A kunai silently slid from his sleeve, caught precisely by Orochimaru's right hand.
Without the slightest hesitation, he flicked his wrist, the sharp blade slicing directly toward Shinji's arm.
Uchiha Shinji, after graduating, was grouped with Sarutobi Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi.
He was originally just an ordinary member of the Uchiha Clan.
Several months ago, he suddenly awakened the Sharingan and personally experienced the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.
Since then, his strength began to skyrocket, even repelling Hiruko at the Fire Temple.
Now, he had even become Tsunade's student.
This was all the information Orochimaru had gathered about Shinji over the past few days.
Even he had to admit that the young man before him could be considered a genius.
Orochimaru had always looked down on Hiruko, but as a contemporary, he knew the other's strength well.
Yet such an elite powerhouse had been defeated by Shinji.
He was certain that Uchiha Shinji's body must harbor some secret, allowing his strength to advance by leaps and bounds and even awaken Storm Release.
"As long as I obtain your flesh and blood, I can analyze the secret within you."
Orochimaru's gaze gradually grew fervent.
Just as the kunai was about to strike—
The sleeping Shinji vanished with a "poof," dissipating into a wisp of smoke.
Orochimaru's hands froze instantly, realizing immediately.
"A Shadow Clone!"
The bedroom door was violently smashed open.
Shinji burst out from behind the door.
In his right hand, violent lightning churned and condensed fiercely.
His crimson Sharingan locked onto Orochimaru's every movement.
In the cramped bedroom, Orochimaru had nowhere to dodge.
Just as the Chidori was about to strike, Orochimaru chuckled lightly, his legs suddenly kicking off, his body leaping upward and crashing straight through the ceiling.
Wood splinters flew as a large hole opened in the roof.
Orochimaru leaped out through the hole in the ceiling.
The lightning in Shinji's palm slowly dissipated. He looked up at the hole and, without the slightest hesitation, chased after him.
Simultaneously, he gritted his teeth inwardly:
"This is my house! That bastard Orochimaru!"
Ever since the day he told Tsunade about possessing Storm Release, he had been on guard these past few days.
He had thought it would be Danzo who came knocking, and Shinji had secretly investigated for a long time but found no members of "Root" tailing him.
He had deliberately left a Shadow Clone in the bedroom pretending to be asleep to deceive any intruder.
His true body lay in wait on the first floor, using Transparent Escape to completely conceal his form and presence, waiting for the opponent to fall into the trap so he could capture them in one strike.
But he never expected that the one breaking in tonight would be that pervert Orochimaru.
Leaping out through the roof hole, Shinji landed steadily on his own rooftop.
Looking up, on another rooftop in the distance, Orochimaru was gazing over, speaking in a sinister tone:
"Uchiha Shinji, you are becoming an increasingly interesting little fellow."
"It seems you anticipated someone would come looking for you?"
Shinji's expression was impassive as he said coldly:
"Lord Orochimaru, breaking into the Uchiha Clan Territory in the dead of night—aren't you afraid of being apprehended by the Police Force?"
"And breaking into my bedroom... do you have some ulterior motive?"
These words were merely formalities.
Given Orochimaru's current status and influence within the village, as long as he didn't betray the village, no one would dare move against him lightly.
"I admire you. Why not leave Tsunade and become my disciple?"
Orochimaru completely ignored Shinji's question, his long tongue lightly licking the corner of his mouth, his tone carrying a seductive note.
"I am more suited for you than Tsunade. If you truly seek power, I have inexhaustible resources here."
Shinji neither agreed nor disagreed. Orochimaru wasn't wrong.
If it were right after graduating from the Ninja Academy, faced with such an offer, he would have agreed without hesitation.
But times were different now. After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, he at full power might not be inferior to Orochimaru.
Moreover, choosing between Orochimaru and Tsunade... the answer was obvious.
He chose Tsunade!
"My apologies, Lord Orochimaru. I still prefer to continue studying Medical Ninjutsu under my teacher Tsunade."
Shinji directly refused.
The smile on Orochimaru's face slowly faded. Being rejected to his face was a first for him.
He snorted coldly, a trace of malice subtly spreading around him.
"Opportunities don't come every day. Let me measure exactly how much skill Tsunade's disciple possesses."
Before his words finished, Orochimaru's arm suddenly swung, his entire right arm instantly transforming into countless writhing snake shadows, swarming toward Shinji to bite and tear.
Shinji's hands rapidly formed hand seals, his chest heaving violently.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Boom—
The orange-red fireball and the swarm of snakes collided mid-air, locked in intense stalemate.
High temperatures fiercely scorched the snakes' bodies. Countless venomous snakes twisted in agony within the flames, turning to ash, but new snake shadows continuously replenished them in an instant.
Black venom dripped incessantly onto the ground, corroding smoking pits into the stone slabs.
The intense sounds of battle instantly alerted the patrolling Police Force ninja.
Shisui, seeing the towering flames in the distance, his expression suddenly tense, immediately rushed toward the battlefield.
Orochimaru's assault didn't lessen. His hands slammed onto the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
Dust exploded on both sides of the street as two brown giant snakes, nearly ten meters long, materialized with a roar.
Orochimaru raised his hand, pointing directly at Shinji.
The two giant snakes raised their heads, emitting piercing hisses. A foul, bloody wind swept forward as they dragged their massive bodies, charging with a devastating momentum.
Shinji didn't retreat but advanced instead. His figure shifted sideways like a ghost, easily evading the two giant snakes' pounce.
The next moment, he had already leaped into the air.
Crossing his arms before his chest, a sharp blue-white ring of light condensed between his fists.
"Storm Release: Laser Circus!"
Several blue-white beams shot out from the ring of light. Under Shinji's control, they spun and curved at high speed, instantly piercing through the bodies of the two giant snakes.
The giant snakes emitted mournful shrieks. Their mangled, bloody bodies crashed down heavily, completely crushing Shinji's house.
A brilliant light surged in Orochimaru's eyes.
"So it truly is Storm Release."
"Uchiha Shinji, I want you more and more."
A sudden chill of disgust rose in Shinji's heart. Another pervert had set his sights on him.
The last time he felt this way was after repelling Hiruko.
It must have been Orochimaru!
Such a huge commotion had already alarmed the surrounding residents. More and more people emerged from their homes, watching the battlefield from afar, scattering in panic.
At that moment, Shisui finally arrived.
At a glance, seeing Shinji on the rooftop, he immediately leaped to stand before him, warily looking toward the distant enemy.
"Shinji-senpai!"
But when he clearly saw the opponent's face, Shisui froze.
"It's... Lord Orochimaru."
More and more Police Force ninja arrived one after another, surrounding the battlefield, yet none dared to step forward lightly.
Orochimaru withdrew the aura around him, indifferently scanning the encircling Uchiha clansmen, not a trace of fear on his face.
Then, his gaze turned to the right as he slowly spoke.
"Fugaku, your Uchiha Clan has truly produced an extraordinary individual."
Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward slowly from the crowd, his expression grave.
He glanced over the two confronting figures and asked in a deep voice:
"What exactly happened here?"
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