A/N: Alright new chapter done. Shout out to my beta theriku260! And to that one guest who left a review which I can't reply to, thanks.

Chapter 35

Sasuke groaned as his mind woke up. The pain that he had been expecting had faded to a dull ache and he forced his eyes open. The first thing he saw was Sakura looking at him with concern. Before Sasuke could try anything, Sakura said,

"Take it easy Sasuke. The wound in your leg is still tender and you shouldn't move at all. You won your fight though and so did I. Shizune lost but Kabuto didn't finish her, and she managed to heal you in time. She's with Kakashi now.

"I think he actually managed to beat Orochimaru somehow but Orochimaru did something weird. Remember how Naruto told us how he had turned into some hybrid form when he killed Akari?

"Well he turned into that and now he and Tsunade are fighting Orochimaru, Kabuto and some guy called Hidan. Apparently, he has an extreme healing ability, as he regenerated from Naruto's best attack."

Sasuke blinked; a lot had happened since he had passed out. He tried to prop himself up on his elbows. Sakura took the hint and helped him sit up, providing back support so that he wouldn't slump back from fatigue.

Sasuke had thought that Naruto's fight with Gaara was going to be the pinnacle of combat that he would ever see Naruto perform but he was wrong.

'Every time I think I'm making ground on Naruto's progress he leaves me in the dust. How can I bridge the gap?'

This beast form of Naruto's had targeted Orochimaru and it was obvious that the traitor was pulling out all the tricks he had to avoid death.

Panic flared in Sasuke's chest when he saw Orochimaru manage to get passed Naruto's guard with his sword, but the panic faded when it was clear the sword was unable to piece Naruto's new form.

A savage swipe from Naruto's claws separated Orochimaru's chest from his lower body before snakes suddenly appeared from Orochimaru's separate parts and reconnected. Not anticipating such a bizarre thing to happen, Naruto failed to react in time when Orochimaru vomited out many snakes, all of which wrapped themselves around Naruto, biting down. Sasuke could only assume they were poisonous.

A grunt of pain could be heard before Naruto flexed his four tails and ripping the snakes apart. There was a brief pause as Orochimaru and Naruto looked at each other.

Orochimaru chuckled, "I must say you've surprised me Uzumaki. To be able to use the Nine Tails to this extent? Quite impressive, but it's not enough. Raw power will only get you so far; experience and technique count for far more than you seem to think. I fought through two world wars and you killed some kids in a pit. I might not be able to generate the destruction that you can, but I'll find a way to win. So long as I accomplish my goals it doesn't matter how I do so."

In his current state Naruto was unable to form expressions but he could respond.

"Shut up! You attacked the village and that gave Akari the opportunity to swoop in and take Eri. You're indirectly responsible for her death and for that I'm going to tear you apart!"

xXx

Kabuto didn't think he would ever meet anyone more annoying than Hidan. The man was fanatical in his quest to kill for his god which meant he was unable to understand that it would be easier to join forces against meant an odd free for all had formed with Hidan praising his God at the top of his lungs at every opportunity.

If there was one thing working in Kabuto's favour it was that although Hidan appeared immortal he didn't have the skills to abuse it. Hidan was moderately fast but didn't use any jutsu and seemed determined to get some of his foes blood. A task that was made harder since he didn't have a weapon. Kabuto was just happy that Tsunade had Transformed a rock into black pants for Hidan. Kabuto wasn't sure how he'd be able to fight a naked man; it would be too distracting.

'Well if he wants blood then I have to find a way to get him some of Tsunade's.'

That was easier said than done though; Tsunade had gotten her second wind and now she was almost a different opponent to the one he had stopped by splashing a little blood on. She was still a little rusty, but Kabuto knew that he would be hard pressed to heal from one of her strikes.

It suddenly came to Kabuto in a flash, how he could manage to win this fight while completing his goal for Orochimaru. Kabuto Flickered behind Hidan and managed to rewire most of the nerves in Hidan's legs. Hopefully that would buy Kabuto enough time before Hidan healed from the damage.

Knowing that it would elicit some kind of response Kabuto said, "It's too bad you betrayed us Tsunade. Orochimaru did revive your loved ones, he just kept them at Ryuchi Cave to keep them out of sight. They were just a reverse summoning away but now you get to watch them die again!"

It was a complete lie but Tsunade didn't know that and judging by the horror that had crossed her face all she needed was another push. Kabuto quickly formed the hand signs for the Summoning jutsu but slowed it down enough so that Tsunade would be able to tell what was coming.

Just as Kabuto as about to slam his hand on the ground Tsunade rocketed right at Kabuto, pure fury etched on her features just as Kabuto had anticipated. At the last second Kabuto Substituted himself with Hidan.

Tsunade's fist smashed through Hidan's stomach; she hadn't held herself back at all. Hidan grunted in pain before laughing hysterically. Tsunade didn't understand why he was laughing and not trying to get her arm out of his body; Hidan couldn't heal the damage if her arm was in the way.

Instead of doing the logical thing Hidan bent forward and sank his teeth into Tsunade's shoulder. Tsunade cried out before kicking Hidan away, she knew that she would suffer serious damage since Hidan hadn't let go but she could heal it.

Hidan tumbled away through the grass before getting to his feet. Kabuto could see Tsunade's blood trailing down Hidan's chin. Well Kabuto had managed to get Hidan some blood, what was he going to do with it?

Hidan gave an audible gulp as he swallowed Tsunade's flesh and blood. Kabuto hadn't seen that coming and just as he feared that Hidan had been merely hungry and that there wasn't a real reason for the blood, Hidan transformed before his eyes.

Hidan's skin darkened and white lines and patterns formed along his arms and face. Before anyone could ask just what was going on Hidan bit into his own forearm. As blood pooled on the ground he used his foot to draw a unique symbol on the grass; it was a circle with a triangle inside.

Hidan then stepped into the circle and in his increasingly grating voice said, "Woman, you have the honour of being a sacrifice for Jashin! How I envy you, your soul shall see Jashin himself as you pass on!"

Hidan gripped his neck with his right hand and ripped his throat out. An instant later Tsunade's neck tore itself apart and she fell her knees pain and fear clear on her face. Kabuto himself was confused and more than a little unnerved.

'How did he do that? With just her blood he gained the ability to transfer his own wounds to Tsunade? There's no feasible way to explain it; not even a Bloodline should work that way since I assume it would work with anyone's blood. If it was a Bloodline then Hidan should make others drink his blood.

'Whatever it is I can't give him a chance to get my blood but what he just did to Tsunade won't be enough to stop her; she's a legendary medic and only instant death will put her down, after all.'

Kabuto Flickered behind Hidan and stabbed his heart with a kunai before Flickering away. He wasn't going to stay close to this lunatic if he could help it; Kabuto had focused on speed and not his destination which was why he found himself next to Tsunade's prone body,but he wasn't worried. Not even someone as skilled as her could heal a direct blow to the heart.

'Good, I should be able to deal with Hidan. He's not particularly dangerous I just can't give him my blood.'

It was at that second, right as Kabuto focused completely on Hidan that it happened. A hand gripped his left ankle with insane strength. Kabuto shot his eyes down before he cried out in shock.

Tsunade was looking up at him with a strange seal forming on her forehead. Before his very eyes Kabuto saw Tsunade's neck knit itself back together.

'What the hell?! How is she doing this? This isn't healing this... this is regeneration!'

"Surprised?" Tsunade smirked. She resumed speaking through her new vocal chords, "It's my own special technique and while it's active I'm basically immortal. Now, what were you saying before?"

Kabuto knew he was screwed; he had no way of escaping her grip and they both knew it. Kabuto tried his last desperate hand.

"It was a lie! Surely you understand that I only said those things to manipulate you into giving Hidan your blood. It was nothing personal."

Tsunade had gotten to her knees as Kabuto had explained himself. She nodded to herself before saying, "I see. Well you have to understand that when you try those kinds of things and they don't work, then a world of pain is coming your way."

Kabuto had just enough time to regret his actions before Tsunade punched him in the balls. Kabuto didn't even register that he had flown through the air or his landing; his whole world was just pain. Instinctively curling into a foetal position, Kabuto couldn't even focus enough to start the healing process; the pain was just too great.

xXx

As fanatical as Hidan was even he winced at what Tsunade had done to Kabuto. Ninja's might not fight with honour, but she had broken the unspoken rule. Still, Hidan didn't dwell too much on it, Kabuto had only himself to blame.

Instead excitement built in Hidan's chest. Here was someone who looked as immortal as he was. Now he would get a chance to really go all out!

xXx

Despite his exhaustion, Kakashi gasped. "Ooh I felt that. I almost feel bad for Kabuto."

Shizune huffed, "Hush you, no talking. You're suffering chakra exhaustion and need to rest. I'm already regretting not giving you anaesthetic; sleep is what you really need. The very least you can do in return is not talk."

"Sorry."

"Oh, shut up."

xXx

Orochimaru frowned in frustration; not at Kabuto's pain- who cared if he got hit there- but at his defeat. Clearly Kabuto needed more training, or perhaps it was time to start experimenting on his right-hand man?

Orochimaru now knew that time was against him and that he had to drastically change things to gain the advantage. He wasn't generally one for gambling, he was a scientist and preferred facts and figures but if he didn't at least try then there was a good chance he would have to retreat with nothing to show for his efforts.

Gritting his teeth at the pain, Orochimaru raised his right arm and bit his thumb. Smearing the blood on the prepared summoning seal on his left forearm he summoned Manda. The seal allowed a Summoning but without the proper hand signs, the chakra cost was far higher than normal.

"Manda, there's no time. Attack those two kids sitting next to each other and I'll give you a thousand offerings!"

Manda was a prideful being, but he was also shrewd. An offer like that didn't come around often.

"Alright but be warned: Should you not make good on your deal then I will stop serving and attack you on sight."

Manda glared at Orochimaru to make sure the message got across. When he saw Orochimaru nod, Manda turned his attention to the kids; a girl with pink hair and a boy who smelled like congealed blood. Easy prey.

Manda rushed at his targets before he was cut off by a strange creature. It had red flesh and four tails. Manda had lived long enough to know what a Tailed Beast's chakra felt like but had never met a Demon Container before and therefore was confused; the Four Tails looked nothing like this thing.

The puzzle would have to be solved later though since the beast attacked Manda.

For his part, Orochimaru took advantage of his opening and looked at Hidan. He needed time to talk to the man without Tsunade interfering.

Hidan was currently in a brawl with Tsunade; she managed to rip off one of his arms before it grew back, and he used the new limb to plunge a finger into one of her eyes. The eye regenerated and Tsunade kicked Hidan away.

Orochimaru sent several snakes towards Shizune and Kakashi knowing that Tsunade would protect them; he in turn raced towards Hidan. When he got there, he wasted no time and said,

"You say Jashin gives you immortality? Your mission is to kill everybody in the world? I think we can help each other achieve our goals."

"How?"

"I can transfer my soul to different bodies but can't use one for too long because it starts to die. I want to learn every jutsu in the world but I need immortality to do it.

"If I transfer my soul to your body, we would share control. You get my skills and jutsu and I get immortality. Your quest to kill all people will be much easier with my help."

Hidan didn't say anything for a moment; it was a good argument. Hidan didn't raise his voice but said to himself, "Is this your will Jashin? Should I join forces with Orochimaru in a bid to hasten the populations journey to paradise? Show me a sign, please!"

Orochimaru held his breath. He tried to think of a way to fabricate a sign of divine intervention without being caught when a lightning bolt struck the ground in front of Hidan.

'Where the hell did that come from? There isn't a cloud in sight!'

Hidan laughed; Jashin had answered him!

"Alright then, let us walk forward to greatness together Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru wasn't going to waste time double checking. He performed the hand signs and transferred his soul. This time he didn't immediately begin squashing the host's soul into oblivion; he had a theory that Hidan's faith was needed for the immorality and if the soul went then Orochimaru was back at square one.

The process was a little messy, but it quickly sorted itself out. Orochimaru found that with two minds it was a little crowded so suggested that Hidan take a mental step back. Once he did, it was almost like Orochimaru was in charge, pulling a cart which Hidan sat in.

'How strange. Is this what it's like to be a Demon Container?'

"How the hell should I know idiot!?"

'Please Hidan, control your volume. You'll give me.. us a headache.'

"Why don't you instead focus on the fight asshole."

Orochimaru focused back on the present in time to see Tsunade's fist smash into his face. When he landed on the ground Orochimaru felt the bones in his face bend and snap back into position. It hurt but in a flash, he was back to normal.

Getting to his feet, Orochimaru looked at his arms. They were still cursed, why weren't they healing?

"Maybe try regrowing them? Let Jashin over power whatever happened to them with his blessing."

It was worth a shot, Orochimaru rushed Tsunade and began a flurry of blows but near the end he left his right arm out a fraction too long. Tsunade seized it and tore it off before smacking him with the limb.

Orochimaru Flickered away and waited. A sudden burning overcame him and he fell to his knees. Gasping for breath Orochimaru felt all the nerves and muscles regrow and reconnect. It was terrible but once it was done he looked down; the arm looked good as new. It was nothing like before with his face but Orochimaru guessed that Jashin had removed whatever Hiruzen did and that meant a lot of pain as compensation.

Smirking Orochimaru used his regrown arm to tear off his useless left. Another session of torture followed before Orochimaru stood up back at full strength.

It was time to see just how good Tsunade's Mitotic Regeneration really was.

Orochimaru went through several hand signs, "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Tsunade easily dodged the massive gale of wind but Orochimaru let out an exhilarated laugh. He could use his precious jutsu again!

"Oi, less laughing more killing. That's part of the deal, too long between bloodshed and Jashin's power will leave you."

That wouldn't be a problem. Orochimaru began spamming Wind and Fire jutsus at Tsunade, it seemed that his chakra reserves had fused with Hidan's and gave Orochimaru nearly double his normal amount.

Mitotic Regeneration was truly something, allowing Tsunade to heal from several blows which would've been fatal.

'Wait focus. Stop playing around, this is what happened with sensei.'

Orochimaru channelled a large amount of chakra and a veritable army of snakes came forth, surrounding Tsunade and cutting off her movements. Tsunade didn't panic, simply punching the ground and sending the snakes flying.

In that window Orochimaru struck, appearing behind her and intending to bisect Tsunade with his sword. He was sure that was the way to beat her regeneration, but his sword stopped in its arc after it was grabbed by a red claw.

Seeing that Naruto had no intention of letting his sword go and that he would soon get sandwiched between the two, Orochimaru let go of the Grass Cutter and Flickered away.

Orochimaru paused when he saw the dead body of Manda smoking on the ground. What had the brat done to kill the leader of the snake clan?

Orochimaru considered his options. He was now outnumbered and though he was immortal he wasn't one hundred percent sure he could beat Tsunade one on one. Add in the hybrid Naruto and his odds of victory fell. True they couldn't kill him but capture as an option.

"No way. We can't run, Jashin demands blood!"

'I know these lands. Barely fifteen minutes run west leads us to a village of six hundred. We can murder them for Jashin instead but retreat is the better option right now.'

Hidan didn't reply but Orochimaru felt his grudging acceptance.

"Ninja Art: Cloud of Decay!"

A blue cloud formed in front of Orochimaru and billowed at his foes. It was poison of the highest degree and Orochimaru used the opening to grab Kabuto and run.

Orochimaru knew that Tsunade and Naruto would have to choose between sacrificing their friends or continue the fight which meant that for them, it wasn't really a choice. The 'Will of Fire' was truly a stupid thing.

Kabuto had just started to regain his other senses, the ones not related to pain, and begin the healing process but he still couldn't move. Shifting his legs in anyway caused unimaginable pain, he would've preferred death over what he got.

Orochimaru didn't waste time, he merely grabbed Kabuto by the waist and carried him horizontally; there wasn't time for anything else.

Orochimaru knew that he would need to move fast to lose them before the poison cleared.

This new body had so many possibilities, if he transplanted a Sharingan would Jashin heal it so that it would be natural and eliminate the chakra costs that plagued Kakashi to this day? With an immortal body, just how many Bloodlines could he transplant?

xXx

"Naruto, that cloud is poisonous. It's heading for your friends."

Naruto didn't question Kurama's statement, trusting his friend he shot towards Sakura and Sasuke. Not wasting time being gentle he grabbed them both by the back of their shirts and Flickered away to the side of the cloud. An instant later Tsunade appeared with Shizune and Kakashi.

Letting go of his friends Naruto prepared to chase after Orochimaru but Tsunade stopped him.

"Naruto, I don't know the limits of that form but surely there are consequences by transforming? Stay with your team and stop putting your body through this change."

"But what about the trai-"

"That's an order from the Fifth Hokage."

"What? I thought Jiraiya was going to be Hokage?"

Tsunade shrugged. "I know him better than you and Jiraiya would never want to be Hokage. Not to mention that his network of informants and spies relies on him being in the field; they can't report to him if he's in an office."

Naruto knew that she couldn't stop him if he really tried to leave. Kurama still had huge amounts of chakra left and he could manifest more tails which would make him faster.

"Naruto,"

Naruto paused when he heard Kakashi's voice. It was soft and lacked energy, but Naruto still managed to catch it.

"Can you tell me how Sasuke is doing? Shizune said his wound was life threatening."

That one sentence was enough to make Naruto forget Orochimaru. Sasuke nearly died?!

Naruto let his hold of Kurama's chakra go and felt his body retake it's normal shape. His skin had managed to not be burned off this time; perhaps its mattered when he was in control? His muscles were still sore though he managed to walk to Sasuke's side.

"How are you?"

"Fine."

"Kakashi sensei, he's fine."

Sakura snorted. "He's stable but far from 'fine'. You're both idiots but you're my idiots."

Shizune giggled, she like this team. She was about to say so to Kakashi when she noticed that he had finally fallen asleep. It was about time to, how he had managed to stay awake for so long she had no idea. He probably needed to hear his team's voices to reassure himself.

Shizune never noticed the fond smile that had formed on her face but Tsunade did. The Fifth Hokage smirked; seemed like Shizune liked white hair.

XXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: What did you think? I think it's now obvious that this new Orochimaru is going to play a far larger role than he did in canon.

Also poor Kabuto, lol.

Thoughts on the burgeoning romance between Shizune and Kakashi? I hadnt intended for it to be a thing when I started the story but as I was writing it just felt right. Idk, let me know your thoughts.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.