Orochimaru exerted force with one hand while secretly activating his divine technique, Absorption.
From his earlier probing, he had discovered that Yamada Juichi didn't seem to realize what he was awakening—or, rather, Yamada Juichi was hiding something from the Research Institute, but Orochimaru had no idea what.
That was precisely why he dared to make a move.
Even so, he didn't use Absorption at full strength. Instead, as his grip tightened, he gradually activated the technique. He still wanted to see Yamada Juichi's reaction. If Yamada Juichi sensed anything, he would have to stop immediately to avoid the Research Institute finding out.
"D-damn it!"
Yamada Juichi's face turned red as Orochimaru squeezed his throat.
His restricted breathing left him too weak to fight back, and his mind began to grow dizzy, his thoughts slowing.
Orochimaru chuckled. "Look at you. Isn't this interesting?"
Yamada Juichi tried to pry Orochimaru's hand away. "Interesting my ass! I'm going to rip your head off!"
Orochimaru kept provoking him. "Weren't you incredibly strong before? Why don't you have any strength now? Have you run out of Chakra?"
"Bastard!"
Humiliated and enraged, Yamada Juichi struggled even harder.
As Yamada Juichi fought with all his might, Orochimaru's sense of his divine technique, Absorption, grew clearer. He gradually became certain: His divine technique is awakening!
So far, there had been no definitive answer as to how divine techniques awakened. Even surviving the ritual only meant that someone had met certain conditions for awakening a divine technique. They were still one step away from truly awakening it.
Compared to a top-tier ninja like Orochimaru, Owl and Yamada Juichi were both rank amateurs who had come to this path late. Whether it was Chakra control and understanding or their mastery of ninjutsu, they were bottom-tier even among ninjas.
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