The gap between their strength was like heaven and earth. Even if they cast the same jutsu, Natsume Yō could never match Orochimaru.
The Dragon Fire tore through the forest like a razor's edge, slicing trees in half as if they were paper. Had Yō been even a heartbeat slower, his body would've been ash.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
The moment he reappeared, five gaping maws lunged at him, venomous fangs flashing in the dark. A chill raced down his spine.
"Kenjutsu: Blade of Wind!"
A slash of cold light—five snake heads dropped to the dirt. Yō vanished, flickering past Orochimaru's guard to stab at his back.
Clang!
A kunai blocked his strike. Orochimaru's body twisted like a serpent, left hand whipping forward—ten snakes erupted from his sleeve, surging straight at Yō.
Hiss!
Too fast. The fangs sank in—only for the body to pop into a log. Substitution Jutsu.
"Whssh!"
The real Yō appeared behind him again, kunai in hand. But Orochimaru's golden eyes flicked back just in time. Yō retreated instantly, hurling two kunai as a parting shot.
Clink! Clink!Orochimaru swatted them aside with casual ease, then flicked his own blade straight at Yō midair—no room to dodge.
But Yō only smiled.
The snake's heart jolted. An explosion roared behind him, wind chakra howling in his ears. Even Orochimaru's skin prickled.
"Wind Release: Rasengan!!"
"Evil Serpent's Wriggle!"
Orochimaru wasn't a Sannin for nothing. He conjured a giant serpent to block, walling himself off from the incoming jutsu.
Squelch!
The beast's flesh shredded instantly, the Rasengan's violent storm carving its body into chunks. Blood sprayed, a head exploded—and from the gore, Yō's Shadow Clone burst forward, blade raised to strike again.
But Orochimaru had already slipped aside, his soft-body technique twisting unnaturally. One hand snapped out, seized the clone, and hurled it into a tree. Bang! The clone vanished in smoke.
When he turned back—Natsume Yō was gone.
The Wind Rasengan had only ever been a feint. Yō knew better than to fight a monster like Orochimaru head-on. He wasn't here to win—he was here to survive.
That brief relief he'd felt after handling the Uchiha? Shattered. Against this world's real predators, he was still far too weak.
叮!Mission Complete: Escape Successful!Reward: +50 XP, +100 gold, 1 lottery chance!
叮!Congratulations, host has advanced to Jōnin rank!Achievement unlocked: "Little Prodigy" — Surpassed Uchiha Shisui!Reward: Elite Jōnin Experience Scroll x1, Ninjutsu Attribute Enhancement Scroll x1!
Back home, Yō slumped against the wall, heart still racing. For the first time in a long while, the system's generous rewards barely registered. All he could think about was that chilling golden gaze, and how close he had come to never escaping it.