In a flash, as Orochimaru's head hurtled within five meters of Sasuke, a thunderous roar of a thousand Chidori suddenly erupted from Sasuke's body. Chakra energy surged violently, transforming into crackling lightning energy.
Countless hissing, zigzagging electric snakes writhed across his body, converging into a full-body armor of lightning. The interwoven sparks and dazzling flashes forced Orochimaru to instinctively squint against the blinding glare.
'Thunder Blade Technique: Thunder Armor!'
Though the Thunder Armor still seemed somewhat impractical to Sasuke, lacking the physical augmentation of a lightning-attribute chakra mode and offering far inferior defensive capabilities—its simulated replication of key chakra path and chakra pool now provided sufficient protection against most close-range attacks.
With a sharp crackle and an ear-piercing grinding noise, Orochimaru's fangs bit into Sasuke's lightning armor.
The lightning's power and its unique paralyzing effect instantly jolted him with a teeth-aching pain and a numbing shock that coursed through his entire body.
Sasuke slashed the Futsu-no-Mitama Sword, unleashing a cascading torrent of blindingly bright lightning that struck Orochimaru, who was paralyzed.
Layer upon layer, the lightning chain, crackling with infinite thunder and electrical sparks, pierced Orochimaru like the Thunder God's spear!
'BOOM!'
The Thunder God's spear exploded with a deafening roar of thunder. Concentric shockwaves rippled outward, scattering fiery sparks like grinding steel and eerie electric serpents in all directions.
Orochimaru was engulfed in the sea of lightning. Within a ten-meter radius, trees were reduced to floating, burning debris, rapidly vaporizing in the searing heat.
"Hahaha! I knew you wouldn't go down that easily, Sasuke!" Naruto's boisterous voice rang out as he and Sakura leaped to Sasuke's side.
"Is he finished?" Sakura exhaled in relief. She had been about to intervene when Sasuke was paralyzed, but his swift counterattack had forced her to hastily retract her Water Severing Wave.
"Not yet. Stay vigilant," Sasuke replied grimly, his brow furrowed as he stared at Orochimaru's charred corpse, now blackened like coal.
Sasuke's deduction about Orochimaru proved accurate. In addition to the Serpent-Type Ninjutsu and Forbidden Techniques he displayed in the original storyline, Orochimaru also possessed mastery over Sound Ninjutsu and Genjutsu.
After all, he was their creator; these techniques simply weren't showcased in the original narrative.
While the Sharingan is renowned as a Genjutsu-specializing eye, claiming it's invulnerable to other forms of Genjutsu would be an oversimplification.
At least in the original timeline, both the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and even the Rinnegan, had fallen prey to Sound Genjutsu.
The Demonic Flute: Phantom Sound Chains could only be completely countered by Sasuke and Itachi by using Mangekyō Sharingan Genjutsu against each other.
The Toad Chorus, moreover, instantly annihilated three Pain clones.
Later, when the Six Paths of Pain confronted them, Nagato dared not allow the two Toad Sages to unleash the Toad Chorus again.
Fortunately, Orochimaru hadn't mastered Sage Mode like Kabuto would later.
He could only trap the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, but couldn't restrain Sasuke, who already wielded the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Otherwise, Sasuke would have been forced to meekly accept Orochimaru's Cursed Seal.
Suddenly, the charred corpse of Orochimaru on the ground began to stir. Its mouth stretched impossibly wide, and a brand-new Orochimaru, covered in strange viscous fluid, crawled out from the husk.
'Great Serpent Substitution Technique!'
A perfect substitution technique requiring no hand seals, but it drains massive amounts of Chakra from anyone but Orochimaru, whose body has long been transformed into a White Scale Serpent.
"How can he still be alive after all that? This ninjutsu is utterly absurd!" Sakura exclaimed, following Sasuke's gaze and staring in disbelief.
'What kind of ninjutsu is this?'
'He was so gravely injured, on the verge of death, yet he's instantly restored to perfect health?'
'Even the legendary Lady Tsunade's medical ninjutsu couldn't achieve such a feat!'
"You've truly exceeded my expectations, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said, stretching his joints. His face darkened as he glanced at the Futsu-no-Mitama Sword in Sasuke's hand before fixing his gaze on Sasuke himself.
Though this was their first meeting, Orochimaru was well aware of Sasuke's exploits: his defeat of Aoi Rokusho to obtain the Thunder God Sword, and his subsequent victory over Kurosuki Raiga to claim the Thunder Blade Kiba.
The thunder sword Sasuke now wielded must be the fused and reforged artifact of legend.
His golden, vertically elongated pupils fixed on Sasuke, Orochimaru suddenly grinned with curiosity.
"To think, just three months after defeating Kurosuki Raiga, you've already mastered his Thunder Blade Technique so thoroughly. It truly makes me wonder, what are the limits of your talent, heh heh heh?"
"You know so much about Sasuke... What are you after? Is Sasuke the reason you're here?"
Sakura's eyes narrowed at Orochimaru's words. Recalling his persistent interest in Sasuke, she felt a jolt of alarm and demanded loudly, "What do you want with Sasuke?"
"Heh, you could say that's part of it," Orochimaru replied, nodding in acknowledgment.
"I had originally planned to give Sasuke-kun a little greeting gift, but the scent hounds are closing in. Perhaps I'll save this opportunity for another time."
As he spoke, his gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Sasuke. His voice suddenly turned husky and seductive.
"I can see, Sasuke-kun, that you and I are kindred spirits—individuals who crave power. Your talent rivals your brother's, but if you wish to kill him and exact your revenge, your current strength falls far short. Come, join me. I will grant you everything you desire."
"Stop deluding yourself! You bastard! Sasuke is nothing like you!"
Sakura stepped protectively in front of Sasuke like a kitten guarding its food, snapping, "You can't even defeat Sasuke! What nonsense are you spouting about giving him power? Sasuke is a genius! He'll become the strongest ninja in the world without your help!"
"Hahahaha! How amusing!" Orochimaru chuckled wickedly, turning his interested gaze toward Sakura, who had interrupted him yet again. "Haruno Sakura, was it? You're quite the talented child yourself. If I had met you sooner, I might have taken you as my disciple."
Sakura scoffed dismissively. "Spare me your delusions! Even the thought of dealing with a traitor like you makes me sick!"
"Another one brainwashed by the old man's hypocritical dogma," Orochimaru said with a hint of regret in his voice.
"Hey, you snake-faced creep!" Naruto suddenly interjected, his expression fiercely annoyed. "Why are you only trying to tempt Sasuke and Sakura? What about the great Naruto?"
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