Chapter 56: First Victory
Bang!
Smoke from a Summoning Technique rose, and after it dispersed, a massive, purple-ringed giant python with backward-facing horns appeared in Baosha Town.
This enormous snake was Orochimaru's most frequently used summoned beast—Manda!
With Manda's appearance, Orochimaru was definitely present.
Many Sand Ninja in Baosha Town recognized Manda; during the Second Shinobi World War, on the battlefields of the Land of Rain, Manda had taken many Sand Ninja lives.
"It's the Konoha Orochimaru's summoned beast, the Konoha Sannin have arrived!"
To be granted a title by the Demigod of the Land of Rain was an honor in itself, and the deterrent power of the Konoha Sannin was only slightly less than that of Konoha White Fang.
After appearing, Manda's massive snake eyes surveyed the surroundings, then he fiercely said to Orochimaru, who was standing on his head, "Orochimaru, if you want me to act, there must be a hundred sacrifices afterward."
"Heh heh, the sacrifices are already prepared, they are the Sand Ninja in front, go eat them yourself!"
Orochimaru said to Manda in a hoarse voice. Normally, he could satisfy Manda with living sacrifices, but on the battlefield, he could only be forceful and make Manda eat the Sand Ninja.
"Hmph, Orochimaru, you…"
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"
Before Manda could finish speaking, he was struck by a Wind Release Ninjutsu from a Sand Ninja who had ambushed and rushed over. The intense Wind Release Chakra instantly tore open a wound on Manda's body.
Although this small wound was nothing to Manda's massive body, being injured by a small bug was enough to enrage him.
"Damn bug, I'll eat you!"
Manda opened his gaping maw and charged directly at the Sand Ninja who had injured him. Manda's speed was incredibly fast; the Sand Ninja had no time to dodge before Manda bit him, then raised his head and swallowed the Sand Ninja.
Afterward, the ferocious Manda began to hunt for Sand Ninja, while Orochimaru restrained Manda's behavior from atop his head, lest this giant python go berserk and even attack Konoha Ninja.
After the sounds and signal flares outside Baosha Town, most Sand Ninja knew that enemies were attacking.
However, Orochimaru's side was prepared, while the Sand Ninja were caught off guard. Furthermore, with command not in place immediately, many scattered Sand Ninja squads directly encountered the Konoha regular combat units, and after only a few exchanges, they died under combination Ninjutsu.
"Elder Chiyo, the attacker is Konoha Orochimaru, with at least several hundred people, who have raided from the east and four other surrounding positions of Baosha Town. According to the sensory ninja's estimates, at least four hundred Konoha Ninja have come in this Konoha attack."
"And Orochimaru has also summoned many giant snakes to wreak havoc in Baosha Town."
Chiyo's drooping eyelids moved slightly, and she immediately gave orders: "Shin, you lead four combat units and instruct them to repel the Konoha Ninja from the other directions; Samaki, you stay here and have others assist the wounded in front. I will go deal with Orochimaru."
To stop Orochimaru, Chiyo had to act personally; others facing the Konoha Sannin would likely die in vain.
During the Second Shinobi World War, Orochimaru had already distinguished himself, not only in terms of strength but also his command abilities were fully proven.
After assigning the tasks, Chiyo took a few guards and headed straight for the rampaging Manda in the center of Baosha Town.
It didn't take long for Chiyo to arrive near Manda. Seeing this stinky snake still chasing a Sand Ninja, Chiyo's expression immediately turned cold. She then took out a puppet scroll and directly summoned her strongest puppets.
The Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!
Ten puppets of various forms were retrieved by Chiyo from the puppet scroll. These were masterpieces left by the Puppet Grandmaster; there were many cooperative methods between the ten puppets, and their mechanisms had also been strengthened by Chiyo, making them her ultimate trump card.
Chiyo's finger moved, and Chakra threads instantly connected to the ten puppets.
"Puppet Technique: Three Jewel Suction Crumble!"
Seeing Manda about to swallow the chasing Sand Ninja, Chiyo directly used three puppets from the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu to form a triangular formation, then used the Ninjutsu.
A powerful suction force instantly generated from the puppets. This suction force directly caused Manda's head, which was preparing to swallow the Sand Ninja, to bend, and with a loud bang, it crashed into the ground nearby.
The Sand Ninja took the opportunity to escape from Manda's side and came to Chiyo.
"Oh, it's Elder Chiyo. At such an old age, you've still come out to the battlefield. Heh heh, does the Sand Ninja Village have no young people left?"
Orochimaru laughed hoarsely, his words full of meaning.
Chiyo was unfazed and said calmly, "Paving the way for the younger generation is the duty of us elders. Moreover, after the last war in the Land of Rain, I also wanted to see how much progress you, whom Hanzo praised as one of the Sannin, have made."
"Then please, Elder Chiyo, take a good look."
Before Orochimaru could finish speaking, Manda pulled his massive snake head out of the ground and furiously charged at Chiyo.
Manda hated nothing more than being interrupted while eating.
"I'll eat you first!"
With his mouth wide open, Manda, despite his massive body, moved with incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, he charged in front of Chiyo.
"Hmph!"
Chiyo's fingers moved, and four puppets circled in the air, sharp blades exposed from various parts of their bodies. If these puppets got close, even with Manda's massive body and tough hide, he probably wouldn't fare well.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Orochimaru activated Ninjutsu from the side. Manda was still a very good combat force, and he couldn't let Chiyo seriously injure him.
However, Orochimaru's Earth Release Ninjutsu was blocked by the other three puppets using Three Jewel Suction Crumble again. After absorbing the Earth Release, Three Jewel Suction Crumble then directly generated a huge Impact force, sending the absorbed Earth Release back towards Orochimaru.
Bang!
Orochimaru was directly hit by large rocks and the shockwave, but then that Orochimaru turned into mud.
"Earth Clone."
Chiyo narrowed her eyes slightly, then turned her head to look elsewhere.
The real Orochimaru moved to the other side using Earth Release, then used Hidden Shadow Many Snake Hands to entangle the puppets attacking Manda.
'As expected of the Sannin, none of them are easy to deal with…'
Chiyo thought to herself. The other Slug Princess could break all the poisons she had painstakingly developed, and this Orochimaru was also very skilled in using Ninjutsu.
Chiyo leaped, directly dodging Manda's attack, while also having the other puppets assist in breaking free the four puppets that Orochimaru had entangled.
The two sides had only clashed for a very short time, but both could sense the other's difficulty and experience.
However, Orochimaru was not in a hurry at all. After that, he continuously used low-Chakra harassing Ninjutsu to assist Manda's attacks.
He neither intended to kill Chiyo nor would he give Chiyo a chance to leave.
After this situation continued for a while, Chiyo immediately reacted.
"Orochimaru, you intend to hold me here?"
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru let out a hoarse laugh: "Heh heh, as expected of Elder Chiyo, who has experienced many wars. You immediately discovered my intention, but it's a bit late…"
"You…"
Although Chiyo's expression remained unchanged, a hint of anxiety grew in her heart.
Military supplies!
Orochimaru was most likely targeting the supplies stockpiled by the Sand Ninja, which was why he was holding her here.
Then, as if to confirm Chiyo's guess, continuous explosions suddenly rang out from the southeast direction of Baosha Town.
Please vote, handsome Yanzu!