Chapter 119: The Renegade Grass Ninja, Part I
Hatake Sakumo idly watched the old monk walk farther and farther away. He was full of questions, yet even when the monk passed by him, he didn't give in to his curiosity and approach him. He had obediently followed Orochimaru's instruction: listen more, observe more, think more, and do more, talk less.
Only when the monk disappeared from view did Sakumo slowly withdraw his gaze. In his mind, the old monk possessed a strange quality. He could tell the monk was blind, but what was most peculiar was that when the monk passed by him, he had the exact same sensation as when he first met Orochimaru: the feeling of being completely seen through.
However, the monk's feeling was different from Orochimaru's. If Orochimaru was like a scalpel, sharply slicing a person open to look through them, the old monk felt like an invisible X-ray—a subtle sensation, yet one that confirmed his entire being was completely exposed.
Just as Sakumo was lost in thought, a terrifying sword aura suddenly erupted from the dilapidated temple, piercing the roof and shooting straight into the clouds.
Stunned by the horrific pillar of killing aura, Sakumo immediately snapped back to reality. His gaze, tinged with alarm, was fixed on the terrifying, towering sword aura. He felt the White Light Blade (White Fang) on his person vibrating incessantly, seemingly a mixture of excitement and fear—a reaction even he, its long-time master, could not decipher.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Orochimaru emerged from the temple.
As Orochimaru's figure approached, the hint of terror in Sakumo's eyes deepened, and the White Light Blade's agitation intensified.
Feeling the intensified, more vast and profound aura and presence emanating from Orochimaru compared to a moment ago, Sakumo was filled with complex emotions. What he had heard from his father, combined with what he had witnessed on this journey, the torrent of surprises delivered by this peer—who was not much older than himself—was astonishing. Like Orochimaru's lightning-fast growth in power, it was so impressive that he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of admiration.
Orochimaru stepped out of the temple, glanced at Sakumo, and, keenly sensing the White Light Blade's agitation, said calmly: "All right, let's go."
Sakumo nodded. He didn't ask where they were going or say anything more, simply following closely behind Orochimaru. However, his eyes kept glancing at the sword hilt poking out from Orochimaru's back.
Trouble in the Grassland
Although the Land of Grass was economically backward, perhaps due to its proximity to the Land of Fire, its climate and environment were surprisingly similar. Everywhere they went, there were dense forests and grasslands, and the natural scenery was quite pleasant. Occasionally, the view would open up to reveal layers of terraced fields and homes.
The nation as a whole was not rich, but many of its people seemed content and lived relatively happy lives.
Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo were currently traversing a forest. In the distance, they could vaguely see the layers of terraced fields and a collection of homes, seemingly a small village of about a hundred people.
Sakumo, whose spirits were slightly weary after a few days of camping and travel in the forest, couldn't help but quicken his pace upon seeing this scene.
Suddenly, Orochimaru revealed a playful smile. His powerful spiritual energy sensed strong chakra fluctuations emanating from the village ahead.
Orochimaru immediately pulled back the oblivious Sakumo and said calmly: "Don't rush. There are chakra fluctuations in the village ahead. Be alert. Let's go see what's happening."
Upon hearing this, Sakumo's eyes instantly narrowed. He immediately became cautious.
The two lowered their presence and stealthily moved to a small hill above the terraced fields, where they looked down at the scene unfolding in the village.
The small village, which should have been quiet and peaceful, had been transformed into a living hell.
They saw a ninja covered in blood frantically fleeing in front, constantly leaping and maneuvering, scrambling across the village rooftops. He was skillfully using the houses to dodge the Ninjutsu being launched by the several ninja chasing him.
High-temperature flames and fierce gales, though missing the fleeing ninja, utterly destroyed the homes, sending the civilians inside to the netherworld.
The innocent villagers, realizing that their houses offered no safety, poured out of their homes, crying, screaming, and scattering in panic.
This, however, played right into the hands of the fleeing ninja, who moved through the noisy, terrified crowd without hesitation, occasionally striking the villagers with a venomous Ninjutsu to leave a "surprise" for the pursuing ninja behind him.
After carelessly losing two comrades, the remaining five pursuing ninja seemed to be overcome by bloodlust. They simultaneously used Ninjutsu, sweeping away the scattering villagers. In an instant, the area was littered with dozens of corpses and shocking pools of crimson blood.
And with that delay, the treacherous fleeing ninja had already run far away.
Sakumo, who had been observing from the side for some time, was filled with indignation and anger. However, with only Chūnin-level strength, he was no match for the five pursuing ninja, who were also of Chūnin rank. Powerless, he kept looking toward Orochimaru.
Orochimaru, observing with cold eyes, noticed something interesting. The fleeing ninja gave him a similar feeling—the kind of person who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Orochimaru naturally caught the meaning in Sakumo's gaze, but he didn't mind. He simply licked his lips and smiled playfully, unhooking the Muramasa from his back. He wanted to test the blade's edge and power, and these pursuing ninja, though a little weak, were perfectly timed.
Orochimaru held the Demon Blade Muramasa. As the white medical bandages slowly fell away and the Muramasa's original appearance was fully revealed, a dominant aura—a fusion of Orochimaru's own killing intent and the malice contained within the Demon Blade Muramasa—suddenly swept across the entire area, encompassing the five pursuing ninja from above.
Orochimaru's dense killing aura was already close to becoming tangible. Now, having obtained and fused with the Muramasa's malice, it immediately crossed that threshold.
A tangible black giant serpent of killing aura elegantly, yet menacingly, unfurled behind Orochimaru, exuding an icy, cold presence like a blizzard in the northern depths of winter.
As Orochimaru's murderous dark-golden eyes fell upon the five pursuing ninja below, the black serpent's icy, inhuman snake eyes stared back at the ninja as well.
The five pursuing ninja had already sensed Orochimaru's presence as he moved, but before they could fully gauge his strength, the sight of those icy snake eyes caused a collective panic. They felt like nestlings in a bird's nest who had suddenly discovered a terrifying mottled giant python, their faces turning ashen and their hearts filled with terror.
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