Orochimaru stood up. The bones throughout his body let out crisp, popping sounds, "Crack! Crack! Crack!—" Waves of robust, surging power instantly filled his entire body.
He closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and adopted a look of deep intoxication as he felt the newfound power coursing through him. In just one night, his physical strength and power had increased by more than half, and his body's agility had also significantly improved.
Fully satisfied, Orochimaru glanced around the quiet room. He deliberately left a few unnoticeable personal habits in specific spots. Then, he wove the complex unsealing hand signs and peeled the talisman off the door.
Stepping out, he resealed the door with the talisman, just as it had been before. Orochimaru looked at the bright morning light, walked to an ancient tree in the courtyard, and sat down cross-legged. He began forming the practice seals, purifying and refining the chakra within his body.
The morning is the best time for planning. If a Hyūga clan member were present and activated their Byakugan, they would be astonished to find that Orochimaru's chakra system was continuously extracting a massive amount of extremely pure chakra from the significantly upgraded physical strength of the night before, combined with his vast spiritual power.
Because the amount of chakra increasing so dramatically in a short time was astonishing, subtle breezes began to generate around Orochimaru. Small, fragmented wind spirals, like lamb's horns, stirred up fallen leaves around his body, making them dance.
The faint wind moved his black hair, making his pale face appear as cold and transcendent as a deity.
Chi stepped out of his bedroom. Upon seeing Orochimaru sitting cross-legged under the ancient tree, his dark-black pupils shone with intense fervor and devotion. This had evolved into a form of faith. In his heart, Orochimaru, the man who had pulled him out of the darkness, was everything—he was the God he had to serve and repay with his life.
Chi hid his turbulent emotions behind a peaceful, almost dull exterior. He tried to soften his footsteps as much as possible, walking to another ancient tree not far from Orochimaru. He settled into the shade, burying his body in the shadow, hugging his knees to his chest. His eyes, peering out from beneath the black hair that nearly obscured his vision, watched the figure he idolized and looked up to.
Orochimaru's powerful spiritual energy seemed to sense the presence and gaze of another. He withdrew from his meditative state, opened his eyes, and looked in Chi's direction. He smiled slightly and beckoned, "Chi, come here!"
A flash of barely contained excitement crossed Chi's slightly vacant expression. He sprang to his feet like lightning and respectfully walked to Orochimaru's side.
Orochimaru surveyed the environment of the courtyard. Several ancient, towering trees created shadows that covered nearly half the yard.
He nodded and said to Chi, "You've been training for a while now. Come, let me see your special ability and the results of your training!"
Chi showed signs of hesitation and reluctance. He lowered his head and spoke in his usual stutter, yet his tone was firm: "M-master, I won't attack you, a-attack..."
Chi stammered for a while, unable to find the right words.
Orochimaru paused, understanding Chi's meaning. Looking at Chi, who was a year younger but half a head shorter than himself, Orochimaru reached out and patted his shoulder: "It's nothing serious. I just want to observe your abilities."
Then, Orochimaru paused, his gaze flickering as he continued, "You also need to prove your worth to me."
Hearing Orochimaru's last sentence, Chi's hesitation vanished. He needed to prove his existence to the man he adored, to prove that he was useful!
Orochimaru detected Chi's shift and smiled faintly. He pointed to the shadows of the ancient trees that covered half the courtyard: "I'll stand right here in the shadow. Use your ability and attack me with everything you've got!"
Chi nodded.
Orochimaru suddenly felt a subtle chakra ripple around Chi. The shadow beneath Chi's feet immediately rippled strangely, like the surface of a pond. Chi's small body slowly sank into the dense, dark shadow.
Carefully sensing Chi's disappearance into the shadow, Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth with interest. His eyes showed the excitement of discovering something new: "Yes, it's a Bloodline Limit! A unique and fascinating Bloodline Limit!"
Under the detection of Orochimaru's powerful spiritual energy, the moment Chi disappeared into the shadow, the surrounding shadows instantly exuded an inexplicable strangeness, like a forest teeming with ferocious beasts and venomous insects—a chilling danger hidden beneath a calm surface.
Without warning, a chilling presence suddenly manifested behind him.
Orochimaru's mind reacted instantly. He abruptly shifted his stance and ducked low, evading the sharp kunai that swept past his back. Bracing his right hand on the ground, he counterattacked with a swift, mid-air whip kick, which cut through the air with a subtle whoosh.
Chi, lacking combat experience, clearly didn't react in time. Although he managed to raise his arm to guard, the powerful kick sent him flying backward.
With a "Boom!—" he was sent crashing into the towering ancient tree behind him by the heavy, powerful whip kick. Orochimaru had held back his strength at the last moment, so Chi only felt a momentary tightness in his chest. A look of disbelief instantly crossed his face; he hadn't realized he was so weak compared to Orochimaru!
In an instant, the resilient nature that had been forged by the bandits who had tormented him took over. Chi hardened his expression, activated his unique Bloodline Limit, and submerged into the shadow once more.
In the subsequent attacks, Chi gradually incorporated the assassination principles Orochimaru had written for him, combining them with his unique Bloodline Limit. His movements became increasingly bizarre and elusive, posing a growing threat to Orochimaru.
Screech!—
Finally, during one attack, a corner of Orochimaru's robe was torn. Satisfied, he nodded and began to utilize Ninjutsu.
A faint excitement shone in his dark-golden snake eyes. Orochimaru's hands, which were concealed within the wide sleeves of his pale-moon kimono, moved slightly!
Hidden Shadow Multi Snake Hand: The Serpent Coil Formation!
Twenty to thirty mottled, venomous pythons, each as thick as an adult's arm, suddenly shot out from the wide kimono sleeves. Their ferocious mouths and venomous fangs were bared as they continuously slithered and patrolled around Orochimaru, vigilant. Their slender tongues flickered constantly, emitting the eerie "Hiss, hiss, hiss—" sounds.
From an aerial perspective, these twenty to thirty pythons circling Orochimaru looked like a massive, coiled snake formation, with Orochimaru acting as the head, poised to strike.
Orochimaru looked at the pythons surrounding him and nodded slightly. This technique was an application of the Hidden Shadow Multi Snake Hand. As his chakra grew stronger in the future, the number of summoned pythons would increase. These pythons could defend and counterattack autonomously or under his direct control. With sufficient numbers, it was a respectable defensive strategy.
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