Chapter 39: The Strongest Genjutsu, Strongest Iron Block
At the critical moment, Uchiha Ren's mind stirred.
His muscles tensed in an instant, his skin becoming as hard as steel, his entire body seemingly covered by an invisible layer of armor!
His body swiftly entered the "Iron Block" state!
As Orochimaru's fangs snapped towards Uchiha Ren's neck.
"Clang~"
Orochimaru's fangs struck Uchiha Ren's neck, emitting a crisp metallic clang!
Orochimaru's mouth twitched slightly.
He felt that the neck he had bitten wasn't soft flesh.
But hard steel!
This caught Orochimaru completely off guard!
His fangs were merely a medium for applying Cursed Seals, and he wouldn't typically use them for a direct attack. Their hardness was indeed a bit greater than an ordinary shinobi's, but it was still far from the strength of iron.
The power of the Cursed Seal he'd imbued through his mouth failed to penetrate Uchiha Ren's body, leaving Orochimaru with an unprecedented sense of frustration.
"Too hard!" Orochimaru felt his jaw grow sore, and his fangs had loosened from the impact.
Unconvinced, Orochimaru increased his strength and bit down again!
He attempted to use his immense strength and the power of the Cursed Seal to pierce Uchiha Ren's defenses.
However, the result was identical.
Uchiha Ren's neck remained as hard as iron, and Orochimaru's attack caused no substantial damage.
A flicker of surprise crossed Orochimaru's eyes. He had never encountered anything like this.
"Is it Earth Release?"
"No, there's no Chakra flow whatsoever."
"Then what is it?"
"Could it be?! I've fallen into a genjutsu?!"
Orochimaru clapped his hands together and roared, "Release!"
Three seconds passed.
A gentle breeze ruffled Orochimaru's long hair.
He gazed at Uchiha Ren, who was under the effect of the Golden Cocoon Jutsu, feeling utterly perplexed, still unable to understand why this brat's skin was as hard as steel.
"Then there's only one way," Orochimaru declared, slapping the ground with one hand.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Bang!"
The white smoke dissipated, revealing a long sword in Orochimaru's hand!
The legendary treasure sword—the Grass Snake Sword!
This was a treasure sword capable of slicing through anything, even pain, rumored to be as indestructible as diamond — the treasured sword of the Summoning Beast Enma!
Orochimaru, holding the treasured sword, quickly jabbed it twice at Uchiha Ren's neck!
As soon as the sword was pulled back, two bloody streaks appeared on Uchiha Ren's neck!
Stephen Fang: "Damn it! This really is the strongest Genjutsu, strongest Iron Block! It can't be defended against!"
Pirate Ren Arakawa: "Iron Block itself only enhances physical defense; it's not an invincible technique."
"Crack!"
As the two spoke, Orochimaru's fangs finally pierced through, following the bloody marks where Uchiha Ren's defense had been breached!
The moment Uchiha Ren was bitten by Orochimaru's fangs, he felt an unprecedented, agonizing pain!
It was a pain that pierced deep into his bones, as if countless red-hot needles had been thrust into his flesh.
His nerves screamed, and the pain surged like a tidal wave, making it almost impossible for him to breathe!
At the wound, Orochimaru's fangs not only inflicted physical trauma but also injected the power of the Cursed Seal—a cold and malevolent energy that raged within his body, instilling in him a crushing fear of being corrupted!
Uchiha Ren felt as if he had returned to that stormy night.
He saw it.
He saw the scene of his mother coming home from work, finding him lying in bed with a high fever, picking him up to rush to the hospital, and the two of them falling together in the rain.
Uchiha Ren's vision went black, and he collapsed onto the rooftop.
Kakashi witnessed this scene from afar, a flicker of urgency flashing in his eyes!
Kakashi forcefully broke free from the Sound Five—Tayuya's Demonic Flute: Demonic Illusion Chain. Kicking his opponent away, he swiftly formed a hand seal for a Lightning Clone.
Before the Lightning Clone could be pierced by Kimimaro, he rapidly rushed towards Kimimaro, who was blocking his path!
As he ran, an irregular, dazzling current of Lightning Chakra gathered in Kakashi's hand.
A bolt of blue lightning danced at his fingertips, and his body shot out like a flash of lightning towards Kimimaro, who was holding his Earth Release: Earth Mausoleum Dumpling!
"Lightning Blade!" Kakashi roared, charging towards Kimimaro at an explosive speed!
Kimimaro had never encountered an S-rank ninjutsu like Lightning Blade that could enhance speed; the Lightning Blade pierced his body!
The electric current raged within Kimimaro's body, sending him flying!
Kakashi dispatched the opponent in front of him, and without the slightest hesitation, immediately used the Body Flicker Technique.
His figure left an afterimage on the spot; the next second, he appeared in front of Uchiha Ren!
In his hand, Lightning Blade gathered once more, blue lightning dancing at his fingertips, his eyes revealing determination and resolve.
"Orochimaru!" Kakashi's voice was filled with anger and warning: "Even gods have their clumsy moments!"
Orochimaru looked at Kakashi, a trace of playfulness flickering in his eyes.
"Copy Ninja Kakashi," Orochimaru's lips curved into a slight smile, "You are not yet worthy to face me."
Cold sweat trickled down Kakashi's forehead. The light of the Lightning Blade in his hand grew even more dazzling.
With his constantly active Sharingan, Kakashi, perpetually low on Chakra, found himself somewhat powerless against a legendary Sannin like Orochimaru, after having spent half a day fending off the Sound Five.
Even at his peak, he wouldn't dare claim he could defeat a shinobi from his grand-teacher's generation.
Just as Kakashi was preparing for a do-or-die fight.
Orochimaru's hoarse voice sounded again.
"Kakashi, I've taken an interest in this kid. He'll come to find me himself."
The confidence in his voice was palpable.
He was quite right.
Kakashi didn't know what Orochimaru was truly plotting. He only knew that if he continued to maintain the Lightning Blade state, his Chakra would quickly be depleted.
He couldn't wait any longer!
Kakashi's Sharingan locked onto Orochimaru. He lowered his stance, preparing to attack!
A smile played on Orochimaru's lips. Just as Kakashi was about to launch his attack, he formed a hand seal with one hand and vanished into the mist, leaving chaos in his wake.
Simultaneously, the Sound Four, dragging the brutally defeated Jirobo, swiftly retreated from the scene.
"Hoo," Kakashi exhaled heavily.
This could arguably be the most dangerous situation Kakashi had faced since stepping out of the darkness and into the sun.
But he had no time to ponder. He scooped up Uchiha Ren and began to run wildly.
Trusting an opponent was certainly not a good idea.
Even if Orochimaru truly left, who knew if he might go back on his word?
"Hold on, Ren!" Kakashi's Sharingan swept over the three black magatama-shaped Cursed Seals on Uchiha Ren's neck. "We'll get him treatment soon. Hold on!"
As Uchiha Ren drifted into unconsciousness, two discordant voices echoed in his mind.
Pirate Ren Arakawa: "Excellent! It's the Heaven's Cursed Seal!"
Stephen Fang: "We're saved!"
(end of chapter)