Chapter 38: The Sound Five vs. Hatake Kakashi
In Naruto, who is the most overestimated ninja?
I dare not say, lest I get flamed online.
But the most underestimated ninja is definitely Orochimaru.
During the Chunin Exams, Sasuke seemed to fight Orochimaru to a standstill in the Forest of Death, even causing Orochimaru to show expressions.
Sasuke tormented him.
Toge instantly defeated him.
Compared to the demonstrated prowess of Jiraiya and Tsunade, the other two Sannin, Orochimaru even seemed unworthy of the Sannin title.
However, if one were to judge Orochimaru purely based on the anime's portrayal and consider him a foolish joke, that would truly be like lighting a lamp in a latrine — asking for death.
Uchiha Ren had a brain.
He continuously released two Grand Fireball Jutsu in one breath!
His objective wasn't to kill Orochimaru.
He even felt that Orochimaru withstanding his Grand Fireball Jutsu wouldn't even be an issue.
The reason he so decisively used the Grand Fireball Jutsu was purely to signal to Kakashi.
This was his only chance for survival.
Even if the odds were slim.
The moment Uchiha Ren unleashed the Grand Fireball Jutsu, his Sharingan spun rapidly in his eyes, emitting an intense red glow.
Under his powerful attack, a large hole was blasted in the room, and smoke and flames surged out, illuminating the night sky.
Without hesitation, he quickly leaped out of the room under the cover of the fireballs, his figure swiftly running across the rooftops.
Suddenly!
He felt a chill down his spine!
He felt that he had been locked onto by a dangerous aura!
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
He had no time to think, instinctively rolling to the side!
Almost at the same moment, a powerful gust of wind swept past the spot where he had just stood, carrying destructive force and slicing through everything in its path!
Boom!
The entire rooftop was blown away by the impact of this wind, scattering wood shards and tiles everywhere, the scene a chaotic mess!
Uchiha Ren dodged the direct attack, his heart pounding wildly in his chest; he knew he had just brushed past death!
Orochimaru stood his ground, maintaining his blowing posture. A hint of surprise flickered in his eyes. Without further hesitation, he lightly leaped and appeared behind Uchiha Ren!
Orochimaru's head moved forward as his neck extended, his eyes locked onto Uchiha Ren.
He opened his mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and bit forward!
The imagined contact didn't occur. A look of appreciation flashed in his eyes.
Bang!
The attack missed again. His long neck whipped through the air, clearly having only struck Uchiha Ren's clone.
The smoke dissipated, Uchiha Ren's clone vanished, and he himself had used this opportunity to jump onto a nearby rooftop.
Orochimaru retracted his long neck, his serpentine tongue flicked twice in the air, his voice low and hoarse: "Uchiha's talented prodigy... You truly make me look at you in a new light once more."
"Although not comparable to *that guy*, you'll suffice for now."
Uchiha Ren gasped for air, not wanting to be the 'bait' in this cat-and-mouse game at all. He once again clasped his hands together!
"Fire Release: Grand Fireball Jutsu!"
Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly!
"Still has Chakra?!"
"A talented prodigy."
Seeing the fireball appear, the surrounding geishas and prostitutes let out screams of terror!
However, Orochimaru seemed to have no intention to resist, standing still in place.
The moment the Grand Fireball Jutsu impacted his body, flames engulfed his figure, firelight soared into the sky, and heat waves swept across a vast expanse of the sky!
However.
As the firelight and smoke gradually dissipated, a shocking scene emerged!
Orochimaru actually stood there completely unharmed, holding a layer of fire-scorched snake skin he had just shed.
A smug smile appeared on his face, as if the recent flames were nothing more than a warm bath for him.
"Uchiha's prodigy, your flames are useless against me."
The hoarse voice pierced Uchiha Ren's ears: "Become my vessel obediently. That way, your body can exert its maximum potential. This is your honor."
"Forgive me for not knowing better!" Uchiha Ren pulled out a kunai. "Speaking of genius Uchihas, it's still Fugaku-sama's second son who deserves this special honor!"
With that, two kunai were thrown towards Orochimaru.
Orochimaru casually swung his neck, dodging the two kunai. "Heh heh, reaching your limit, prodigy?"
He certainly seemed to be out of Chakra.
But, a smug expression actually appeared in his eyes!
He swiftly pulled a wire, and a third, giant kunai, hidden until now, flew towards Orochimaru from another direction with astonishing speed!
Orochimaru's expression changed slightly. He felt the deadly threat contained within the giant kunai. His body twisted at a bizarre angle, attempting to evade this sudden attack!
However, Uchiha Ren's Sharingan had already predicted his evasive movements. He adjusted the wires, and the trajectory of the giant kunai changed with them, closely following his movements!
Finally! The giant kunai grazed his shoulder. Although it failed to inflict a fatal wound, it left a deep gash on his shoulder!
An astonished expression appeared on Orochimaru's face, which then turned to fanaticism!
"It's you! It's you!" Orochimaru grinned sinisterly as he shook his body, his snake skin beginning to shed.
As the new skin emerged, the wound inflicted by Uchiha Ren's Windmill Shuriken of Three Blades also vanished, as if it had never been there.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with the fanatic light of an evil cultist, staring intently at him!
"I've changed my mind, prodigy!" Orochimaru's voice revealed a chilling excitement, "You need to grow. The current you isn't enough! I can't take you as a vessel so early. Not enough, not enough!"
Uchiha Ren looked at the perverse Orochimaru before him, a deep sense of dread welling up in his heart.
Uchiha Ren took a deep breath, his voice tinged with despair and anger: "Kakashi! If you don't come out now, I'm going to die here!"
If the previous battle was considered "intense", Uchiha Ren was sure Kakashi must have noticed the situation here.
No sooner had his voice fallen than his gaze darted towards the distance!
In Uchiha Ren's line of sight, the distant horizon was dominated by a shocking spectacle!
Countless sharp bone spikes pierced through the earth and rooftops, forming a giant lotus-shaped bone flower!
The blossoming of this bone flower not only destroyed half a street's worth of buildings but also left a horrifying scar in the night sky!
Amidst this sudden disaster, a figure leaped atop the countless bone spikes, like dancing on knife edges.
His movements were agile and graceful; each leap avoided the sharp bone spikes, showcasing extraordinary agility and a keen perception of danger.
Uchiha Ren's pupils contracted slightly; he immediately recognized that figure.
At this moment, employing such an attack in this place, who else could it be but Hatake Kakashi?
Kakashi's figure weaved through the bone spikes. The *Make-Out Paradise* book, usually at his side, had long been put away. At this moment, his eyes held none of their usual indolence; instead, they were serious and vigilant.
Simultaneously, five figures were attacking Kakashi.
Their movements were swift and deadly, each strike carrying the power to destroy everything.
Among these attackers, the most robust was a skeletal figure!
Kimimaro!
This was the Sound Five! Their figures crisscrossed in the night sky, five people working together, catching Kakashi off guard!
"This is bad!"
Although the Sound Five couldn't kill Kakashi, they had plenty of bothersome tricks!
For a short time, Kakashi wouldn't even be able to save him; he would struggle just to protect himself.
Uchiha Ren briefly lost focus, the uncertainty in his heart causing him to relax his guard slightly.
Swoosh!
A whooshing sound came!
Uchiha Ren's pupils contracted slightly; he hastily turned his head!
Orochimaru, like a ghost, extended his neck once again and shot towards him!
Uchiha Ren wanted to form hand signs, but he found he couldn't even lift his hands!
His heart stopped abruptly!
He instantly realized that he had unknowingly fallen victim to Orochimaru's genjutsu!
Just as Orochimaru's fangs were almost about to pierce Uchiha Ren's neck, a loud shout exploded in his mind!
"Synchronization Ability! Quickly use Iron Block!!!"
(end of chapter)