"I know you're not the kind of man who acts out of hatred."
"You have neither a purpose nor a motive."
Orochimaru tilted his head, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a mocking expression.
["some."]
"To be precise, the purpose and motivation were clear from the beginning."
["But now..."]
Orochimaru shook his head and smiled.
"It's changed."
[Hiruzen Sarutobi was confused.]
[But the verbal attacks didn't stop.]
This time, however, Orochimaru was faster.
"Even a windmill that never turns can sometimes bring me joy."
"But it's basically not worth watching."
"And the Fifth Hokage after that... well, there's no need to watch him at all."
"Initially, I wanted to use the wind that destroyed Konoha to make the windmill start turning."
At this point, Orochimaru couldn't help but laugh again.
"I can fight you again, Sarutobi-sensei."
At this moment.
[The ANBU ninja outside shouted:]
"Hokage-sama!"
"This barrier can only be destroyed from the inside!"
"As long as you, Hokage-sama, defeat any one of those four, we can rush in and help you!"
[At this moment.]
[Outside the Four Purple Flame Array.]
There were only a handful of ANBU ninjas.
[Obviously.]
That's almost all.
[only...]
[After the ANBU ninjas finished speaking.]
The four Sound Ninja supporting the Four Purple Flame Formation immediately spread their arms.
[Inner Barrier.]
Several ANBU ninjas: "..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Was it intentional?
Was it an accident?
Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes, and the corner of his eye twitched slightly.
Doesn't it know?
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his eyes immediately.
[She makes eye contact with Orochimaru.]
"Hmph!"
"It seems there's no easy way to get out."
"That suits me perfectly."
"He's saying one thing but meaning another." Orochimaru couldn't suppress the smirk on his face.
Do you really think she's blind?
[Click—]
[The next moment.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips curled slightly, then he pushed off with his foot.
The rubble beneath their feet shattered instantly.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed towards Orochimaru at lightning speed.
Orochimaru was prepared.
[They started around the same time as Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
[Whoosh whoosh——]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi begins forming hand seals.]
["Ninja Art: Tile Shuriken!"]
[Whoosh whoosh whoosh——]
[The moment the technique was completed.]
[The two men noticed that the rubble on the rooftop immediately began to move during the brief interval between them.]
It's as if an invisible hand is controlling them.
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Orochimaru.
"Don't embarrass yourself by using such methods."
despite this.
But this scene still brought many people back to their senses.
Besides the self-proclaimed God of Ninjas, there is also the strongest Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Ninja Bear, also has a nickname.
Professor of Ninjutsu.
But... it was all for naught.
It doesn't seem to have much effect.
It feels flashy and over-the-top.
[Whoosh—]
Orochimaru begins forming hand seals.
They were completely unfazed by the incoming rubble.
[A blink of an eye.]
[They arrived directly in mid-air.]
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hand!"
The technique is complete.
Orochimaru opened his mouth.
[The long tongue sticks out.]
In an instant.
Orochimaru's long tongue transformed into a snake...
Then, with incredible speed, he attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could react, a large, dark green serpent bit his neck.
Everyone: "..."
Are all of Orochimaru's ninjutsu... this special?
"You couldn't even dodge an attack of this magnitude?"
"Sarutobi-sensei, you're getting old."
[Orochimaru had barely finished speaking.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly changed color.]
"A substitution technique?"
[Chocolate Substitute Technique.]
Orochimaru retracted his long snake, which then transformed back into a long tongue.
"Earth Release: Great River of Earth!"
[Looking sideways.]
[Then Hiruzen Sarutobi completed the hand seals and released the ninjutsu.]
[call out--]
The rubble beneath Orochimaru's feet instantly transformed into flowing "chocolate."
"I told you, Sarutobi-sensei, there's no need to use such a pointless ninjutsu."
"Strength is never about who knows the most ninjutsu."
[Just finished speaking.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi has completed another ninjutsu.
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
[Whoosh whoosh whoosh——]
The original source of the "Great River of Earth Flow" changed after Hiruzen Sarutobi mastered the technique.
[Immediately increase the speed of the outflow.]
Then, the clump of chocolate-colored mud transformed into a gigantic earthen dragon head.
The earth dragon opened its mouth wide, revealing a round, glowing chakra ball at its throat.
["Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"]
In that short time, Hiruzen Sarutobi completed another hand seal.
[call--]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.]
Then, it breathed out a ball of fire.
The flames transformed into a fiery dragon head in mid-air.
[Attack at the same frequency as the chocolate-colored mud spat out by the earth dragon.]
In an instant.
The dense, chocolate-colored condensation clung to the flames.
[It transforms into a flaming mud attack.]
Orochimaru is stuck in the mud.
[There was no foothold, so I couldn't dodge.]
[It was directly engulfed by flames.]
Then he was struck by burning mud.
[Outside the Four Purple Flame Array.]
The ANBU ninja exclaimed in surprise.
"Combining Earth Release and Fire Release?"
"As expected of the Third Hokage!"
"So fluid... The strongest Hokage is none other than the Third Hokage!"
["..."
These ANBU ninjas are interesting; since they can't get in, they just act as the atmosphere-setter.
["ah--!!!"]
[Orochimaru's scream rang out.]
[A moment later.]
The mudslide and flames have completely disappeared.
Orochimaru also disappeared.
"Stop this pointless performance, Orochimaru." Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened slightly.
[Hehehe~]
"That's really amazing!"
"Sarutobi-sensei."
[Orochimaru's voice rang out.]
From beneath the rubble, Orochimaru's body slowly rose like a stream of mud.
["but."]
"Shouldn't you be the one stopping this pointless performance?"
"Sarutobi-sensei."
Orochimaru's smile faded, and he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a hint of disgust.
"Using ninjutsu of this level would be a waste of chakra."
"Or is it that you haven't taken action in a long time, Sarutobi-sensei?"
"Have they all forgotten how to fight?"
[Hehehe~]
Orochimaru's words intensified the chill in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.
If lies bring pain, the truth only makes it worse.
It's quite obvious.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi has been stabbed in the heart.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi gritted his teeth.
"Orochimaru, you're still the same old Orochimaru, not likeable at all!"
Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue and licked his lips.
He then glanced at the arena below.
["alright."]
"That's about it. Let's speed things up a bit, or I'm worried we won't have enough time."
[Click—]
[Chakra Burst.]
The rubble beneath their feet had completely crumbled.
[Whoosh whoosh whoosh——]
[Warm-up complete.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi's movements became much faster.
[While throwing the shuriken, dash forward quickly.]
[Shuriken - Shadow Clone Technique.]