Chapter 210: Battle
Whoosh! Whoosh!
"This way."
Anko sensed carefully, following the resonance of the Cursed Seal on her neck. Behind her, Mibu followed closely, keeping pace.
After nearly half an hour, Anko finally came to a halt in a dark, secluded area of the forest. She felt it; he was nearby.
"Anko, it's been a long time."
A voice suddenly rang out. Anko spun around instantly as Orochimaru appeared behind her.
Swish!
Anko lashed out with a kunai, aiming for Orochimaru's vitals. Orochimaru merely smiled, effortlessly neutralizing her strike with Taijutsu before leaping back.
Hiss!
Giant snakes erupted from both of Anko's sleeves, attempting to coil around him.
Bang! Bang!
It was useless. Orochimaru displaced himself with graceful movements, easily evading her assault.
"Orochimaru, why have you come to Konoha? Do you plan to ruin more of your juniors?" Anko gripped her burning Cursed Seal, glaring at him.
"Hehe, is that how you see me? I am here to grant power to someone—the power he craves. It seems you haven't slacked off over the years. However, using my own techniques against me... that is truly heartbreaking," Orochimaru chuckled.
"I won't let you escape today. You're staying in Konoha for good!"
Anko didn't waste any more words; her goal was to pin him down. She launched a volley of shuriken in a pincer formation, her hands blurring into seals. As Orochimaru dodged the shuriken, she targeted the opening and released a Fire Style technique.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Boom!
A massive plume of fire erupted, its orange-red glow illuminating the dark woods.
Hiss!
Orochimaru's movements were fluid. He used a Body Flicker to bypass her encirclement, kicked off a tree trunk to change direction, and closed the distance to Anko. Giant snakes surged from his hands, binding her tightly.
"My goal isn't you, my dear pupil. Just live your life quietly in Konoha. I have no need for your body," Orochimaru licked his lips and smiled.
"My body?" Anko thought of her seal. Was he after someone else?
Poof!
Anko transformed into a log. When she reappeared, she had already used Hidden Shadow Snake Hands to snag Orochimaru, grabbing his arm.
Ninja Art: Twin Snakes Mutual Death!
"Anko, look closely before you strike. I wouldn't want people saying I didn't teach you well," Orochimaru's voice echoed from behind her.
Anko's eyes widened. The "Orochimaru" she was holding began to turn into liquid mud.
Earth Clone? When?!
Whirrr!
Just as Anko prepared to strike again and Orochimaru, losing interest, prepared to vanish, a deafening sound of rushing wind filled the air.
"Wind Style: Wind Demon Shuriken!"
Orochimaru turned. A Fuma Shuriken infused with high-frequency Wind Style chakra tore through the air like a localized hurricane. Along its path, ancient trees several meters thick were sliced through like paper.
Rumble! Whirrr!
The resonance of the jutsu was so intense that even Orochimaru felt a genuine threat. If he were hit, he would die.
Rashomon!
Orochimaru slammed his palm onto the ground. A massive, demonic gate rose from the earth.
Clang!
The Wind Style Fuma Shuriken struck the gate. The collision between the offensive jutsu and the summoning defense created a screeching metal-on-metal sound. The wind-infused blade ground into the Rashomon; after a stalemate of less than three seconds, the gate vanished with a poof, and the shuriken continued its trajectory toward Orochimaru.
"A magnificent jutsu... to actually break through my Rashomon."
In those three seconds, Orochimaru had already vacated his position. The attack sailed past him, plowing through the forest behind. Boom! Countless trees collapsed in its wake.
"What was that?" The ANBU team sent by Hiruzen stood on the treetops, staring at the massive gate that had risen and the sheer destructive power of the follow-up attack. The path of the jutsu had essentially plowed the forest floor flat.
"That was the Rashomon. It's Orochimaru... Those fighting him must be Anko and Mibu. Hurry!" The ANBU captain, recognizing the Sannin's signature defense, urged his team forward.
Nearby, Genin candidates heard the commotion and used their abilities to observe. Their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
Gulp. "No way... is that the strength of a candidate?"
The ignorant Genin swallowed hard. This was just the Chunin Exams! It couldn't be!
"Hinata, do you see it?"
Team 8 had heard the noise. Veins bulged around Hinata's eyes as she activated her Byakugan. Her vision pierced through the foliage.
"Those... aren't candidates. It's a proctor and another Konoha ninja fighting a terrifying enemy." In her vision, Orochimaru's chakra was monstrous, appearing like a Great White Snake ready to swallow her whole.
Woof! Woof! "Akamaru says he smells something terrifying. He says don't go near it," Kiba told the other two.
Shino added, "Then we should head to the central tower. With this distraction, there might be fewer people in our way."
Whoosh!
The Sand Siblings also stood on a branch, witnessing the explosive aftermath.
"Hey, is this really the level of a Genin? Even your Absolute Defense couldn't block that intensity, right, Gaara?" Kankuro swallowed hard.
Temari observed for a moment. "That... was Wind Style. Such a powerful Wind Style user..."
"Hey, if there are guys this strong, will the 'plan' still work?" Kankuro asked worriedly.
"Idiot, Konoha is clearly under invasion. They're dealing with an intruder," Temari countered. No Genin had that kind of power. She glanced at Gaara; not everyone was a monster like her brother.
Gaara, one eye missing as he used his Third Eye jutsu, didn't respond immediately. His spiritual eye reached the battlefield, seeing the three in combat. "It's Konoha ninjas fighting Orochimaru," he stated coldly.
"That guy... starting such a mess before the plan even begins. What a pain," Kankuro grumbled. If Konoha's alert level got too high, the plan might fail before it even started.
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
Fire Style: Great Fireball!
Combined Art: Crossfire!
After Mibu engaged Orochimaru, Anko snapped out of her shock. Ignoring why Mibu was there, she joined the attack. One exhaled wind, the other fire. The wind fed the flames.
Fwoom!
Another violent explosion. Faced with the raging inferno and sensing more chakra signatures—likely the ANBU—approaching, Orochimaru decided he was done.
"Anko, you found a good man. His strength isn't bad either. But that's enough for today. We'll catch up later." Before leaving, Orochimaru didn't forget to tease them. Then, his form was swallowed by their combined jutsu.
Anko and Mibu ceased their attacks, staring at the charred path in the forest, panting heavily. The mental transmission of "experience" in Mibu's mind faded away. The tag on his chest was now just an empty shell.
His head lolled, and he began to fall from the tree.
Swish!
Anko forced herself through her exhaustion to catch him, looking at him with worry. "Chakra exhaustion... thank god, it's not too serious." She let out a sigh of relief after checking his vitals.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Just then, the ANBU finally arrived.
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