No matter what,

Qingchuan had set off.

Nagato and Konan did not follow him.

The Rain was heavy, and there were many strongholds like this one.

Moreover, to prevent Hanzo from reacting, this process had to be accelerated.

As for Nagato and Konan's revenge on the Hidden Rain,

Qingchuan actually agreed with their intentions.

A quick revenge followed by capturing the Tailed Beasts...

With a competent helper like him, the peace plan of Akatsuki would be all the more smooth.

For him, this honest soul reaper—

all he needed to do was take a small percentage from each Tailed Beast...

What a bargain!

Qingchuan thought happily to himself.

As he...

gently placed his hand on the hilt of his blade.

Though Nagato and Konan weren't present,

some individuals wouldn't just sit idly by.

"The killing intent is as apparent as ever..."

"Haruko."

A familiar tone, a familiar aura.

The figure of Orochimaru slowly appeared behind the girl.

His snake-like eyes fixated on the blade at her waist,

still sheathed, yet the cold glimmer was impossible to hide, so vividly demanding!

As expected,

the girl remained the same.

Alright... she had changed a bit; there was something distinctly different this time.

But that blade...

always remained constant.

Qingchuan slowly turned around, tilting his head with a sweet smile.

"Hello there."

"Orochimaru-sensei…"

He politely greeted.

Though he'd learned nothing from Orochimaru, manners were still to be observed.

And then...

"Die!"

Without further ado, he swung his sword forward!

The sweet smile accompanied by the cold gleam of the drawn blade was aimed directly at Orochimaru!

This combination was indeed a bit peculiar...

Yet, in Orochimaru's eyes, it was precisely the way a girl should be!

In his eyes, an intense fire reignited!

He could feel it...

The girl's body, her soul… they resonated with him!

Clink!

"Ah, what a nostalgic feeling, Haruko..."

The kunai intercepted the girl's blade as Orochimaru extended his long tongue, full of enthusiasm.

"I wonder if you can still let me taste the flavor of blood now?"

An explicit provocation.

This was a straightforward challenge.

With unmasked greed, from behind Orochimaru slithered a large python, heading straight for the girl!

A dedicated teacher and an obedient student,

this exemplary master-apprentice pair began their battle unhampered!

"Scatter, Thousand Cherry Blossoms."

In response to Orochimaru,

a flurry of petals filled the air.

That familiar technique further piqued Orochimaru's interest, as he hastily retreated; the python instantly transformed into a pool of blood...

Orochimaru glimpsed beneath the girl's feet.

"You've improved, Haruko."

His voice remained playful,

but he now held cautious awareness.

Joining Akatsuki had already proven the girl's strength.

She was no longer the girl he could evade without breaking a sweat...

Even during the last visit with Jiraiya, she had been able to use sealing techniques to bind him for a period.

With the passage of time, the girl had undoubtedly become more threatening.

Yet,

he was Orochimaru...

The perfect body was right in front of him.

At this prime age, at this opportune moment,

he had to obtain her!

The secrets of the body within this girl lay before him!

And once he possessed this body,

the future...

Capturing Nagato and acquiring that legendary sage's strength would only be a matter of time!

How could he halt here?

"I'm glad I didn't disappoint you."

Qingchuan smiled sweetly,

her form began to rise into the air amidst a sea of cherry blossoms...

Draped in white robes and pink petals,

she looked magnificent, yet the air was thick with killing intent!

"Rest assured."

"Today... you will be divided into eight pieces!"

The voice turned icy.

The torrent of cherry blossoms surged violently at Orochimaru!

The speed was so rapid that it was almost untraceable!

Qingchuan was a person of her word, upholding her professional ethics.

If she said she was going to cut down Orochimaru, then she would do so with full intent!

After all... this guy was practically unkillable.

A little hacking wouldn't harm him much.

"Summoning Technique!

"Rashōmon!"

A series of intricate hand signs, Orochimaru pressed his hands against the ground.

A gigantic door adorned with a menacing demonic face soared upward, trying to block the oncoming flower storm.

Behind the door, Orochimaru's eyes remained filled with intrigue.

"Indeed, this familiar technique, along with the girl's growth, has transformed significantly."

In the past, he could easily sidestep it, as the blossoms wouldn't even graze his clothing.

Yet now...

He found himself unable to evade!

All he could do was use this Rashōmon to buy some time, and then...

"Summoning Technique!"

A thick cloud of white smoke erupted.

In an instant, a massive serpent, striped and purple, appeared!

Manda, the strongest summoning beast from the Ryūchi Cave, notorious for devouring countless lives during wars!

Manda's demeanor was oddly calm.

Clearly,

Orochimaru had made ample preparations.

Standing atop the head of Manda, Orochimaru's gaze remained eager as the endless pink petals swirled around, losing their prominence before the massive serpent's form...

"Please, surrender your body to me... Haruko."

Orochimaru slowly proclaimed, his sinister aura palpable!

"Fear not, your soul and body will be well-preserved."

"From now on, you and I shall coexist, inseparable, and soon enough, your Uchiha will also join our ranks, living forever..."

"This proposal... what do you think?"

Orochimaru unveiled his plan, his greed evident, as was his expectation for another youth from Konoha...

"So... thoughtful, aren't you, Orochimaru-sensei?"

In response,

Qingchuan's blade gleamed coldly.

Casting a sidelong glance at the massive serpent beneath Orochimaru,

the flurry of petals retracted, and the long blade re-emerged, vertical to the ground before... she slowly released it.

"Bankai."

"Thousand Cherry Blossoms... Flowers Fall."

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