Faced with the fierce oncoming Lightning Release Ninjutsu, Orochimaru quickly formed hand signs and launched a counterattack!
Wind Release: Many-Faced Wind!
Amidst the powerful chakra surge, numerous slender and sharp wind blades rapidly condensed, spinning in the air to form horned vortexes of airflow!
The fiercely spinning wind vortexes quickly multiplied. In the blink of an eye, fueled by Orochimaru's chakra, over a hundred were generated. They collided and rushed against each other, forming a violent air current storm that met the blue-violet electrical torrent of the Thunder Stream Waterfall head-on, refusing to yield.
The two torrents of Ninjutsu, different in nature and mutually clashing and restricting in attribute, violently crashed together. Amidst a tremendous "Boom!", an invisible shockwave rolled out, and a mushroom cloud roughly seven or eight meters high suddenly rose. The forest and trees within a radius of dozens of meters were devastated and strewn with debris, filled with toppled, broken trees and lingering smoke and wood chips.
Two blue figures wrapped in electric light, forming a sharp and terrifying angle with the ground, powerfully burst out of the smoke. They rushed toward Orochimaru's team without stopping.
It was none other than the Yotsuki brothers, Yotsuki A and Yotsuki Tee. However, Yotsuki Tee, who was not a direct disciple of the Second Raikage, could only use Lightning Release to boost his speed. Because his defense was lacking, he was slightly caught by the residual effects of Orochimaru's deliberate Wind Release. He had sustained minor injuries during the clash of the two Ninjutsu and emerged from the smoke trailing behind Yotsuki A.
Orochimaru excitedly licked his lips. His killing intent permeated the air, and his fighting spirit soared. He shook his arms, and his Hidden Shadow Snake Hands were immediately launched!
From within his pale-white sleeves, a dozen striped venomous pythons shot out like lightning. Under Orochimaru's control, the giant, sharp-fanged pythons formed a colorful massive hand composed of grotesque and vicious venomous snakes in the air. Each snake's head was aimed downward, their vicious fangs exposed, as the hand slammed toward the charging Yotsuki A.
Boom!
The colossal snake-hand struck the ground, gouging a half-meter deep pit.
Yotsuki A appeared large and robust, but his speed, amplified by the Lightning Release, was astonishingly fast. He deftly dodged Orochimaru's attack. In the span of a single breath, he leaped several times on the surrounding tall trees and closed the distance to Orochimaru by over ten meters.
Orochimaru gave a wicked smile as he watched the rapidly approaching Yotsuki A. The snake-hand, which had failed to connect, quickly disintegrated, transforming into streaks of black shadow that launched a sneak attack from behind Yotsuki A.
Orochimaru himself quickly formed several hand signs, unleashing another Wind Release Ninjutsu meant to counter Lightning Release.
Wind Release: Raging Wind Net!
Pure chakra was injected into the air. Countless, varying-length sharp wind blades, controlled by the hand signs, formed a lethal, invisible net covering a dozen meters of space in front of Yotsuki A.
This invisible, deadly net of wind blades rapidly advanced through the air, reaching Yotsuki A in the blink of an eye.
With the Raging Wind Net in front and a swarm of venomous snakes behind, Yotsuki A realized in that moment the great strength of the boy named Orochimaru: his astounding battle intellect, rich combat experience, and the tight, relentless sequence of attacks that subtly drew one into his trap, seizing control of the battle rhythm and forcing a path toward failure.
Faced with such a fierce, pincer-style attack that sealed off all room for evasion, Yotsuki A had no other choice but to pump chakra into the blue-violet lightning armor on his body, which served as his strongest shield.
The dazzling blue-violet lightning cloak on Yotsuki A intensified its brilliance. He also continuously weaved hand signs.
Lightning Release: Lightning Ball Technique!
Yotsuki A opened his mouth and spat out a football-sized blue-violet lightning ball, which struck the Raging Wind Net first.
Immediately following, Orochimaru's attack firmly slammed into Yotsuki A.
The Raging Wind Net, whose attack power was already diffused because it was an area-of-effect technique, was further weakened by the impact of the lightning ball. It only succeeded in cutting a few minor gashes into Yotsuki A's body. These were mere cuts, and under the protection of his Lightning Release armor—the strongest shield—they healed instantly without even drawing blood.
Meanwhile, the dozen or so pythons Orochimaru sent out for guerrilla attacks were instantly shocked into being fried and tender, smoking white and beyond dead, the moment they coiled around Yotsuki A.
Yotsuki A let out a booming laugh and charged forward: "Hahaha! Kid, you didn't think all I knew was Lightning Release Taijutsu, did you!"
Orochimaru didn't reply. He stomped his feet and moved forward instead of retreating. The distance between them was already small, and Orochimaru's charge immediately narrowed it to a single arm's length.
Orochimaru gave a chilling smile. Pure, abundant chakra surged into his right fist. He used his Monster Strength Taijutsu to the maximum, unleashing a straightforward, unadorned punch that violently slammed into Yotsuki A's body.
Thud—
A dull collision sounded. The immense force sent Yotsuki A flying. He smashed through several trees and tore a ditch dozens of meters long in the forest floor.
Orochimaru's dark-golden eyes were ice-cold, yet his voice was strangely gentle: "You seem to also think I only know a little Ninjutsu!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Orochimaru quickly surveyed the other ongoing battles.
Yotsuki Tee, who had intended to join Yotsuki A in flanking Orochimaru, was blocked by the combined efforts of Tsunade and Hyūga Bluebird. The two of them already had Chūnin-level strength. Even with Yotsuki Tee's strong talent, he was flailing and struggling under the combined attack of the two Chūnin, completely preoccupied with his own defense.
Jiraiya, Chi, and Manji were fighting against Kitagawa Ryūun's Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
While Jiraiya and Manji struggled immensely under Ryūun's onslaught, Chi, who possessed a special bloodline limit, continuously threatened Ryūun's weak points by slipping into the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. This forced the powerful Cloud ninja to dedicate some of his focus to the surrounding environment, preventing him from giving his all.
On the other side, Yotsuki A, who had been sent flying and put at a disadvantage by Orochimaru's punch, laughed instead of growing angry. He shouted with a fierce, hearty enthusiasm: "Good! Very good! Come on, let's go again!"
Yotsuki Tee and Kitagawa Ryūun were delighted to hear the arrogant, powerful laughter. They knew Yotsuki A was now fully engaged and serious in his fight with Orochimaru.
Orochimaru ignored Yotsuki A's challenging laughter. His dark-golden eyes remained cold and filled with killing intent as he concentrated and prepared for Yotsuki A's attack.
The blue-violet lightning shadow flashed again, and Yotsuki A charged in with a vengeance.
Suddenly, both the focused Orochimaru and Yotsuki A's faces changed!
🗒️NOTE:
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 10 chapters in advance!