Naruto: Reborn as Orochimaru-Chapter 359

How many clone armies did Orochimaru have?

No one knew for sure.

But Tsunade had a pretty good guess.

There were five to six thousand in Otogakure, another six to seven thousand at the orphanage, and the laboratory east of Konoha, though built last was the largest, housing around ten thousand.

Three main bases. Over twenty thousand troops in total.

That was the size of an entire major shinobi village.

Before sealing the Five-Tails, Orochimaru had already sent orders to both Mi and Naoki, instructing them to merge the forces from their respective bases.

He also had Nawaki prepare supplies, while Guren led a squad of clones to transport those supplies to the Land of Frost.

Both Mi and Nawaki obeyed without question.

Now, the three factions—Konoha, Kumogakure, and Orochimaru's clone army were on the move, each heading toward their respective battlefields.

Everyone knew war was coming.

Yet, Orochimaru remained unshaken. He left the laboratory, taking Pain with him to the orphanage.

Nonō, the orphanage director, was stunned when she heard Orochimaru's plan.

"A war…?"

A pacifist at heart, Nonō had been deceived into sleeping with Orochimaru. She had spent years managing his experimental base, believing it was all to ensure the safety of the orphanage and provide for war orphans.

Deep down, she had always suspected what Orochimaru planned to do with his growing army, but now that the day had finally arrived, she still found it hard to accept.

"Why…?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why start a war?"

"To eliminate the problem at its root," Orochimaru replied, his tone eerily calm.

He had known Nonō since childhood, but they had never been close, mere acquaintances at best.

Later, their relationship took an unexpected turn, though it was undeniable that Orochimaru had initially trained her with the intention of using her.

"The root…?" she echoed, confused.

"Yes," he said. "There's no time to explain further. Where is Kushina?"

"In the courtyard… playing with the children," Nonō answered instinctively.

She didn't fully understand Orochimaru's intentions, but what could she do to stop him?

Nothing.

All she could do was hope that the Orochimaru standing before her was still the same man who had founded Otogakure to protect war orphans…

"Kushina, do you trust me?"

In a clearing deep in the forest, Orochimaru stood before Kushina, his expression unreadable.

There were five people present: Orochimaru, Kushina, Pain, Nonō, and Kushina's nearly five-year-old daughter, Uzumaki Reige.

"Of course," Kushina said with a warm smile.

She had doubted him once, back when he defected from Konoha.

But now?

Their daughter was already this old. There was no point in questioning trust anymore.

Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Then undo your seal."

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"Alright."

Without hesitation, Kushina closed her eyes and entered her mindscape.

Sealing techniques varied in complexity, and even identical seals could differ depending on the shinobi who applied them.

Typically, only the original caster could undo a seal easily. Anyone else would need extensive research.

Kushina's seal had been placed by Uzumaki Mito before her death. But Orochimaru had spent years studying the sealing arts of the Uzumaki Clan.

Figuring out how to unseal it had taken time but not too much time.

Of course, there was no method easier than having the Jinchūriki remove the seal themselves.

Just like when Kurama tempted Naruto into loosening his seal in the past.

Now, Kushina simply had to enter her mindscape, unlock the mechanism, and tear off the sealing talisman.

It was that easy.

ROAR!

A monstrous growl echoed through Kushina's consciousness.

Kurama had sensed the weakening of the seal. The fox prowled restlessly, its killing intent palpable.

Sweat beaded on Kushina's forehead.

Then—

BOOM!

The seal shattered.

A massive surge of chakra erupted outward as the blood-red Tailed Beast Cloak engulfed Kushina.

But before it could go any further.

Orochimaru's hand pressed firmly against her forehead, his palm glowing with the kanji for sit (座).

Hokage-Style Sixty-Year-Old Technique: Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands!

The First Hokage's unique technique for suppressing Tailed Beasts.

When Yamato used it, he required Hashirama's necklace to amplify its effect.

But Orochimaru? He needed no such thing.

Under the influence of the jutsu, the crimson Tailed Beast Cloak gradually faded. Kushina's breathing steadied, and her mind cleared.

"Let me stabilize your body first," Orochimaru murmured.

Kaka!

The ground trembled.

On either side of Kushina, saplings burst through the soil, growing rapidly into towering trees.

Vines shot out, binding Kushina's arms, restraining her.

In a flash, Orochimaru retreated a dozen meters away, raising two fingers.

"Come out, Kurama."

Tailed Beast Unsealing!

ROAR!

Another deafening roar shook the clearing.

The seal on Kushina's stomach twisted, morphing into an ink-black vortex.

Then—

Kurama's head emerged from the darkness.

Followed by its front paws.

Its hind legs.

And finally, its massive tails.

BOOM!

The full form of the Nine-Tails stood before them, towering a hundred meters tall.

Majestic. Terrifying.

Meanwhile, Kushina collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. Her clothes were drenched in sweat.

"Mother!"

Reige cried out in panic, trying to rush forward, but Nonō held her back, whispering reassurances.

"Die!"

Kurama's wrath exploded.

A violent chakra hurricane whipped through the forest, forcing everyone to brace themselves.

With a ferocious snarl, Kurama swung its colossal claw straight at Kushina.

Unlike Naruto's eventual relationship with the fox, Kushina had never formed a bond with it.

To Kurama, she was nothing more than a captor.

And if it could kill her, if it could eliminate the one suppressing it, it would finally be free.

The monstrous claw descended.

Then—

BOOM!

A massive black barrier materialized between Kurama and Kushina.

The claw stopped inches away.

No matter how much force Kurama exerted, it couldn't push past the shield.

The beast's eyes widened in shock.

Before it could react.

Countless black rods rained down from the sky.

Slick!

Each rod, nearly a meter long, pierced deep into Kurama's flesh, nailing it to the earth.

These black receivers were the ultimate weapons against Tailed Beasts.

Kurama thrashed violently, but it was futile, the more it struggled, the more chakra it lost.

Within moments, it was completely subdued.

---

Inside the shield, Orochimaru's raspy voice cut through the tension.

"Don't be afraid," he murmured. "As long as I'm here… you'll be fine."

He then turned to Pain.

"Keep an eye on Kurama. I'll focus on stabilizing her."

"Understood," Pain replied. "Leave it to me, sir."

**

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