Chapter 63: Manda’s Wrath

Manda's speed was nothing to scoff at. With his immense size and swiftness, even when faced with two legendary summons like Katsuyu and Gamabunta, he remained evenly matched.

In fact, he could take on both by himself and still hold his ground a testament to his fearsome strength.

But against Neji, especially Neji wielding the power of the Yamata no Jutsu, all those advantages vanished like mist.

Seeing Manda charge toward him with jaws wide open, Neji simply swung one of his massive tails behind him. The remaining seven tails followed suit.

Eight tails cracked through the air like steel whips. With every sweep, they stirred violent gusts, slicing through the air with deafening force. The sharp whooshes sounded like hurricanes screaming toward their prey.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In the blink of an eye, Manda's colossal body was struck repeatedly. Each blow left a deep crimson welt on his scales.

"You're far too weak," Neji said coldly.

One of the serpent heads lunged forward and sank its fangs into Manda's flesh. The mighty snake howled in pain.

"Trash."

With a fierce toss of its head, the white serpent flung Manda through the air and sent him crashing into the distance.

"Guess I'll have snake soup tonight. Let's see how it tastes."

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

Neji formed a seal. One of the Yamata's heads leaned forward and unleashed a torrent of flames like a raging sea.

The sheer scale of it was terrifying. A giant beast breathing fire turned the sky blood-red. The flames devoured the land, consuming everything in a hellish inferno.

The blast shook the ground as a booming explosion echoed out, sending a mushroom cloud rising into the sky. Everything in the vicinity was charred to ash, and fire swept across the plains in an unstoppable blaze.

"Byakugan!"

Neji activated his eyes, scanning the roaring flames. Inside, a massive serpentine shape was melting away, scales dissolving and sloughing off.

"A discarded skin?" he muttered.

He remained unfazed. This was one of Manda's signature tricks.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him rumbled. Cracks splintered out in all directions. From beneath the earth, a long, deep-purple object shot up, only to be clamped down upon by one of Yamata's heads.

"A tail? Even your tactics haven't changed."

The remaining six heads all snapped toward the rear, fangs bared. Just as Manda's head emerged from the earth, it was ambushed from all sides, bitten and torn apart.

"What?!" Manda's eyes widened in disbelief.

He was mauled mercilessly. Blood splattered everywhere, and he was finally smacked into the dirt by a crushing blow from one of Yamata's tails.

He writhed, spitting out mouthfuls of soil. Then, with a furious roar, he launched himself at Neji again.

"What's gotten into him?" Neji frowned. Manda had always been violent, sure, but he wasn't the type to throw his life away for Orochimaru.

What Neji didn't know was that it wasn't loyalty driving Manda. It was his fury at Neji's calm, mocking smirk.

That smug, contemptuous look it cut deeper than any insult.

Manda had always been proud and untamable. How could he possibly endure being looked down upon? Neji's sneer gnawed at him, pushing him to the brink of madness.

"You damned worm! Die! Die!"

Manda lost all reason. He lunged again, body whipping about violently.

"Manda, stop! Don't be reckless!" Orochimaru shouted.

The Yamata no Jutsu was Orochimaru's own creation a technique powerful enough to rival the Tailed Beasts. Manda didn't stand a chance.

But Manda shot him a glare so vicious that Orochimaru flinched. One more word, and Manda looked ready to turn on him too.

Orochimaru grit his teeth. If he didn't still need training from the White Snake Sage, he'd have killed Manda himself by now.

Watching Manda flail in vain again and again, Orochimaru's expression darkened.

"Kabuto, we're leaving," he said quietly.

"But Orochimaru-sama, your summon…" Kabuto glanced at Manda.

"Forget him," Orochimaru said flatly. "We were only using each other anyway. I've had enough of him."

"Understood."

"Hold it right there!" Tsunade suddenly stepped into their path. "I am the Fifth Hokage. As of today, the Sannin are finished."

"Well well… Tsunade, so that's your choice." A drop of cold sweat slid down Orochimaru's cheek. The situation was dire.

"But I won't go down quietly!" Orochimaru's neck stretched unnaturally. A sword emerged from his mouth, gleaming with deadly intent.

Shing!

The blade pierced flesh, blood spurting out. But Tsunade didn't even flinch. Her hand caught the sword, halting its path.

"Tsunade, you…"

"I am the Fifth Hokage. And I will eliminate anything that threatens the village," she said firmly, blood dripping from her palm.

"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"

Boom!

Her leg came crashing down into Orochimaru's gut, sending him flying like a cannonball through boulders.

Swoosh!

Tsunade chased him down, eyes blazing. She grabbed his tongue mid-air and slammed her fist straight into his face.

"No time to rest. No chance to recover."

Smack! Bam! Crash!

Fist after fist, kick after kick. She pounded him mercilessly, not giving him the slightest opening to retaliate.

"Orochimaru-sama!" Kabuto cried out, horrified. "He's getting pummeled by that monstrous strength!"

One final punch sent Orochimaru flying. But even in the chaos, his instincts remained sharp. Midair, he twisted, planted his feet, and sprinted off into the distance.

"You're not getting away!" Tsunade gave chase.

Meanwhile, Manda lay flattened, groaning as he tried to rise.

"Huff… huff…" He panted, exhausted from the relentless assault.

Neji stood above, unimpressed. "Is that all? I thought you'd at least give me a thrill. You're pathetic."

"I'm the lord of Ryūchi Cave! You think I'd fall to some pathetic transformation jutsu? Damn you, human! I'll kill you!" Manda bellowed, dragging himself up for another attack.

____________________

NEXT CHAPTER : I Will Succeed the Hokage

(With Manda proving no match for Neji's Yamata no Jutsu, the great serpent flees in disgrace, leaving chaos in his wake. Neji spares Orochimaru drawing Tsunade's suspicion and fury. Tensions rise as loyalties are questioned, secrets are kept, and Tsunade makes a pivotal decision: she will return to Konoha and claim the title of Fifth Hokage. But with Neji walking a fine line between ally and enigma, what comes next may reshape the fate of the village…

Next: Tsunade's return shakes the village but will Konoha truly be safe with so many shadows looming?)

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