Chapter 286: Manda
"...So it was the Flying Thunder God Technique." Orochimaru slowly stood from the rubble, licking the blood from his lips, his tone carrying an uncomfortably viscous quality. "I hadn't expected the coordinates to remain effective across such distance... Truly a touching rescue drama you've staged, Naruto-kun."
Being addressed with such intimate familiarity by Orochimaru made Naruto's skin crawl. But unfortunately, regarding everything this bastard had done, Naruto currently had zero interest in conversing with him—he only wanted to use his fists to make him shut up permanently.
"Is this the Nine-Tails' power? But have you considered..."
Orochimaru seemed to want to say more, attempting to distract with words or dangle bait. However, his words had barely begun when Naruto already responded with action.
A golden chakra giant fist tore through the air without warning, fiercely hammering toward Orochimaru!
BANG—!!
Orochimaru had no time whatsoever to mount effective defense. His entire body was once again sent flying like a broken sack, consecutively smashing through several large trees in the forest behind before stopping amid complete devastation.
Damn it... this brat's power and speed...! Orochimaru struggled to open his swollen eyes. In his field of vision, Naruto had already begun condensing a Rasengan in his hand, rushing toward him at high speed!
Intense crisis sense made Orochimaru disregard his injuries. He clenched his teeth, forcibly enduring the severe pain as he rapidly reached for his ninja tool pouch, shoving several food pills haphazardly into his mouth. As the medicinal effects dissolved, his chakra slightly recovered. His hands immediately formed seals at the fastest speed of his life!
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Massive white smoke shot skyward! A colossal creature comparable in size to a small Tailed Beast, its scales an ominous dark purple, descended thunderously into this forest—none other than Ryuchi Cave's premier summoned beast—Manda!
"Orochimaru," Manda's enormous vertical pupils impatiently surveyed the surroundings, "I've told you countless times—don't casually summon me for troublesome matters!"
"Manda... this time, after success, you can have as many live sacrifices as you want!" Orochimaru said urgently, pointing toward the golden glow below. "But the prerequisite is—you must help me eliminate the person before us!"
"Hm?" Manda's massive head lowered, looking toward that golden figure on the ground who seemed tiny as an ant in its eyes, merely somewhat glaring. "You summoned me just to deal with this kind of brat? Are you mocking me, bastard?!"
"Listen—after this time, you must prepare one thousand live sacrifices! One short and I'll devour you!"
Despite complaining profusely, Manda still fulfilled the contract. It released an earth-shaking hiss, its massive body diving fiercely toward Naruto below!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Facing this colossal creature's assault, Naruto's expression remained unchanged. He instantly threw several specially-made Flying Thunder God kunai. However, these kunai seemed extremely inaccurate, all landing around Manda's massive body without a single one touching its scales.
Hmph, has he been scared witless and started attacking randomly? Manda sneered disdainfully in its heart.
But in the very next moment—
Whoosh!
Naruto's figure vanished from its original position without warning!
Flying Thunder God Technique!
His figure instantly appeared beside one of those seemingly "missed" kunai that had coincidentally landed above Manda's head! The Rasengan in his hand showed no mercy, pressing down viciously toward Orochimaru's heart position as he stood atop the snake head, thinking himself safe!
Squelch!
However, the anticipated scene of blood and flesh flying didn't occur. The struck "Orochimaru's" body instantly softened, collapsed, transforming into a puddle of ordinary mud—merely an earth clone used to lure enemies!
"Got you!"
The real Orochimaru suddenly burst from the shadow of scales on Manda's neck! His jaw opened at an angle defying logic, and an even more ferocious white-scaled serpent covered in mucus shot forth, opening its massive maw to bite directly at Naruto's neck!
However—BOOM—!!
Just as the snake's mouth was about to touch Naruto's skin, a supremely majestic fox head formed entirely of golden chakra instantly condensed and manifested at Naruto's shoulder!
The instant the white snake contacted this supremely yang and forceful Nine-Tails chakra, it couldn't even manage a scream before disintegrating inch by inch from the head, turning to ash!
Moreover, that annihilation trend was traveling along the snake body, rapidly spreading toward Orochimaru's true body hiding behind!
"What?!" Orochimaru's pupils contracted violently. In shock, he unhesitatingly executed his life-preserving ultimate technique once again—Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement!
Poof!
A brand new Orochimaru emerged from the original body. Where he'd previously been, the original body along with his residual chakra completely turned to ash in the golden flames.
Wait... this chilling chakra is?!
Manda's enormous vertical pupils suddenly contracted. It finally clearly sensed not merely physical burning sensation from overhead, but a vast, violent, natural disaster-like terrifying aura!
This kind of chakra... absolutely unmistakable! It's a Tailed Beast!
As a premier summoned beast from the sacred ground Ryuchi Cave who'd survived long ages, Manda instantly identified this power's source. Its heart immediately erupted in curses.
Damn Orochimaru! No wonder he agreed so readily this time! Making me fight a jinchuriki to the death?!
It understood clearly what Tailed Beasts meant—mobile natural disasters, pure destruction incarnate! It had zero confidence confronting this level of monster.
Since its relationship with Orochimaru was merely cold transaction, Manda unhesitatingly chose the most realistic approach—immediate withdrawal!
Release the summoning! It mentally recited the contract incantation, attempting to mobilize chakra to return to Ryuchi Cave.
However—
"What... what?! Chakra... won't mobilize?!" Manda discovered with horror that the immense chakra within its body was like locked stagnant water, completely unable to respond to its summons!
BANG—!!!
Having lost his chakra control, its mountain-sized massive body could no longer maintain balance, crashing uncontrollably heavily toward the ground! The earth violently trembled as dust surged skyward like a tsunami, trees crushed and pulverized.
What's happening?! Manda struggled to rotate its massive eyeballs, glancing toward its own body with peripheral vision. It saw—several chains glowing with golden light tightly winding around its massive frame. Powerful sealing force flowed through the chains, completely suppressing its own chakra!
This is... Adamantine Sealing Chains?! The Uzumaki Clan's power?! Manda's heart filled with shock. This brat is not only a Tailed Beast jinchuriki but also inherited the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques?!
"Four Symbols Seal!"
Naruto's cold voice came. As his hands formed seals, pitch-black sealing runes rapidly crawled along the Adamantine Sealing Chains' path, covering Manda's dark purple scales and constructing a sealing barrier.
When the seal completed, the golden chains slowly dissipated. But Manda discovered with despair that it lacked even the strength to lift a single scale. Its massive body was completely fixed in place, only its eyeballs still able to rotate in terror.
It watched helplessly as that golden figure leapt lightly down from its head, landing before its enormous skull. Behind Naruto, two golden chakra giant claws slowly extended. In the palm centers, a deep black-purple sphere emanating annihilation aura was rapidly condensing.
Precisely a Tailed Beast Ball!