After Orochimaru and Sasori retreated, no one pursued them.
Although outnumbered, defeating Orochimaru and Sasori was difficult; killing them was even harder.
More importantly, there were people to protect, and they didn't want to escalate the situation.
Seeing the strong opponents retreat, Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Itachi and Izumi.
If anything had happened to Naruto, Sasuke, or Yota, he wouldn't be able to explain it to their families.
This team is too exciting. Maybe I should go back to Anbu? Kakashi thought.
However, Kakashi was responsible and wouldn't agree to someone less capable leading Team 7.
"Hmph, even Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, fled when my brother and Izumi-nee-san showed up!" Sasuke said proudly, arms crossed.
Naruto, disliking Sasuke's boasting, retorted, and they began arguing.
Kakashi, serious, turned to Deidara, "You're Deidara, the Iwagakure rogue ninja. You intended to destroy this bridge."
Despite their temporary alliance, protecting Tazuna and the bridge was their mission. This needed clarification.
Everyone looked at Deidara, including Haku, who looked at him questioningly.
"It was just a job I picked up in Wave Country," Deidara said nonchalantly.
Tazuna's face turned furious, "It must have been Gato! He still wants to stop me from completing the bridge!"
Tazuna recounted Gato's evil deeds and his reasons for building the bridge. Persuaded by everyone, especially Haku, Deidara abandoned the mission.
As they discussed dealing with Gato, Itachi and Kakashi sensed something and shouted,
"Look out!"
Suddenly, countless white snakes emerged from the ground, attacking everyone.
Itachi and Izumi simultaneously activated their Susanoo for protection.
Izumi had activated her Mangekyō Sharingan, but as a taijutsu specialist, she rarely used Susanoo to conserve chakra.
Her Susanoo was pink, wielding a katana. Her weaker chakra reserves resulted in a smaller Susanoo.
The Susanoo blocked the snakes while cutting them down.
Although each strike felled dozens of snakes, their sheer number and constant emergence from the ground meant some slipped under the incomplete Susanoo, biting at the group.
Itachi, Izumi, and Kakashi focused on Naruto, Sasuke, and Yota. Protecting Haku, Deidara was unable to prevent a snake from biting him.
Instantly, Haku froze into an ice sculpture, dragged underground by the snake. The other snakes retreated.
"Haku!"
Seeing Haku captured, Deidara shouted, summoning his clay bird to pursue the enemy.
He could sense the direction Haku was taken.
Naruto and the others were also worried; they had grown fond of the kind "young lady."
"It's Orochimaru! Kakashi, protect Sasuke and the others. Izumi and I will pursue him."
Disengaging their Susanoo, Izumi and Itachi used "Shunshin" to pursue the snakes, quickly encountering Orochimaru alone. Deidara, unable to teleport, fell behind.
After retreating, Orochimaru remained fixated on Haku, leaving Sasori behind to capture him.
Sasori knew Orochimaru's research on Ice Release kekkei genkai and didn't question him, leaving immediately.
"Orochimaru-senpai, hand him over."
Itachi's tone was calm as he addressed Orochimaru.
Orochimaru looked at Itachi and Izumi, a chilling smile spreading across his face as he licked his lips, "You two followed. Excellent."
"I've long wanted to study the Uchiha clan's Mangekyō Sharingan. Don't worry, I'll spare your lives for Yusuke-kun's sake."
Itachi and Izumi's eyes flashed with killing intent. All kekkei genkai clans were wary of such things.
Izumi, using "Shunshin," appeared behind Orochimaru with her katana. The Izumi beside Itachi remained motionless.
Sensing the killing intent, Orochimaru tried to evade but found himself immobile, unable even to turn.
Looking into Itachi's calm eyes, Orochimaru realized, "Damn it, genjutsu!"
Orochimaru was a genjutsu master with strong resistance.
Orochimaru had only undergone Edo Tensei once, his soul relatively strong; genjutsu wasn't a weakness.
However, Itachi excelled in genjutsu, and his Mangekyō Sharingan's power made him unstoppable.
A pink blade flashed, and Orochimaru's headless body fell. Izumi's figure vanished.
"Yusuke-kun's disciples are not to be underestimated!"
Orochimaru's raspy voice echoed.
No blood flowed from his severed neck.
A white light shot from the neck wound towards Itachi.
The speed was too fast for Itachi to react. It was a white phosphorus snake covered in black seals. Its head wasn't a normal snake head but Orochimaru's.
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