"Going to kill Sasuke… Orochimaru-sama, what do you mean by this?" Kabuto asked with confusion.
He knew full well how much time and effort Orochimaru had invested in Sasuke.
Orochimaru licked his lips with a sinister chuckle. "I want to see just how far he can go."
Kabuto's eyes narrowed. "Understood, Orochimaru-sama."
After Kabuto left, Orochimaru turned to go as well but suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked toward Neji's direction with a sly, knowing grin.
"Since you're already here, why not come out?"
At Orochimaru's words, Neji instinctively held his breath. A wave of chilling killing intent swept toward him like a tsunami.
He found me!
That thought flashed through Neji's mind.
Still, Neji kept his grip tight on his hand. If the enemy doesn't move, neither do I.
What if he's bluffing?
Sometimes, opportunities must be taken even if they're risky.
Hiss… hiss…
Just as Neji was thinking this, a swarm of patterned snakes burst from Orochimaru's sleeves, lunging directly toward him.
Are you serious?!
The snakes slithered closer and closer. Just as Neji was about to strike, they abruptly veered away from him, rushing past toward the rear.
At the same time, several massive snakes emerged from the treetops behind Neji and began tangling with Orochimaru's serpents.
A figure swooped down from the branches above, landing directly in front of Orochimaru.
So he wasn't aiming at me after all.
Realizing this, Neji remained where he was and continued watching.
The moment he saw the newcomer, a surge of relief filled his heart. This was why he hadn't made a move yet Mitarashi Anko.
Orochimaru was male. If Neji wanted to acquire his ability, the only way was through Mitarashi Anko.
"Hehehe, Anko, it's been a long time," Orochimaru greeted with a twisted smile.
"Hmph," Anko snorted coldly.
"I'm not here for small talk, Orochimaru. You're a dangerous criminal at the top of the wanted list."
"You went to great lengths to disguise yourself and sneak into the Chūnin Exams in the Hidden Leaf. What's your real objective?!"
Orochimaru shook his head lightly. "Objective? If you insist on a word for it... curiosity, I suppose."
"Curiosity? Do you really think I'd believe that?" Anko frowned.
"We haven't seen each other in so long your tone is quite cold," Orochimaru said with a soft chuckle.
"This is my mission," Anko said abruptly.
"What?"
"I said this is my mission as your student, to use the forbidden techniques you taught me to personally put an end to you." Her voice carried a trace of sorrow.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Suddenly, Anko attacked. Four green snakes shot from her sleeves, striking toward Orochimaru.
He frowned, and with a sudden lunge of his tongue, coiled up the snakes. At the same time, four large serpents slithered from his left arm, lunging from different directions.
Anko dodged using the Substitution Jutsu, then transformed her arm into a serpent, yanking Orochimaru toward her.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
She slammed him into the ground over and over, before darting forward again, gripping him tightly.
"Serpent - Dragon - Hare - Tiger!"
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
The moment Orochimaru came close, a straight column of fire blasted him into a tree.
Almost simultaneously, Anko appeared before him and decisively pinned their hands together with a kunai.
The entire sequence of actions flowed like water precise, practiced, deadly. Neji silently applauded. She must've rehearsed that dozens of times.
But alas, even the most meticulous plans can have a fatal flaw.
She was about to use the Twin Snakes Mutual Death Technique to perish together with Orochimaru.
Just then, Orochimaru's true body appeared.
"What's this, my dear student planning to kill yourself?"
"Even if you are my disciple, don't you think it's a little ungrateful to keep using the forbidden techniques I taught you?"
Anko's heart dropped. In pain, she tore the kunai from her hand and moved to attack again, but the curse mark paralyzed her.
Orochimaru sneered. "Anko, you're still too young."
"I came to this village to find the perfect vessel. Uchiha Sasuke he's more suitable than anyone, even more than you," Orochimaru said, his voice laced with eerie glee.
Neji knew Orochimaru wouldn't kill Anko but she didn't know that.
Which meant… this was the perfect opening.
Hero saves the damsel. Two birds, one stone. This is it.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
Neji hurled several shuriken with pinpoint accuracy, aiming directly for Orochimaru's head.
"Hm?"
Orochimaru quickly dodged. In that instant, Neji darted forward, scooping Anko into his arms and leaping to another tree.
"Host has embraced Mitarashi Anko. Reward granted: [Hidden Shadow Snake Hands]."
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands: Unleashes snakes from the user's arms to attack.
"Who are you?" Orochimaru's voice turned cold. He hadn't expected another person to be lying in wait.
"One of the Legendary Sannin? You're not all that. I noticed you the moment you arrived, Orochimaru," Neji replied calmly.
From the beginning…?
Suddenly, Orochimaru seemed to realize something. He looked intrigued. "So, that was you watching me outside the Forest of Death?"
"How did you detect me? I'm quite curious about that."
He had been confident in his disguise. To think he was discovered so soon… that genuinely piqued his interest.
"Was it really that hard to notice you?" Neji asked in return.
Orochimaru's eyes grew cold in an instant. He suddenly lashed out, his entire arm transforming into a thick snake and lunging straight at Neji.
"Run!" said Anko from Neji's arms, staring at the incoming serpent.
Orochimaru wasn't someone a normal person could face and Neji was only a Genin.
But Neji didn't answer. After a few agile dodges, he gently set Anko down then charged straight at Orochimaru.
"Heh… the Byakugan might make for an interesting research subject too," Orochimaru said, licking his lips with a smirk.
With a flick of his hands, he completed a hand seal and slammed his palm to the ground.
"Serpent Fang Barrage!"
In an instant, two massive pythons erupted from either side of Orochimaru.
Neji activated his Byakugan. Instead of retreating, he rushed forward, fingers flying through hand seals.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Flames and chunks of rock soared through the air, blasting toward both serpents.
"To think I'd encounter a Hyūga who actually uses ninjutsu in battle… what luck," Orochimaru said with a twisted smile.
But Neji didn't stop. As long as he got close enough, with his Gentle Fist and All-Killing Ash Bones, even Orochimaru would go down.
With that thought, he sprinted even faster.
"Host is battling the Serpent Sage. Reward granted: [Serpent]."
Serpent: Allows summoning of various kinds and quantities of snakes at will.
The system's voice rang out in his head. Neji stumbled in surprise, almost falling flat on his face.
Wait… what?!
His mind was in turmoil.
Did I just hear that right? But the reward was definitely granted…
What the hell is going on here?!