Beating Roshi Was Like Beating a Dog (4k)

Even as he secretly reveled in his satisfaction, Orochimaru did not forget to act. He opened his mouth, spat out the Kusanagi Sword, took it in hand, and charged at Roshi.

Caught between attacks from the front and rear—and from two extraordinary masters like Uchiha Mai and Orochimaru at that—Roshi and his four subordinates immediately panicked.

Before they could react, two Jonin were slain by the Deathfire Oscillating Sword and Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword respectively, their lives snuffed out.

"Damn it."

Roshi cursed inwardly. If he had known this was a trap jointly laid by Orochimaru and Uchiha Mai, he would never have brought four Jonin-level subordinates.

Against enemies this powerful, Jonin were nothing but fodder.

Of course, that was merely wishful thinking. If he really could have foreseen this, Roshi himself should not have come either.

The situation had gone somewhat beyond Roshi's expectations. The most crucial point was that Uchiha Mai's strength had improved again—and by a great deal.

How should he fight them?

In an instant, Roshi made his decision: abandon his two remaining subordinates and have them hold Orochimaru off while he focused on suppressing Uchiha Mai.

As long as he could seriously injure Uchiha Mai, he could still hold his own against the two of them afterward, even if his subordinates died.

Those who sought greatness had to be willing to kill even their closest kin.

Roshi had not reached the point of killing his closest kin, but he could make sacrifices when necessary, and he was decisive about it.

"Hold Orochimaru off. Leave Uchiha Mai to me," Roshi barked, launching himself at Uchiha Mai.

The two Jonin exchanged a glance and knew they had been discarded as expendable pawns.

They inevitably felt a little disheartened, but they were all shinobi. From the moment they entered