Looking around, Anko's face changed with shock. She was still trying to find Orochimaru when his familiar words came from behind her, making her small body tremble despite herself.
"Hey, what are you aiming that at? That was pathetic! What have you been learning all these years? Is this really the best you can do? Pathetic!" Orochimaru's voice was alluring, but then it shifted into a roar, his words brimming with murderous intent. "Still, you dared use a jutsu on me. Do you want to die?"
His voice was deep and rough, completely at odds with that pretty-boy face.
"No. No."
Anko was only a girl of barely fourteen. How could a little kid like her possibly withstand Orochimaru's words, which carried a hint of genjutsu?
Anko clutched her head, trembling all over. Her fear of Orochimaru and helplessness against the genjutsu made her crouch down and silently start to cry.
"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"
"Oh, really? Then what were you trying to do with that jutsu just now, Anko? Who taught you ninjutsu and made you stronger?" Under Orochimaru's genjutsu, Anko's eyes visibly changed.
"Orochimaru... Teacher Orochimaru?" She raised her head, her childish face dazed. It seemed Anko had fallen completely under Orochimaru's genjutsu.
"Anko, tell Teacher Orochimaru. What are you doing here?" Orochimaru stared into Anko's eyes. His snake-like pupils narrowed slightly, and his voice carried a bewitching quality.
For an instant, Anko's eyes lost focus and went vacant. She could only murmur, "I... We..."
But just as the words left her mouth, they heard—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sensing the sound of weapons slicing through the air, Orochimaru released Anko in an instant. He leaped away, dodging the weapons as they struck the ground, then glared furiously toward the distance. "Who's there?"
Two children emerged from the bushes. The girl looked tense, gripping the boy's hand and pulling him back with all her strength.
"Yang Xing! We—we shouldn't go over there!" Seeing Yang Xing attack the person in front of them, Rin Nohara turned pale and desperately tried to hold him back. "You can't! That person..."
She couldn't finish the sentence. Rin was stunned. The person before them was one of the legendary Sannin. With a title like that, there was no way Yang Xing could defeat him. Even if Yang Xing was strong enough to kill several Chunin, he couldn't possibly win against this man. It was impossible.
Along with her helplessness, Rin was filled with fear.
But Yang Xing didn't listen. He turned and calmly pushed her hand away, then said, still composed, "Don't look into his eyes. And close your eyes. Stand here and don't move."
"But—but..."
"Hurry up." Yang Xing furrowed his brow.
Rin was startled. Frightened, she quickly squeezed her eyes shut. As darkness surrounded her and Yang Xing moved away, her heart began to tremble. "No, no. He's one of the legendary Sannin. You really will die! You'll die!"
The only reply was a calm voice.
"Water Style: Water Clone Technique!"
One became two...
Before you continue