"Is this the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Orochimaru's pupils shrank violently.

Although Biwa Jūzō's strength hadn't reached the Kage level, he had still achieved elite jonin level.

That Uchiha Fugaku could kill him so effortlessly filled Orochimaru with dread.

What made him even more terrified was that the genjutsu couldn't be broken.

He had attempted to escape it, but failed.

Now, he had no choice but to endure until Uchiha Fugaku's ocular power was exhausted and the illusion dissolved on its own.

"Yamata no Jutsu—"

From his body, a massive snake head and a giant tail emerged.

In the blink of an eye, he transformed into an eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent—Yamata no Orochi.

The massive white body looked like a living mountain.

"Hmph—"

Uchiha Fugaku snorted coldly.

A surge of chakra and pupil power flooded into Susanoo, and its form began to shift rapidly.

Tendons and flesh formed, and it grew legs.

Finally, Susanoo evolved into a towering humanoid giant—several dozen meters tall.

It was the fourth form of Susanoo, the last stage before achieving its complete body.

This was more than enough to deal with Orochimaru now.

Boom. Boom. Boom—

With terrifying force, Susanoo took steps toward Yamata no Orochi.

Each step left massive footprints in the earth.

Hiss, hiss—

The eight heads of Yamata no Orochi opened wide, lunging at Susanoo from all directions.

Controlled by Uchiha Fugaku, pitch-black swords—each over ten meters long—appeared in Susanoo's hands.

Slash! Slash!

The swords cleaved through the left and right, cutting off four of Orochi's heads in one sweep.

Massive heads fell to the ground with blood gushing out.

The remaining four heads bit down on Susanoo.

But they couldn't even scratch it—their fangs shattered on impact.

The fourth form of Susanoo possessed defensive power far beyond Yamata no Orochi's capability to break.

Slash!

With another swing, the final four heads were severed.

But Fugaku wasn't done.

Susanoo rushed forward and brought its twin swords down onto the serpent's decapitated body.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

The body of Yamata no Orochi was torn apart and hacked into pieces.

Though visually intimidating, it was no match for the might of Susanoo's fourth form and was obliterated within seconds.

From a heap of steaming meat and blood, Orochimaru emerged, drenched in mucus.

The moment he appeared, he was met with a pair of blood-red eyes.

Using his perception, Fugaku instantly located Orochimaru's regeneration point.

"Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion – Shackling Stakes!"

As his Mangekyō Sharingan spun, Fugaku activated the illusion.

Even as a Kage-level shinobi, Orochimaru's soul had weaknesses. While normal genjutsu might not work on him, this was no ordinary illusion.

The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan's genjutsu was on par with Tsukuyomi in strength—far beyond what Orochimaru could resist.

"Not good!"

Orochimaru realized too late and tried to close his eyes, but the illusion had already taken hold.

Giant ethereal stakes pierced through his body, immobilizing him completely.

Agonizing pain wracked his limbs.

"AAHHH—!"

He screamed, struggling with all his might, but couldn't escape.

In the original timeline, Uchiha Itachi had used this same illusion on him, and Orochimaru had barely escaped at great cost.

Now facing Fugaku's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, he had no chance.

Buzz—

Uchiha Fugaku released the real illusion. Orochimaru and Biwa Jūzō's bodies were now fully visible.

Jūzō's body had been reduced to a mangled heap of flesh.

Orochimaru stood paralyzed in place, unable to move.

Even though the real illusion had been lifted, the effects of the shackling stakes remained.

Fugaku walked toward the immobilized Orochimaru.

"To think I would fall into your hands…"

Orochimaru's expression twisted. His mouth was the only part he could move.

"It's not surprising. Though you achieved a form of immortality, you've left a fatal flaw in your soul—and the Sharingan is its natural counter."

Fugaku spoke calmly.

As he did, he began sealing Orochimaru's chakra with a sealing jutsu.

"You actually know that?"

Orochimaru's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Fugaku to understand the secrets of his Living Corpse Reincarnation technique.

Few people knew of it—how did Fugaku?

"I know more than you think."

Fugaku smiled faintly.

"We all underestimated you. With an opponent like you, I imagine Sarutobi-sensei is quite troubled right now."

Orochimaru stared at him intently.

"You can ask him yourself soon."

Fugaku replied with a smirk.

Though he could kill Orochimaru and bring his corpse back, that would not deliver the same shock as capturing him alive.

Besides, if he did kill Orochimaru, the body might simply be revived through a curse seal.

Even the Totsuka Blade couldn't kill Orochimaru permanently. Only Nagato's Human Path could extract his soul.

As for their past dealings, Fugaku wasn't concerned.

Orochimaru's reputation as an S-rank criminal made anything he said unbelievable.

And with Orochimaru's mental resistance, not even Yamanaka Inoichi would be able to read his memories successfully.

"Did the clan leader defeat him—and capture Orochimaru alive?"

Uchiha Izumi's eyes widened in disbelief.

Though she hadn't seen the entire battle, the outcome was obvious.

Her earlier worries had been needless.

The clan leader not only won—he captured Orochimaru alive.

"Even Orochimaru is no match for the clan leader…"

Her eyes gleamed with admiration.

Swish, swish, swish!

Several figures arrived one after another—all Uchiha clan members who had followed Fugaku into the Forest of Death.

They had simply not been fast enough to arrive in time for the fight.

"The clan leader really caught Orochimaru alive!"

Seeing Fugaku standing next to the captured S-rank criminal, their shock turned to elation.

Orochimaru's name was infamous across the entire shinobi world.

For their clan leader to not only defeat but capture him alive—there could be no better proof of his overwhelming strength.

And from the time he entered the Forest of Death to now, barely twenty minutes had passed.

That the clan leader could accomplish so much in so little time made it clear—he was far beyond Orochimaru.

Their pride in the Uchiha clan surged as they watched.

(End of this chapter)