"You…!"

The single word, delivered with such cold, dismissive contempt, was a blade that cut deeper than any physical weapon. It shattered Orochimaru's pride. If he were not immortal, he would have died of pure, unadulterated rage.

"Itachi… I will show you my ultimate technique! "

Aaaaarrrrgh!

Orochimaru's body convulsed, flesh twisting and contorting in an unholy transformation. Eight massive snake heads erupted from his form, their unified, deafening howl echoing throughout the valley.

Unseen by the combatants, in a dark corner of the clearing, a plant-like figure slowly opened. White Zetsu frowned, its voice filled with disgust. "Eh… What is that grotesque thing?"

Black Zetsu snorted coldly. "That is the Yamata no Orochi, the Eight-Branches Technique. It is a terrifying jutsu."

"And what about Orochimaru? Where did he go?" White Zetsu asked.

As if in answer, the mouth of the central snake head opened wide, and from within, the upper half of Orochimaru's body slowly emerged, a triumphant, manic grin on his face.

Facing the terrifying visage of the eight-headed serpent, Itachi remained unmoved, his voice a low whisper. "Orochimaru, I did not expect you to know this forbidden technique."

"Hehehe…" Orochimaru spat the legendary Kusanagi sword from his mouth, catching it deftly. "When I left Konoha, I took two of my favorite forbidden jutsu from the archives. One of them was the Eight-Branches Technique, the most powerful jutsu I have mastered to date!"

"As for the other, I have not yet fully mastered it, but based on my current research, I believe the day when I can is not far off."

"Tsk tsk… Itachi, I am the only one who can unlock the true secrets of this world. I will say it again! Become mine, and you will not regret it!"

"Come now. Surrender, and you will not have to suffer any more physical pain. The power of my Eight-Branches Technique is too great for even you to bear!"

"Hmph…" Uchiha Itachi lowered his head, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. "That might be true for others, but you, Orochimaru, have picked the wrong opponent." As he spoke, his eyes spun, the tomoe transforming into the intricate pinwheel of the Mangekyō.

"The power of the Uchiha is your natural enemy!"

The next moment, a crimson chakra erupted around him, coalescing first into the form of a massive, spectral skeleton, then growing muscles and sinew, and finally donning a suit of ethereal armor. A half-bodied, crimson giant stood before the Yamata no Orochi.

"Could this be… Susanoo?!" Orochimaru's eyes widened. It was the first time he had seen the legendary power with his own eyes. He had not realized Itachi's strength had reached such a level. Though shocked, his arrogance quickly returned. "Hmph, Compared to my Eight-Branches Technique, it is nothing!"

The serpent heads writhed and struck, lunging at the Susanoo with a furious hiss. Itachi's eyes focused, and the Susanoo's right hand glowed with a fiery red light. A spectral gourd appeared, and from its mouth, a liquid blade of crimson flame emerged, coalescing into the form of a longsword.

Swish!

The greatsword swung with impossible speed, and the attacking snake heads were lopped off one after another, their severed forms dissolving into nothing. However, the Yamata no Orochi possessed a powerful regenerative ability. The flesh on the severed necks roiled, and new heads grew back in their place almost instantly.

"Hahahahaha! I told you it was useless! Itachi, stop your pointless struggling and prepare to die!"

Orochimaru, like a mad puppeteer, controlled the great serpent, crawling forward with fangs and claws bared. He pointed the Kusanagi sword at Itachi's real body, which was protected within the Susanoo's ethereal form. In an instant, the Kusanagi sword extended with blinding speed, its tip aimed directly at Itachi's heart.

I have him! Orochimaru stretched out his long, serpentine tongue, licking his lips greedily. He believed the power of the Kusanagi sword was more than enough to pierce Susanoo's defenses.

However, before the blade could strike, the Susanoo swung its right hand with a powerful, deliberate motion. The red sword plunged deep into Orochimaru's monstrous form.

"Ghh!" Orochimaru was startled at first, then sneered. "Hehehe… Hahahaha! Do you think an attack of this level can defeat me? I am the immortal Orochimaru! No matter what kind of technique you use, it will have no effect on me—!"

"Hm?"

A strange, cold sensation instantly spread through his body. Orochimaru suddenly felt as if his very soul was being hollowed out.

"Wait, could this sword be…?"

"The Sword of Totsuka!!!"

Orochimaru panicked. He never imagined that the legendary Sword, the ethereal blade he had searched for for so long, was hidden in the hands of Uchiha Itachi. He knew the terrifying effect of the weapon. It was a blade of sealing. Anyone pierced by it would be trapped forever in a dream-like world of genjutsu, unable to ever escape. It was the natural enemy of an immortal being.

"Itachi! I will not let you go! One day, I will return, and I will strip every inch of your perfect body from you!"

"Aaaaaaaaaah!"

With a final, agonized howl, Orochimaru's body and the monstrous form of the Yamata no Orochi were sucked into the gourd that served as the Totsuka Sword's sheath. From that moment on, not a trace of Orochimaru remained.

"It's… over."

The red giant that surrounded Itachi slowly dissipated. He fell to his knees, clutching his chest, his body trembling uncontrollably. Using so many powerful techniques in succession had put an immense strain on his body. Though he had the blessing of Hashirama's cells, he had not yet fully adapted to their power, and the pain was still immense. But now, the great threat of Orochimaru had been eliminated. He could finally be at ease. The effort had been worth it.

After the spectacle had concluded, Zetsu quietly returned to the underground.

White Zetsu said, "Orochimaru has been sealed. This is a major development. We must hurry and report to Obito!"

Black Zetsu added, "Yes, this is good news. Orochimaru was never loyal to the Akatsuki anyway. Tsk tsk, why did Obito have to go to the Hidden Mist Village again?"

White Zetsu urged, "Stop complaining and let's go!"

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