Orochimaru, transformed into a white phosphorus snake, completely wrapped around Itachi, tightening its coils. Itachi remained calm.
Seeing the snake covered in black seals, Itachi and Izumi felt a sense of familiarity.
"Cursed Seal of Heaven?"
They had heard Yusuke mention this seal, developed with Orochimaru. Orochimaru was clearly using it.
"So, you're using the Cursed Seal of Heaven to break free from my genjutsu,"
As Itachi spoke, he activated Susanoo, flinging Orochimaru away. Izumi instantly appeared beside him within the Susanoo.
Itachi had considered using Tsukuyomi, but noticing Orochimaru's grey, unfocused eyes, he realized Orochimaru had temporarily blocked his visual nerves, fearing Itachi's dojutsu.
Ninja battles often involve surprise tactics. However, once a secret technique is revealed, it can be countered.
Tsukuyomi was unknown to most, but Itachi's reputation preceded him. The ninja world knew his skill with genjutsu and his powerful Mangekyō Sharingan. Opponents would always consider countermeasures.
"The Uchiha clan… such a gifted bloodline! And the essence of that bloodline is the Sharingan!"
Looking at Susanoo, Orochimaru's eyes burned with fervor.
While the Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't his ultimate goal, he still craved the Sharingan.
Orochimaru's mouth stretched wide, and he emerged from the snake, leaving behind a shed white phosphorus snakeskin.
Orochimaru's substitution technique was powerful but disgusting, testing the opponent's mental fortitude.
Returning to human form, Orochimaru quickly formed hand seals.
"Eight Branches Technique!"
A snake, far larger than Susanoo, with eight heads, was summoned.
The snake was pure white, radiating intense cold. Orochimaru stood on one of its heads.
This Eight Branches Technique differed from the original.
(In the original, each head had a different ability. Now, focused on Ice Release, all heads possessed only Ice Release.In the original, Orochimaru was connected to the snake; now, he stood atop it.)
The snake's appearance caused a drastic temperature drop.
A hundred-meter radius around the snake was covered in ice and snow, the temperature decreasing closer to the snake.
Feeling Susanoo begin to freeze, Itachi's eyes flashed with black flames.
"Amaterasu: Susanoo Armor!"
Black flames erupted from Susanoo, melting the ice.
Wielding the giant red sword, Totsuka no Tsurugi, and Yata Mirror Itachi's Susanoo, ablaze with Amaterasu, attacked the Eight-Branched Serpent.
With a swing, Susanoo easily severed two heads.
However, Itachi wasn't at ease. The severed heads regenerated quickly, and the Amaterasu flames were suppressed by the cold!
The Amaterasu flames not only failed to ignite the snake but were also diminished by the cold.
"How can its Ice Release be so powerful?" Itachi was shocked.
Since mastering Amaterasu, Itachi had encountered few comparable techniques. He never expected Ice Release, a common kekkei genkai, to suppress it.
After a brief clash, Susanoo began losing ground.
The Eight-Branched Serpent had weak defenses, but its regeneration was exceptional.
Susanoo had strong defenses, and Itachi's Susanoo wielded the Yata Mirror, but the eight heads attacked from various angles, leaving Itachi vulnerable. Susanoo was scarred and began to freeze.
Realizing Susanoo couldn't win, Itachi targeted Orochimaru.
"Amaterasu!"
Black flames erupted on Orochimaru's face. The intense cold quickly extinguished them.
Though Amaterasu was extinguished, Orochimaru's mask was destroyed, revealing his true form.
Orochimaru's Edo Tensei body was a Yuki clan girl with Ice Release kekkei genkai. His enhanced Ice Release had turned his hair white.
"This is Edo Tensei'?" Itachi said gravely, looking at the girl with flowing white hair.
Orochimaru laughed, his voice now feminine, "Yes. Yusuke-kun likely told you about it. Only this jutsu allows humans to transcend life's limits!"
"I could have shared it with Yusuke-kun, but he's bound by village and family ties!"
Izumi, rarely wasting words, coldly scoffed, "Such an evil, disgusting jutsu. My brother wouldn't use it."
Orochimaru ignored Izumi's taunt, "You youngsters don't understand true ninjutsu!"
Clasping his hands, a cold gleam filled Orochimaru's eyes.
"Extreme Polar Wind!"
An intensely cold aura spread. The initial hundred-meter radius expanded to two or three hundred meters, transforming the area into an icy wasteland.
Itachi's Susanoo, battling the Eight-Branched Serpent, was in the center. The Amaterasu flames were extinguished by the cold.
Without Amaterasu's protection, Susanoo rapidly froze.
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