Is it possible to summon multiple snakes at once?
Of course.
As long as you have enough chakra, there's no limit to how many summons you can handle.
Just like when Naruto fought against Pain, and Fukasaku summoned Naruto back from Mount Myoboku! Back then, three giant toads were summoned simultaneously.
During the Chunin Exams, Orochimaru also summoned two massive pythons.
As for Pain—well, he's in a league of his own.
He could summon an endless variety of creatures to overwhelm his opponents.
And now, Orochimaru was doing something similar.
He had summoned three giant pythons in one go.
Under the water, Manda was causing havoc, while two other pythons circled above the fortress, providing support.
With Orochimaru and his four subordinates backing them up, there was practically no suspense about the outcome of this battle.
Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed repeatedly as the Sky Fortress began to take on water.
Watching the massive structure start to sink, Orochimaru couldn't help but marvel at Manda's efficiency.
This beast truly was faster and more powerful than any other snake.
"Lord Orochimaru, we're here!"
"Lord Orochimaru!"
At the sound of voices, countless Konoha ninja squads appeared on the water, charging towards the fortress.
Seeing this, the Sky Ninja, already struggling against Orochimaru's three giant pythons, were thrown into even more disarray.
Buzz! Buzz!
A dense swarm of insects came swarming over the sea, attacking the fortress alongside the Konoha forces.
These bugs were gnawing through the fortress faster than Manda could destroy it.
There's a price to pay for provoking Konoha!
Though Orochimaru didn't feel much loyalty to Konoha, he still resided in the village.
And now, with a sudden thought, he decided he wouldn't allow Konoha to face defeat on his watch.
On the open sea, against Konoha's counterattack, the Sky Ninja who had lost their aerial advantage were swiftly captured, killed, or forced to flee.
The fortress, meanwhile, had been extensively damaged and was gradually sinking to the ocean floor.
On the shores of the Land of Haze, a host of snakes lay coiled, watching. Two of the giant pythons, severely wounded, had already returned to Ryuchi Cave.
Nao and the others had sustained minor injuries, but nothing too serious.
As he looked over the dozens of Sky Ninja prisoners before him, a Konoha ninja turned respectfully to Orochimaru.
"Lord Orochimaru, what should we do with these Sky Ninja?"
Orochimaru glanced over and said, "Leave them for Manda to snack on."
With that, Orochimaru took his team and walked away.
"Heh, Orochimaru, I like your style," Manda growled, a vicious grin on his face as he began devouring the terrified prisoners one by one, not caring about the horrified looks from friend or foe alike.
As for those Sky Ninja who managed to escape? Who had time to worry about them?
And just like that, the Sky Ninja were wiped out.
Word of the battle quickly spread to the Sand and Stone villages.
When they heard the news, there was an obvious look of surprise.
They had expected the Sky Ninja to buy them more time, but they hadn't anticipated them falling so quickly.
Luckily, they had used that time to reclaim several strategic points they had lost.
So, whether the Sky Ninja survived or not ultimately meant little to them.
Only after Orochimaru returned to the camp did he learn that the Sky Ninja had also launched an attack on Tsunade's defensive line.
But since her line was farther away from the Sky Ninja Fortress, the assault she faced wasn't as intense as his own.
Orochimaru wasn't worried about Tsunade. With her own strength and regenerative abilities, it would be ridiculous if she lost to the Sky Ninja.
As for the Sky Ninja's technology? Orochimaru had considered taking it back for study.
But after some investigation, he found that aside from their flying machines, the rest was mostly useless.
An "aircraft carrier"?
It was too costly and complex. While it could play a role in battle, its actual impact was far less than expected.
The return didn't justify the investment.
Orochimaru had seen it himself only a single member of the Aburame Clan was required to send out a swarm of insects.
When those insects arrived, they began consuming the metal of the fortress at an astonishing rate, even faster than Manda's destructive power.
Building an aircraft carrier to make a profit? Waste of time and resources not even enough to keep up with the Aburame Clan's bugs.
And so, the war with the Sky Ninja ended.
Once again, Orochimaru had become a hero for Konoha.
Orochimaru had always been popular among Konoha's ninja, and now his three elite subordinates were also gaining respect from their peers.
However, the one who stood out the most was Hyuga Hizashi.
His sharp mind, calm analytical skills, and timely support all demonstrated his talent as a ninja.
Though Nawaki had also performed well, he seemed to pale in comparison to Hizashi.
Perhaps this was the difference between a regular genius and an extraordinary one.
In Konoha Village, at the Hokage's office:
The Third Hokage, after learning the full story, couldn't help but frown.
Though they had won the battle, it raised some troubling questions.
The Sand and Stone villages two countries with deep-seated conflicts not only colluded with each other but also hired ninja from smaller countries? Why?
He couldn't quite understand it.
Could it be that his leadership was at fault?
To get to the bottom of things, he summoned several other high-ranking Konoha officials to a meeting.
The group, including the Third Hokage, sat together, yet they couldn't come up with any clear answer.
They speculated about various theories, but each one seemed less likely than the last.
Finally, Danzo, with his typically calculating demeanor, suggested a possibility:
"They fear Konoha's strength. Perhaps they've decided to join forces to weaken us, maybe even try to destroy us entirely."
"Fear Konoha's strength?"
The room fell silent.
Indeed, the ninja tools and potions Orochimaru had developed were remarkably effective.
Even they had been amazed by them when they were first created.
And seeing their effects on the battlefield, it was no wonder the enemy might feel threatened.
"It seems that this could be the reason."
"Yes, I think so too."
"Regardless, we must continue to fight. Our wish has always been for the village to be strong, but when it grows too strong, it's only natural that others will feel threatened."
The Third Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke. "With Orochimaru's defeat of the Sky Ninja, the front line has stabilized. Inform the commanders on both defense lines and call for a Jonin meeting. I have some things to say about this war."
"Are you planning to go to the battlefield yourself, Lord Third?"
"Just to the midpoint between the two defense lines. We'll set up a temporary meeting location there to avoid interfering with the situation on the front lines."