Click.
Under the stunned gazes of Kabuto and Sasuke, Orochimaru raised his arm, bit his finger, and rapidly formed a hand seal.
POOF!
White smoke exploded outward as a massive summoning jutsu activated.
"Lord Orochimaru…?!" Kabuto stared in disbelief.
"Your arms… and your ninjutsu… They're fully healed?"
He could still remember preparing Orochimaru's dinner the previous evening. At that time, his master's arms had been withered and useless.
Yet now… fully restored?
Orochimaru gave a slow, chilling smile.
"Because I met a god."
"Do you understand what that means, Kabuto?"
"There are real gods in this world. Not those false legends like the so-called Sage of Six Paths."
"I'm talking about a true deity—one who restores the soul when it's been severed. Have you ever witnessed such a miracle?"
"The Senju… the Uchiha… They'll all kneel before me now."
Gods?
Sasuke scoffed inwardly, though his face remained calm.
He didn't believe in fairy tales.
But even so… Orochimaru had clearly regained his jutsu. That alone made him dangerous—lethally dangerous.
Kabuto, however, fell into silent contemplation.
He knew of the mystical beings from the Three Great Summoning Clans. Perhaps Orochimaru had indeed tapped into something… otherworldly.
His eyes flicked to Sasuke.
Could he be the intended sacrifice?
Silently, Kabuto gripped a kunai in his palm—ready for anything.
"Tch… Orochimaru, what the hell did you summon me for this time?"
A massive purple-scaled python hissed, its golden eyes narrowed.
"If this isn't about devouring a hundred humans for lunch, then don't waste my time!"
This was Manda, the king of snakes—fierce, arrogant, and not exactly fond of Orochimaru despite their pact.
"I didn't summon you for food…" Orochimaru stepped forward slowly.
"You are the offering this time."
Before Manda could react, Orochimaru's Hidden Shadow Snake Hands surged forth.
Normally a high-tier A-rank ninjutsu…
But this time, thousands of serpents exploded from Orochimaru's arms like a living flood—faster, stronger, and far more brutal than ever before.
CRACK!
Manda was knocked out cold, unable to even dodge.
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
Kabuto froze—stunned speechless.
When… did Orochimaru gain this kind of power?
One jutsu… and he took out Manda?! Is this a joke?!
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with zeal.
"Even my ninjutsu… is stronger now. So this is the power of divine blessing…"
"The Uchiha?"
"The Senju?"
"They'll tremble beneath the feet of the true god!"
Orochimaru stared down at the unconscious body of Manda, the massive purple serpent sprawled helplessly on the ground.
A fanatical gleam lit up his eyes.
"Perfect."
There could be no better sacrifice to offer the God of Eternity than this arrogant, disobedient creature.
"May the Eternal One be pleased with this tribute…"
Thirty minutes later—
Orochimaru had personally constructed an enormous altar with meticulous care. Despite its relatively small structure—only two tiers tall—its surface was covered with intricate carvings:
Strange runes etched into every inch.
Symbols of forgotten languages.
And swirling patterns that resonated with arcane energy.
He had inscribed every mark by hand. This was no ordinary summoning—this was divine ritual. Any mistake could be fatal.
He then dragged Manda's limp body and laid it before the altar like an offering upon a celestial table.
His preparations complete, Orochimaru performed a final act that startled both observers—
He summoned a ball of water… and used it to wash himself.
"A true offering must be clean. Reverent. Devout."
Dust and blood would not be tolerated.
He knelt in front of the altar, expression solemn and eyes closed.
The island was utterly silent.
The skies were clear. The only sounds were the occasional calls of seagulls flying overhead.
Standing nearby, Sasuke Uchiha leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching this scene unfold with a look of pure disdain.
"This lunatic's lost it."
Moments ago, Orochimaru had even mocked the Uchiha clan.
"Let's see what kind of fake god you summon now…"
"Even the sages wouldn't waste time on you."
Orochimaru took a deep breath.
Then, with full focus and reverence, he began to chant the prayer—a sacred litany from the Rite of Eternal Offering.
"O Sovereign Eternal God…
Your humble believer calls to you…"
"You dwell above all things. Hear the voices of those who kneel before you."
"You are the Supreme. The All-Compassionate. The Ever-Watching."
"You walk beside the world, from our first breath to our final silence…"
"You are wisdom incarnate. Strength without measure. Time bows to your will…"
"Though the cosmos fades, your gaze pierces eternity…"
"Accept our offerings, Eternal One. Let this tribute reach your throne…"
His voice rose with each word.
Thunder rolled across the skies.
The sound echoed over the entire island like a divine proclamation, shaking the trees and rippling across the sea.
Sasuke and Kabuto staggered, unable to stay upright.
It was as if the voice alone had physically struck them, cracking the very air.
"Did he use genjutsu…?"
Sasuke's legs gave out beneath him.
He collapsed to the ground, breathing hard, eyes wide in panic as he stared at Orochimaru's distant figure.
"Is he trying to possess me?! I won't let him!"
Beside him, Kabuto reached for a kunai—but even he was frozen in place by the overwhelming pressure.
They had no idea…
This was not Orochimaru's power.
This was the voice of a god.
And it wasn't directed at them—they were merely insects caught in the wave.
If the Eternal God bore even a trace of malice…
They would have combusted from within, their souls burned to ash by divine radiance.
But Orochimaru paid them no attention.
He was entranced, kneeling, eyes shut, heart pounding.
Each cycle of the prayer brought strength to his spirit.
Each chant deepened his connection.
He reached the tenth repetition—
And suddenly—
The clear sky turned violet.
Brilliant, multicolored clouds swirled into the heavens, forming a spiraling vortex above the altar.
Something had heard the call.
Something was coming.