119 Tentacles

"Wood Style?!"

One of the Cloud Jonin gasped, staring at Orochimaru in disbelief, his eyes flickering with wariness and even dread.

Wood Style was more than just a technique in Konoha; it was a symbol throughout the ninja world, an embodiment of immense power and the hallmark of the "God of Shinobi," Hashirama Senju. In the current era, few had witnessed Hashirama in action or truly grasped the extent of that inhuman "god’s" power. Yet, the ancestors who had perished had passed down warnings to their descendants, who in turn used those tales to admonish the reckless youth. Such mental fortitude and common perceptions were inherited through generations, carrying not only inspiring beliefs but also the demons of deep-seated fear.

Only a fool unaware of the heights of the world, a wild child sprung from a rock, or perhaps the emergence of a subpar Wood Style would break the nightmare in people’s hearts and foster the illusion that Wood Style was nothing special, stripping away the terror associated with its name. But that was a long way off; it had no bearing on what was unfolding now.

Furthermore, the three Cloud Jonin were not merely afraid of Wood Style, but of the fact that it was Orochimaru who wielded it. To face an insurmountable enemy was one thing, but to face them with an equally insurmountable power was truly terrifying. The three Jonin did not stop their assault, but their high fighting spirit and resolve to die were shattered; the brilliance of their lightning faded, and their ninjutsu became weak and listless. Chakra, after all, was a product of the fusion between physical and spiritual energy; one could not function without the other.

Orochimaru parried the Cloud ninjas’ attacks offhandedly, a faint curl of a smile touching his lips. His "Inorganic Reincarnation" could imbue inorganic matter with life force; if he could control the iron sand of a Kazekage, he could naturally control the trees of a forest. Using Wood Style to counter Lightning Style was merely a flash of inspiration, an instinctive pursuit of the most effective defense. He had not expected that it would not only block their desperate strikes but also utterly destroy their will to fight. He felt no pride—even if they fought to the death, it would only waste a little more of his time—but the scene was nonetheless amusing.

On the other side, unexpectedly, Killer Bee did not clash with Shisui and his team or seize the chance to break through. Instead, he spun around and turned back.

"I will hold them off here." Killer Bee gestured, issuing an order. "You, take the chance and leave!"

"My lord, but..."

"Obey my command!" He barked, cutting them off harshly. "Execute it immediately!"

In a life-or-death crisis, there was no room for hesitation. The three Cloud Jonin gritted their teeth and fled toward the Land of Lightning. Having already lost their resolve, they now had a justifiable excuse to retreat, and they vanished with remarkable speed. Shisui’s team did not peel off to pursue; they closed in on Killer Bee. Compared to the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, those Jonin were mere trifles.

The Konoha side had no fear that the Killer Bee before them was a fake. The difference between an ordinary ninja and a Jinchuriki was greater than that between a man and a dog. Moreover, as if to prevent them from chasing the others, the dark-skinned youth was recklessly displaying the chakra of a Tailed Beast.

Orochimaru licked his lips, brow furrowed in thought; the sense of discord in his heart only deepened. The Killer Bee before them was undoubtedly the real Jinchuriki—he had been brawling with an S-rank missing-nin for quite some time, so he could not be a Shadow Clone. Furthermore, during the pursuit, both he and the Genie had kept their sensory focus locked on Bee, leaving no opportunity for a switch. Yet, the situation could only be explained if this Killer Bee were a fake.

If it were a fake, it could act recklessly, ignoring the safety of the Cloud Village to seek out Tsunade... If it were a fake, it could stay behind to cover the retreat, buying time for its comrades...

Behind him, the Genie was also contemplating; Orochimaru’s doubts were his own. Could it be that he had some means to escape while ignoring the encirclement of the Konoha squad? Or perhaps...

The Genie raised an eyebrow, suddenly recalling the battle between Sasuke and Killer Bee in the original timeline. His thoughts flickered, and he transmitted his considerations to Orochimaru.

"Reverse Summoning? No, that’s unlikely. The Eight-Tails' chakra is too vast, and the Cloud ninjas are not known for their chakra reserves, nor do they have the summoning scrolls of the three great holy lands to offset the cost."

"Compared to that..." Orochimaru’s brows lifted slightly, and he waved his hand to stop Shisui and the others from attacking. He watched Killer Bee, who was posturing for a desperate fight, and asked, "Is this a clone of yours?"

Killer Bee’s expression shifted slightly, and beneath his shades, his eyes flickered. He did not speak, maintaining the crimson Tailed Beast chakra cloak, his eight long tails whipping about as he postured for a final stand.

"A clone?" Shisui and the others were shocked, staring at the encircled Bee with utter bewilderment. They had witnessed everything Orochimaru had observed and were certain the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was not a Shadow Clone. But since Lord Orochimaru said so, he must have made a discovery.

Orochimaru probed further, "Is this a special ability of the Eight-Tails?"

Killer Bee’s eyelids twitched; he knew there was no more room for luck. This was indeed his Shadow Clone, created from one of the Eight-Tails Gyuki’s octopus tentacles. Unlike a standard Shadow Clone, it would not dissipate upon a single strike and could unleash the power of a semi-transformed Jinchuriki. However, if defeated, it would not vanish; he could return to his true body, but that octopus tentacle would be left behind. It was similar to how Kinkaku and Ginkaku consumed the Nine-Tails' chakra—if not retrieved, it would be a permanent loss for the Eight-Tails. Gyuki had said this was the first time it had used such a technique; how could Orochimaru have discovered it?

"I see." Though Orochimaru received no verbal confirmation, the changes in Bee’s demeanor and posture provided his answer. The chakra gathering in his hands gradually dissipated. If he could kill or imprison the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, he could certainly use it to escalate the war between the two villages, but if it were merely a clone, the impact on the situation would be negligible. A single tentacle was a mere trifle to Gyuki, and it would have almost no effect on Killer Bee’s combat strength. After all, even now, despite having achieved perfect synchronization as a Jinchuriki, Killer Bee had yet to fully unleash the true power of the Eight-Tails.

"Wait, something is still wrong." Orochimaru suddenly realized that the news of Killer Bee’s presence here could not have been hidden from the Stone Village. This effectively confirmed the injury of the Fourth Raikage. If the Cloud Village did not want war, the proper path would have been for the Fourth Raikage to maintain a facade and endure for a few months. Why would they be so short-sighted and trap themselves?

Orochimaru stared at Killer Bee, silent for a moment, before suddenly asking, "Does the Cloud Village truly need Tsunade to treat the Fourth Raikage’s injuries?"

"Or is it simply an attempt to threaten Konoha?"