Seeing Susanoo nearing its limit, Itachi prepared his final attack.
"Izumi, coordinate with me for a final strike. If this doesn't work, we retreat."
He released the "Positive Two Four Symbol Seal" on his shoulder; the seal spread across his body, and the Two-Tails' Yin Release chakra surged forth.
Orochimaru wasn't surprised by Itachi's transformation. He knew Yusuke had the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails and had given his disciples.
A black flame flickered in Itachi's eyes. Amaterasu engulfed Susanoo, surrounded by a layer of bluish-purple flames—the Two-Tails' chakra.
The flames melted the ice forming on Susanoo.
Itachi quickly realized that even with the Two-Tails' chakra, his flames couldn't completely counter Orochimaru's cold, but they could hold out for a while.
"Izumi, you'll need to expend some chakra. Use Shunshin: Second Style' with Susanoo!" Itachi said gravely.
Izumi nodded, disregarding chakra conservation in the face of a powerful foe.
Her Mangekyō Sharingan activated "Kōdo Shunshin," blurring Susanoo's form.
Instantly, Susanoo vanished and reappeared behind Orochimaru and the Eight-Branched Serpent—Izumi had teleported the entire Susanoo!
Itachi seized the opportunity, thrusting the Totsuka no Tsurugi towards Orochimaru's back.
If Orochimaru was struck, Itachi could use the Totsuka no Tsurugi's sealing ability to trap him in the drunken dream world.
Orochimaru didn't remain passive as in the original story.
Sensing the threat, he used the Eight-Branched Serpent to block the attack, quickly forming hand seals.
"Extreme Polar Glacier!"
A massive glacier erupted from the ground, encasing Orochimaru.
Made of intensely cold Ice Release chakra, the glacier was incredibly hard and Orochimaru's strongest defense.
The Totsuka no Tsurugi pierced the Eight-Branched Serpent, continuing towards Orochimaru.
The sword struck the glacier with a resounding clang, but it remained unmoved, undamaged.
"Shunshin: Second Style!"
Izumi's chakra surged; a tear of blood flowed from her Mangekyō Sharingan.
Susanoo blurred; a series of deafening clashes echoed.
Izumi's "Shunshin: Second Style" involved rapidly striking the same point multiple times.
In an instant, Susanoo struck the glacier more than ten times. The blurring was a visual effect of the rapid movements.
The glacier, under this intense assault, cracked. The crack spread, and the glacier shattered.
As Itachi's Totsuka no Tsurugi was about to strike the unprotected Orochimaru, he found his sword stopped.
The Eight-Branched Serpent's eight heads had clamped onto Susanoo, preventing further advance. The Amaterasu flames, countering the cold, were fading.
"Retreat!"
Realizing victory was unlikely and that continued fighting risked their lives, Itachi ordered a retreat.
Izumi nodded, though upset about Haku's capture. They had exhausted their techniques.
Their opponent was stronger. Only Yusuke could defeat him.
"Shunshin" activated; Izumi and Itachi teleported out of the frozen Susanoo and vanished.
With Izumi or Minato, the initiative usually rested with their side.
Fight if you can win; run if you can't. The enemy is usually helpless.
Orochimaru regretted not obtaining the Mangekyō Sharingan but was satisfied with capturing Haku, who possessed exceptional Ice Release aptitude.
I'll quickly enhance my Ice Release using this boy. This will improve my chances against Pain! Orochimaru thought.
Returning, Itachi and Izumi encountered Deidara, who had witnessed the battle from his clay bird.
Knowing they had done their best, Deidara, though frustrated, said nothing.
"We didn't expect Orochimaru to be so strong, having developed Ice Release to this extent. His capturing Haku is likely related to Haku's Ice Release kekkei genkai."
Itachi guessed Orochimaru's motive based on his power.
"How do we rescue Haku from that bastard? We're no match for him."
Deidara, despite his volatile personality, considered Haku a friend.
Itachi said, "Only my teacher could defeat Orochimaru."
Deidara knew he meant Yusuke, the ninja world's strongest.
Deidara realized that even if Yusuke defeated Orochimaru, he wouldn't rescue Haku.
Deidara decided to search for Haku himself. He could rescue Haku without fighting Orochimaru.
Itachi and Izumi returned to find Kakashi and the others waiting. Hearing about Haku's capture, they felt dejected.
Having resolved the crisis, Itachi and Izumi prepared to return to Konoha. They had used the teleportation seal to arrive but had to walk back.
Team Kakashi needed to protect Tazuna until the bridge was complete. They would remain in Wave Country.
"What if Gato destroys the bridge after we leave?" Sasuke worried.
Itachi smiled, "I'll take care of that on our way back."
Seeing the cold gleam in Itachi's eyes, Kakashi sweatdropped, "You're not going to kill Gato, are you?"
Itachi shook his head, "I'm the Vice-Director of the Konoha Military Police Force. I can't do that."
Izumi chuckled, A law enforcement officer? Who threatened those who pursued me?
Gato's mansion.
Gato was terrified, "Don't come closer! I'll give you anything! Spare me!"
Seeing the cold Sharingan, Gato felt like collapsing.
Itachi, "If anything happens to Tazuna, or the bridge is destroyed, I'll kill you."
Gato nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I won't bother Tazuna-san again."
Gato then cautiously asked, "But what if someone else destroys the bridge? And Tazuna-san is old…"
Itachi, "You are still responsible!"
Gato: "…"
____________________
for more advance chapters visit my p@treon
p@treon.com/kane45
Casual Reader - 20 Advance Chapters
Intermediate Reader - 40 Advance Chapters
Expert Reader - 60 Advance Chapters