Minamoto Takuya vs. Orochimaru

"Wait!" Orochimaru's voice suddenly rose, carrying a trace of barely perceptible urgency.

The gloom on his face was nearly dripping with water as an intense battle raged within him.

The allure of Jugo's cells was simply too great!

Just as Minamoto Takuya had said, the only key currently lay in the other man's hands. If he missed this chance, he might lose it forever.

More importantly, Minamoto Takuya was not bluffing. The research specimens he possessed far surpassed Orochimaru's own, putting him far ahead at the very starting line of Cursed Seal research!

The other man truly had the ability to uncover the secrets of the Cursed Seal on his own, perhaps even faster than Orochimaru could!

Minamoto Takuya looked at him, his tone carrying the teasing mockery of a victor. "Oh? Changed your mind?"

"In this transaction, you obtain more valuable research material, while I save a great deal of time. Why not?" Minamoto Takuya persuaded him once more. "Besides, don't tell me you haven't mastered cloning technology."

Orochimaru's narrow golden snake eyes narrowed slightly, and a meaningful curve rose at the corner of his mouth.

He stared at Minamoto Takuya, then suddenly attacked!

One of his arms twisted grotesquely, instantly splitting into dozens of vicious pythons baring poisonous fangs and hissing with flickering tongues as they lunged at Minamoto Takuya amid a foul stench.

"Hidden Shadow Many Snake Hands!"

Minamoto Takuya's gaze sharpened. His reaction was not the slightest bit slow as his hands flashed through seals.

"Mysterious Peacock Method: Dragon Snake!"

In an instant, purple chakra erupted from behind him like something tangible!

The pure chakra swiftly condensed and took shape, transforming into several even more massive energy serpents wreathed in flowing violet light. Carrying fierce momentum, they surged back toward Orochimaru.

This sudden ninjutsu made Orochimaru's