"Haha, it seems you understand."
Muchi looked at the subtle change in Sora's eyes, a cold smile appearing on his face.
"It is because of you that our Kumogakure lost two elite jonin, Toroi and Black Crow. The spies sent to Konoha to investigate your background found nothing. Even the jonin squad sent to the border of the Land of Fire, attempting to capture that Might Duy, was inexplicably wiped out. The Raikage is very displeased about this."
Sora turned his thoughts away from Orochimaru and understood. So Kumogakure had also targeted Might Duy. They had clearly kicked an iron plate.
Duy, with the Gate of Death opened, was a terrifying existence capable of instantly annihilating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. A mere jonin squad would have been nothing but cannon fodder.
This also explained why Muchi was personally leading the team now and had assembled such an impressive lineup. On one hand, he was determined to succeed. On the other hand, it was probably to salvage his own reputation after repeatedly making mistakes in front of the Raikage.
"So, you cooperated with that traitor Orochimaru?"
Sora deliberately said in a hoarse voice, trying to elicit more information while his brain raced, thinking of a way to escape.
Eight jonin, one elite "Lava Release" jonin, plus the perfect jinchuriki Killer B. This force was enough to conquer a small country in a short time.
Direct confrontation was absolutely the worst strategy.
Muchi was indifferent.
"Traitor? Haha, in the face of interests, what does temporary cooperation matter?"
"Lord Orochimaru provided us with an offer we could not refuse. All we have to do is capture you, the murderer who killed our Kumogakure elite. The dirty dealings within your Konoha are none of our concern."
He raised his hand, pointing at Sora.
"The tracking device's energy is dissipating. This is the last precise location. However, with Killer B here, you have no way to escape. Surrender now, 'Green Snake' Sora! Considering your strength, perhaps the Raikage will grant you a dignified death."
The surrounding Kumogakure jonin, after listening to Muchi's lengthy speech, felt his anger at being scolded by the Third Raikage finally released. Their momentum suddenly erupted, their chakra connecting to form an invisible cage, firmly suppressing Sora at the center.
Although Killer B still maintained his casual demeanor, even humming a clumsy RAP quietly, the oppressive feeling emanating from him, like a primordial beast, caused Sora's muscles to tense up subconsciously.
No way to escape?
Sora sneered inwardly. If not for the flight ability granted by the Azure Dragon Fruit, he might truly be doomed today.
But now, the sky was his limit.
However, before leaving...
Sora's gaze swept over Muchi, over Killer B, over the cold faces of each Kumogakure jonin around him, and finally seemed to pierce through space, landing on a certain pale figure waiting somewhere with a sinister smile for the outcome.
Orochimaru.
He would remember this scheme.
Originally, regarding whether to cooperate with Orochimaru, Sora had always held great doubt and wariness in his heart.
In the original work, Orochimaru was an extremely self centered, truth seeking, and unscrupulous mad scientist. Cooperating with him was no different from making a pact with a tiger.
Hadn't even someone as strong as Uchiha Itachi been coveted for his body, and someone as talented as Kimimaro ultimately became just a tool in his hands?
Sora knew well how fatal the attraction of the Azure Dragon power within him would be to Orochimaru, who pursued the mysteries of life and great strength.
The previous transaction was merely a temporary expedient where both sides tested each other and got what they needed.
He had even thought that perhaps at some controllable point in the future, he could use Orochimaru's knowledge and technology to accelerate his own 'Kekkei Mora Plan'.
But now, Orochimaru had completely shattered that possibility with his actions.
This was no longer simple mutual use, but a life or death scheme.
To obtain his body, Orochimaru did not hesitate to collude with Kumogakure and set up such a killing trap.
The last trace of thought in Sora's mind about playing along with Orochimaru completely dissipated.
"As expected. Keeping company with a viper will lead to being bitten sooner or later."
"Expecting him to abide by the rules of a transaction is simply foolish talk. Only absolute power can make this venomous snake feel fear, not daring to bare its fangs lightly."
He once again strengthened his resolve to cultivate Kabuto, establish an independent laboratory, and break free from reliance on Orochimaru's technology.
Only by mastering core power oneself could one truly control fate.
"Next time we meet, Orochimaru." A sharp glint of azure gold flashed deep in Sora's eyes. "I will definitely make you pay a sufficient price for today's actions."
An invisible anger burned in Sora's chest, but it did not cloud his mind. Instead, it made his thinking clearer.
The most important thing at present was to escape the current predicament.
The information revealed by Muchi was extremely crucial. The tracking device was one time use, and its energy was dissipating.
This meant that as long as he successfully escaped this time, Kumogakure would find it very difficult to locate him so precisely again in the short term.
The key to the breakout lay in how to deal with the biggest variable, Killer B.
The strength of a perfect jinchuriki was unfathomable. The power of the Eight Tails Gyuki was world destroying. Once it fully transformed into a tailed beast, the entire battlefield would be reduced to scorched earth.
He must create enough chaos before it fully erupted, then rely on his flight ability to instantly disengage from the battlefield.
As his thoughts raced, Sora had already made a decision.
He slowly raised his hand, as if about to form a seal to surrender, his voice carrying a trace of 'dejection'.
"I never thought. I would fall here."
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Muchi's eyes. The surrounding Kumo nin also relaxed their vigilance slightly.
After all, faced with such a hopeless situation, despair and surrender were the norm.
However, the moment Sora's hand was halfway up.
Boom.
Sora crossed his arms in front of his chest. The ancient and majestic Azure Dragon power within him no longer held back, awakening with a roar.
At the same time, a far more violent and blazing chakra than before erupted from his body. Green energy steam surged into the sky like tangible flames, blowing away all the fallen leaves and dust around.
Eight Gates Released Formation. Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit. Open.
"Not good. He's going all out." Muchi's expression changed drastically as he shouted sharply. "Stop him."
"Yo. Foolish guy. Idiot guy. Still trying to struggle before death."
Killer B's eyes behind his sunglasses also sharpened. His body sank slightly, and immense chakra began to surge.
But, it was already too late.
A dazzling azure light instantly swallowed Sora's figure. A dragon's majesty that made souls tremble swept out like a storm.
"Azure Dragon Form. Partial Beastification."
A low dragon's roar seemed to come from ancient times. Sora's body expanded and distorted rapidly within the azure light.
Hard dragon scales covering his entire body, ferocious dragon horns, sharp dragon claws, and that powerful dragon tail. A perfect combat form, somewhere between human and divine dragon, revealed its true ferocity for the first time before the Kumogakure group.
The powerful pressure caused the several Kumo jonin who had charged forward to hesitate in their movements, their faces revealing astonishment.
Even the Eight Tails Gyuki within Killer B let out a doubtful, uneasy growl.
"What is that."
Muchi's pupils constricted. The existence before him had completely surpassed his understanding of Kekkei Genkai.
But then, information left by 'Black Crow' flashed quickly through his mind. Azure Dragon.
Sora's azure gold vertical pupils swept coldly over the entire scene, finally fixing on Killer B, who was standing ready.
The breakout, begins.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━