Chapter 240: Combat Power!

"But why did my experimental material end up here?"

Orochimaru slowly walked through the door of the ward, his eyes gleaming with interest as he looked at White Zetsu, who had just dodged his attack. The White Zetsu before him was all too familiar—during the Third Ninja World War, Uzumaki Raiden had provided him with several White Zetsu corpses.

Those corpses had led Orochimaru to significant breakthroughs in cellular research. He had assumed he'd never come across such valuable experimental material again, yet here White Zetsu was, right in Konoha Hospital.

Orochimaru's interest piqued even further as he fixated on White Zetsu, his tongue sliding across his lips with anticipation, sending shivers down White Zetsu's spine.

"Orochimaru and Jiraiya, two of the legendary Sannin."

"It seems acquiring the Uzumaki clan today is impossible."

"I should retreat for now!"

White Zetsu thought to himself as his body began to sink slowly into the ground. Orochimaru, noticing the attempted escape, narrowed his pupils and swiftly formed a hand seal.

"Earth Release: Earth-Transforming Palm!"

With just two quick hand seals, Orochimaru used Earth Release, causing the ground beneath White Zetsu to shatter and crack, forming a deep pit. Without hesitation, Orochimaru charged forward, chakra already concentrated in his fingertips.

"Five Elements Seal!"

Orochimaru moved with blinding speed, reaching White Zetsu in an instant. Unable to sink into the ground due to the Earth Release, White Zetsu was struck directly in the lower abdomen by Orochimaru's palm. A black curse seal instantly appeared on his abdomen.

A smirk formed on Orochimaru's lips upon successfully applying the sealing technique, but his satisfaction was short-lived. The curse mark quickly faded and vanished completely, leaving Orochimaru surprised. In that brief moment, White Zetsu had already disappeared underground, escaping detection.

"He got away?" Jiraiya, clutching his chest, approached Orochimaru and looked into the pit with a serious expression.

"Hmph!"

Irritated by the escape of such a valuable specimen, Orochimaru's expression darkened. Ignoring Jiraiya's question, he walked over to Nawaki and the others, checking their physical conditions briefly. Relieved, he found that Nawaki, his most cherished disciple, was safe.

After a quick inspection, Orochimaru turned to the window, gazing outside.

By now, many parts of Konoha were engulfed in flames. The destructive power of the two Tailed Beasts and the Gedo Mazo was causing widespread devastation, making even the bravest tremble in fear. The acrid scent of burning debris filled the air, and Orochimaru frowned.

"Orochimaru, let's go and stop the Tailed Beasts."

"If this continues, Konoha will be completely destroyed!"

Jiraiya, wincing from his wounds, joined Orochimaru at the window, feeling the oppressive chakra in the air.

"In your condition, what can you even do?"

"Jiraiya, don't make the younger ones worry about you!"

Orochimaru glanced at Nawaki, whose eyes were filled with concern, and scolded Jiraiya. Then he continued,

"Raiden ordered me to protect the hospital. He will handle the Tailed Beasts in the village."

Jiraiya's face twisted in frustration. "Handle them? How can he do it alone? These are Tailed Beasts—two of them!"

"Not to mention that strange stone statue in the center. Without our help, even if every ninja in Konoha were to fight, dealing with these monsters would be nearly impossible."

"This kind of power is beyond any individual!"

Jiraiya's frustration caused him to clutch his chest wound, gritting his teeth in pain.

"Just watch... Raiden has already made his move!"

In the heart of Konoha, the Gedo Mazo thrashed wildly, demolishing buildings with its massive arms, while the flames turned the night sky red. Meanwhile, the two Tailed Beasts rampaged through the streets, trampling everything in their path as they charged toward the Hokage office building. Many villagers were caught in the chaos—some crushed underfoot, others consumed by the raging inferno.

Bloodcurdling screams filled the air.

"Kongō Fūsa!"

As the beasts rampaged, two figures appeared simultaneously in their paths. A cold voice echoed through the destruction, and golden chains shot out from their bodies, wrapping tightly around the Tailed Beasts.

The ones facing the beasts were shadow clones of Uzumaki Raiden. Despite being clones, they radiated an overwhelming amount of chakra, easily restraining the Tailed Beasts with the Kongō Fūsa.

The golden chains swiftly bound the Tailed Beasts, rendering them immobile.

"Take them outside the village!"

Both clones spoke in unison, extending the chains further and binding the Tailed Beasts into massive golden spheres. The creatures' struggles ceased as they were completely restrained.

With the beasts secured, the clones dragged them toward the village's outskirts, leaving deep trenches in their wake.

Meanwhile, Uzumaki Raiden's real body confronted the towering Gedo Mazo. The monstrous figure loomed over him, its sheer size blotting out the sky. Each swing of its massive arms obliterated everything in its path.

Despite its enormous size, the Gedo Mazo moved with alarming speed, closing the distance in an instant.

"Boom!!!!"

The colossal hand smashed down, sending Raiden crashing into the ground with a deafening impact that shook the entire village.

"Boom!"

"Lightning Release: Thunder Dragon!"

A thunderous roar echoed from the sky as dark clouds gathered overhead. In response to Raiden's shout, a colossal purple dragon descended from the storm, striking the Gedo Mazo with overwhelming force, sending it staggering backward.

Before it could recover, the Thunder Dragon coiled tightly around it, its claws sinking into the Gedo Mazo's shoulder blades and knees, completely immobilizing it.

Slowly, Uzumaki Raiden emerged from the crater in the ground, his body surrounded by crackling lightning chakra, and his long red hair flowing wildly in the air. The Yin Seal on his forehead had already been released, and his entire body was covered with the Seal Mark. His eyes now glowed with a golden hue.

Before the Gedo Mazo's attack landed, Raiden had entered Sage Mode.

"Handling these nuisances sure drains my chakra!"

Raiden muttered, his voice heavy with suppressed anger. Drawing the Sakegari no Tachi from his waist, he prepared to completely seal the Gedo Mazo and the two Tailed Beasts outside the village.

(End of this chapter)