"Do you know, Shion-kun? The ninjutsu of this world is truly fascinating."
Orochimaru's voice carried an almost feverish excitement. His long, serpent-like tongue flicked out again as he continued.
"By fusing physical energy with spiritual energy, shinobi create chakra. And through the act of weaving hand seals, that chakra transforms into what we call ninjutsu."
His pale golden eyes gleamed as he spoke, as if lecturing a curious student.
"The first person who mixed blue and yellow together gave birth to a new color and named it green. If blue represents chakra, and yellow the hand seals, then green is ninjutsu itself. Just as infinite variations of colors can be born, so too are there thousands—tens of thousands—of ninjutsu in this world."
Orochimaru's gaze lingered on Uchiha Shion. "But to truly master every ninjutsu, to grasp the truth of all things—it requires time. And for me… human life is far too short."
"Even the one called Hokage—when he dies, everything ends. Come to my side, Shion-kun. The secret art of immortality is right before you. Imagine it! A hundred years—no, even fifty years from now—what will Minato Namikaze, the current Hokage, truly amount to?"
His words dripped with temptation, his tongue repeatedly sliding across his lips.
Behind his ANBU mask, Uchiha Shion frowned in disgust. Is this seriously how Orochimaru recruits people? With this creepy tongue and smooth talk? No wonder so many are tricked into following him. It's ridiculous.
Immortality? Shion's lip curled behind the mask. What, crawling out of other people's mouths every few years? That's your idea of eternal life? Ugh… nauseating.
He looked at Orochimaru and said flatly:
"Um… can you put your tongue away?"
"It's honestly disgusting."
"Shhh!"
In an instant, Shion's body blurred. His movement technique carried him forward as his long blade swung down toward Orochimaru with crushing force.
"Clang!"
The Kusanagi blade shot from Orochimaru's mouth, intercepting Shion's strike in a shower of sparks. Orochimaru fluidly leapt back, catching the sword in his hand as his tongue flicked again.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
"Hissss—"
A gaping serpent's maw shot forward, lunging at Shion.
"Buzz!"
Shion's Sharingan flared open, the three tomoe spinning. With sharpened perception, he sidestepped in an instant, his blade slicing clean through the lunging snake's tongue.
The serpent recoiled, but Orochimaru merely smiled. "Only the three-tomoe? My intelligence said your Sharingan had already surpassed that, Shion-kun. Or… do you simply believe you don't need the Mangekyō to deal with me?"
At the side, Captain Tenzo—still hesitant to interfere—called out in warning: "Don't underestimate him! Your opponent is none other than the legendary Orochimaru!"
Shion exhaled slowly. At this point in time, Orochimaru hasn't begun swapping bodies yet, right? If I hit him with genjutsu, it might be over instantly. The question is… do I kill him or not?
"Buzz!!!"
The Mangekyō Sharingan ignited in Shion's eyes, crimson and deadly. Orochimaru chuckled, bowing his head slightly as his own immense chakra burst forth.
"Crash!!!"
Every glass container in the laboratory exploded at once under the sheer pressure.
Orochimaru's voice was low and gleeful. "That's better… only by breaking you at full strength will you understand the power that awaits if you join me."
Shion smirked coolly. "How about lifting your head, old man?"
Orochimaru gave a small laugh. "When facing unknown abilities, one must always proceed cautiously. That's something even fresh graduates of the Academy are taught, isn't it, Shion-kun?"
Shion's smile faded into a razor-sharp edge. "Then from here on out… don't die too easily, Orochimaru."
"Shhh!"
He vanished, reappearing in front of Orochimaru as his blade came down.
"Clang!"
Steel met steel—the ANBU-standard sword against the legendary Kusanagi.
"Crack…"
Under the overwhelming force, a thin fracture appeared along Shion's weapon.
"Seems your blade isn't quite up to par, Shion-kun," Orochimaru drawled, still holding the Kusanagi low.
Shion grinned. "Then why not gift me yours?"
Before Orochimaru could reply, Shion's free hand spun a glowing orb into existence—Rasengan!
"Boom!!"
The spiraling sphere slammed into Orochimaru's stomach, blasting him apart into a collapsing heap of mud.
Earth Release Clone.
"Tch." Shion snorted. The Mangekyō's perception had predicted it all—there was no surprise here.
"Shhh!"
A sudden blade flash from the shadows—
"Splurt!"
Blood sprayed as Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock. "Shion-kun… how did you…?"
Shion gave no answer, simply twisting the blade and driving it into Orochimaru's heart. He withdrew the weapon, crimson dripping onto the floor.
Watching Orochimaru clutch his chest and sink to his knees, Shion frowned. "Strange… this feels too easy. There's no way you'd die just like this."
He tilted his head. "Trying to lure me in by feigning death to extract information? Drop the act. Get up and continue."
Orochimaru's breath caught. Then, with an eerie calm, he rose to his feet, smiling faintly. "How did you know, Shion-kun? With such an injury, any true body would perish."
His jaw unhinged like a serpent's maw, and from within, a slick, saliva-drenched Orochimaru slithered out, leaving the discarded husk behind.
Shion twitched, tempted to cut him down again, but the sheer grotesqueness of that slimy emergence made his stomach turn. So damn disgusting.
Orochimaru straightened, brushing himself clean as if nothing had happened. "Why didn't you strike just now? Was it because you were shocked by my rebirth technique?"
Shion shook his head. "No. It was just too revolting. Covered in spit like that… only you could tolerate it."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Don't let such things trouble you. Compared to the power of immortality, what are a little fluids?"
Shion didn't answer. Instead, Captain Tenzo seized his opening.
Wood Release: Four-Pillar Prison!
Wooden pillars erupted, locking Orochimaru in place. Tenzo's hands blurred again—
Wood Release: Eternal Burial!
Enormous trees coiled around, crushing Orochimaru's form—only to leave behind another collapsing mud clone.
Again? When did he switch this time? Tenzo's eyes darted around. Was it the moment he shed his skin? Did the real body escape underground then?
"ROAR!"
A massive serpent suddenly erupted from the earth—Evil Snake Entrail!
Tenzo was hurled skyward, the snake's jaws gaping wide to swallow him whole.
"Boom!"
A blazing sword carved down from above, slicing the summoned serpent open from head to tail.
Catching Tenzo mid-fall, Shion retreated swiftly.
At that moment, the rest of Team Six—who had been suppressed until now—finally moved.
Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Wind Release: Wind Cutter!
A barrage of jutsu converged on Orochimaru. But against an opponent of his caliber, such techniques were like pebbles tossed into a storm.
"Shhh!"
Without the Mangekyō's suppressing gaze, Orochimaru flickered, reappearing before one of the ANBU. His serpentine eyes locked on.
Technique of the Eternal Darkness.
"AAAHHH!!"
The scream tore through the lab.