When deciding to retaliate against Konoha and put it into action, Orochimaru was exceedingly cautious. Even the Konoha Village was unwilling to take a step, afraid that Orochimaru, who had just been resurrected not long ago, might die again.
As for not seeking revenge against Konoha and continuing to evade?
Even if Buddha were killed by the same person twice, he would be angered.
Furthermore, once Konoha achieved the final victory and extended its influence throughout the ninja world, how could he, as a renegade, survive?
Therefore, it was better to obstruct Konoha's path to dominance at this moment.
A ninja world mixed with various powers was the best environment for someone like him who shunned the light.
But plans sometimes fail.
Orochimaru never expected that his trump card, which he thought would help him, not only fail but ultimately became the main cause of his demise.
This was not good.
Failing in the attempt and once again entangling himself in trouble.
At this moment, feeling the imminent threat behind him and glancing at Hashirama Senju nearby, Orochimaru's face was filled with despair.
But even so, he, who was not resigned to being a sitting duck, chose to make a last-ditch effort.
Just as Aya Uchiha's ninja blade was about to strike, Orochimaru decisively ceased the struggle for control over the Reanimation Jutsu with Hashirama Senju.
In an instant, diverting his focus elsewhere, he swiftly elongated his neck, his head flew hundreds of meters away with a single pull.
Rip!
The next moment, Aya Uchiha's ninja blade separated Orochimaru's exaggeratedly long neck from his original body.
In response, a new Orochimaru crawled out of the head that was a hundred meters away. After transforming his lower body into a sturdy phosphorus snake tail, he swiftly fled much faster than in his prime.
Furrowing her brows, Aya Uchiha was about to pursue.
Boom!
Suddenly, a fierce sonic boom resounded near her ears.
In an instant, a figure, even her powerful Sharingan couldn't capture, flashed past her.
As if teleporting through the sky.
The moment Orochimaru desperately tried to escape, a powerful punch caught up with him on his inevitable path.
Boom!
Unable to evade, Orochimaru was sent flying backward at an even faster speed.
Creating dozens of large craters in succession, then dragging a long deep trench on the ground, his fragmented body finally came to a halt.
Rip~
Without any delay, like shedding snake skin, a completely intact Orochimaru swiftly emerged from his original body.
But before he could catch his breath, just as he swung that punch, Hashirama Senju, who had caught up, struck fiercely again.
With no resistance, Orochimaru was once again sent flying.
Seeing this, Aya Uchiha, who was preparing to pursue, involuntarily stopped in her tracks, staring in disbelief at how Orochimaru, who had easily handled a group of Konoha shinobi earlier, was now utterly defenseless.
"The First Hokage is truly formidable!" Nara Shikamaru, standing nearby, exclaimed in amazement.
Though he didn't understand why the First Hokage could break free from the Reanimation Jutsu's control, as long as it favored their side, it was enough.
Subsequently, under Hashirama Senju's relentless physical attacks, Orochimaru, utterly submissive and devoid of any defiance, was repeatedly sent flying like a baseball.
Soon, Orochimaru, experiencing the strain of maintaining his body replication technique, realized he had to fight desperately to avoid being beaten to death.
"Eight-Branch Technique!"
Instantly, as Orochimaru's entire body expanded like a balloon, one enormous white snakehead after another burst out from within him.
Eventually, a colossal eight-headed and tailed white snake replaced his original form.
This was the Eight-Branch Technique, Orochimaru's most potent ninja art and the embodiment of his long-held obsession.
Not far away, Nara Shikamaru and other Konoha shinobi, unable to match Hashirama Senju's speed, could only watch in horror as this colossal, terrifying snake appeared. It was difficult to imagine the heavy casualties they would suffer if Orochimaru had unleashed this powerful jutsu from the start.
On the other side, despite now being an enormous target, the Eight-Branch Snake struggled under the tiny fists of Hashirama Senju.
However, compared to his human form, the Eight-Branch Snake had some resistance, swinging its eight tails to stabilize itself.
Then, its eight enormous snake heads opened their ferocious mouths, carrying strong gusts of wind, and swiftly attacked Hashirama Senju on the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Eight mountainous snake heads continuously slammed into the ground, creating deep craters one after another.
Within them, Hashirama Senju swiftly dodged, like a tiny wave in the ocean.
Soon, as the eight tails and the massive body of the Eight-Branch Snake joined the onslaught, narrowing Hashirama Senju's dodging space, he swiftly used one tail's force to escape.
"Quite a remarkable jutsu, but it's a pity, young one, you've chosen the wrong path."
Pulling his ninja sandals from the deep grooves on the ground, Hashirama Senju, now serious, clapped his hands together, instantly activating the Sage Mode.
Following that,
"Wood Release: Great Forest Emergence!"
The massive forest that rose much more powerful than before when facing Kaguya Otsutsuki sprouted from all directions, aiming directly at the colossal Eight-Branch Snake.
In an instant, the awe-inspiring Eight-Branch Snake struggled immensely under the overwhelming forest, gradually weakening.
Finally, with a resentful howl, the Eight-Branch Snake was completely submerged by the forest and, after a few breaths, rapidly shrunk and reverted to Orochimaru's human form.
"The disparity is too great. Wood Release is indeed an enviable Kekkei Genkai."
With the Eight-Branch Technique dispelled and even the phosphorus small snake used for escape drowned within the ubiquitous trees, Orochimaru, helplessly opening his eyes, looked down at his body entangled by the Wood Release, sighing softly.
Counting the previous two instances, three major setbacks in his life were all due to Wood's Release.
He truly had an inexplicable connection with Wood Release!
Self-deprecatingly, Orochimaru, once again a pawn on the chessboard, glanced towards Hashirama Senju who had arrived, comparing him with Hashirama Senju, both masters of Wood Release and the highest level in the ninja world.
However, he quickly ceased.
Because his strength was simply insufficient to gauge who was stronger between these two without them going all out.
Shaking his head, Orochimaru finally closed his eyes, awaiting the next resurrection.
After all, he had grown accustomed to dying now and then.
Unexpectedly, Hashirama Senju, who had approached, showed no intention of taking his life.
"As someone who is deceased and shouldn't interfere in Konoha's internal affairs, your fate as a rogue ninja will be left for present-day Konoha to decide."
Having said that, Hashirama Senju extended his right hand, pressing a seal-covered palm against Orochimaru's head.
Before Orochimaru could react, he was sealed within a scroll.
In an instant, Orochimaru's eyelids fluttered, and he fell into a deep slumber.
On the other side, having recovered his clarity when Orochimaru was sealed and the Reanimation Jutsu released, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been continuously targeted by the Wood Release, finally regained consciousness.
Noticing his soul about to return to the afterlife, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes narrowed, swiftly undoing the seals of the Reanimation Jutsu.
Water - Earth - Metal - Wood - Earth - Water
"Reanimation Release!"
In an instant!
His almost crumbling Reanimated body stabilized once more."