I Just Wanted to Slack Off, But I Was Forced to Become Hokage

Chapter 76: As Expected of the Shameless Snake!

Orochimaru was well aware that although his "Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique" was enough to evade the vast majority of attacks in the ninja world, and could even shrug off subsequent damage after being hit, due to the overlapping positions of the "replacement" and the "main body," it was coincidentally unable to evade the control effect of the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu.

Therefore, after casting the "Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique," Orochimaru continued to cast another technique.

Hidden Shadow Many Snakes Hands!

The semi-transparent mucus covering the surface of his body had not yet completely dried. Orochimaru once again used a new special secret technique, instantly summoning a large number of thick, large snakes from his right arm. Under his mental control, these many large snakes summoned by the "Hidden Shadow Many Snakes Hands" piled up on top of each other, forming a sizable shadow area in mid-air.

The Shadow Paralysis Jutsu could indeed use other shadows to increase its own range of use, but it could not interfere with or manipulate the shape of shadows produced by other substances. When the shadows of multiple different individuals overlapped, the use of the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu would also be significantly hindered. After all, whether it was changing the shape of one's own shadow or accurately finding the target enemy's shadow, it required a certain amount of time.

The moment this snake-horde shadow area was formed, Orochimaru keenly seized the fleeting opportunity when the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu was disconnected from him. He instantly used the "Body Flicker Technique," flashing away from his original position.

And as this "new version of Orochimaru" moved away, the "old version of Orochimaru" that had been standing in the original spot, like a deflated human-shaped doll, withered and collapsed, piling up softly on the ground like a "snakeskin," devoid of any sign of life. This bizarre and terrifying scene was like a snake demon shedding its skin in a fairy tale.

Just then, the few tiny black scorpions, after a long journey, finally climbed onto Orochimaru's "snakeskin." Their needle-like tails stabbed viciously into the "snakeskin."

Pfft!

The black scorpions' stingers accurately pierced the target's surface defense. Droplets of lacquer-black ink flowed from their stingers, seeping into the target's body. In the end, these black scorpions even "flowed" their entire bodies into the "snakeskin."

A brilliant, deep purple color spread rapidly across Orochimaru's "snakeskin" from the spot where the black scorpions had stung. This extremely vivid color quickly covered the entire "snakeskin." Plumes of light smoke drifted out from its surface. Wounds grew and expanded on its surface. In a short while, this "snakeskin" completely dissolved, leaving only a puddle of mixed solution that emitted a foul, fishy smell.

As a medical ninja and an elite spy, Yakushi Nono'o's frontal combat power was not optimistic. But in operations such as assassination, sneak attacks, poisoning, and support, she was incomparably skilled.

"Poison-filled ink scorpions. Truly the combat style of a Root ninja." Orochimaru glanced at the puddle of poison on the ground with some trepidation. If he had been stung by those black scorpions just now, he probably wouldn't have come out of it well either.

Now that the potential threat was eliminated and he had broken free from the control of the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu, Orochimaru decisively used the "Longsword of the Sky," recalling the Sword of Kusanagi floating in the air and gripping it tightly in his hand.

He still hadn't gotten a visual on Yakushi Nono'o's position; all he could see was Nara Keisuke alone. And due to the characteristics of the Nara clan's shadow techniques, he was reluctant to engage in close-quarters combat with him. After thinking for a moment, Orochimaru infused a large amount of chakra into the Sword of Kusanagi in his hand.

Zing—

The blade of the Sword of Kusanagi instantly extended and lengthened, like a streak of silvery-white silk across the sky. With the momentum of a thunderbolt, it thrust towards Keisuke's position. At such a swift attack speed, Keisuke couldn't react in time and was directly pierced by the sword.

Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth. Although the Sword of Kusanagi was exceptionally sharp, it shouldn't have been able to pierce a human body without the slightest feeling of resistance. This floating sensation, as if piercing through air, let Orochimaru know that his attack had missed—

No!

Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly. He clearly saw that the "Nara Keisuke" pierced by the sword had dissolved like a pool of ink, flowing onto the spot where he had originally stood. And from behind this "strange ink," another thin and long shadow line was still connected.

'It's still the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu!'

A flash of inspiration went through Orochimaru's mind, and he unhesitatingly let go of the sword. 'This kid is planning to use the reflection on the Sword of Kusanagi's blade to connect to my shadow again!'

Nara Keisuke's figure walked out from another part of the forest. Tentacle-like long shadows pulled on the Sword of Kusanagi, which had retracted to its original length, causing it to fall into his hand.

A message suddenly popped up on the panel.

[A-rank Ninja Tool Detected: [Sword of Kusanagi]!]

'Unexpectedly snagged an A-rank—'

Before Keisuke could tighten his grip on the A-rank sword in his hand, an inexplicable force suddenly acted upon the weapon, and it vanished.

'Summoning Technique?'

Keisuke grasped at the empty air a few times, then looked at Orochimaru.

"That was quite a good tactical strategy, Nara-kun," Orochimaru said in his hoarse voice, lightly licking the blade of the Sword of Kusanagi he had recalled. "I finally understand why Minato-kun summoned that toad from Mount Myōboku when he was sparring with you..."

To deal with the Nara clan's shadow techniques, a super-large summoning beast was indeed a very good counter. Orochimaru did indeed have a summoning contract with a giant python from Ryūchi Cave and could summon it to the battlefield. It was just that...

'Summoning Manda just to teach a child a lesson...' Orochimaru inexplicably felt that he would suffer a great loss.

'Also, up to now, that child has already used two shadow clones. Is this one the real body or a shadow clone? If it's a shadow clone, how much chakra does he have left?'

"It seems Root really did give you a lot of intelligence." Keisuke wasn't surprised that Orochimaru knew his battle record, nor did he care. The intelligence Orochimaru, or rather Root, knew was mostly just the "results" left on the surface. They certainly wouldn't know the "moves" Keisuke had truly used in battle. Not to mention that besides those "moves," his trump cards were constantly being updated and accumulated...

"Hehe..." Orochimaru let out a meaningful laugh. "The intelligence I know is not just that. For example, that pellet-like Yin Release ninjutsu you used to deal with Shimura Shin..."

'[Shadow Piercing Bullet] has been exposed?'

Keisuke's expression didn't change in the slightest, but his mind was racing, trying to figure out the specific reason. 'Shimura Shin... Shimura Danzō recovered the corpse of this Root ninja, and then excavated and examined some ninjutsu traces from his body?'

This was the only reason Keisuke could think of. The old clan head hadn't specified Shimura Shin's fate before, only mentioning that Yamanaka Rin had returned to her family. But since the "Yamanaka ninja" had returned to the Yamanaka clan, there was no reason the "Shimura ninja" shouldn't return to the Shimura clan, even if it was just a corpse.

The leak of his own combat abilities did not panic Keisuke. 'Since the [Shadow Piercing Bullet] has been exposed, then let's just list it as a standard combat ability...'

But just in the gap while Keisuke was thinking, Orochimaru once again performed his bizarre "I spit snakes" act.

Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!

Orochimaru's upper body prostrated on the ground. A tide-like swarm of pythons continuously poured out of his mouth, densely packing every inch of space on the ground. Summoning Manda had too low of a cost-performance ratio. Orochimaru decided to summon a swarm of snakes with a similar effect to interfere with Keisuke's shadow techniques.

But just as Orochimaru was continuously summoning the snake swarm, a spiraling, lacquer-black bullet flew from behind him.

[Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullet]!

Originally, upon hearing the strange sound from behind, Orochimaru was prepared to first interrupt the Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes and immediately flee. But the attack speed of the [Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullet] was simply too fast. Caught off guard, Orochimaru was unable to dodge, and his shadow was directly hit.

'What? I'm fine... No! I'm being controlled by the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu again!' Orochimaru was once again surprised.

But Keisuke's next attack had already arrived.

[Spiraling Shadow Piercing Bullet]!

Two lacquer-black shadow bullets, one after the other, struck Orochimaru's body directly from behind, blooming two garish flowers of blood on his green Jonin vest. Keisuke, hidden in the rear, could see clearly that his two bullets had hit Orochimaru in the heart and the right chest, respectively. A normal ninja would undoubtedly die under such an attack.

But before Keisuke could fire a third [Spiraling Shadow Piercing Bullet] intended for a headshot, the prostrate Orochimaru simply opened his little mouth and once again performed his signature "Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique." When another "new version of Orochimaru" emerged, the injuries on his body had completely disappeared.

Keisuke followed up with a final [Shadow Piercing Bullet]. But the now-prepared Orochimaru simply used an Earth Substitution to dodge this attack.

"..."

This shameless snake is too hard to kill!

Helpless, Nara Keisuke terminated his attack. Killed, but not completely killed. At this rate, he probably wouldn't be able to complete the combat mission against this shameless snake...

'As I thought, I should have just speed-run the mission!'

[You have speed-run [A-rank Mission: Orochimaru]!]

[You have obtained one B-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]

(End of Chapter)

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