If Orochimaru feared the power of the Susanoo, he did not show it. He saw the ghostly white spectral ribcage and shot towards it, the boiling red chakra around him swirling violently. His fist shot out like a massive red blur. Sasuke's eyes widened at the sight, completely unable to trace the man's movements. One second Orochimaru was before him, the next the world around him erupted. The Susanoo weathered the blow, a massive shockwave ripping across the battlefield that sent Sasuke flying backwards. The ground underneath Mikoto's feet buckled, shattering underneath the strength of the blow.
Mikoto did not move.
Her eyes dripped blood as an arm formed from the ribcage, reaching out to grab Orochimaru only for him to leap away from the chakra appendage. Mikoto was in no rush to give the man room to breathe. She leapt after him, blade twirling in her hands. Another arm formed in the Susanoo, a glowing white line of chakra extending from its hand. A blade. Mikoto swung and the blade smashed into Orochimaru's Kusanagi. The force sent the man to the ground, cratering into the ground. Orochimaru's muscles roared as his legs absorbed the shock, his eyes never leaving Mikoto. He made a single handsign before the snow around her turned into a massive watery prison. He leapt upwards, coral covering his hand only for the water around Mikoto and her spectral armor to flow downwards. She swung her blade downwards.
The blows connected, smashing together in a concussive wave of force that sent the water that surrounded them flying in every direction. The two's eyes met before the other hand of the Susanoo swatted Orochimaru away like a fly. The man flipped, his feet smashing into a piece of rubble before he shot off. He was a brilliant red streak, leaping around the battlefield at speeds that defied imagination. Behind the red streak a raging rapid of water began to form, swirling around the battlefield violently. Mikoto watched him carefully as her feet touched the ground. Instantly the water rushed forwards, rushing around her feet. It surged upwards, desperate to wrap around her limbs as the red streak shot straight towards her, red chakra covering the Kusanagi.
The blade smashed into the ribcage, a wave of force ripping through the battlefield. A storm of violent red chakra surged forwards, surrounding Mikoto and her armor in a boiling heat. Mikoto grimaced, blisters beginning to form on her body. The ribcage began to crack underneath the force of the attack. Mikoto took a step back from the surging force. Orochimaru grinned.
And then a bolt of lightning smashed into his side. The blow was dampened mostly by the swirl of virulent chakra that surrounded him, but it still forced him to skid to his side. He turned, eyes latching on to Sasuke who stood towards the edge of the battle, hand in front of his mouth. The Uchiha's eyes widened as he saw the paltry effect of his jutsu. A singular tail of Orochimaru's flicking was all the warning before the man stood before him, Kusanagi descending to kill him. His eyes widened in horror as he saw the blade moving as if it was in slow motion. His body screamed at him to move, but he couldn't.
He was too slow.
It was the first time in Sasuke's life he had felt so thoroughly outclassed. Even the Amekage had not felt like this.
Mikoto arrived just in time to stop the attack, the blade of the Susanoo stopping the Kusanagi before it could end her flesh and blood. Her crimson eyes glowed with rage. She threw Orochimaru backwards, stepping protectively in front of Sasuke. Sasuke cursed, realizing just how big of a liability he was in this battle even with him staying at a distance. He needed to stay further away, but his accuracy would suffer for it. Still, he couldn't give the Sannin openings like that again. He would capitalize on one and wound either him or his mother. Accuracy was a sacrifice worth making for that.
Sasuke leapt further away as the two S-class shinobi engaged once more.
Orochimaru's twin tails were blurry streaks of red chakra that smashed against Mikoto's ribcage, cracking it with every titanic blow. The force of the attack sent the woman stumbling with every attack, trapped. But her eyes showed confidence that defied her situation. Slowly the cracks on her spectral armor began to heal, and the ferocity of the attacks Orochimaru launched at her began to dim. She no longer moved upon contact. Then she leapt forwards, her eyes spinning wildly. Orochimaru frowned as he realized she had stolen his chakra. He raised his blade to block the attack of her armor, grunting as he held the attack at bay. Mikoto smirked.
She leapt forwards, leaping from the spectral armor to shoot in towards Orochimaru, flames covering her blade. She slashed out, forming a deep gouge on Orochimaru's side. The man hissed, stumbling backwards. A tail swung out at her on instinct, but she ducked underneath the attack. Her eyes twitched as she felt the wind rush overhead and felt the snow that followed batter her side. The force behind his attacks was nothing short of destructive. It was as if she was fighting a demigod. Every move he meant sent shockwaves through her body that screamed at her to run.
She charged forwards regardless.
Orochimaru hissed, raising his hands to form a seal. To orbs of water formed at his shoulders before jets of water shot from them. Mikoto leapt to avoid the attack, watching in horror as the jets carved through the ground like it was air. Orochimaru turned to face her before the jets fired again. It was only the quick activation of her Susanoo that saved her. The jets of water smashed into the spectral armor, throwing her backwards. She skid across the ground until she came to a stop, frowning as water filled her vision. Chakra swirled in the liquid. She couldn't see where Orochimaru was. But that wasn't her biggest issue. The cracks that were rapidly spreading across her armor were. Rather than activate the Yahata a head formed above the ribcage, and the ribcage strengthened once more. This time the jets of water were unable to pierce the defense.
Orochimaru was a different story.
The Kusanagi smashed against the side of the ribcage, breaking one and sending her flying from the force. She flipped through the air uncontrollable, causing Orochimaru to smirk. He smashed his hands onto the ground. His sleeves rustled before massive swarms of snakes shot from the ground. They all snapped their jaws as they approached Mikoto, promising pain and venom. The Uchiha grunted. She landed in the pool of reptiles, but before she did anything a massive spark of flame descended on them courtesy of Sasuke, burning them alive. Mikoto nodded her thanks, unbothered by the flames that surrounded her before she leapt at Orochimaru. The man frowned, glancing at Sasuke with annoyance before he raised his blade to block Mikoto's sword slash. She roared, leaping from the Susanoo once more, but Orochimaru would not fall for the same trick twice. His tail shot upwards, wrapping around her waist before she could get far. His other hand shot forwards, filled with coral only for Mikoto be replaced by a chunk of rubble.
Orochimaru's eyes widened, and he spun coral ripping across his body just in time to stop the sword slash that came from behind. He leapt away just as lightning coursed through her blade, irritation on his face. He formed a handseal in the air, and Mikoto's blood ran cold.
"Sasuke run!"
The snow on the ground swirled, forming a clone of Orochimaru that shot towards Sasuke. Sasuke's eyes widened as the clone approached. It lashed out with a blade that Sasuke just barely managed to deflect. His eyes widened.
'It's slower than the original.'
Mikoto cursed, charging towards her son only for the original Orochimaru to appear before her, a grin on his face.
"Come Mikoto-chan. You didn't think I'd be so idiotic as to not even up the battle, did you?"
Mikoto frowned.
Orochimaru smirked.
"You arrogant fool. Well, I suppose the boy has a fighting chance. Water clones are substantially weaker than the original."
Mikoto cursed. That was a frigid hope to believe in. Orochimaru far outclassed Sasuke.
He outclassed her.
She raised her hand to make a clone only to be forced to stop the seal to protect herself from Orochimaru's sword slash. The Sannin's eyes glistened in the darkness.
"I'm not as foolish as you."
Sasuke grunted as his blade locked with the water clones, struggling to push it back. Every slash he let out was swiftly parried and countered. Try as he might, he couldn't make any progress. The clone smirked, satisfied with minor wounds. Slight cuts. Attacks that were just too short. All intentional. Sasuke had no doubt that the clone could have pressed its advantage. It could have killed him.
And that infuriated him.
He pressed his blade further the more he looked at the visage of superiority that covered its face. Yet try as he might his blade failed to pierce that visage. Not even a hair flowed out of place as the clone began to press its advantage. Its blade arced through the air like a master painter, ripping through Sasuke's guard instantly. Sasuke's eyes widened as its blade arced forward. Clearly it had gotten bored of playing with him.
Was he that weak?
That a clone had grown bored of him so quickly?
How pathetic.
The blade lanced through his chest. The Uchiha coughed blood, the liquid splashing onto the clone. He had only managed to move ever so slightly from its target. It hadn't hit any vital organs, but that was a hollow victory. If it had so easily pierced his defenses, it could kill him whenever it desired and judging from the smirk on the clones face it knew it. It prepared its final assault only for electricity to course through its body, causing it to seize before it collapsed, blade and all, in a puddle of water.
Sasuke dropped to his knees, panting as his chakra network calmed down once more. He grabbed at his chest, frowning. Blood dripped onto his hands. It wasn't fatal by itself, but it was damning. Combined with his previous injuries he was running on fumes. He wasn't sure how much his body would be able to take. To even keep up in the fight any more he'd have to utilize that jutsu.
The Uchiha's eyes hardened.
For his mother?
For victory?
He'd do anything.
The two began a dance off blades in the stormy night, blades crossing in every direction. Mikoto was more skilled. She held an advantage in technique.
That was her only advantage.
The man was simply faster and stronger than her with the Sanbi's chakra rushing through his system. Try as she might, it was impossible for her to keep up with his immense speed. If she was only a kenjutsu specialist she would lose the battle and die in quick order. Luckily for her, her eyes allowed her to counteract that with a rigid wall of spectral defense that Orochimaru struggled to break. His blade met the Susanoo's and waves of force radiated from every clash. Ghostly white met the cold steel of the Kusanagi, ripping up large swaths of earth and snow. The battle was beautiful.
But it was not even.
Orochimaru sent Mikoto flying once more, a grin on his face. The woman skipped across the ground, frustration building on her face. Orochimaru's twin tails chased after her, speading towards her like rockets. Their sheer force ripped the ground asunder as they neared the Uchiha kunoichi. They smashed into her armor, the force blowing her high into the air. His tails cracked, causing massive gusts of wind to shoot upwards and surge against Mikoto. The woman grunted; arms raised as the wind pelted her skin. Orochimaru leapt at her, his crimson chakra swirling around his blade. He lashed out once more, meeting Mikoto's blade. The two opposing forces let loose a ripple of chakra that shot vertically. The skies above parted, forming a massive hole from the force while the ground beneath them exploded in a violently display.
The two struggled, each trying to overpower the other. It was a brief struggle. Orochimaru quickly overpowered the Uchiha, blowing her back to the ground. Mikoto landed on her feet, her arm numb from the force of their clash. Orochimaru landed in front of her, a smirk on his face. He saw the way her armed sagged. She couldn't hide it.
"Your own physical energy goes into strengthening that armors blade, doesn't it?"
Mikoto said nothing.
Orochimaru smirked, flicking his blade out. A surge of water ripped around it violently, causing a high-pitched screech to fill the air courtesy of the rushing liquid. Orochimaru smiled.
"Let's see how it holds up against this attack."
The man let the attack fly, the whip of water cracking against Mikoto's armor. The force made her take a step backwards, mostly from shock at the sheer power behind the jutsu before Orochimaru continued his assault. His flurry of blows railed against the Susanoo, cutting out chinks in the armor that were rapidly filled by Mikoto. He felt the pull on his chakra network for every connection he made with the armor. The woman marched forwards, slowly thanks to the stopping power behind his attack, but forwards. Orochimaru frowned. This strategy would not be effective against her. His jutsu needed to do more damage than she could absorb in chakra.
That was doable.
His hands slammed together as Mikoto leapt forwards, blade covered with lightning. The armor's glowing yellow eyes stared out at him, eerie signs of ghostly power. Right before the blade of the specter touched his skin, he unleashed a surge of water that forced her backwards. The powerful stream ripped the ground asunder, forcing Mikoto to fly backwards. Orochimaru smirked, prepared to launch an attack as Mikoto leapt into the air only for his eyes to widen and his body to seize as electricty coursed through the liquid. His body locked and he dropped to the ground, unable to move. His eyes looked to his side to see Sasuke smirking, hands in the massive torrent of water he had unleashed. The boy had defeated his clone. How?
The Uchiha had no intention of telling the Sannin how he had done it.
"Now mother!"
Mikoto wasted no time. Her right eye spun and blood leaked from it like a faucet. Her veins popped and she screamed her attack to the heavens.
"AMATERASU!"
A storm of black flames leapt from her eyes down at the paralyzed Sannin. They smashed onto the ground, erupting in a massive blaze of black flame. The attack wasn't over. No, Mikoto's eye still spun. The torrent of flames trailing from her eye didn't stop. The blaze grew ever larger. It grew so large that Sasuke had to leap away to not be caught up in the storm of flame. The snow around the flame melted from the surging, unbearable heat. Even Mikoto with her expert resistance to Katon (Fire Release) began to sweat at the temperatures. The darkness of the flames deepened, seemingly sucking everything into them. It was a blazing black hole. Even light couldn't escape it. A swirling inferno of blackness. A representation of divine power.
And she refused to stop.
No, she kept going until her eye forcibly made her stop. She snapped her eye closed, hissing in pain as she felt the drawback from utilizing her Mangekyou Sharingan in such a manner. She wasn't blind, but it would take time for her to be able to utilize the Amaterasu again. Her eye screamed in pain. The blood that leaked from their eyes was not merely a visual representation of the sacrifice they put on the line whenever they used the abilities of their eyes. No, their body was literally ripping itself apart to use their power. And that was not the only thing. Her mind ached with sadness.
All she could envision was her mother bleeding to death in her arms, her wrists slit by Mikoto's own kunai. The woman was smiling and-
Mikoto ripped her mind from the thoughts of her dead mother, burning them in a rage hotter than her flames. Orochimaru had forced her to relive that memory once more. Orochimaru was threatening to kill them all.
He was threatening to kill her son.
She refused to have another painful memory.
She prepared to open her eye and unleash another firestorm only for her eyes to widen in horror as she saw a figure rising from the blaze. The hulking monstrosity glowered at her as coral dropped from its body onto the ground, the organism sizzling underneath the intense heat. A thick miasma of red chakra stood before her, with hollow white eyes that shone with an ethereal light. Mikoto's body froze at the sight. Three tails swung behind the monster. Steam bellow from its mouth. It took another step forward, a surge of coral shooting around the ground to latch onto the fire. It wouldn't put it out. But it would protect the creature from the flames long enough for it to clear the gap.
Mikoto's blood run cold. A cold hand gripped her throat. Her lungs refused to expand. Her body began to shake as the demon took another step forwards. Her senses were screaming conflicting orders. She couldn't move. She couldn't think. What was this? This wasn't a person. This wasn't a shinobi. This was a demon!
She had to run!
She had to run!
RUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRUNRU-
A cold hand touching her shoulder woke her from her stupor. Mikoto's body gasped for air, greedily sucking it down. Her eyes whipped around rapidly until they rested on her son standing next to her, a solemn look on his face.
"Don't panic," Sasuke stated. "You taught me that."
Mikoto continued to pant as she gathered herself, but she couldn't help but feel a small prickle of pride at her son. He had managed to resist that? He had come far, so far from the man that he had once been. He was much more than she had thought him to be.
Her pride and joy.
But he wasn't ready for this.
Not yet.
She wouldn't let his flame be snuffed out before it could reach its full brilliance.
"Run," Mikoto stated calmly. Sasuke's eyes widened as he heard the words.
"What?"
"You heard me. Get out of here. This threat is too far above you. Even this isn't his full strength. Order a retreat and tell Hokage-sama of what you saw here today. He needs to know that Orochimaru is the Jinchuriki of the Sanbi."
"But what about you?"
Mikoto looked at him with a smile.
"I'll die."
Sasuke's body ran cold at the very thought. Die? His mother? Sure, it was a fact that shinobi could die, but he had never even considered the possibility that she would die in battle. It was just...natural that she would die in front of him on her bed of old age. That she would be smiling. Surrounded by her family. Not on a battlefield. Not butchered against some monster.
"No," Sasuke stated. Images of Sakura flashed through his mind. A primal sort of fear, one that flared up when one dared to ponder questions beyond their existence roared in his soul. His throat was tight. "I won't leave you! You can't make me!"
"I won't give you a choice."
Sauske leapt back as a slow gout of black flame shot at the ground in front of him, forming a massive blazing wall that barred him access. He stared at his mother, rage on his face.
"No! Kaa-chan let me help you! I can help you win!"
Mikoto sadly shook her head. She turned to look at the shadowy figure appearing behind Sasuke.
"Take care of him for me, will you Konohamaru?"
Sasuke turned, surprised to see the Sarutobi standing there. The young man looked like he had gone through hell and back. At his side was the Hyuga from before, Hirako, Sasuke believed her name was. She was helping him stand. Konohamaru nodded at his mother, a somber smile on his face.
"I promise I will Mikoto-sama. Thank you. For everything."
Mikoto smiled.
"Thank you."
Sasuke glared at Konohamaru, rage on his face.
"No way! There's no way I'm leaving and this half-bit Naruto-"
"Enough!" Konohamaru roared. "She is giving us a chance to leave here with our lives. I've already ordered the retreat Sasuke. Don't squander it. Try as we might neither of us is powerful enough to fight against that monster. The best thing for us, for the other Konoha shinobi here, and for the village is to stay alive and get this information back to the Hokage."
"I don't care about the Hokage," Sasuke stated, whirling to look at his mother.
"I care about you."
A small tear of blood dropped down Mikoto's face. A smile formed on her face.
"My hero."
"No!" Sasuke roared. "You told me I should prove to you I no longer needed protecting! Let me do that. Let me prove I don't need your protection. That I can wield the Kogarasumaru!"
Sasuke screamed out, tears beginning to fall from his face as he poured his heart into the world. Mikoto could only smile. She raised her hand, stopping just short of the furious black flames that roared between them.
"You already have."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"You don't need my protection, Sasuke. But that doesn't mean that I won't give you my protection."
Sasuke's lips began to quiver.
"From the day you were born I made a promise. I promise that I would protect you."
Tears flowed from Mikoto's eyes.
"I'm sorry Sasuke-chan. I don't think I can keep that promise much longer."
Sasuke screamed out in rage.
"The path of a shinobi is one of hardship. You will face more as your grow older. But I believe in you. You'll overcome all of them. Together with your father and brother. Forgive them. Let them in."
Mikoto smiled, the tears stopping.
"I'm proud to have called you, my son. So, when I die...when this body of mine shatters and falls to the ground...know I'll have loved you with all I have."
Mikoto turned.
"Goodbye, my son."
Sasuke screamed out, desperate to race into the flames only to be stopped by Konohamaru. Mikoto could hear the two men screaming at each other behind her. The Sarutobi would have to physically restrain him to stop him from joining the fray. She believed he would. She couldn't focus on that. She had to look at the monster before her.
The three tails flicked impatiently.
"Are you done?"
"You didn't have to wait."
The jagged lines of chakra the thing called a mouth curled up in a twisted smile.
"I suppose you'll have plenty of time to talk about it after I send him to where you will be."
The spectral ribcage that surrounded Mikoto expanded. Skin covered the bones, before armor covered the skin. Glowing yellow eyes peered out from a small slit in the helmet of the creature. Two thick arms extended outwards, one wielding a blade of burning white chakra. Mikoto's eyes bled the entire time as she dropped into a defensive stance.
"I'm not dead yet."
The creature grinned before it shot forwards.
Mikoto was a strong Uchiha. She possessed power few in her clan's history would ever attain. She possessed every mark of an S-class shinobi. But she was nothing before the controlled power that launched itself at her. She knew in her heart she would lose. She wasn't the shinobi equipped to defeat a Jinchuriki. No, she was best utilized for fighting large amounts of enemies. Fighting massively powerful singular entities?
Well, her eldest or husband were best designed for that.
And it showed.
Orochimaru's fist smashed into the Susanoo sending her flying across the battlefield. Mikoto grit her teeth, weaving handseals before a gout of flame shot from the armor's mouth. The titanic storm of fire didn't bother the Sannin. He leapt through it, the thick miasma of red chakra that was his skin protecting him from the flames. Mikoto cursed, her eye spinning before the red flames of Katon burst into the black of Amaterasu. The demon shrieked in pain in the storm of fire. It leapt from it like a flaming black missile, rage burning across its face. The monster's mouth wretched itself open an impossible scale before another version of it clawed itself free, now free of the divine flame. Its tails twirled like a propeller before it shot at Mikoto like a rocket. She swung her blade, the white energy of the Susanoo clashing with the beasts' fist in a surge of strength. With a detonation that shattered the ground around them the blows collided, a shockwave of dust and snow blowing the surroundings away.
The battle didn't end there.
Orochimaru's fists blurred like lightning and cracked like thunder in their fury. The blade of Mikoto's Susanoo met every one of them. Each titanic blow shattered the ground until the rubble floated all around them. Orochimaru bounced along the rubble like a burning red rocket, imperceptible to the human eye. Even Mikoto's crimson orbs could not keep up with him, merely relying on her senses to tell her where the next strike would come from. She would have less than second for her senses to warn her. The man was simply too fast. His haunting laughter echoed through the battlefield like a raging, demonic God that had come for retribution against the divine.
Mikoto's eyes widened as the beast shot forwards, his fist impacting with the armor and sending ripples of cracks along her Susanoo. The force sent her flying backwards, but not before she utilized Yahata to steal as much chakra as she could. The armor surrounding her began to regenerate, but Orochimaru was in no mood to let it. He shot forwards once more, coral covering his fists before they impacted with the armor, shattering it completely. Mikoto's eyes widened in horror as she realized her ultimate defense had been destroyed so easily. She spun as fast as she could, desperately raising her blade to block Orochimaru's strike.
She was far too slow.
Orochimaru's fist impacted with her chest, shattering her ribcage instantly. Blood shot from her mouth and her eyes went white. It was all she could do to use Yahata to prevent the coral from spreading across her body. Distantly, as if it was coming from miles away, she heard Sasuke scream out. Her body flew backwards, as if she were a ragdoll struck by a mighty beast. She smashed into the destroyed remnants of the fort wall. Sharp, jagged pieces of rubble ripped through her body. The punctures were serious. If she didn't receive immediate medical attention she would die.
Mikoto wanted to laugh.
She wouldn't be receiving any medical attention.
It was all she could do to hazily look up to see the beast stalking towards her on two legs, a motion that bellied the massive power in its frame. With every step it took the ground erupted in a wave of coral.
Mikoto smiled.
She had done well.
She had fought Orochimaru to this level. She could die proudly. She was a powerful shinobi. That was all she had ever wanted in her life. To be a shinobi that the Uchiha Clan could be proud of. She was certain she had accomplished that.
She thought back to her family. Of her husband, who she had known since she was young. The man was always so gruff. So stuck up and obsessed with maintaining the Uchiha's power and image. He himself embodied it. He had hated being weaker than her, a non-royal in the Uchiha. And he hated being weaker than Minato, child of ordinary civilians, even more. Ever the dreamer. Ever the man who worked even harder to achieve his dreams. To prove himself. That level of drive had drawn her to him. She respected it. Admired it.
Loved it.
But it had stunted his relationship with his sons. His family. She could only hope he would change that perspective after her death. He was stubborn. It took a lot for him to change his ways.
Perhaps this was the catalyst he needed?
She thought to her eldest son, her cool and calculating son Itachi. He was so much like his father, yet different in so many ways. Itachi cared, he was far more in tune with his emotions than most realized, but he was always stoic. He was never one to showcase his thoughts. It was what made him such a terrifying genjutsu specialist, no, such a terrifying shinobi. He had grown into a fine young man, if a bit of an indirect one. She still remembered that it was Izumi who had asked him to date her and not the other way around. He had liked her for a long time, but he simply refused to act on it. He was too sweet for this world. Despite his proficiency in killing, she knew the truth. Itachi was a kind soul. He would prefer not to shed blood if it came to it.
He would be a great father.
Her only regret was that she would not get to see him become one. To see him handle the stress of parenthood. To spoil her grandchildren. Her last dream, ripped from her.
Which brought her to her youngest.
And if she had to admit it aloud...her favorite.
Sasuke.
Oh, how she wished she could hold him one last time. Tell him to continue pursuing his dreams. To never doubt himself. To not hold the weight of the world on his shoulders. The boy had always felt lesser. First to Itachi, his father's clear favorite. Then to Naruto. Sakura surpassing him had only made the sting worse. He was a victim of his own mind. He longed for acknowledgement. For approval. She wanted to give it to him. She had tried. But she knew she couldn't. The type of approval he craved wasn't one that she could give. It wasn't one that Fugaku could give, although that would mean so much to him.
It was the approval he had to give himself.
And he refused to believe he was deserving of it.
She was scared. Scared of what her death would do to him. Scared of the monster he would become. Of the depths of isolation, he would sink to. She knew all too well what her death would cause. She had tried to protect him from it, but fate had other plans. She had tried to send him away for that very reason, but she had failed. Just like she had failed him so many times.
Her death would be burned into his mind for the rest of his life.
And he would relive it every time he utilized his Mangekyou Sharingan.
Mikoto closed her eyes, ready to accept death as Orochimaru stopped in front of her.
"You lose, Mikoto-chan."
Mikoto smiled.
"No," she stated. "I've won."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, allowing the Sanbi's chakra to recede and show his natural body.
"Oh? And how is that?"
"Because my life continues in my sons. In my husband. And they will cut you down. So I have nothing to fear. I didn't lose. I've won. Because I'll always live on in them. Who will you live on in when you die, snake? There is no one who loves you. No one who cares for you. All you live for is yourself."
Orochimaru's face twisted into a snarl for the smallest of fractions before he crouched before the mangled woman.
"Kill me? Your family? Please."
His lips curled into a sinister grin and his killing intent flooded the area.
"I will hunt down that pathetic little family of yours one-by-one and slaughter them like lambs. And when no one is alive to remember you, I'll bring you back just to ask you one last time how it feels to lose!"
Mikoto frowned, hatred burning in her eyes that matched Orochimaru's. The snake snarled, raising the Kusanagi. He was stopped by a scream. Mikoto and he turned to see Sasuke sprinting towards them, screaming at the top of his lungs. Behind him was Konohamaru, stumbling along. The Hyuga girl followed behind the Sarutobi. They must have leapt over the flames of Amaterasu to reach them. A foolish decision. Mikoto's eyes widened in horror.
Orochimaru's smile widened in glee.
"Change of plans," he hissed. "I'll kill your son in front of you."
"No!"
Orochimaru leapt forwards, smashing a foot into Sasuke's chest, and sent him barrelling into the two Konoha shinobi behind him. The snake raised his blade, a sinister laugh escaping his lips.
"You fool. Your mother gave you the best opportunity to escape you would ever have and you squandered it. And she was so proud of you too. How will she feel when I slaughter you in front of her, I wonder? It's such a tantalizing idea. And it's all thanks to you."
Sasuke and Konohamaru stared up at Orochimaru, completely unable to move. The man's killing intent was like nothing they had ever felt. It surpassed even that of the Ichibi. The two weren't even ants in comparison to him.
They were atoms.
He brought his blade down only for Mikoto to appear before them, blood gushing out of her horrendous wounds. She screamed in agony as she blocked the Kusanagi with the Kogarasumaru, her chest ablaze. Orochimaru's eyes widened.
"You can still move?"
"I won't let you," Mikoto stated, her eyes glaring up at Orochimaru. The Mangekyou Sharingan had long since faded from her eyes. Not even the familiar crimson of the regular Sharingan was visible, merely her unmistakable black.
"I won't let you kill my son."
Orochimaru laughed, shaking his head.
"Truly, what a futile attempt. You cannot stand against me."
Mikoto smirked.
"Maybe not in a normal battle. But even you know if we were to clash in a battle of swords I would win."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. She was provoking him. He knew it. She had surpassed him in swordplay back when he was still a shinobi of Konoha. She was playing on that. Desperate to try to give her son some time to escape. The Sarutobi was already pulling the Uchiha and Hyuga away from the battle, although the Uchiha was clawing at his hand to get him to stop. Such a childish attempt at protecting that pathetic little thing?
Something only a parent would do.
Orochimaru allowed her to rise, raising his blade. A smirk played along his face.
"Consider this one last charitable act to my former student. I shall show you that you have far to go before you surpass the master!"
Mikoto smirked. Her chakra coils roared. Orochimaru recognized the usage. Hysterical Strength. The slight glow that covered her body was sign enough of that. A desperation play. The surge of chakra provided a euphoric feeling, one that would allow her to ignore her shattered ribcage. Allow her to move. All in a last hope. One last stand in the night to find a way to hurt or delay him just enough for her son to escape.
Pathetic.
"No," Sasuke cried out. "I won't let you!"
"Enough Sasuke," Mikoto screamed out. She snapped her head to look at him, a combination of love and frustration on her face. "Go home. As my final act as your mother, let me protect you one last time."
Sasuke stared up at Mikoto, tears streaking down his face. His mouth twisted as he tried to formulate words, but nothing escaped his lips. He could only stare at his mother as she stared back at him. Deep in her eyes, blazing with a furious intensity, the love she held for her son roared. The light was brilliant. Never-ending.
And Sasuke broke.
The Uchiha stood, biting his lip hard. Blood dripped down his chin. He looked at his mother one last time and then...
He ran. He ran as far as his legs could take him. As fast as his injured body could move. Not far behind was Konohamaru and Hirako, each struggling to keep pace with the boy. He wasn't less injured than they were, but the pain of the act was forcing his legs to move faster than was previously possible. His chakra roared in him, disturbed.
Mikoto turned to look back at Orochimaru. The man before her grinned.
"You know I'll catch and kill him."
"Then I'll just have to hold you off long enough so that isn't possible."
The evil that twinkled in his eyes like a lone star in the night grew deeper. He tapped the tip of the Kusanagi against the Kogarasumaru, a smile on his face.
"Let's begin."
Orochimaru's blade lunged forwards in rapid succession like snapping heads of a hyrda, but Mikoto was fast. Her chakra raged in her body. And she reacted. Her blade swatted down every one of these thrusts, eyes not locked on the blade itself but rather the man's wrist. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, increasing the speed of the attacks. She did not have the chakra to maintain her Sharingan and react to him, not with her current injuries. One would give to the other. And without her Sharingan, she wouldn't be able to react to the speed in which he attacked! It was a no-win scenario!
Mikoto batted all of the thrusts down.
Orochimaru's eyes widened, rage fracturing the perfectly confident face he held. Eventually it shattered completely, the shards of it falling onto the ground as he rained heavy blow after heavy blow against Mikoto's guard. None bypassed it. None shook her. Her body stood firm, blocking every attack he let loose. Her face remained still, a stony mask of focus as she stepped inwards after one more successful parry. Her blade sliced forwards, slashing across his chest. Orochimaru hissed, leaping away. The man spat onto the ground. His blood boiled with rage and his chakra showed it. The intensity cracked the ground around him as a light aura of chakra appeared around his body. He snarled at the woman before him.
She smirked back.
"Are you sure you're the master here?"
Orochimaru's grip on his blade tightened, his knuckles turning an even sicklier shade of white. Small tears opened on them, letting his blood drip to the ground as the snow around him whipped around violently from the force of his chakra. He charged forwards, rocketing off of the ground with fury on his face and screaming bloody murder into the air.
"Die you miserable Uchiha!"
He slid as he neared her, slashing out at her legs. Her arms were fast, but she had lost a significant amount of blood. Even if she could leap and dodge his attack, the blood loss would get to her if he just made her move. Mikoto did as expected, leaping above the attack before placing both hands on her blade and bringing it down to slash at his back. Orochimaru snarled, his blade coursing upwards to parry the slash. Mikoto grunted, swinging to the other side as Orochimaru spun to his feet. She was fast. He was faster. His blade arced at her neck, forcing her to abandon her attack and duck to dodge the weapon. She rose, quickly lashing out with her blade to counterattack. Orochimaru tilted his head, allowing the blade to trace in front of him. Mikoto's eyes narrowed. She couldn't lose this advantage and she knew it. Her stamina was preciously low, even with Hysterical Strength. She needed to maximize any offensive opportunity she had. She would die here.
Injuring the snake, permanently preferably, was the most she would be able to do.
She slashed at his leg, forcing him to raise it. She smirked. He was off-balance.
Defensive.
She spun, lashing out at his midsection as his foot slammed back on the ground only for him to bring his blade down to block the attack. But it was awkward. Clumsy in comparison to her perfectly placed slash. Her blade swung wide, forcing his out of position. She curled it around like a whip, desperate to slash at him only for his blade to block her once more, this time clean. She frowned. The man wasn't as unskilled as she wished he was. She stepped forwards, her blade lashing out in a vicious whirlwind of slashes only for Orochimaru to block everyone. Still, she managed to push him backwards. The aggression was too much. She just needed one slip up. One wrong foot placement and she could pierce his defense.
It never came.
Her desperation reeked, and Orochimaru could smell it. She swung downwards and Orochimaru dodged, the weapon sailing by his shoulder. Her eyes widened. Orochimaru raised his blade before bringing it downwards, but she wasn't stuck. She shifted her body weight, the blade missing her entirely as she swung at his neck, forcing him to duck underneath. Her body shifted, her vision temporarily becoming blurry, and she span with her attack. Orochimaru grinned. He lashed out with a cut, but she regained control of herself, her arm flinging upwards to block his slash from behind her back. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
Hers were wide, her breathing heavy.
The duo of swordmasters spun, their blades dancing across their forms before they both lashed out with swings that cracked against each other, sending a wave of snow outwards. Mikoto reacted first, swinging her blade out once more only for Orochimaru to deflect the slash with his own blade. He swung wide to blow her blade back, but her body screamed in defiance. She regained control before him, slashing downwards across his face and raking it across. The man screamed, recoiling back with blood flying.
Mikoto smirked.
Orochimaru glared up at her with the one functioning eye he had remaining. The other had a bloody slash cutting diagonally across it, blinding him. Blood trickled down his skin, and with it, all semblance of control he had.
Red chakra burst from his skin, a sign the dual of blades was over. He screamed, the shockwave throwing snow and dirt in every direction. Mikoto frowned. She had to strike before he could. She raised her blade, swinging downwards to cut the man in two, or at least force him on the defensive. Orochimaru's blade swung upwards, blocking it with ease. He stepped forwards, shoving her backwards. She rolled back to her feet, completely unable to withstand the force he was capable of exerting. The man swung his blade once more and she tried to counter. Her blade met his at every possible opportunity, but despite it all she was blown away by the raw force behind his attacks.
Orochimaru hissed as their blades collided once more, forcing her blade upwards. He swung at her neck, but miraculously the woman managed to deflect, defiance boiling in her eyes. With a scream she raised her blade, ready to cut the man in two. She wasn't strong enough to counter him. She needed to rip away his offense. But Orochimaru was not simply stronger than her.
He was faster.
His stepped forwards in a burst of speed, the red chakra around him surging as three, bubbly, crimson tails of chakra whipped behind his body. His blade ripped across her torso, blood dripping onto the ground as a massive wound was opened. Her eyes widened as she stumbled forwards. Then, they steeled.
She turned, raising her blade once more and screaming a defiant battle cry.
It was her last.
Orochimaru spun, reacting faster than he did before. His blade arced upwards, unleashing a deep gash from her hip to her neck. Her blood flew upwards in night air, sparkling brilliantly in the moonlight as the storm above finally cleared. Her blood fell onto the snow, turning it a deep crimson. She fell to her knees, eyes wide. Blood gurgled out of her mouth. And then...
She smiled.
"I...beat...you..." she whispered.
And then she collapsed.
Orochimaru stared down at her, allowing the crimson chakra that decorated his form to recede back into him. He twisted his lips upwards in disgust.
"Funny. That's not what I would call it."
Sasuke's legs were hot.
His lungs were hot.
His eyes were hot.
But only his heart burned.
He had abandoned his mother. Just as he had abandoned Sakura.
Both had given their lives to protect him.
And he, in his never-ending incompetence, let them both do it. The emerald orbs of the Haruno flashed through his mind, swiftly followed by the onyx of his own mothers. He could hear Konohamaru's voice dancing in his ears, but he gave no response. He couldn't. Not when those eyes filled his vision.
Not when he could hear someone else's whispers in his head.
"You're a failure."
"Don't worry little brother. I'll be ready to protect you soon enough."
"Worried about letting down dear old dad? Don't worry, your mere existence does that enough."
The voices of his father and brother railed in his ears. The voice of Naruto. They screamed at him. Repeating the word that he swore he would never be ever again.
A failure.
And he had proved them right.
He shook his head, tears aching in his eyes. He tried to comfort himself. Tried to tell himself that Sakura had done what she had to protect him. That his mother was giving him one more shot to get stronger to get revenge for her death. But they were hollow. And then...he felt it.
As if something integral to his being had been cut.
He stopped on a dime, turning back to the battlefield where his mother and Orochimaru were. He couldn't help but feel a strange tugging sensation. As if something had gone horribly wrong.
Konohamaru and Hirako stopped each turning to look at him.
"What's wrong," Hirako called.
"Sasuke we have to keep moving."
Sasuke didn't hear them. Their voices were drowned out by the sense of dread that was filling his body. And then, his legs moved. No.
They moved.
He shot through the destroyed fort faster than should have been possible for his injuries. He left Konohamaru and Hirako in the dust. He could hear their desperate pleas, the crunch of their feet on the ground as they tried to catch him. But it was white noise.
Because all he felt was that deep, dark, dread.
And then he saw it.
Orochimaru standing over his fallen mother, his bloodied body on the ground. His heart froze. His eyes widened. Konohamaru and Hirako caught up. Orochimaru met his eyes.
It was ages before anyone spoke. Orochimaru wanted to savor the experience. Konohamaru wanted to leave, despite the sorrow he felt for his comrade. Hirako? She was terrified.
But all were focused on the body of Mikoto Uchiha, Matriarch of the Uchiha Clan.
Sasuke ran forwards before anyone could react, reaching his mother.
"No," he cried out. "No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! You're still with me. Kaa-chan, please, tell me you're still with me!"
Mikoto smiled weakly as she looked up at her son. Her hand reached up, cupping his face. Sasuke grasped it like his life depended on it.
"Stay with me, stay with me. Don't move, we're going to get you to an iryonin."
"An iryonin...can't fix me..." Mikoto spat out in ragged gasps. "This is the end."
"NO" Sasuke screamed, tears falling down his face. "No. You can't leave me. You can't! I won't let it happen. I won't let anyone leave me ever again!"
Mikoto smiled as she saw his tears.
"My strong boy," Mikoto whispered. "I'm so proud of you. You've grown up so much."
"Yeah, that's right," Sasuke whispered. "Your strong boy. So, keep watching him grow. Please, please."
"Oh, my sweet Sasuke. Don't cry. What do you do in times of sadness? I told you that remember? Get on your feet."
Mikoto gave him a brilliant smile, despite the blood leaving her body. It radiated love and color of the likes Sasuke had never seen her show in life. One that told him just how deeply she loved him.
"I'll always be with you. Even after I die. From now on, all the way down the line. So, show me...show me more of how you've grown."
And then her hand went limp. It slipped from Sasuke's grasp, despite his desperate attempts otherwise. And her head tilted to the side.
And she died.
Sasuke screamed bloody murder into the air, rage and sorrow echoing across the battlefield. Even Orochimaru did nothing in the wake of it. The Uchiha's head snapped to the side, rage on his face as he looked up at the snake. Orochimaru stared back, dispassionately.
Sasuke?
Sasuke felt more than passion.
After he had just fought toothe and nail to defeat Kagero, this was how far he lagged behind a monster such as this? To where he couldn't help his own mother fight against a monster with this level of power?
To where he had abandoned her?
To where he had let her die?
It infuriated him.
It made his blood boil.
It made him hate.
And then, somewhere deep, deep inside Sasuke...something broke.
Something he would never get back.
His tears turned to rivers of blood and his eyes changed. Orochimaru's eyes widened at the sight. Konohamaru tensed, feeling the shift in chakra.
And Sasuke screamed.
He leapt forwards with a ferocity that had yet to be displayed. But that was natural. His own mother had died in his arms. No, there was something else that was unnatural.
His speed.
His body smashed into Orochimaru's, the Sannin not having expected the sudden shift. His fists crashed out, smashing on the man's body. Orochimaru was quick to recover, tossing him aside as he stared at Sasuke, or rather, his eyes.
"Those eyes, they're like Mikoto-chan's."
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY HER NAME."
Orochimaru deflected Sasuke's slash, his eyes wide as he looked deep into his eyes. Lightning danced around the flaming blade, but Orochimaru paid it no mind. The Uchiha boy wasn't a threat, even with this second wind. But he was interesting.
His eyes were interesting.
'The Mangekyou Sharingan. That is how it's formed. Trauma. What an amazing discovery. I must have him. I must learn more about those wretched eyes.'
Sasuke lashed out furiously with his blade, the weapon smashing against Orochimaru's defenses. The Sannin's wrist twisted with every move, something Sasuke's eyes noticed. He shot forwards, pressing down and snatching Orochimaru's wrist with his free hand. The Sannin's eyes widened as Sasuke's head shot forwards, cracking against his head and sending him stumbling backwards. Sasuke pounced, blade lunging at Orochimaru's heart only for a snake to slip out of his sleeve and catch the blade in its fangs, stopping it. Orochimaru's eyes widened as he looked at Sasuke.
"What an interesting child you are."
A devilish grin appeared on his face.
"Yes. I think I'll have you."
Orochimaru moved to strike only to be forced to leap away as a staff swept through the air where his head once was. Konohamaru's eyes narrowed with a deep intensity. He glanced at Sasuke.
"You know we have to kill him now, right?"
Sasuke's eyes glowed. Hate pulsed through his body like a drug. His mother's dead body was the only thing that filled his vision. He felt a searing pain begin to build in his eyes. It screamed to be let loose. It roared.
Orochimaru snarled, reaching into the depths of his seal once more. Bubbling red chakra seeped from his bones.
Sasuke screamed, and the name came to him.
"Ōkuninushi!"
Orochimaru suddenly felt a dreadful cold fill his body. He shuddered, taking a step back. His body felt empty.
And the bubbling red chakra receded.
Konohamaru leapt forwards, staff spinning. He lashed out with a series of blows. None reached Orochimaru. Stunned or not by the sudden lack of response from the Sanbi he was a Sannin before he had ever been a Jinchuriki. His blade effortlessly blocked the weapons of the Sarutobi, his mind concentrating on what had happened to him rather than the Konoha shinobi's attacks.
'The Sanbi! It is not reacting to my pull! But how?'
His eyes snapped up to look at Sasuke.
'What did he do?'
Orochimaru swung his arm wide, batting the injured Konohamaru away with a surge of chakra that was entirely his own. Sasuke was charging him, his left eye dripping blood onto the ground. Lightning raged around his blade in a concentrated stream. Orochimaru raised the Kusanagi, his eyes meeting Sasuke's own.
'Are the abilities of their Sharingan different? What a fascinating discovery! This boy cut off my access to the Sanbi.'
Orochimaru grinned.
'What else can that eye of his do? I must know.'
Sasuke's blade smashed against the Kusanagi. The Uchiha roared as he unleashed a flurry of swings, only for Orochimaru to deflect them all. Sasuke snarled, slamming his other hand against his blade before his chakra surged. Electricity coursed through his blade, leeching onto the Kusanagi and into Orochimaru. The snake hissed but pressed onwards. His hand lashed out, smashing into Sasuke's nose and forcing him backwards. He lashed out with a kick that smashed into the shinobi's stomach, sending him flying backwards.
Konohamaru was next to appear, grunting as his weapon smashed against Orochimaru's guard. He spun, swinging horizontally only for Orochimaru to parry the attack. He twirled his blade knocking Konohamaru's staff upwards before he lashed out with a thrust. The young man turned, the blade whizzing by his chest before he swung downwards with an overhead swing that Orochimaru twirled out of the way of. The man lashed out with a kick, but Konohamaru was ready. He spun, batting the leg aside with his staff before twisting into a swing that would have smashed Orochimaru's head into paste if it connected.
It did not.
The Sannin ducked the strike, his eyes narrowing.
'He fights like Sarutobi-sensei. Not Asuma. Must be Kazu's son.'
Orochimaru's blade lashed out, piercing Konohamaru's shoulder and causing him to screech in pain. Orochimaru's eyes twinkled.
'He's certainly more capable than his father. Maybe I should take him too. Just to spite you once more, Sarutobi-sensei.'
Sasuke charged at Orochimaru before the distracted man could take advantage of Konohamaru's wound. He lashed out with his blade, but it was effortlessly deflected. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
'They're both heavily injured. How do they keep getting up?'
The man's eyes twinkled as he saw it. The Hyuga. She was their healer. He smirked, fists flying out and sending both flying away. He slowly turned to walk towards the Hyuga, a smile lighting up his face. Hirako froze, terrified.
Konohamaru recovered, looking up at Orochimaru with rage and fear on his face as he saw the man walking towards Hirako. He cursed himself. He had done the same thing he had done in Ame. He should have sent her to flee with the rest of the force long ago!
"Run Hirako!"
He dashed forwards, staff spinning.
"Leave her alone you bastard!"
Orochimaru smiled, turning his head to look at Konohamaru as he ran towards him. He wouldn't make it.
'I wonder how he'll change if I take someone from him.'
And all three of them knew it.
Orochimaru's blade leaped forwards, piercing through Hirako's skull. The woman's arms dropped to her sides, blood leaking from the wound. Konohamaru screamed, lashing out with a series of swipes with his blade. Orochimaru deflected them all, a small frown forming on his face as he let Konohamaru maintain the offensive. The Sarutobi unleashed no new power. Not like the Uchiha. He wasn't special. How disappointing.
The Snake Sannin quickly blew open Konohamaru's guard. He raised his blade.
'I suppose there's some irony in torturing you for your legacy though.'
His fist shot forward instead of his blade. The feint caught Konohamaru off guard and the blow landed. The man wheezed, his eyes going white before he crumpled to the ground. Sasuke snarled, dashing forwards. His blade roared with lightning, and his scream was as loud as thunder. Orochimaru smirked. Sasuke's sword swung down to meet Orochimaru's Kusanagi.
And then it shattered into a million pieces on contact.
Sasuke's eyes widened and Orochimaru smirked. He let the Kusanagi clattered unceremoniously to the ground before his fist lashed out, smashing into Sasuke's cheek. He wasn't done, unleashing a devastating taijutsu combination that dazed the boy. Finally, before the Uchiha could react he hit a series of pressure points in his neck, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Orochimaru stared at the three defeated Konoha shinobi that surrounded him. He smirked. What an interesting development he had come across this night. Mikoto had proved a good test of his abilities. He knew where he lay. And the other two. The Uchiha boy was interesting and the Sarutobi...well...he could still run experiments on him. The Sannin turned as he heard a shout.
A Shimo kunoichi, raising her blade at him. Her eyes were defiant.
He smirked.
She showed no fear.
He would teach her.
His body began to morph, and the world was filled with darkness underneath an ear-shattering screech.
Orochimaru watched as the remainder of his forces combed over the destroyed remains of the fort. Blood and viscera coated the battlefield. He smiled. He had learned quite a lot about himself today. About the power a perfect Jinchuriki could wield. He was confident now.
He could stand against that man.
But that was not the highlight.
He turned to see his forces dragging the bodies of Mikoto Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha, and Konohamaru Sarutobi back to his base. He smiled.
Yes.
Today had been a good day.
And thus this section of the finale draws to a close. Mikoto dies and as a result Sasuke awakens that Mangekyou Sharingan power-up he's been desperate for. Downside, other than the death of his mother that is? He still wasn't strong enough to stand up to Orochimaru and now him and Konohamaru are captured going to who knows where. And who the hell is Konoha or Kumo going to blame for why both of their forces were massacred?
Next up is Naruto, and boy oh boy if you think this series of fights was intense just wait till you see what's coming. Naruto is going to fight Gaara and Shukaku after all.
The last time those two fought somebody in this story (that we saw. Sorry Rasa), things didn't go well for Konoha. Or Suna. Just like things didn't go well for Konoha or Kumo here when another Jinchuriki showed up.
Huh.
I guess they are walking nuclear weapons.
So how the hell is Naruto going to win? Is he going to win? Find out.