At this moment, Yakushi Kabuto's hand seals completed, and he shouted, "Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A massive, lifelike water dragon surged up from the lake, its fierce jaws aiming directly at Kaito.
At the same time, Orochimaru's attack was also closing in on Kaito.
Enemies surrounded him above, below, and on both sides.
Kaito remained composed. He first aimed the lightning spear stabbing toward Yakushi at the water dragon beneath him.
Then, the instant the giant snake lunged, Kaito transformed into elemental lightning.
Crack! Crack! Crackle!
The water dragon was pierced effortlessly by Kaito's spear, dissolving into a puddle that fell back into the lake.
Orochimaru, struck by lightning infused with elemental power, screamed as his hair burst into flames and his skin was burned.
Kabuto, holding Orochimaru, suffered the same fate.
At that moment, a powerful whip-like kick descended toward Kabuto Yakushi.
"Not good!" Yakushi thought grimly.
Manda's pupils contracted in alarm.
The electricity on their bodies hadn't faded yet; suspended midair and partially paralyzed, they had no chance to evade Kaito's sudden strike.
Bang!
A heavy thud sounded as Orochimaru and Kabuto were slammed down like bullets.
Crash!
They plunged into the lake, sending waves splashing everywhere.
Crack! Crack!
Suddenly, a huge Rasengan appeared in Kaito's hand, crackling with red lightning.
Lightning Release: Rasenshuriken!
Kaito's face remained calm as he threw it toward the lake.
Crash!
The previously calm water boiled violently, churning into massive waves.
At the Rasenshuriken's center, a giant vortex spanned the entire lake, red arcs slithering like poisonous snakes across the surface.
The whole lake turned blood red.
From above, the lake looked like a gateway to the abyss, making the hair on one's neck stand on end.
"This time, let's see how you escape," Kaito sneered, sensing the two fading chakra signatures below.
Suddenly, his smile froze, his face turning pale.
The two chakra signatures vanished, and then a third disappeared as well.
"Space-time ninjutsu? Is he using the same technique Sasuke used when Deidara self-destructed?" Kaito frowned.
Call out!
A figure appeared at the lake's edge, staring at the ominous sky.
It was none other than Kakashi Hatake.
"Kakashi Sensei! Why are you here?" Kaito landed, smiling.
"Sasuke was stopped by you? Weren't there four of you here?" Kakashi eyed Kaito suspiciously.
He had sensed four presences initially, so why only two remained?
"Don't say any more. Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi were lucky. They were about to die but suddenly disappeared!" Kaito's smile faded, his expression darkening.
Kakashi's lips twitched in thought. Orochimaru, the strongest of the legendary Sannin and a commander of the Sound forces, had unmatched power, intelligence, and combat skills—far beyond Danzo.
If Kaito could so easily kill him, was he really Orochimaru?
"Can we cross the lake?" Kakashi pointed at the still-turbulent water, changing the subject.
If he continued talking, he might lose his mind. Despite being one of Konoha's top geniuses, Kakashi felt outmatched compared to Kaito.
"Oh, wait a moment," Kaito stepped forward and dipped his hand into the lake.
In an instant, the red lightning on the water disappeared and the surface cleared.
Kakashi stared in awe at the scene, a flicker of envy crossing his eyes.
"What should we do with Sasuke? Should I take him, or will you?" Kakashi glanced seriously at a still-shaken Sasuke.
"You can take him! I just returned and haven't rested, and this incident happened!" Kaito said with a slight complaint.
"All right! I'll take him to the Fifth Hokage for treatment."
"Okay, I'll leave first!"
Kaito waved and disappeared in a flash of lightning.
He thought it a pity. He had planned to quietly sever Sasuke's arms while Orochimaru and Kabuto vanished, but Kakashi's timely arrival prevented that.
Sasuke truly was one of this world's key figures.
While pondering, Kaito passed through Konoha's gate and arrived before the Hokage's office.
He paused, then revealed his form and entered quietly. After all, this was where the Hokage worked, and Tsunade-sama was his teacher; reckless behavior was out of the question.
Pushing open the front door, Kaito stepped inside.
Tsunade frantically hid her sake bottle but sighed with relief when she saw Kaito, patting her chest and continuing to drink.
"Mission accomplished?"
"Yeah," Kaito nodded and recounted everything that happened in the Land of Snow.
Tsunade appeared calm, as if expecting it.
"You predicted everything about the Land of Snow?" Kaito asked in surprise, knowing well her personality.
"I don't know," Tsunade shrugged.
"Then why aren't you shocked?"
"Should I be?" Tsunade retorted.
"Uh, okay! I was overthinking it. By the way..."
Kaito forced a bitter smile and told her how he had returned, wiped out the Sound Four, and fought Orochimaru at the Valley of the End.
"You're saying you killed the Sound Four, drove Orochimaru away, and Kakashi is bringing Sasuke back?" Tsunade exclaimed.
"Right!"
"The only downside is Orochimaru's luck—he escaped!" Kaito said with some frustration.
"Enough complaining, kid! Are you still unsatisfied? Planning to go after the sky? Orochimaru and your teacher are both Sannin with countless secret techniques. If you really could kill him, he wouldn't be Orochimaru," Tsunade said unhappily.
"What about Sasuke?" Kaito asked after a pause.
Tsunade fell silent for a moment, then sighed.
"My original plan was to use the Sound Four's strength so Shikamaru and others could have a real fight, but you ruined everything."
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Thank you for the "Generous" Powerstones ರ_ರ