Chapter 34: Gojo Yoru vs Orochimaru—Enhanced Phantom Body Flicker
In less than fifteen minutes, Yoru and Kushina arrived at the abandoned training ground.
Seeing the chakra blade on Yoru's back, Orochimaru expressed mild surprise: "You're skilled with swordsmanship too?"
"No. I use a blade because that's how to display that technique's maximum power." Yoru shook his head.
"Oh? Seems besides the Rasengan, you've developed other techniques. Then I'll look forward to witnessing them." Orochimaru's admiration for Yoru deepened. Such ninjutsu talent made him the perfect successor to inherit his legacy.
Yoru signaled Kushina to observe from a distance, then looked at Orochimaru: "Orochimaru-sensei, we're just fighting directly like this?"
"I originally planned a little game with you, but that seems unnecessary now." Orochimaru beckoned to Yoru. "Use your full capabilities. Attack me with intent to kill."
"Then I won't hold back."
Yoru grinned, hands rapidly forming seals to create two phantom clones.
Then his real body and phantom clones all drew the chakra blades from their backs, charging toward Orochimaru.
Seeing this, Orochimaru's gaze held some confusion.
If he wasn't mistaken, Yoru's seals just now had been the most basic Clone Technique, right?
Why create two intangible phantom clones to attack him?
Was this to confuse him? But his real body was so obvious!
Orochimaru didn't believe this ninjutsu genius would make such a low-level mistake, so he felt intrigued by Yoru's upcoming attack.
Yoru and his two phantom clones arranged themselves in a Crescent Moon Dance formation.
The phantom clones and real body formed coordinated left, top, and right positions, attacking Orochimaru's vital points—with Yoru's "real body" leaping into the air.
Never having witnessed Phantom Body Flicker, Orochimaru grew even more puzzled.
So he instinctively retrieved a kunai from his tool pouch and threw it at the airborne Yoru's real body.
Unable to move in midair—in Orochimaru's assessment—Yoru could only choose to deflect the kunai with his blade.
The next second, Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
The airborne Yoru didn't deflect the kunai with his blade but rather let it strike his body.
Yet no blood spray occurred.
The kunai... passed straight through Yoru's body.
He wasn't the real body?
No time for confusion. Seeing the left and right Yorus attacking with blades, Orochimaru formed one-handed seals, condensing a wind spiral in his palm that transformed into two invisible wind blades, throwing them at both Yorus.
The result... still passed through their bodies!
This time, Orochimaru's face finally displayed shock.
Watching the airborne Yoru slashing down with his blade, Orochimaru used his other hand to form one-handed seals again.
SWISH—
A blade flash, and Orochimaru's body split in half down the middle.
However, no blood sprayed from Orochimaru's body. Instead, it transformed into two puddles of mud falling to the ground.
Earth Release: Earth Substitution!
"Incredible. How did you accomplish this?"
Orochimaru emerged from the ground not far away, looking at Yoru with utter disbelief.
Such an expression hadn't appeared even when watching Yoru train with the Rasengan.
Because Yoru's technique shattered common shinobi world understanding.
As the most popular technique among the Three Basic Techniques, phantom clones lacked substance and dispersed upon contact—this was common knowledge throughout the shinobi world.
Yet now, Yoru had broken this rule.
Even more incredible: Orochimaru had just used sensory techniques yet couldn't sense any chakra from these three Yorus.
Yes—not that he couldn't sense the real body, but couldn't sense ANY chakra at all.
As though these three Yorus were merely illusions, not even phantom clones.
Remember, phantom clones were also created from chakra. Their contained chakra could be captured by sensory techniques.
But Yoru's phantom clones didn't have this.
Undoubtedly, this was a Clone Technique extension unique to Yoru.
Just as the Second Hokage had developed the Shadow Clone Technique.
"This is the Phantom Body Flicker I developed. Did I disappoint you, Orochimaru-sensei?" Yoru revealed a proud smile.
"Quite remarkable. Without collecting intelligence on you beforehand, enemies would very likely be killed in one strike." Orochimaru gave extremely high evaluation.
"Then I'm continuing, Orochimaru-sensei."
Yoru and his two phantom clones charged at Orochimaru again.
"Then I'll also get somewhat serious."
Yoru's Phantom Body Flicker successfully aroused a trace of Orochimaru's fighting spirit.
To understand this technique's principles, Orochimaru decided to experience it up close again.
So he formed hand seals, creating two shadow clones, then retrieved kunai with his real body and charged at Yoru and his phantom clones.
Like others, Orochimaru's real body subconsciously chose the Yoru who'd just spoken as his opponent.
When kunai collided with the chakra blade, the kunai passed through the blade.
Already anticipating this, Orochimaru wasn't surprised but rather heightened his vigilance.
After passing through Yoru's body, he immediately turned and used his kunai to block sideways against Yoru's sweeping attack.
This time sparks flew, proving Yoru had shifted from intangible to tangible.
Seizing this opportunity, Orochimaru raised his other hand. A snake emerged from his sleeve, biting at Yoru.
The result? Passed straight through.
"Phantom Body Flicker... impressive Body Flicker indeed." Orochimaru murmured, observing the other two clones with his eyes while remaining vigilant toward the Yoru before him.
During the next several exchanges, every attack from Orochimaru and his shadow clones passed through Yoru's body.
If Orochimaru's shadow clones weren't equally powerful, they might have been destroyed like Kushina's shadow clones—by Yoru suddenly shifting from intangible to tangible.
After just a few exchange rounds, Orochimaru had thoroughly understood Yoru's Phantom Body Flicker.
Yoru's real body remained on the field, only using his ghostly silent Body Flicker to instantly exchange positions with those two special phantom clones, creating the effect of shifting from intangible to tangible, tangible to intangible.
Moreover, Yoru's real body's chakra wasn't constantly in a vanished state.
When Orochimaru secretly used sensory techniques, he could sometimes sense Yoru's real body's chakra.
He was using some method to conceal his real body's chakra. The phantom clones likely operated on the same principle.
Then under certain circumstances—like when attacking—this concealment state would disappear.
Secret technique, or bloodline limit?
Orochimaru couldn't help speculating internally.
After understanding Phantom Body Flicker's principles, Orochimaru stopped engaging Yoru in blade combat.
Coordinating tacitly with his shadow clones to lure Yoru and his phantom clones into a line, Orochimaru suddenly abandoned martial ethics and executed a wide-area technique.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
The earth transformed into mud, restraining Yoru while simultaneously rising to form a massive wave roaring toward him.
Because the rising mud blocked vision, Orochimaru didn't see the flash of hesitation in Yoru's eyes.
After deliberation, Yoru ultimately chose to abandon that notion. His real body easily broke free from the mud's restraint and, as though stepping on solid ground, pushed off with his toes and leaped skyward.
Holding his blade in one hand, his other palm condensed a blue energy sphere as he descended toward Orochimaru's real body.
Mid-descent, the energy sphere in Yoru's hand gradually transformed from blue-white to orange-red.
"Fire Release: Rasengan!"
Yoru shouted this Rasengan's name.
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