Curse Mark Technique

Konoha Grand Hotel

Top Floor

All the Kage sat around a huge round table, each with a dedicated television screen in front of them.

"Congratulations, Third Hokage. After so many years, Konoha has finally produced a Wood Release genius."

The Third Tsuchikage looked at the Hokage with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"Indeed! I heard this kid has a level-nine Wood Chakra affinity with pure attributes. His future is limitless. He's quite handsome too, comparable to Konoha's number one pretty boy, Itachi Uchiha. He'd make excellent marriage material. I really want to melt him, hehehe."

The Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, gazed seductively at the screen, her alluring eyes gleaming.

"No wonder this brat dared challenge Samueru. But it's useless—he's definitely no match for Samueru. I'm marrying Tsunade for sure. Lord Hokage, I heard Tsunade has always regarded you as a father. Once we're married, you'll be my father-in-law. Gahaha!"

The Raikage let out a boisterous laugh.

The Third Hokage smiled faintly without responding. His gaze settled on the Fourth Kazekage as he said with a smile, "Lord Kazekage, the Forest of Death has always been a place of slaughter. If Xiao Yun makes a mistake and kills a Sunagakure ninja, I hope you'll be understanding."

The Fourth Kazekage smiled faintly and nodded. His expression was as cold as ever, showing no emotional change whatsoever. He merely stared at the screen,

as though he was not worried about his village's ninjas at all.

The Third Hokage's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Why was this guy so calm?

Did he have some backup plan?

Inside the Forest of Death

The three ninjas Xiao Yun had bound struggled desperately, but the more they struggled, the tighter the vines became.

Naturally, Xiao Yun would not show them any womanly mercy. If he did not kill them, they would kill him. Although he had not killed anyone since transmigrating into this world, everything had a first time. Today, he would use these ninjas to pop his killing cherry.

After setting Hyuga Yumi down, Xiao Yun used a Wood Release Clone and drew a kunai, stabbing at the three without the slightest hesitation.

Hah!

Hah!

Hah!

The three suddenly roared in unison, their eyes filled with endless madness.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Xiao Yun felt as though the kunai in his hand had struck steel plates. Looking closely, he saw the three men's auras surge as their skin gradually turned grayish bronze. Black lines as thick as thumbs slowly spread across their bodies,

and before long, the three had transformed into monsters with human bodies and lizard heads. Their muscles bulged all over, like three humanoid tanks brimming with explosive power. One glance was enough to make anyone shudder in terror.

"What is this?"

Xiao Yun suddenly noticed a black circle on their necks, containing a pattern of three tomoe.

Orochimaru's Curse Mark Technique!

He remembered that in the original story, Orochimaru's favorite thing was stretching his neck infinitely long before biting people on the neck and leaving a curse mark on their bodies.

Those who received a curse mark could use it in battle, usually transforming themselves into neither-human-nor-ghost monsters.

He had not expected to encounter it here today!

"Hahaha, kill... kill!"

"I want hearts—fresh hearts!"

"I like blood, boiling blood!"

The three monsters cackled, exchanged glances, and exerted themselves at once, instantly breaking free of Xiao Yun's Wood Release restraints.

"What incredible strength!"

Xiao Yun cried out and immediately used Wood Release Clones, shielding Hyuga Yumi and Naruto behind him.

Before the broadcast screens

"It's the Curse Mark Technique, a ninjutsu that can stimulate the body's Chakra to its absolute limit for a short time."

"Holy crap, isn't that cheating? These Sunagakure ninjas really are... well done! Beat Xiao Yun to death!"

"Baki, aren't you from Konoha? Xiao Yun is a Konoha ninja no matter what. Beating him crippled is enough—why kill him outright?"

"Damn it, I bet ten thousand that Xiao Yun would walk out of the Forest of Death alive. It's over. I'm finished."

On the top floor of the Konoha Grand Hotel, the door was kicked flying.

Everyone turned around to see Tsunade, her face full of fury, rush to the Hokage's side in a single stride.

"Old man, Sunagakure is obviously cheating! Why haven't you stopped the match?"

Tsunade roared.

"Hehehe." The Fourth Kazekage gave a sinister laugh and said to Tsunade, "Princess Tsunade, the Forest of Death event has never prohibited the use of curse marks!"

"You..."

For a moment, Tsunade had no answer. As long as they were ninjas of the same rank in the Forest of Death, no method they used counted as a violation.

As the saying went, concern clouded judgment. As one of the legendary Sannin, how could she not know these rules? But the one fighting was the father of her child.

"Tsunade, sit down."

The Third Hokage said.

"Hahaha, Xiao Yun, I'll raise your wife for you, so rest easy."

The Raikage, who had an almost crazed obsession with married women, found Tsunade more appealing the longer he looked at her. He wished he could immediately pull her into his arms and have his way with her.

"Get lost! Xiao Yun will be fine!"

Tsunade was furious, yet she did not realize that her nails had already dug into her flesh and beads of cold sweat had appeared on her forehead. Clearly, she was worried about Xiao Yun—terribly worried.

Inside the Forest of Death

The three monsters threw punches at the same time, so fast that they left people tongue-tied.

Unable to evade in time, Xiao Yun could only brace himself and meet them head-on.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Dust flew everywhere in an instant, refusing to settle for a long time.

The viewers before the screens were frantic, unable to tell how the battle was going inside.

After a long while

The dust finally settled. Xiao Yun and his two clones had actually blocked the three monsters.

Wood Style: Tree Binding Burial!

Hissss!

Countless vines burst from beneath the ground, instantly binding the three monsters tightly once more.

"A boring trick."

The three monsters sneered, shattered the vines with another burst of strength, and attacked Xiao Yun again!

They were blocked by Xiao Yun once more, and Xiao Yun used Wood Release Tree Binding to trap them again...

The same sequence played out five times in a row. The monsters gradually realized something was wrong. This guy was trying to stall until the curse mark's duration ran out, then deal with them.

Sure enough, not long after, the curse marks on the three men gradually vanished. They exchanged glances, determination flashing through their eyes, then leaped away from Xiao Yun.

The three clasped hands and formed a circle, forcibly refining the Chakra within their bodies once again. They spun faster and faster, gradually forming a whirlwind.

"Uncle, what are they doing?"

Naruto looked at the whirlwind before him in confusion. Were they going to use Wind Release?

"I don't know either."

Xiao Yun stared intently at the whirlwind before him, a bad feeling rising in his heart.

"Sand Style Fusion! It's the Sand Wind Fusion Technique! Xiao Yun, we have to run!"

Unprecedented terror appeared on Hyuga Yumi's beautiful face.

"Sand Wind Fusion Technique? What the hell is that?"

Xiao Yun looked at Hyuga Yumi in confusion.

"There's no time to explain, Xiao Yun. Listen to me—run!"

Hyuga Yumi said anxiously...