Chapter Forty-five: A Battle of Speed

...
The power of space is incredibly mysterious. Through this wondrous force, one can disregard distance and cross into alternate dimensions.
These other dimensions might exist in the theoretical realm of parallel worlds, or perhaps somewhere within this very world,
such as the three great sanctuaries known as Mount Myoboku, Ryuchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest.
They exist somewhere on Earth and can be reached by walking or other means; summoning jutsu is not the only way.
Summoning jutsu involves subtle spatial and temporal forces, and almost anyone can learn it.
...
At the center of the Sound Village, Naruto and Sasuke stood confused, caught in an awkward predicament.
They had intended to ambush Orochimaru, but now Orochimaru and the intruder had escaped into another dimension—
what was left for them to attack?
“Damn it! They actually escaped using space-time power!” Naruto fumed.
He thought of his father, the Fourth Hokage, who also mastered spatial ninjutsu.
A wave of longing welled up inside him; he had never met his father.
“Let’s wait. Since they left, they’re bound to return. We’ll stay here and see this through,” Sasuke said, closing his eyes in a feigned nap.
Naruto calmed himself, settling down as well. It was just as well; he would see if another opportunity presented itself. Now, he too entered a state of waiting.
...
Elsewhere in the Sound Village, Kabuto and Kimimaro discussed the production of their army. Any news from Orochimaru would be reported directly to them.
“Orochimaru disappeared?” Kabuto frowned at the news.
He knew Orochimaru would not leave the Sound Village lightly, especially now, at the earliest stage of the Fourth Great Shinobi War, before the fighting had started.
All parties were seeking the perfect moment to ignite the conflict.
A sudden departure by Orochimaru could be disastrous.
Kabuto was certain Orochimaru understood this and would return quickly.
“Seal off all information and prohibit any communication with the outside world,” Kabuto ordered.
He could only hope Orochimaru would come back soon.
The Sound Village’s army was not yet fully assembled and needed time. Without Orochimaru’s deterrence, if the other factions learned of his absence, they might attack directly and spark the war’s opening.
That would be the worst possible scenario.
...
On the moon, Orochimaru and Toneri Otsutsuki rushed toward the location of the Tenseigan.
The Tenseigan possessed tremendous power—one even Orochimaru, as he was now, could not rival.
Whoever obtained the Tenseigan first would seize the initiative on the moon.

Guided by his puppets, Toneri sped toward the Tenseigan’s chamber. Along the way, other puppets continuously transmitted information about Orochimaru’s actions directly into his mind, allowing him to monitor every move.
“Not good, he seems to know about the Tenseigan.”
In his mind’s eye, Toneri saw Orochimaru racing straight toward the Tenseigan’s chamber at alarming speed—
faster than Toneri himself, by his calculations.
Toneri was shocked. The secret of the Tenseigan was passed down only within his branch of the Otsutsuki on the moon; few on Earth even knew of its existence.
This adversary was anything but ordinary.
“I must hurry.”
A light flashed in the hollows of Toneri’s eyes.
Green energy glowed from his hands, and from that light, threads of energy extended out, connecting all the loli puppets.
With a series of mechanical clicks, all the loli puppets began to transform, combining together to form a massive loli puppet battle armor.
Toneri leaped up, landing inside the control chamber located in the chest of the giant puppet.
The chamber sealed itself within the armor.
Suddenly, two jets of green chakra flames burst from the rear of the giant puppet, causing the air to ripple as it propelled forward at astonishing speed.
...
Orochimaru advanced at a normal pace. The environment on the moon was peculiar—dim, desolate, with most structures floating in the air. Orochimaru leapt from building to building.
“So, he’s speeding up.”
Orochimaru noticed Toneri had accelerated—more than doubling his previous speed. Clearly, Toneri had realized Orochimaru’s intent.
Now, it would be a contest—whoever reached the Tenseigan first would hold the advantage.
Orochimaru grew serious, activating all his Sage Modes and unlocking the Cursed Seal transformation.
Immediately, purple chakra enveloped him, and he shot forward like a cannonball.
“The Tenseigan...”
This eye was something he must obtain.
Orochimaru’s body shot ahead, his voice trailing behind, as if his speed had outstripped sound itself.
...
Inside the Tenseigan chamber, intricate instruments filled the space—each capable of harnessing the Tenseigan’s power.
Orochimaru and Toneri Otsutsuki arrived almost simultaneously.
Within the cockpit of the giant loli puppet, Toneri’s hollow eyes glowed as he activated his chakra. The puppet’s arm lifted.
With a whir of gears and precision mechanisms, the arm transformed into a massive cannon barrel.

The cannon aimed at Orochimaru, green energy gathering at its core.
“It’s very much like Asura Path Pain,” Orochimaru thought.
He remembered battling Asura Path Pain and facing all manner of bombs and rocket attacks.
These weapons, developed around chakra, were no less formidable than high-level ninjutsu.
Orochimaru swiftly formed hand signs, casting the Clone Jutsu. In an instant, countless identical Orochimarus appeared, shifting places and making it impossible to locate the original.
Boom!
The giant puppet’s laser cannon fired, blasting through many Orochimarus—yet each figure rippled away like water, unaffected.
They were all fakes.
The laser tore into the building behind, striking a massive pillar at its base. The pillar collapsed thunderously, landing right in Orochimaru’s path.
As Orochimaru vaulted over the pillar, Toneri gained a slight lead.
One shot, two outcomes.
Orochimaru countered with Fire Style and Snake Style, disrupting Toneri and forcing his speed to drop, bringing them neck and neck again.
“Damn it!”
Toneri manipulated the giant puppet, activating seven or eight barrels on its back, each gathering light within.
Boom—
Seven or eight beams of green laser swept toward Orochimaru.
He dashed and dodged among the beams, but his speed slackened, allowing Toneri to pull ahead once more.
Now, the Tenseigan was directly before them.
Toneri smiled. If he could lay his hand on it first, the situation would be irreversible.
But suddenly, Orochimaru, who had fallen behind, stretched his neck to an impossible length. Though his body lagged, his head shot forward and drew level.
With a swish, the beams from the puppet’s back vaporized Orochimaru’s body molecule by molecule—
but his head bit down on the Tenseigan.
The next instant, Toneri reached the Tenseigan, used the giant puppet to swat Orochimaru’s head aside, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The contest of speed was over.
“Foolish—to die just for touching the Tenseigan first,” Toneri murmured, stroking the Tenseigan. He had won.