Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

White snakes coiled tightly around Anko's restrained body as Kabuto Yakushi stood calmly by a dusty window deep in the Akatsuki hideout. From this vantage point, he watched Kirito surrounded by countless White Zetsu just beyond the ravine. Despite his composed exterior, his mind raced with tension.

Kabuto was no stranger to Kirito's reputation. He knew that the "invincible" Orochimaru, the one he had once revered, was defeated in one move by this very ninja. Even Sasuke, whom Orochimaru had placed great hopes in, was dragged back to Konoha by Naruto and his comrades. Orochimaru's fall marked the beginning of Kabuto's solitary descent, forcing him to seek new meaning for his existence.

In his quest for power, Kabuto had integrated Orochimaru's cells and refined his master's forbidden experiments, claiming to have surpassed the man he once idolized. Yet now, with Kirito approaching, that confidence wavered. Could he measure up?

To calm himself, Kabuto studied the unfolding battle intently. He needed to observe every one of Kirito's abilities and exploit any weakness.

Outside, Kirito stood motionless as the White Zetsu charged him from all sides. They emerged in waves, snarling and clawing as they sought to overwhelm him through sheer numbers.

Kirito's eyes narrowed, and chakra began to swell inside him—concentrated, precise, and controlled.

Whoosh—

In an instant, an invisible chakra storm exploded outward from Kirito's body. The shockwave rippled violently across the battlefield.

Sensing the surge of power, Kabuto didn't hesitate. He formed seals and raised five thick walls of earth to shield himself.

The White Zetsu weren't so lucky. They staggered, momentarily stunned as the chakra storm swept through them. But before they could recover, something horrifying happened.

Puff!

One Zetsu collapsed to the ground, writhing as an extra leg grotesquely sprouted from its abdomen. Another's shoulder erupted with two disfigured heads, blank-eyed and limp. A third Zetsu grew a tumor-like mass on its back, so heavy it pinned the creature to the ground.

The once-ordinary forest had transformed into a twisted nightmare. Even the trees warped and contorted, their leaves replaced by wriggling vines and grotesque growths. The beauty of nature had been perverted into a scene straight out of hell.

"Ahhh!" the Zetsu shrieked, their pain palpable. The grotesque limbs continued to spread, consuming their bodies while draining their energy like parasites.

Within moments, the charging horde of White Zetsu was reduced to a silent, writhing heap. The forest itself was now a dead zone, an uninhabitable wasteland of mutation and decay.

Inside his earthen shelter, Kabuto gritted his teeth as the tremors subsided. When the walls crumbled away, he was greeted by the sight of his twisted clone—no longer humanoid, its flesh deformed and dripping like wax.

He stared at Kirito in disbelief. "What in the world was that jutsu…?"

The power was overwhelming, indiscriminate, and alien—nothing Kabuto had encountered before. For all his research, there had been no intelligence on this technique.

"So that's another hidden ace… A bloodline ability? No… It's something far worse."

His mind raced to analyze it further: "It must have limits. A technique like that can't be used recklessly in a team fight. It's too indiscriminate… which means it's designed for one-on-one combat."

Kirito stepped over the shattered Zetsu corpses, his gaze fixed forward as he advanced toward the base.

The technique he had unleashed was derived from the Nuclear Release, a Bloodline Elimination he had developed after studying the Meteor Chakra of Star Village. It was devastatingly powerful, mutating any organic life it touched irreversibly. But its indiscriminate nature meant Kirito rarely used it—until now.

He walked calmly through the carnage, finally entering the Akatsuki hideout.

Inside the darkened chamber, Kabuto stood beside a massive coffin, his smile strained but defiant.

"I had planned to relocate somewhere safer, but you're faster than I anticipated," Kabuto said coolly.

Kirito didn't reply. His white eyes locked onto Kabuto as he continued forward. "If you have any cards left, use them now. You won't get another chance."

Kabuto's smirk faltered briefly. "Even if you kill me, the Edo Tensei won't be undone. I hold all the cards here, Kirito."

Kirito ignored him, his approach unrelenting.

Kabuto's expression darkened. "I had hoped not to use this trump card here, but you leave me no choice…"

With that, Kabuto formed a series of seals, his voice calm but trembling with anticipation. "Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei!"

CRACK.

The coffin beside him splintered violently. Shards of wood flew through the air as a figure emerged from the smoke, stepping forward with deliberate, heavy steps.

Kirito stopped, his gaze fixed on the legendary shinobi standing before him.

Clad in red armor, with flowing black hair and an aura of unparalleled dominance, Uchiha Madara stepped from the coffin. His cold, crimson Sharingan eyes surveyed the room, narrowing in suspicion.

"So… this day has finally come," Madara muttered, his voice deep and calculating. "Nagato must have succeeded…"

"No," Kabuto interjected with a smug smile. "You were not summoned with the Rinne Tensei. This is Edo Tensei—you are merely a puppet of the dead."

Madara's brows furrowed as he assessed his body, recognizing the unnatural sensation of being reanimated. "Edo Tensei, huh? Tch. And here I thought I had been brought back properly…"

Kabuto pointed to Kirito. "He is the greatest threat to our plans. I'll leave you to deal with him, Lord Madara."

Madara turned his head, his Sharingan meeting Kirito's Byakugan. A rare look of surprise crossed his face. "White eyes? The Hyuga clan, perhaps… No. That face…"

Madara's gaze lingered on Kirito's features—his white hair and stoic presence evoking memories of the Sage of Six Paths.

"Hmm… a throwback to the ancestors?" Madara mused aloud, his expression hardening. "If that's the case, then this fight may prove… interesting."

Kirito smirked faintly, chakra already crackling around him. "I thought I'd save you for later, Madara. Guess I'll deal with you now."

Madara's lips curled into a rare, eager grin. "Then let us see… if you are worthy."

(End of this chapter)