Chapter 61 — Facing Orochimaru
The dust from Nawaki's earth-style technique had yet to fully settle across the training ground, yet the atmosphere had already shifted completely.
Orochimaru's golden, slit-like pupils turned slowly toward Yami, undisguised curiosity gleaming within them.
"Nawaki's performance was… within expectations," he said, his hoarse voice tinged with faint amusement.
"Now then, Namikaze Yami… show me the measure of your capacity."
Yami drew in a slow breath, crushing stray thoughts beneath cold focus.
Before one of the legendary Sannin, even the slightest distraction could spell defeat.
His hands moved rapidly through seals—three, five at most—before chakra surged forth.
He chose to strike first.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A massive water dragon burst from his mouth, roaring forward with overwhelming force toward Orochimaru.
The scale and momentum of this Water Dragon far surpassed that of an ordinary jōnin. The density and refinement of chakra within it were equally striking.
A flicker of surprise passed through Orochimaru's eyes.
But he did not rush.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."
A thick earthen barrier rose instantly from the ground—far sturdier than Nawaki's earlier attempt—perfectly intercepting the charging dragon.
Water exploded outward in a violent spray.
Through the mist, Orochimaru's raspy voice carried faint approval.
"Excellent chakra control. Your mastery over water transformation is already quite refined."
Yami did not pause.
Using the lingering mist as cover, he kicked off the ground and blurred sideways, repositioning toward Orochimaru's flank.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent gust tore across the field, sweeping loose gravel and debris into a swirling current that lashed toward Orochimaru.
The technique was not meant to kill.
It was meant to obscure vision.
To create an opening.
Orochimaru's body moved like a phantom, gliding backward beyond the wind's reach.
At the same time, several shuriken shot from his sleeve.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's signature technique manifested instantly.
The handful of projectiles multiplied midair—
Dozens upon dozens—
A lethal rain descending from every angle, sealing nearly every avenue of escape.
The training ground echoed with the whistle of steel cutting through the air.
Yami's eyes sharpened—but he did not panic.
His hands blurred through seals at such speed that afterimages trailed behind them.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A massive earthen barrier surged upward from the ground—no less sturdy than Orochimaru's own.
What was truly unexpected, however, was the top of the wall: several vividly sculpted dog heads adorned its crest.
They were entirely unnecessary—pure embellishment Yami had added during idle experimentation, recreating a detail from memory.
Orochimaru's golden pupils narrowed slightly at the sight.
For a brief moment, he actually suspected hidden meaning—some concealed mechanism within the carvings.
Only when the storm of shuriken struck the wall in a flurry of metallic impacts and exploding dust did he realize—
They were merely decorative.
The realization flickered across his gaze.
Even so, he did not hesitate.
In the next instant, Orochimaru vanished—reappearing silently behind Yami.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
The hiss of serpents split the air.
Yami reacted without hesitation, hurling several specially crafted kunai backward with tremendous force.
The impact disrupted the momentum of the lunging snakes just enough—
Enough for him to create distance.
His hands formed seals again.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A blazing dragon of flame roared forth—hotter and fiercer than before.
This time, Yami was no longer holding back.
Interest deepened in Orochimaru's gaze.
He did not clash head-on.
Instead, his body melted into the earth.
When he resurfaced, he stood at the far end of the training ground.
Yami understood immediately—
Conventional ninjutsu exchanges were merely probing tactics against someone of Orochimaru's caliber.
Compared to his battle against the Third Mizukage of Kirigakure—also a Kage-level opponent—
Orochimaru's pressure felt even greater.
The Mizukage had been a traditional shinobi—devastating techniques, but each move traceable, logical.
Orochimaru's serpentine combat style, however, was a nightmare for ordinary ninja.
Without absolute focus, Yami had no doubt he would be overturned.
"Enough testing with standard ninjutsu."
Yami inhaled deeply.
The flow of chakra within him shifted violently.
"Eight Gates — Fourth Gate — Gate of Pain… Open!"
Green energy shimmered across his skin.
His speed skyrocketed.
His figure blurred—
And in the next instant he was before Orochimaru.
A savage Leaf Great Whirlwind tore through the air.
Orochimaru raised an arm to block.
His body moved like a boneless creature, dispersing the force unnaturally—
Even so, the sheer power of Yami's kick forced him back half a step.
For the first time, surprise surfaced clearly in his eyes.
"So this is the Eight Gates…"
On the battlefield of the Land of Rain, he had heard reports: Yami had used this forbidden taijutsu to break through encirclement despite grievous injury.
But witnessing it firsthand was different.
Far different from what intelligence reports had suggested.
As Yami accelerated further, the green aura thickened.
His skin flushed faintly red from friction with the air.
His attacks exploded like a torrential storm.
Fists.
Kicks.
Elbows.
Knees.
Every limb became a lethal weapon.
Every strike carried crushing force.
Orochimaru weaved like drifting willow silk within the barrage.
Even someone of his level was forced to take the exchange seriously.
After several clashes, his keen mind noticed something unusual—
With the Fourth Gate open, Yami displayed none of the expected physical backlash.
"No obvious bodily strain…" Orochimaru observed aloud mid-battle, his voice tinged with the fervor of a scientist discovering a specimen.
"It seems your constitution is indeed special—able to withstand the side effects of the Eight Gates."
Yami did not respond.
He appeared wholly immersed in combat—
Yet his eyes were constantly scanning, calculating.
"Let's end this."
Orochimaru's tone was casual.
He disengaged from taijutsu.
His mouth opened—
No hand seals required.
"Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!"
An overwhelming mass of venomous serpents poured from his mouth, writhing in suffocating density.
Yami prepared a counter—
But Orochimaru's hands flashed through seals in an instant.
"Genjutsu: Narakumi no Jutsu."
Orochimaru had studied Yami's file carefully.
He had identified the weakness.
Perhaps out of amusement, he chose a genjutsu designed to evoke fear from the depths of one's heart.
Yami's body froze for a fraction of a second as the illusion struck.
That single moment was enough.
The serpents surged forward—
Wrapping him completely into a writhing cocoon of scales and coils.
Thankfully, the violent chakra from the Eight Gates provided partial resistance.
They did not pierce through immediately.
However—
What Orochimaru had not realized—
Was that during their earlier exchange of techniques, Yami had subtly maneuvered him, step by step, into a specific area of the field.
Just as the serpents tightened—
Just as they were about to fully breach his defense—
"Shhhk—!"
Yami vanished.
In the next instant, he reappeared behind Orochimaru—
Exactly at the landing point of the specially thrown kunai from earlier.
The distance between them was minimal.
Not fully point-blank—
But close enough.
Yami's eyes gleamed.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"