Chapter 367: Fate Part 1
Orochimaru, with his unnerving composure, wiped his face with his long tongue and sneered, "Heh heh, I considered many people might try to stop me, but I never thought it'd be you, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya didn't respond but glanced at the two before him, then fixed his gaze on the urn in Orochimaru's hands. Inside should be Sunagakure's jinchūriki. Confirming the intel, Jiraiya launched his attack without hesitation.
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet Barrage!"
With a single hand sign, Jiraiya unleashed a rapid succession of smaller fire techniques that surged directly at Orochimaru and Sasori. Though deadly for an average shinobi, the two S rank rogue ninja certified Kage level threats looked on in contempt, dismissing it as child's play.
Bang Bang! Logs appeared where they'd been standing, replaced by the ninjutsu escape technique that was practically a cheat code in the shinobi world Substitution Jutsu.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru's right hand transformed into a massive viper that shot at Jiraiya from behind, fangs aimed to strike.
Poof! Jiraiya replaced himself just in time, also using the Substitution Jutsu. The two were so familiar with each other's moves that their battle turned into a close range clash of skill and reflex.
From the sidelines, Sasori watched impassively, not intending to interfere. He observed with keen interest, muttering to himself, "No wonder he's one of the three famed Sannin and hailed as the best Konoha has to offer after that man… His taijutsu alone surpasses the Third Kazekage. If I get the chance, I'd like to make them both into my puppets."
His blood simmered with excitement. As a puppeteer who had chosen a dark path, the idea of turning powerful shinobi bodies into puppets was all too enticing.
Feeling frustrated by the close combat deadlock, Orochimaru unleashed his signature move: he regurgitated a snake from his mouth, which in turn unsheathed a sword. The flash of the legendary Kusanagi Blade clashed against Jiraiya's Rasengan, creating a powerful gust that whipped sand and dust into a blinding storm.
Yet for highly skilled shinobi, the lack of sight meant little. They could continue fighting without ever opening their eyes.
"Summoning Jutsu: Gamabunta!"
"Summoning Jutsu: Manda!"
The sandstorm grew as two enormous creatures appeared in a cloud of smoke, their oppressive aura filling the barren desert. Jiraiya stood proudly on Gamabunta's head, exuding a commanding presence. Orochimaru, not to be outdone, stood atop the formidable purple serpent Manda, crowned with horns and with eyes filled with murderous intent.
The natural rivalry between toads and snakes held little sway here in a world of the extraordinary. Gamabunta and Manda were long standing nemeses.
Manda narrowed his sinister yellow eyes at Orochimaru and hissed, "Orochimaru, I hate that nasty toad, but I expect to be compensated. Three hundred sacrifices. You have them ready?"
"Heh heh, if you take him down, I won't mind," Orochimaru replied coolly.
"Fine. Just watch what I can do!"
With that, Manda launched his massive, hundred meter long body straight at Gamabunta and Jiraiya, intent on overpowering them. Giant summoned creatures in the shinobi world were legendary killing machines, with attacks comparable to A rank jutsu.
Jiraiya, though strong, couldn't afford to be careless. "Here it comes!" he warned.
Gamabunta, covered in battle scars from countless skirmishes, drew his massive short sword in one swift motion. "Got it!"
In the blink of an eye, Manda coiled himself tightly around Gamabunta, constricting him with all his might. But Gamabunta was no easy prey; with one hand, he pushed Manda's head back, while with the other, he swung his short sword, striking blow after blow as they struggled against each other.
Timing his attack, Jiraiya crafted a massive Rasengan and aimed it at Manda's head. The sheer destructive power forced Manda to release Gamabunta and evade the deadly sphere.
Orochimaru's mocking laughter echoed through the desert. "How unsightly, Manda. Seems I'll have to handle it myself. Ninja Art: Many Snakes Wave!"
Countless serpents, each as thick as a thumb, poured from Orochimaru's mouth, forming a terrifying flood of venomous snakes that surged toward Jiraiya. Though a few snakes wouldn't pose a threat, the sheer mass thousands upon thousands made even Jiraiya tense. "Gamabunta! Oil!"
Years of partnership enabled Gamabunta to understand instantly. He gathered his chakra and turned it into a massive spray of oil.
"Fire Style: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
The fire ignited the massive wave of oil, creating a sea of flames that clashed with the snake swarm in a spectacular inferno.
Amid the chaos, Orochimaru transformed into a giant serpent himself, creeping silently behind Jiraiya. Though he concealed his presence well, Jiraiya who had trained in the Sage Mode, albeit not mastering it remained hyper aware of the disturbance.
"Got you!" Orochimaru hissed, his eyes gleaming with victory as he brandished the Kusanagi Blade, anticipating the decisive blow. But Jiraiya's vast array of techniques meant he could adapt to nearly any situation.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya's spiky mane instantly expanded and wrapped around his body like a shield, each hair transforming into sharp needles, which then launched toward Orochimaru.
The sudden counterattack took Orochimaru by surprise; he barely managed to dodge but was still hit, his body impaled and drenched in blood. His face twisted in pain, his pride wounded by his former teammate's skill.
Seizing the opportunity, Jiraiya dropped the protective hair shield, dashed forward, and struck Orochimaru hard with a powerful kick, sending him flying backward. Just as he prepared to press his advantage, the soft sand erupted beneath him, and Manda lunged to block Jiraiya's path.
"Damn it!" Jiraiya cursed under his breath, the frustration of nearly securing victory only to be thwarted at the last moment gnawing at him.
Orochimaru used the opportunity to distance himself from Jiraiya, examining his wounds with a smirk. "Impressive, Jiraiya. Who'd have thought the dropout would rise to this level?"
Jiraiya, however, was unfazed by the compliment. He frowned, sensing something strange. Though Orochimaru was clearly battered, his demeanor was oddly self assured.
Orochimaru suddenly opened his mouth wide, and two hands emerged, dragging the rest of his body through in a grotesque display.
With a mocking smile, the perfectly unscathed Orochimaru stood before Jiraiya once more. "Ninja Art: Great Serpent Replacement Technique."
Jiraiya's eye twitched, both disgusted and exasperated. His expression showed his disbelief he'd nearly had Orochimaru on the ropes, only for his old teammate to wriggle free again in the most slippery manner possible.
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