Orochimaru's followers, seeing his expression, also showed displeasure.
"Where did this kid come from, daring to speak like that to Orochimaru-sama? Courting death?"
"Brat, I'll crush your bones!"
One of them leaped forward, bypassing Orochimaru, and charged at Naruto.
Seeing this, Imperial Lee threw a punch.
*SWISH!*
The fist's wind clashed with the air, producing a sonic boom.
The Otogakure ninja in midair shattered into pieces, turning into a splatter of flesh, blood raining down like a shower.
The scene shocked both Konoha's team and Orochimaru's Otogakure ninjas, their eyes twitching violently.
Was that an air punch? Such immense power… and so brutal.
"Tang…"
Naruto looked at Imperial Lee, who struck first, with slight surprise.
"Naruto-kun! I promised Tsunade-sama we'd fight quickly. So… sorry, I can't leave these people to you!"
Imperial Lee landed, flashing a white-toothed smile.
"This…"
Naruto glanced at those behind Orochimaru, and after not spotting Sasuke, he lost interest.
"Fine… then leave them to Tang."
Hinata felt a bit worried.
"Naruto-kun… isn't this bad… letting Tang face a terrifying opponent like Orochimaru alone?"
"Right, Kakashi-sensei, Tang is our guest in Konoha and taught us Martial Arts. We can't treat him like this," Kiba added.
"You guys… one by one… aren't you underestimating Tang too much? You've seen Naruto's strength after learning Martial Arts. Have you ever considered how strong Tang, who taught Naruto, really is?"
Kakashi, seeing everyone's worried expressions, rolled his eyes helplessly.
"No need to worry, everyone. Tang's strength is incredible. With him acting, we just need to watch from the sidelines," Sakura said.
Their voices weren't quiet, and Orochimaru's side heard clearly.
The group grew furious unconsciously.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, quietly annoyed.
When had he, one of the legendary Sannin, been underestimated like this?
Did these people think they were Uchihas with Mangekyou Sharingan, daring to belittle him?
It seemed time to remind Konoha's brats of the terror from three years ago!
He lightly licked his lips, plotting darkly.
"Daring to underestimate us! You brats are seeking death?"
"Just Konoha ninjas—three years ago, we nearly crushed you. How dare you act so arrogant?"
"Orochimaru-sama, let me go! I'll tear them all apart!"
Otogakure ninjas shouted one by one.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Elsewhere.
"Deidara-senpai, according to intel, the Sanbi should be here, but why can't we find it? So weird…"
Obito, wearing a spiral mask, muttered in confusion.
"Shut up! How would I know that? Damn Tobi! Be quiet! I'm thinking about art!" Deidara glared at Obito, annoyed.
"Deidara-senpai's so mean! I'll tell the leader! What kind of senior treats a junior like this?"
Obito shrank back, feigning fear while complaining.
"Tobi, you bastard…"
Deidara was about to curse more when a loud explosion nearby startled them both.
"Whoa! Something's happening over there, Deidara-senpai, let's check it out—maybe it's the Sanbi!" Obito shouted.
"No need to tell me, I know, hmm!"
Deidara said, crafting a clay bird and flying into the sky.
From afar, they saw two groups at the explosion's source.
"Isn't that Orochimaru-senpai, the organization's former fugitive? And the Kyuubi Jinchuriki, plus Konoha's copy ninja Kakashi! Whoa! So scary—why are so many big shots here?"
Seeing the crowd, Obito feigned shock.
"Tobi, you're not bad. You even know Orochimaru was once in the organization?"
Deidara was slightly surprised.
"Eh? Hehehe… As a new member, I need to understand the organization. How else can I get the leader's attention?"
Obito scratched the back of his head.
"Hmph! Interesting. Orochimaru facing the Kyuubi Jinchuriki—looks like a fight's coming."
"But… the Kyuubi Jinchuriki looks weird. What's that outer layer on his body? It's not a Bijuu cloak."
Deidara, observing the battlefield from afar, felt puzzled.
"No idea, but it looks terrifying. Deidara-senpai, let's stay back. If we're spotted, we're done."
Obito tugged Deidara's sleeve, feigning fear.
"Quiet, Tobi. This is an opportunity. We'll wait here. Once both groups nearly wipe each other out, even if there's no Sanbi, we can grab the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. That brat hit me hard last time, costing me both arms. This time, I'll teach him a lesson and show him true art, hmm!" Deidara said with a ferocious expression.
"As expected of Deidara-senpai—truly sly and clever!"
"Idiot! It's called strategic!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Though… the strong bullying the weak isn't fun or youthful at all—just pain and despair. But I'll end this fight in an instant."
Imperial Lee gazed at Orochimaru's group, speaking slowly.
His confident, apologetic demeanor infuriated the Otogakure ninjas further.
They stepped forward one by one, eager to teach Imperial Lee a lesson.
"Muscles: Unleash!"
At that moment, Imperial Lee roared.
His tight vest exploded, his height increased by a few centimeters, and his arm and leg muscles swelled and elongated.
His entire aura shifted, making the Otogakure ninjas' hearts pound just by looking at him, their steps halting unconsciously.
"This guy…"
"Just some bigger muscles—nothing special. A ninja's strength lies in ninjutsu!"
"Right! Who's scared of this?"
Some Otogakure ninjas muttered, regaining confidence and stepping forward again.
"Next, Demon Back! Open!"
Imperial Lee turned sideways, roaring again.
His aura surged once more.
His back muscles twisted and writhed, forming a demon's face.
Just seeing it, everyone from Konoha and Otogakure felt suffocated.
This guy was different now!
"Is this Martial Arts too?"
On Konoha's side, Shikamaru clutched his chest, speaking with difficulty.
He felt like he was facing a natural predator, his heart restless just from the sight.
"Yes, it's a Muscle Martial Art, Tang's specialty," Naruto said seriously.
"Watch closely. Tang's Martial Arts strength far surpasses Naruto's… even Orochimaru can't match him. Unexpectedly, Tang's so serious this time… these Otogakure ninjas are in trouble," Kakashi sighed gravely.
"A level even a legendary Sannin can't beat… why's Kakashi-sensei so confident… unless?"
Many Konoha 11 members, thinking this, froze, recalling Tsunade in the village.
Realizing she suddenly gathered everyone to train Martial Arts, including herself, they wondered if the real reason wasn't Naruto but this Tang?
"This guy…" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his snake instincts warning him of extreme danger. The best move was to flee.
But he, a legendary Sannin, retreat without a fight?
In this world, only the Sharingan scared him!
"Not done yet! Wonder Gate, open!"
Imperial Lee's arms trembled simultaneously.
A terrifying burst of chakra and true energy exploded, soaring skyward!
A fearsome airflow raged, whipping up fierce winds within a hundred-meter radius.
Clouds above were churned upside down by this terrifying force!
Konoha and Orochimaru's people, close to Imperial Lee, unconsciously shielded their faces and retreated, their expressions filled with unbearable shock and fear.
"M-monster! Is this guy a monster? What kind of chakra level is this!?"
"Even a Bijuu couldn't be stronger, right?"
"Orochimaru-sama… we should retreat… this guy's a monster! A monster!"
The Otogakure ninjas were terrified, screaming in panic.
Some quietly slipped behind the group.
Konoha 11 kept gasping.
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes.
"So… what Tsunade-sama said about Kumogakure's Bijuu invasion was Tang's doing. Tsunade-sama fought Tang… and likely lost badly…"
"As expected of Shikamaru, you figured it out. Yes, the one who left that horrific scar in Konoha's forest was Tang himself. Let's retreat over 500 meters before talking. It's too dangerous here," Kakashi said, starting to back away.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Truly… a terrifying monster… humans can have such power."
In the distance, Deidara and Obito looked utterly shocked.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Take this! Serious Punch!"
Lee shouted, throwing a fierce punch at the Oto ninjas.
*BOOM!*
Everything before Imperial Lee shattered, blasted into dust.
This all-destroying force slammed into Orochimaru and his group!
"…!!!"
Orochimaru's entire body prickled, sensing unprecedented danger.
'I'll die! I'll die! I'll die! If I'm hit, I'll die! I must dodge, but… it's too late!'
"Triple Rashomon Gates!"
At the fastest speed in his life, Orochimaru bit his finger until it bled, slamming one hand to the ground.
The next moment, three differently colored Rashomon gates rose, blocking Imperial Lee's fist wind.
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
With barely any resistance, the three Rashomon gates shattered.
The all-destroying fist wind swept through the Otogakure ninjas' position.
*RUMBLE!*
A storm surged, a mushroom cloud rose.
Everyone's vision filled with white light, their eardrums nearly bursting.
After a long while, everything settled.
Konoha 11 stared blankly ahead.
Where Orochimaru once stood was now a massive crater.
The crater even lowered the lake's surface behind them by over ten meters…
This horrific natural disaster scar stretched for kilometers!
"Gulp…"
Konoha 11, witnessing Imperial Lee's power for the first time, swallowed hard.
"So this Tang really is a monster!"
"Even a Bijuu couldn't be stronger than that monster…"
"Good thing Tang's on our side."
"Why does someone that strong exist in this world?"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Tobi… let's retreat…"
High above, Deidara, seeing the scene, lost all arrogance, staying silent for a long time before speaking.
"Ah… oh! Ah… retreat… retreat… we should retreat."
Obito's voice was hoarse, his heart pounding, his Sharingan trembling anxiously.
Monster! Monster! How could Konoha produce such a monster?
Even Nagato with Madara's Rinnegan couldn't face him, could he?
No way, they had to retreat. Let Zetsu gather intel on this monster!
With this monster around, collecting the Kyuubi was impossible!
Deidara and Obito didn't hesitate long, turning and fleeing.
◆━⊰◆
In the distance, Orochimaru and Kabuto emerged from the ground, staring at the barren kilometers-long expanse with cold sweat.
"Orochimaru-sama… we should retreat quickly… that guy isn't a human opponent."
"Truly… a real monster. If not for the Triple Rashomon stalling briefly, I might've needed my reincarnation technique. But… humans shouldn't have such power. What's with that guy?"
"Either way, this is beyond my ability to handle. Let's inform Sasuke-kun and Shuji-kun. A Sharingan battle versus power beyond human limits? Which will win?"
Orochimaru's eyes showed a spark of interest. Summoning a small snake, he fed it the intel, and the snake vanished in smoke.
"Haa… the enemies are defeated! Now, just to capture the Sanbi! Please wait a bit longer!"
Imperial Lee exhaled slowly, giving a thumbs-up to the distant Konoha group.
His once cheerful, lively gesture now sent chills through Konoha 11.
Turning back to the lake's surface, Imperial Lee shouted: "Sanbi! Come out, stop hiding. I know you're down there. Will you come willingly, or do I beat you first?"
"Glub… glub…"
Bubbles rose on the lake's surface, revealing the Sanbi's massive face, its single eye staring at Imperial Lee and the barren land before and behind him, filled with fear and anxiety.
'My God! I'm just soaking in this lake—who did I hurt? Why does everyone want to beat me?'
'Monsters keep coming one after another? Before, that bastard Senju Hashirama was like this, and now another one?'
'This is too much for a Bijuu! Grandpa Sage! Don't you care about your descendants?'
'Are we still your kids?'
The Sanbi's heart was filled with sorrow.
Seeing no response, Imperial Lee slowly raised his right fist, preparing to strike.