingan to his own eyes.
This saves him from the pain and time of eye - replacement surgery and dealing with eye rejection.
The combined word - count is 5,500 words. My fight scenes aren't that great, so please bear with me. This part of the plot is basically finished. We'll soon get back to the main plot of this book. (Smile) Additionally, the new female lead, Mei Terumī, will soon make her appearance. PS: Catching up on reading in the next two days is really crucial. It determines whether we can get a major recommendation, like the Sanjiang List. If it's successful, I'll update with 10,000 words every day after the book is put on the paid platform, and there will also be the side stories you like.
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