Anko Jonin Arrives, Anko Jonin Falls!

"I don't know what 'Hakimi' you're talking about, but I have a feeling you're saying something outrageous!"

Kiba Inuzuka rolled his eyes at Kazeka. However, as soon as he finished speaking, Kiba's eyes widened:

"Wait, Orochimaru? Did you say Orochimaru? Could it be that Orochimaru?"

"Of course. How many Orochimarus are there in this world?"

Seeing Kiba's disbelieving gaze, Kazeka slowly spoke:

"Even though he only received a few days of special training from me, Sasuke's combat power should be at least Chunin level by now.

Yet, even with Naruto going all out, he was toyed with like an infant in the opponent's hands. This is no ordinary enemy.

From what I know, Sasuke's eyes are a rare commodity these days, and they've always been a target for Orochimaru.

Furthermore, that unique combat suit he's wearing now is something Orochimaru has always favored.

And the most important point is, that Orochimaru conducted quite a few experiments on me..."

As he reached this point, a sinister grin crept onto Kazeka's lips:

"Even if he were chopped into mince or burned to ashes, that unique, fishy smell on him would never let me mistake him!"

"A failed experiment created by a Hyuga kid through an unintentional act..."

Seeing Naruto and Sasuke temporarily distance themselves from him due to Kazeka and the others' appearance, Orochimaru didn't pursue.

Instead, he sized up Kazeka from head to toe, a flicker of disappointment appearing in his eyes.

Orochimaru was a cold-blooded individual, evident in every aspect of his being.

He had no interest in looking at an experimental subject he had already used once.

"I thought you might be more interesting upon our reunion, but you're still the same.

However, what confuses me is that you dare to appear before me again.

Has your brain completely short-circuited? Do you want to be my test subject again?"

"When you call me a 'failed experiment,' do you mean the result of your own incompetence leading to experimental failure?"

Kazeka chuckled dismissively, then taunted:

"Furthermore, stripping away all of the subject's thoughts and turning them into a puppet that only obeys commands.

To me, such a technique is merely the futile effort of a pathetic worm who has exhausted all his medical knowledge and is trying to take shortcuts!"

"I originally intended to let the failed experiment fend for itself, but I didn't expect you to possess such a self-destructive personality..."

As a researcher, nothing annoyed him more than being told he was at his wit's end.

Kazeka's words had indeed angered Orochimaru.

The vertical pupils in his eyes sharpened further. With a series of hand seals, dense masses of snakes surged towards everyone!

"Shadow Many Snake Hands!"

Orochimaru's slight seriousness revealed his terrifying power to everyone.

The overwhelming swarm of snakes resembled a grayish-blue torrent.

Everything in its path was bitten to pieces and smashed apart, charging forward with an unstoppable momentum and unrivaled strength!

"God, this density of snakes, this destructive power!"

Faced with such a force, everyone could only retreat continuously. Finally, seeing the snakes' momentum slow slightly, Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru combined their Fang Over Fang to shred some of the snakes at the rear, then couldn't help but complain to Kazeka:

"Kazeka, no offense, but that's Orochimaru we're facing! He's one of the legendary Sannin, a direct disciple of the Third Hokage, with ridiculously high power.

Facing him, even escaping is difficult, so why did you have to provoke him!"

"If I hadn't provoked him, we would have already fallen..."

Kazeka sneered:

"I know Orochimaru's personality. He never shows mercy to enemies who don't pique his interest.

Whether it's death or being knocked unconscious and unable to help Sasuke, neither is acceptable to us.

Only by igniting his interest in a brutal fight can we buy ourselves more time..."

"Brutal fight... such an uncomfortable phrase..."

Kiba shivered. It wasn't that he was a coward.

Facing the long-established and infamous Orochimaru, the fact that he could still fight was already remarkable.

"Kazeka, do you have any battle plans right now?"

"What battle plan do we need? The moment we appeared in this vicinity, we were already detected.

Facing one of the Sannin, all we can do is fight with all our might..."

Hinata glared at Kiba Inuzuka:

"You push forward and fight hard. If you dare to turn into trash and run away halfway, I'll stab you in the back!"

"Tch!"

Kiba Inuzuka glanced helplessly at Hinata, secretly lamenting Kazeka's potions.

The Hinata Kiba Inuzuka knew was a shy, cute little girl.

Now, while still cute, her personality was terrifying. She acted like a delinquent young lady, ready to fight anyone she met without hesitation.

Furthermore, she treated everyone around her like her subordinates, ordering them around without politeness and cursing them if things didn't go her way!

And the most crucial point was that Hinata's strength in this state was also terrifying.

With both her mind and combat ability like this, others had no chance to argue back!

"Sigh, I guess we have to fight..."

Kiba Inuzuka understood that the current situation only allowed for fighting, but he wanted to see if Kazeka had any other plans.

Since Kazeka hadn't objected to Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka prepared to counterattack once more!

"Ninjutsu--Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Before Kiba Inuzuka could charge forward, Naruto's attack was the first to land.

Numerous clones, imbued with the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, charged towards Orochimaru one after another.

Although many were still eliminated, they weren't instantly wiped out upon contact.

"Fang Over Fang!"

"Fire Style--Great Fireball Jutsu!"

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"

"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"

With Naruto's clones acting as a suicide squad, the others also joined the battle, either launching ranged attacks or seizing the opportunity for close-quarters combat!

Even Sakura, who had been lying limply on the ground, had recovered somewhat and remotely shot several kunai at Orochimaru.

For a moment, the scene was spectacular, with all sorts of visual and sound effects filling the area. Accompanied by a large cloud of smoke rising, everyone stopped their attacks and watched the center of the dust cloud.

"I mean, even a seasoned Jonin should be overwhelmed by such an attack, right?"

Sakura's knowledge was purely academic; her understanding of combat still had many gaps:

"Did we succeed?"

"Of course not. Haven't you heard of the 'smoke and no damage' rule? Orochimaru was just playing with us..."

Kazeka activated his Byakugan, staring intently at a certain spot within the smoke:

"However, our efforts weren't entirely in vain. During this delay, our reinforcements have arrived!"

"Little ones, you did well!"

A loud female voice called out. The examiner Anko appeared.

"I received your distress signal. The rest of the battle will be handled by me... Ugh!"

Anko's words were cut short as she suddenly clutched a cursed seal on her neck and collapsed in pain!

"What is this..."

Sakura looked at Anko in surprise:

"What's happening?"

"It's quite obvious..."

Kazeka said calmly:

"Jonin Anko has arrived, and Jonin Anko has fallen!"