Naruto Kirigakure System - Chapter 35
“Lava Release and Boil Release, huh?”
“Two bloodline limits, Kirigakure really is a treasure trove.”
A sinisterly handsome man with snake-like pupils in his eyes gazed at the distant Kirigakure camp, filled with longing and excitement.
“Perhaps I should thank you, Minato Namikaze, for creating such a perfect opportunity for me.”
“But, unfortunately…”
Orochimaru’s eyes shifted, focusing on the intel gathered by Hy?ga Hizashi’s Byakugan. His snake-like pupils revealed a mixture of regret and excitement.
“I arrived too late, allowing Naoki Kaguya to escape by boat. Otherwise, I could have obtained two valuable specimens.”
“But now…”
Orochimaru wiped the hunger from his face, adopting the cold demeanor of a snake.
“Taking advantage of someone else’s hard work is so dull.”
“You, attack and clear out this stronghold.”
“Yes.”
Unlike Orochimaru’s relaxed demeanor, the Konoha ninjas behind him obediently followed orders and swiftly descended from the trees, charging toward the recently captured Kirigakure outpost.
Their unmasked approach naturally caught the attention of many Kirigakure ninjas.
“Hy?ga clan!”
“Don’t use Hidden Mist Jutsu anymore!”
Serving as the forward guards, the Kirigakure ninjas shouted despite bracing themselves with kunai for a defense to alert their comrades.
Hidden Mist Jutsu was useless against the Hy?ga clan and would only hinder their forces.
“And Orochimaru!”
*Shlunk!*
A long blade pierced through.
The Kirigakure ninja ignored the sword impaling him, struggling to send the intel back to the main camp as he gazed at the silver hair and red eyes of his attacker.
“And Hatake Kakashi!”
With those last words, his body fell limp on the blade, and countless Konoha ninjas surged past his corpse, charging toward the Kirigakure camp.
**Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!**
Mei Terumi watched the swarm of enemy ninjas with a grim and resolute expression. Gathering all her chakra, she expelled a large amount of corrosive mist created by her Boil Release.
“Ahhhhh!”
“My eyes!”
Within the white mist, agonizing screams filled the air.
While other Kirigakure ninjas were momentarily relieved by this success, Mei Terumi frowned bitterly.
It was too much.
Even this near-exhausting use of her Boil Release hadn’t yielded substantial results.
Mei clenched her fists.
It was the Byakugan. Detecting the Boil Release chakra, they halted most of the Konoha forces, preventing significant damage.
If not, at least half of them would have been incapacitated.
They were going to lose.
Mei Terumi smiled bitterly, her thoughts drifting to the ice bridge.
If victory was impossible, they could at least stall them.
Mei lifted her head, her eyes shining with determination.
They had to hold them off so Kirigakure’s main forces could return.
They had to!
Naoki would kill them all.
“Kill.”
Bloodthirsty Konoha ninjas burst from the thinning mist, attacking the Kirigakure defenders.
The clash of kunai and various jutsus ensued.
Mei’s opponent was Orochimaru.
As Mei mustered her chakra to unleash her Lava Release against the approaching Konoha ninjas, a serpentine figure silently appeared behind her.
“Not good!”
Sensing the cold presence beside her, Mei quickly expelled her Lava Release while retreating.
Turning, she saw countless giant, venomous snakes emerging from Orochimaru’s sleeves. Their venom barely missed her hair, disintegrating tree roots instead.
Surviving by a hair’s breadth, Mei exhaled deeply, eyes fixed on the acidic liquid she had expelled.
It had to hurt him!
*Sizzle!*
Under the Lava Release’s acidic assault, the snakes targeting Mei dissolved instantly.
But as the mist cleared, Orochimaru’s smiling face and unnaturally extended tongue came into view, unscathed.
He chuckled, his eyes roving over Mei.
“Lava Release, what a powerful kekkei genkai.”
“Lava Release, Boil Release, both have corrosive properties.”
“If I had them…”
Orochimaru’s smile turned colder.
Experiments unsuitable for the public eye should remain unspoken.
“Don’t underestimate me, Orochimaru!”
Despite the apparent disparity in power after just one exchange, Mei didn’t give up. Holding her kunai, she faked a close-quarters attack before suddenly stopping.
**Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!**
A massive acid wave, more significant than before, spewed from her mouth, melting stone walls into gray water and flooding the ground.
This devastating attack, capable of altering terrain and causing despair among ninjas, was effortlessly dodged by Orochimaru.
Her technique had failed.
Feeling her chakra nearly depleted, Mei smiled bitterly.
She had lost too thoroughly.
What about the others?
Mei’s attention drifted, the sounds of battle and screams surrounding her.
“Die!”
“Kill him!”
“Hold on!”
Despite her tactics, they couldn’t even stall the Konoha forces.
Mei felt a deep sorrow.
With Kakashi, Orochimaru, and many Hy?ga clansmen among the Konoha elite, how could her regular Kirigakure troops hold out?
But…
Naoki was still out there.
They had to stall.
So, she would keep fighting.
Mei raised her kunai and charged at Orochimaru.
Heh!
Orochimaru licked the blood from his lips.
It is such a familiar scene.
The Hokage’s troops often had individuals willing to sacrifice everything for the village.
How repulsive.
“Orochimaru-sama!”
Hy?ga Hizashi stepped in front of Orochimaru, clashing with Mei. Due to her youth and inexperience, Hizashi easily repelled her despite her fierce attempts.
“The Seven Ninja Swordsmen and Naoki Kaguya.”
Orochimaru’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
“So, they used the remaining boats to transport their best fighters.”
“But quality can’t be replaced by quantity.”
Orochimaru laughed coldly, his intent to kill clear.
“Although it’s earlier than expected, let’s leave some of them here.”
“No.”
Hy?ga Hizashi struggled to maintain his composure, sweat dripping from his forehead.
“Orochimaru-sama.”
“Not far away, more Kirigakure ninjas are flooding in.”
Hy?ga Hizashi gritted his teeth, forcing himself to speak.
“It seems like the main force.”
“Minato-sama’s intel must have been wrong. The main Kirigakure force is still coming.”
Orochimaru’s tongue paused, his snake-like eyes revealing a thoughtful look before speaking hoarsely.
“Then retreat before they arrive.”
“Organize the troops, and follow—”
Before he could finish, a cheerful voice echoed from above.
“Orochimaru, care to stay as our guest?”
Orochimaru looked up, seeing the figure hidden within the ice mirrors above, finally showing a rare sign of frustration, speaking through gritted teeth.
“Naoki Kaguya, that brat.”
Suppressing his irritation, he turned to Hizashi.
“Today seems genuinely dangerous.”
“Don’t gather. Everyone, escape on your own.”
He bit his finger, slamming it to the ground, and coldly commanded.
“Come forth, Manda, I have prepared many good things for you.”
*Boom!*
White smoke billowed, and Manda’s excited, shivering voice filled the battlefield.
“Orochimaru, so many sacrifices?”
“Such chakra and flesh, it’s exciting!”
As the smoke cleared, a gigantic snake appeared, its pupils snake-like, searching for prey. But a whisper came from above.
**Dance of the Clematis: Flower.**
A highly hardened giant bone spear extended from above, piercing Manda’s massive head and pinning it to the ground.
The hunter became the hunted in an instant.
“Damn bastard, up in the sky.”
“Ahhh!”
Amidst Manda’s pained roars, it struggled to pull down the figure-wielding bones in the air. But having always relied on its size, Manda had no experience against airborne foes.
“Orochimaru!”
“You bastard!”
“I will kill you!”
As the massive bone pinned it down, Manda couldn’t move, enduring excruciating pain.
Using Manda’s body as cover, Orochimaru silently slithered hundreds of meters away, listening to the roars, his expression equally grim.
—
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