The ANBU squad had taken heavy losses. One member was down, another had their mask ripped off, leaving only two standing.
For an ANBU, losing your mask meant mission failure. Their identities were top secret. Having Orochimaru see an agent's true face... the consequences were disastrous.
They had nowhere left to run.
"Orochimaru! If you kill us here, the Hidden Leaf will hunt you down!"
Anko was making a last-ditch effort, but she was clearly exhausted from her earlier clash with Orochimaru. She was barely standing.
"Heh heh. Anko, you're still so naive..."
Orochimaru extended his long, serpentine tongue and licked his cheek. There was no blood, but the gesture alone promised cruelty.
Orochimaru moved.
With just a single step, the ANBU flinched. Only Anko managed to hold her ground. She was his student, after all. No matter how strong he was, she didn't fear him the way ordinary people did.
"Are you planning to kill your own student right here?" Anko asked.
Orochimaru lowered his head and started humming a soft tune.
Then, he began to laugh. A low, chilling sound that grew louder.
"Ha... Hahaha!"
"Life is like a flower. Eventually, it wilts. When it wilts, how it wilts, or who makes it wilt... there is no difference."
Killing intent flashed in his eyes.
He had other business to attend to and didn't plan on wasting more time here.
A shadow blurred past as Orochimaru lunged forward.
Zzzzt!
A figure landed swiftly between them—a young boy wearing an ANBU mask.
He gripped a kunai tightly in both hands. Orochimaru couldn't dodge in time, and the boy sliced open the side of his robe!
Orochimaru glared at the intruder. The boy didn't hesitate. His movements were sharp and decisive.
He threw a punch!
Orochimaru raised a hand to block, but the impact still landed.
"Ugh..."
Orochimaru retreated backward. In the darkness, the boy's eyes behind the mask were unreadable.
Anko and the ANBU were stunned.
The boy had his long hair tied back neatly, and the mask he wore was the one Yugao had dropped moments ago.
"Who are you?" Anko asked.
Neji didn't answer.
Instead, he said, "Heal Anko. If I get overwhelmed, then come help me."
Neji tried to disguise his voice as much as possible.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to fight "that person" in front of ANBU and a Special Jonin!
Orochimaru!
Neji had been worried he might get wrecked, but having backup meant he had a safety net. If things got too hairy, someone could bail him out!
Neji pursued Orochimaru relentlessly. The pause in combat hadn't even lasted five seconds. Orochimaru hadn't fully assessed the situation yet.
Every punch Neji threw forced Orochimaru to dodge awkwardly.
Even without using Taijutsu mastery, his speed alone was impressive...
This is what a strong opponent feels like!
Neji's battle lust spiked.
Finally, Orochimaru leaped back, landing twenty meters away. Neji also put some distance between himself and Anko's group.
"A fist style infused with Chakra?"
Orochimaru had taken a punch head-on earlier. He thought it was just brute force, but his Chakra flow had been disrupted for a split second.
"Based on the fundamentals, it looks like Hyuga style Taijutsu. But you've woven Wind Nature transformation into your strikes... fascinating!"
Orochimaru was starting to get interested in this masked kid. But Neji wasn't done yet.
He charged again, fists flying with lightning speed, aiming for vitals.
Orochimaru had noticed it when his robe was sliced open: this kid's Chakra didn't radiate killing intent, yet every move was a lethal strike intended to end life.
To have this level of technique required thousands—tens of thousands—of repetitions. This wasn't just talent; it was the result of insane grinding.
"I can't let you hit me again. But... fists aren't your specialty, are they?"
Orochimaru smirked, his eyes gleaming with cunning.
Neji stood straight, silent.
The wind blew gently, but the air was thick with murderous intent.
"Come on. If you want to save people from me, at least show me your true power!"
Orochimaru's eyes widened. He reached up and pulled his eyelid down.
His pupils were slits—the eyes of a viper.
Hiss!
Suddenly, Neji felt like he was staring down a giant serpent, while he was nothing more than a helpless insect.
Neji stumbled back, cold sweat drenching him.
Everything around him turned pitch black and chaotic.
Fear consumed everything.
"Release!"
Neji furrowed his brow and broke Orochimaru's Binding Snake Glare Spell.
But the mental toll was heavy. He felt drained, as if he had just collapsed from exhaustion.
This was the power of a Sannin. A casual Genjutsu, even when broken, left permanent mental scars!
"My true power, huh?"
Neji thought to himself. Screw it. If they figure out who I am, so be it.
"Hah!"
Neji shouted, and his body moved. His speed was on a completely different level now.
Orochimaru was startled. It was like the kid had transformed into a different person.
Neji chopped down with a palm strike. Unlike a punch, this palm was heavy with the weight of experience. The force behind it was in a different league.
Whap!
Thud!
Palms sliced through the air. Even though Orochimaru dodged the direct hits, the shockwaves buffeted him. If one of those landed, the damage would be catastrophic.
On the final strike, Orochimaru couldn't dodge. He was forced to block with his arms.
BOOM!
Orochimaru caught the palm, and the ground beneath him cratered.
"Does the Leaf ANBU have a genius like you? You remind me of that man."
Neji ignored the compliment (and the comparison to Itachi or whoever). He flowed seamlessly into the next move!
Another strike whistled through the air. Neji's other hand was already positioned, slashing with a kunai. Orochimaru simply tilted his head to avoid it.
"Hmph!"
But in that split second, Orochimaru had already woven hand signs. Dozens of snakes burst from the trees behind Neji, jaws snapping toward him.
"Look out! Behind you!"
Anko's scream pierced the air. Neji reacted, frowning.
"Eight Trigrams: Ro..."
In a split second, he remembered where he was. He aborted his attack and threw himself sideways, rolling awkwardly on the ground.
I can't use Rotation! It's too obvious!
"Who is this kid? He looks so young... do we have someone like this in ANBU?" one of the agents asked, amazed.
Yugao shook her head. "He's not ANBU. That's the mask I dropped."
Anko gritted her teeth. "Whoever he is, he's strong. To be able to trade blows with Orochimaru at that age..."
"Don't worry about me! Go help him!"
Yugao and the two ANBU charged forward, shielding Neji.
Orochimaru looked at the scene and laughed mockingly. "Heh heh heh. You three are useless compared to that boy! Don't try to play hero..."
He turned and flickered away.
"I have things to do. Don't ruin my fun, or I'll destroy the entire Leaf Village!"
His voice echoed through the forest as he vanished.
Anko rushed over, clutching the curse mark on her neck.
"Phew... he's gone."
Yugao finally let out a breath.
They looked back to thank their savior, but the masked boy was gone.