Chapter 496: Each With Their Own Objective

Chapter 496: Chapter 496: Each With Their Own Objective

Orochimaru alone had already been enough to plunge everyone into despair. Now, with another member of the Akatsuki suddenly appearing, the people in the passageway felt as though the world were spinning around them.

Sasuke, Naruto, and the other children were even more terrified.

In the previous battle, they had come frighteningly close to experiencing death firsthand. They had finally learned that a real battle was nothing like the ninja games they had played back in their clans.

Thus, whether it was the proud and arrogant Sasuke or the usually carefree Naruto, both of them now had trembling legs.

The timid Hinata clutched tightly onto her brother Neji’s clothes, keeping her head lowered. Only Neji, who was somewhat more mature than the others, barely managed to assume a Gentle Fist stance.

However, his slightly trembling hands betrayed the fear in his heart.

At that moment, Orochimaru finally got a clear look at the unexpected intruder opposite him, and his expression darkened.

"Kakuzu..."

There were quite a few members of the Akatsuki whom Orochimaru was wary of, but Kakuzu wasn’t one of them.

That said, defeating Kakuzu easily wasn’t something even Orochimaru could accomplish.

Soon, Kakuzu emerged from the smoke and dust kicked up by the explosion. As he walked toward the children, he coldly said to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru, I have no interest in killing you, so you’d better stay out of my way."

Kakuzu’s objective in infiltrating the shelter was perfectly clear.

Following Nagato’s orders, he was here to capture Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Faced with Kakuzu’s threat, Orochimaru merely smiled unconcernedly before beginning to walk toward the children as well.

Watching the two powerful enemies close in on them from opposite directions, Shizune, Rei, and Izumi forced themselves to stay focused and prepared for battle.

But not only were all three of them covered in wounds, their chakra reserves had also been completely exhausted.

At this point, they couldn’t even bring out a tenth of their normal fighting strength.

Then, Orochimaru’s and Kakuzu’s gazes met.

From each other’s actions, both of them realized that the other’s target was among the children in the passageway.

However, since the children were all gathered together, neither could immediately determine exactly which child the other was after—or whether their objectives conflicted.

Kakuzu stopped in his tracks and said in a deep voice, "Orochimaru, are you really going to force me to fight you?"

Orochimaru shrugged.

"No one can stop me from doing what I want. Your Akatsuki is no exception."

Kakuzu’s gaze sharpened as he slowly raised both hands.

Orochimaru likewise lifted his right arm and pointed it toward Kakuzu from across the passageway.

For a moment, the tension inside the dim passage was so thick that a battle seemed ready to erupt at any second!

Tap tap tap...

Just as the confrontation was about to explode, a burst of hurried footsteps came from farther down the passage.

Judging by the sound alone, there were quite a few people approaching—at least a dozen.

The Akatsuki was composed entirely of elite shinobi. They generally operated in teams of two, and sometimes even acted alone. Therefore, those dozen or so footsteps couldn’t possibly belong to members of the Akatsuki.

Most likely, they were Konoha shinobi rushing over to reinforce the shelter.

Realizing this, Shizune immediately shouted at the top of her lungs, "There are enemies here! We need backup!"

Her cry for help was like tossing a lit match into a powder keg.

In an instant, Orochimaru and Kakuzu attacked simultaneously!

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

While unleashing one of his signature techniques at Kakuzu, Orochimaru flickered forward at the same time, lunging straight toward the children.

"Fire Style: Searing Migraine!"

Faced with the countless venomous snakes rushing straight at him, Kakuzu immediately formed a hand seal and unleashed a small-scale Fire Release technique, roasting every last snake into blackened charcoal.

Seeing that Kakuzu had been held up by the snakes he’d released, the corner of Orochimaru’s mouth curled upward into a sinister smile.

By then, he had already reached the children.

In only a matter of moments, he knocked down Shizune, Rei, and Izumi, who had been standing protectively in front of the children with their chakra already completely exhausted.

However, Naruto was standing directly in front of Sasuke, while Hinata and Neji were also beside him.

After hesitating for just an instant, Orochimaru reached his left hand toward the children.

In the next moment, a python as thick as a man’s thigh shot out from his left sleeve and instantly coiled around all four children.

Then, from the corner of his eye, Orochimaru glanced toward Kakuzu nearby, a trace of mockery appearing at the corner of his mouth.

As long as he didn’t have to pay any price himself, Orochimaru was more than happy to sabotage the Akatsuki’s plans.

Crack...

Suddenly, the ground beneath the children’s feet split apart!

A monster composed of a mask and black tendrils burst out from underground. Opening its mouth, it unleashed a Wind Release technique that sliced through the python binding the children.

Immediately afterward, its black tendrils lashed out, attempting to entangle the children instead.

Seeing his python severed by the ninjutsu, Orochimaru refused to give way and immediately stretched out both hands toward the children.

For a moment, the helpless children were like lambs caught between two wild beasts!

In truth, Orochimaru’s only target was Sasuke.

But Naruto, worried about Sasuke’s safety, had bravely stepped forward and placed himself directly in front of him. As a result, Orochimaru had no choice but to grab Naruto along with Sasuke.

And when she saw Naruto in danger, the normally timid Hinata somehow found a burst of courage and actually charged at Orochimaru with the Gentle Fist!

On the other side, seeing the black tendrils sweeping toward them, Neji also mustered his courage and unleashed the Gentle Fist!

Perhaps because they were afraid of accidentally hurting the children, Orochimaru and Kakuzu showed considerable restraint in their clash.

But for veterans as experienced as the two of them, even a restrained exchange was filled with deadly danger. It was simply not something two children like Hinata and Neji could withstand.

As a result, the two children’s futile attacks not only failed to drive back the powerful enemies, but ended up getting themselves caught as well.

However, it was precisely Hinata and Neji’s sudden intervention that disrupted Orochimaru and Kakuzu’s movements.

The result was completely unexpected—

Orochimaru ended up grabbing Naruto and Hinata, while Kakuzu ended up capturing Sasuke and Neji!

Upon realizing that their actual targets had somehow fallen into the other’s hands, both Orochimaru’s and Kakuzu’s expressions changed.

But by now, the footsteps echoing through the passageway were getting closer and closer.

The reinforcements were about to arrive.

Both Orochimaru and Kakuzu knew that, due to the Kamigami’s intervention, the battle on the surface had already come to an end.

If they remained tangled up with each other inside the shelter for too long, forget taking their intended targets away—they might not even be able to escape safely themselves.

After quickly weighing the situation, the two simultaneously decided to back off.

Orochimaru escaped with Naruto and Hinata.

Kakuzu left with Sasuke and Neji.

Almost immediately after the two disappeared, a group of Konoha reinforcements led by Asuma and Guy arrived.

Seeing the kunoichi lying injured on the ground, Asuma’s expression changed drastically.

"What happened? Did enemies infiltrate the shelter?"

Forcing herself to remain conscious, Shizune said, "It was Orochimaru and someone from the Akatsuki! They didn’t just take Naruto—they also kidnapped children from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans! Hurry... hurry and go after them!"

Asuma and Guy exchanged a glance.

Both immediately realized the severity of the situation.

Without wasting another second, they led the team in pursuit...