Fierce Battle

Orochimaru was strong—strong enough to rank among the very best at the Kage level—but even he could not fight three Kage-level opponents at once. Being able to withstand two Kage-level fighters head-on for a short time already placed him at the absolute pinnacle of the Kage level. As for three, perhaps Pain could manage it. But Yahiko was not dead yet, so Pain had naturally not been born. Orochimaru's plan was for Mito Uzumaki to transfer Pakura away, trading one of their pieces for one of the enemy's.