Aozora slightly raised his right hand as the Flying Dagger Capable of Slaying Immortals flew out from Biwa Juzo's chest, returning to him like a bird returning home.
Aozora flicked the blood from the blade and sheathed it calmly. Then he pulled out a sealing scroll and sealed both Biwa Juzo and his Cleaver Sword inside.
From afar, Orochimaru watched coldly as Aozora handled the aftermath for his fallen comrade, making no move to interfere.
The familiar use of Fire Release, the familiar flying dagger—it was clear now; he'd already figured out who Aozora was. After all, this was their second meeting.
Orochimaru said, "You're that bounty hunter from the gambling den."
Aozora didn't respond. Instead, he stepped protectively in front of Inabi and Tomoka Hattori, warning, "Orochimaru, an emergency distress signal was sent five minutes ago. Our clan leader should already be on his way back now. When they arrive, there'll be no escape for you."
"Relying only on Fugaku Uchiha?"
Orochimaru scoffed—in his eyes, Fugaku was just another average Uchiha. After all, during the selection process for the Fourth Hokage, Fugaku hadn't even qualified for the Jonin Confidence Vote.
In his view, aside from the Third Hokage and Jiraiya, the only real threat left in Konoha was Shisui.
Only high-ranking Jonin knew about Fugaku awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan. Though Orochimaru had spies within the village, none were high enough rank to access such intelligence.
Still, Orochimaru knew he couldn't delay any longer. Once the squadrons gathered and activated their barriers, escape would become impossible.
"You cost me one perfect vessel," Orochimaru hissed, extending his tongue to lick his lips. "So you've finally decided to hand yourself over? How… generous."
With those words, Orochimaru rapidly formed seals.
[Secret Technique – Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!]
After completing the final seal, Orochimaru flung open his blood-stained mouth. His gaping jaw stretched like a portal through time and space, instantly spewing forth endless torrents of venomous snakes.
Millions of slender, elongated serpents surged forward together—a terrifying tide rushing toward Aozora and the others.
Faced with such a horrifying sight, the three exchanged glances before simultaneously unleashing their jutsu.
[Fire Release – Great Fire Annihilation Technique!]
[Fire Release – Great Fire Annihilation Technique!]
[Wind Release – Great Breakthrough!]
Instantly, two massive fireballs erupted from Aozora and Inabi, forming a blazing inferno. Then came a violent gust of wind, transforming the fiery expanse into a colossal tidal wave of flame barreling toward the snake swarm.
How could a rushing river of flesh-and-blood snakes ever rival the roaring tides of flame?
This raging wall of fire incinerated countless snakes in moments, continuing its relentless surge toward Orochimaru.
[Water Release – Water Encampment Wall (Mizu no Tanahei)!]
Hiss—
The spiraling wall of water crashed head-on into the storm of flames, producing boundless steam.
Combined with lingering mist from earlier attacks, visibility plunged sharply around Aozora and his group.
This fog had been reinforced repeatedly—so much that even powerful Wind Release users temporarily found themselves unable to disperse it.
Aozora took out some antidote pills he always carried and swallowed them. "Beware the poison in the air!"
Inabi and Tomoka Hattori nodded, quickly taking the antidote first.
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!—
Hearing the sound of venomous snakes hissing from all directions, Aozora and the others exchanged grave looks.
Swish! Swish! Swish!—
Venomous snakes lunged from every direction, but were swiftly dodged by the three quick-reacting fighters before being chopped into pieces.
Though the mist impaired their vision slightly, it didn't affect their hearing at all. Relying on their rich experience, these mere snakes couldn't threaten them.
Yet they knew that the real danger wasn't the hidden snakes—it was Orochimaru himself.
Boom—!
Suddenly, the ground beneath them shook violently. Sharp earth spikes shot up toward them, forcing each to leap away in different directions.
The disturbance was too obvious, but with sharp earth spikes combined with surprise snake attacks, the three found themselves unable to focus elsewhere, and the distance between them quickly widened.
Seeing his companions move further away, Aozora faintly guessed Orochimaru's intention.
Sure enough, he soon heard a gust of wind cutting through the air.
Whoosh—!
Along with the wind came a sharp aura approaching from behind.
Aozora leapt forward, then turned around rapidly, throwing out four or five kunai.
Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!—
Crash! Crash! Crash!—
All the kunai were knocked aside. Aozora spotted Orochimaru approaching coldly with sword drawn.
As Orochimaru drew closer, Aozora suddenly took a deep breath and opened his mouth wide.
A glint of wariness crossed Orochimaru's eyes. He came to an abrupt stop mid-air and backflipped into the thick mist.
Aozora patted his stomach, exhaled heavily, and said to thin air, "It was just a deep breath. You really scared so easily? With such courage, you're still one of Konoha's Sannin back then? That's a joke!"
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru became furious. In all these years, Aozora was the first daring enough to mock him.
But instead of charging recklessly in anger for close combat, he held back. After all, Aozora could use Yakton without hand seals, which was completely unfair.
Using his own Snake Flow Substitution Jutsu didn't cost much chakra, but repeated usage would accelerate the deterioration of this current body. Since he hadn't acquired a suitable vessel yet, he wasn't ready to discard his original body.
However, such a powerful Yakton must also consume enormous amounts of chakra, right?
After a moment's thought, Orochimaru formed a plan and vanished once more into the fog.
Aozora felt a little queasy inside. He'd seen cases of inheritance involving property before, but never one inheriting Ninjutsu techniques like this.
This fog clearly originated from Biwa Juzo originally, but after his death, Orochimaru continued using it against them.
Crimson eyes darting in every direction, Aozora remained vigilant.
Suddenly sensing an anomaly behind him, without thinking twice, Aozora twisted sideways instantly with evasive spiral steps.
At the same time, a long sword with no visible hilt descended from above, smashing precisely where Aozora had stood moments earlier.
Without hesitation, Aozora sent a throwing knife flying.
That azure inch-long blade was shorter than the sword—but faster, sharper.
Aozora's throwing knife flew like a meteor tearing through the sky, tracing the sword's path and piercing through Orochimaru's body.
Pfft!
As the pierced Orochimaru turned into a pile of soft mud and slid onto the ground, Aozora immediately realized he had used either a Substitute Technique or an Earth Clone. Aozora sprang away from his original spot.
Sure enough, where he had landed moments ago was now deeply sunken.
Ducking just in time to avoid a decapitating strike, Aozora barely had time to feel relieved before sharp Earth Spikes shot toward him.
[Earth Release – Earth-Rising Spear!]
[Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!]
[Lightning Release – Lightning Ball!]
[Water Release – Water-Cutting Wave!]
[Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!]
[...]
Orochimaru, hiding within the thick mist, continuously switched techniques, hurling earth spikes, wind blades, water slashes, lightning bolts, and venomous snakes at Aozora, forcing him to leap and twist wildly.
During the fight, Aozora had repeatedly used Yakton or the Flying Dagger Capable of Slaying Immortals. However, his attacks mostly struck Orochimaru's clones. Even when he occasionally found the real one, Orochimaru would evade using superior substitution techniques.
Slap!
Landing on a slick, water-smeared patch of ground, Aozora gasped for breath, sweat drenching his brow.
This was his first real clash with a Kage-level ninja. Yet aside from gaining a brief advantage at the start due to Orochimaru's carelessness, he had been on the defensive ever since, completely overwhelmed with no chance to counterattack.
He scanned the lingering mist and regretted not learning even a single Wind Release technique.
From behind the mist, Orochimaru looked at the spot where Aozora had landed and smirked slightly, murmuring, [Earth Release – Yellow Spring Swamp!]
Aozora sensed the shift in chakra instantly and hurled several shuriken. But Orochimaru's technique was executed too fast, completed even before the shuriken reached him.
Shing! Shing! Shing! Shing!
The shuriken flew toward Orochimaru, who twisted his body left and right, dodging most of them.
Those that did hit merely grazed his skin. Orochimaru's modified body healed rapidly—within moments, his wounds had vanished without a trace.
Across from him, Aozora propelled himself backward midair.
But the moment he jumped, he realized he had unknowingly entered an area filled with puddles.
After Orochimaru cast the Yellow Spring Swamp, a hundred-meter radius had turned into swampy terrain.
If it were ordinary swampland, Aozora wouldn't have worried—he could run freely across its surface thanks to his superb chakra control.
But how could a swamp created by Orochimaru be so simple? Who knew how many deadly snakes or beasts lurked beneath?
Therefore, Aozora didn't dare land. However, the swamp's range was vast—no ordinary Jonin, not even a Kage-level ninja, could hope to jump far enough to escape.
Feeling Aozora slowly descending, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with delight.
Yet the next instant, his joy turned to shock.
At the critical moment, a streak of azure light shot from Aozora's hand, positioning itself beneath his feet.
Aozora lightly stepped on it, launching himself upward once again.
"This is impossible!" Orochimaru almost shouted in frustration.
Escaping this trap set by Orochimaru, Aozora felt he could no longer allow him to dominate the battlefield while concealing himself with Hiding in Mist Technique.
His mind racing, he quickly devised a plan and immediately activated his Homura Chakra, letting it surge through his body.
[Fire Release - Ashes Hiding Technique!]
Aozora's mouth seemed to transform into a chimney, spewing out continuous waves of scorching dust. The air became filled not only with mist but also thick black smoke, causing the PM2.5 levels to skyrocket instantly. Everyone lost sight of their surroundings, temporarily even losing their sense of smell.
"Not only do you have an amazing gift for ninjutsu, but you've got wild creativity when it comes to making your own techniques too!" Orochimaru's voice came from all directions. "I'm growing more fond of you by the minute!"
Aozora swiftly maneuvered himself around while distorting his voice using chakra interference. "Thank you for your praise! What you don't know is that my dream aligns perfectly with yours—to master every jutsu, grasp all truths in the world, and become the ultimate being!"
Orochimaru's expression stiffened momentarily. Although the voice had been scrambled by chakra interference and couldn't be traced precisely, he could tell Aozora was genuinely serious.
Walking alone on the path of seeking truth—even someone like Orochimaru had once felt loneliness and isolation deep inside.
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru's raspy voice suddenly turned magnetic and seductive.
"Young Uchiha... Your strength hasn't improved in a long time, has it? I imagine you've already sensed how this village's decaying rules are holding you back."
"In Konoha, how many prodigies have been shackled by the corrupt higher-ups' so-called Will of Fire and meaningless bonds?"
"Comrades, clan, and village—all are invisible chains that hinder our pursuit of truth."
"Join me! I can give you everything you desire—countless ninjutsu, forbidden techniques. If you wish, I can even provide all the equipment and materials necessary for any experiment."
"There will be no restraints, no rules..."
"You and I aren't so different. Let us explore the truth together!"
"…"
As Orochimaru continued to entice him, Aozora occasionally asked questions, murmuring "Hmm" from time to time—unintentionally prolonging the exchange for another two or three minutes.
Suddenly, Orochimaru stopped his persuasive monologue and coldly remarked, "You're just humoring me, aren't you?"
"Tch—" Aozora scoffed lightly. "If you hadn't used a sound-based genjutsu during your speech, maybe I would actually listen to the nonsense you're spouting. Besides, I graduated only half a year ago. My strength hasn't hit a bottleneck at all!
As for what you call 'capacity'—real strength lies in carrying burdens and reshaping everything. Only cowards run away and shift the blame!"
"Real strength lies in carrying burdens and reshaping everything. Cowards are the ones who choose to run away and shift blame!"
Orochimaru softly repeated Aozora's words, then abruptly burst into wild laughter. Amidst his maniacal laughter, complex emotions flickered across his yellowish-brown serpentine eyes.
If The Fourth Hokage had ever become the Fourth Hokage—he could have shouldered the full burden of Konoha, realized his vision within the village, and led Leaf into a brand-new era.
After a long pause, Orochimaru ceased laughing and said, "You're trying to stall for time waiting on reinforcements, aren't you? Unfortunately, my time is up, yet your backup still hasn't arrived."
Aozora asked, "At what time?"
"You don't really believe that an ordinary antidote could neutralize airborne poison, do you?" Orochimaru licked his lips. "That's a poison refined from tens of thousands of serpents!"
Hearing this, Aozora's expression darkened. No wonder Tomoka and Inabi hadn't arrived to back him up—they must've either been overcome by poison or escaped into the Thick Mist.
As Aozora had predicted, at that moment, Tomoka and Inabi's faces had turned dark purple. Wrapped in chakra, they were desperately fleeing toward the edge of the mist, having completely forgotten about Aozora.
Aozora moved his body slightly, closed his eyes inwardly, and after a moment, his eyebrows slightly knitted together.
"Excellent toxin. It actually made me feel slight numbness!"
Though Aozora spoke calmly, as if unaffected, he had clearly felt his reflexes slow and a subtle numbness spreading through his body.
Poison refined from tens of thousands of venomous snakes—enough to fell even Jonin-level or Kage-level experts.
The Stone Embryo body had no innate immunity to poisons, though its powerful physique did offer greater tolerance.
Aozora quickly assessed his secret trump cards but found none capable of turning the tide of battle.
So he infused the earth chakra beneath his feet with power.
[Thirty-Six Strategies] All agree: When in doubt, flee!
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