Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 476 Orochimaru's Jealousy

This is why the middle-aged squad leader said that the current war is no different with or without him.

The outcome of the war depended entirely on the strength of the non-human forces on both sides.

The rumbling sound in the sky continued, and the battle between Orochimaru and Pakura was still going on.

But Orochimaru was completely bewildered at this moment!

"What happened?"

Orochimaru, who had been hovering three kilometers away, was astonished to sense that the chakra emanating from Pakura was exactly the same as before.

He himself had used up half of his chakra. How could Pakura, an ordinary person who was not a Jinchuriki, possess such terrifying chakra?

"Could it be...?"

Orochimaru quickly and carefully sensed Pakura's body.

A moment later, Orochimaru was startled.

"That's right, it's natural energy!"

Previously, there was a terrifyingly high temperature distorting space around Yekura, and when the two started fighting, their chakra overflowed, which Orochimaru did not notice.

After carefully sensing the surroundings, Orochimaru realized that the natural energy was constantly gathering towards Yekura.

"Sage Art... no, it's Sasori's Puppet Heart!"

Orochimaru didn't sense the same Sage Chakra in Pakura as Jiraiya did when he activated Sage Mode, but Pakura was able to continuously absorb natural energy, and her chakra hadn't weakened at all from the beginning until now.

Without a doubt, it must be the Puppet Heart developed by Sasori of the Red Sand, as mentioned in the intelligence report. It's a puppet device that can absorb natural energy and convert it into personal chakra.

But isn't that a puppet device?

Orochimaru looked puzzled. His Wood Release clone had been close to Pakura before, but he hadn't noticed that Pakura had the Puppet Heart device on her.

"What happened?"

Orochimaru didn't suspect Pakura of possessing a puppet heart for this reason; during each battle with Sasori, the puppet heart that constantly absorbed natural energy was too obvious.

Ye Cang had none at all, but natural energy kept gathering around this woman.

This woman neither transformed into a celestial being nor was she assimilated by natural energy.

Clearly, she possesses something within her body similar to a puppet heart that converts natural energy into chakra.

"What is it?"

Orochimaru's eyes burned with desire, and his long, thick tongue couldn't help but stick out and dangle back and forth from his mouth.

I want it so badly!

Tear!

Suddenly, a white, high-temperature ray of heat swept across, severing all the trees within a two-kilometer radius.

Sensing that Yekura's high-temperature heat ray was still as powerful as ever, Orochimaru's greed instantly vanished.

"This woman is in trouble!"

With her unlimited chakra, Pakura's Scorching Release's high temperature was too much of a counter to Orochimaru's Wood Release.

Without the support of Sage Chakra, Wood Release is no match for the high-temperature burning of Scorch Release.

"Damn it, why can an idiot like Jiraiya master Sage Mode, but I can't?"

Orochimaru was very annoyed. He could sense natural energy just like Jiraiya, but he couldn't master Sage Mode, while that idiot Jiraiya could.

If he had Sage Mode, Pakura's Scorching Release would be no match for his Wood Release.

"hateful!"

Orochimaru cursed inwardly again, then calmed down.

The situation is now clear: if the fight continues, his chakra will run out first.

It's practically impossible for him to capture Yekura alive.

In that case, there's no need to continue this battle.

White Fang and Tsunade were inexplicably recalled by the old man, and now the war on the front lines is entirely dependent on him, so he has to be careful.

Thinking of this, Orochimaru created a Wood Release clone and rushed towards Pakura.

Boom!

Unable to get close enough to speak with Pakura, Orochimaru's Wood Release clone could only activate the Wood Human Technique, stand above her, and force Pakura to release her high-temperature field again. After unleashing that terrifying high-temperature wave attack, he shouted, "You've won this battle. Let's stop here."

Tear!

Hearing this, Yekura, who had pierced through the wooden doll's stomach and arrived high in the sky behind it, turned around and floated in mid-air, looking at Orochimaru above the wooden doll's head with a slight frown.

"I don't talk to an avatar," Ye Cang said coldly. "Call your main body here."

"Hehe." Orochimaru's Wood Release clone chuckled without saying a word.

Let alone the current Pakura who possesses unlimited chakra, even the old Pakura was someone Orochimaru dared not approach in his true form.

"What a coward!" Yekura mocked mercilessly.

Orochimaru's Wood Release clone remained unmoved, and Pakura did not immediately make a move, indicating that she also understood the current situation of the two.

"You won this battle."

Orochimaru's Wood Release clone spoke again, then laughed, "But if I want to leave, you can't stop me. How about we stop here?"

"Nothing much, I have the absolute advantage right now," Ye Cang said unhappily.

Orochimaru's Wood Release clone smiled, merely stating the advantages and disadvantages, saying, "Neither of us can do anything to the other, nor can we stop the other from killing our own comrades."

"So the best way is to remain restrained, don't you think?"

Orochimaru is currently no match for Pakura, but Pakura, who only possesses heat perception, is also helpless against Orochimaru, who can use Wood Release to travel quickly underground.

Similarly, Yekura can continuously attack Konoha's strongholds.

Orochimaru can also keep attacking the Sand Village's strongholds.

Both of them possess terrifying strength that no ninja on either side could withstand.

If they continue to retaliate against each other, even more people on both sides will die.

So, in reality, with the war dragged on to this point, a ceasefire is the only option; it just depends on which side makes the first move.

Yecang really didn't want to speak, and even resented her brother-in-law for not stepping in himself. Otherwise, even if Orochimaru had Wood Release, he wouldn't have been able to stop that bastard's Wind Release slash.

Orochimaru and that White Fang of Konoha might have died long ago.

They had already destroyed Konoha and occupied the Land of Fire.

As a result, not only did she not go to the battlefield herself, but she was also asked to take the initiative to make peace with Konoha. Yecang was furious just thinking about it.

But there was nothing he could do; after all, he was his brother-in-law, and he was the Fourth Kazekage.

After a long silence, Yecang sighed and looked at Orochimaru, saying, "My Fourth Kazekage has given orders that within three days, the Sand Village will withdraw from the Land of Rivers and cease hostilities with Konoha."

"Now, tell me your answer?"

After speaking, Yekura looked at Orochimaru, awaiting his reply.

"You...you're telling the truth?"

The surprise came so suddenly that Orochimaru could hardly believe it.

To be honest, Orochimaru is tired of this war now. It's a war with no winners, and there's really no need to continue.

Instead of wasting that time, he should go back and study how to improve his Corpse Reincarnation Ninjutsu, in order to prepare for achieving eternal life.

"Of course it's true," Ye Cang said expressionlessly.

"Okay, I...give me three days. I'll report to the village and then give you an answer."

Orochimaru wanted to agree immediately, but a ceasefire was a major decision he couldn't make alone; it required the Hokage's approval and the signing of a genuine ceasefire agreement.

(End of this chapter)