"Orochimaru!"
Just as the group had finished their brief skirmish, Chen Xing suddenly frowned. His expression tensed as his sensory perception spread outward—then his face changed.
"What's wrong?" Haku asked, noticing Chen Xing's sudden alertness.
"There's a powerful chakra approaching," Chen Xing said quietly, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the dense forest ahead. "A cold one… and strong—far beyond an ordinary jōnin."
A low, hoarse laugh slithered through the trees. "Oh… so the 'Peacock King' has sensed me already. Truly impressive."
The sound made everyone tense instantly. Out from the shadows of the forest stepped a tall, pale man wearing a pale-yellow kimono tied with a thick purple rope. His long black hair framed a face too calm, too serpentine. His golden slit pupils gleamed beneath purple markings that extended from his eyes to his nose.
Chen Xing's gaze hardened. That appearance… there's no mistaking it.
"Orochimaru," he muttered, his tone heavy.
Zabuza's pupils contracted sharply. "So it's you—the infamous traitor of Konoha."
"What?!" Momochi Haku and the others froze. The name of the Legendary Sannin carried weight even among missing-nin. Orochimaru—the man who had once been one of the Leaf's most feared shinobi—now stood before them.
Orochimaru stopped a few meters away, his golden eyes glinting with curiosity. "To think the so-called 'Peacock King' would be traveling with Kirigakure's Demon of the Hidden Mist… what a delightful surprise."
He tilted his head slightly, studying Chen Xing like a specimen. The young man's calm poise only seemed to intrigue him more.
"This has nothing to do with you," Chen Xing replied coolly.
Orochimaru's lips curved into a faint smile. "Heh… such hostility. But fate is amusing, isn't it? I stumble upon you by chance—and yet, it feels like destiny is being generous to me today."
Chen Xing could feel the faint, predatory greed behind Orochimaru's gaze. It wasn't simple curiosity—it was the hunger of a collector who had found something valuable.
"Orochimaru, what do you want?" Zabuza asked coldly, his massive blade already half-drawn. The mist-nin's killing intent filled the clearing.
Orochimaru's tongue briefly flicked over his lips before he replied, "I've established my own village—Otogakure. I was hoping to invite capable individuals like yourselves to join me."
"What?" Zabuza frowned, momentarily taken aback. Even as a missing-nin, he knew how difficult it was to form a legitimate shinobi village. The fact that Orochimaru had already done so was both impressive and unnerving.
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Power, jutsu, forbidden knowledge… whatever you desire. I can provide it all. Join me, and I'll make you stronger."
Zabuza's grip on his sword tightened. "Tch. You think I'd sell my soul that easily?"
Chen Xing chuckled softly. "Tempting offer, but I'll pass."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's smile didn't falter. "That's unfortunate. I had high hopes for you, Peacock King. You'd make a fascinating subject—ah, I mean ally."
Chen Xing's expression darkened. "People who show too much 'interest' in me usually aren't alive for long."
"Still defiant," Orochimaru hissed softly. His chakra began to stir, the air thick with killing intent. "Let's see if your confidence is earned."
Zabuza moved protectively in front of Haku and Songdao, but Chen Xing raised a hand. "Stay back. This fight's mine."
Orochimaru's smirk widened. "How brave."
Chen Xing's hand flashed, and a purple glow surged—the Sword of the Thunder God appeared in his grasp, lightning dancing across its edge.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with recognition. "That chakra blade… reminiscent of the Nidaime Hokage's Thunder God Sword. Interesting…"
"Good eye," Chen Xing replied calmly. "Let's see if you can handle it."
Lightning crackled violently as Chen Xing vanished forward. Orochimaru responded instantly, extending his tongue unnaturally as the Kusanagi Blade slid out from his mouth with a hiss, its tip gleaming with a pale sheen of chakra.
The two swords clashed with a screech of metal—lightning against wind-natured chakra—sparks exploded between them.
"Fast… and sharp," Orochimaru muttered, deflecting another strike. "But still inexperienced."
"Funny," Chen Xing replied coldly, his chakra flaring. "You sound like someone afraid to get close."
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Orochimaru's left sleeve burst open, several massive snakes lunging toward Chen Xing, fangs gleaming with venom.
"Chidori!"
The sound of a thousand birds chirping filled the air. Chen Xing's right hand burst into pure lightning as he thrust forward, piercing through the serpents in a flash of light and continuing toward Orochimaru.
But before the strike connected, Orochimaru's body crumbled into dirt and debris—Earth Clone.
"Tch." Chen Xing leapt back, scanning the trees. "Substitution already?"
From behind came that same hissing chuckle. "Hehehe… impressive. You really might be worth taking after all."