Showdown

The intruder was too fast, reaching the interior of the cave in a mere instant.

Seeing the newcomer, especially that "infuriating" face, Anko was both anxious and enraged: "You brat, are you trying to die? You're all alone—how could you possibly be a match for this guy? Get out of here, now!"

Yet, Anko herself didn't believe for a second that Yang Xing was the type to listen to anyone.

She shouted only in the desperate hope that Yang Xing would be safe; at the very least, she didn't want this boy, who had come here solely to rescue her, to suffer any harm.

"I knew you would come. I've been waiting a long time." Seeing Yang Xing appear, Orochimaru stood up, his gaze deep and fixed intently on the boy, though his expression turned malicious: "However, you're being far too cautious. Using only a clone to show yourself—are you looking down on me?"

With a flick of his tongue, he lunged forward without a second thought, reducing the clone to a puddle of water.

"A clone? Then... where is that guy..." Anko felt a sense of admiration for Yang Xing's planning, but she still didn't believe he could defeat Orochimaru.

At the very least, before that monster was finished, getting Yang Xing out of here was the priority.

It clearly wasn't worth risking his life for her, but deep down, Anko was moved; she didn't want to see Yang Xing lose his life.

"Hey, brat, get out of here! I'll be fine—you, just hurry up and find someone to save me!" She shouted toward the front, hoping to force Yang Xing to leave.

Unfortunately, the only response was the calm recitation of a ninjutsu.

"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Spear!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground shook, and Anko watched helplessly as countless stone spears erupted from the earth beneath Orochimaru. The range was vast, and the attack was dense.

The power of this Earth Style technique was truly formidable.

But it was a pity—a great pity—that while it might have worked against an average Jonin, his opponent was Orochimaru, the man who had delved deep into the study of ninjutsu and once held the title of genius in Konoha.

"You idiot." Watching Orochimaru dodge with ease, Anko felt frantic for Yang Xing. It was obvious he was just wasting chakra; there was no way to win like this.

Yet, she could only watch, unable to intervene. This left her feeling helpless and exceptionally furious, her rage toward Orochimaru reaching an unprecedented height.

"Orochimaru, enough! Kill me! Hey, I'm talking to you—if you have the guts, kill me!" A nameless fire ignited in her heart. Truly incensed, Anko could only scream at the nearby Orochimaru: "Otherwise, I'll reveal all your ninjutsu! I know you very well, Teacher Orochimaru!"

"You..." Orochimaru turned his head to look at Anko. His eyes had changed, the chill within them bone-piercing. While dodging a stone spear, he turned and headed straight for her.

Although he wasn't sure if Anko was telling the truth, if there was even a possibility of it, it would interfere with many of his plans. For the sake of those plans, he didn't mind disposing of a disciple he had once considered a favorite.

The killing intent rose, and he prepared to strike.

But the arrival of a figure interrupted his movement.

"Earth Style: Hardening Technique." The newcomer had actually charged out—it was the real Yang Xing. He raised a stone-hardened fist and smashed it directly toward Orochimaru's body: "Die!"

In that instant, Orochimaru smiled.

Anko froze.

"Idiot, what are you doing!" Unfortunately, Anko's scream didn't stop Yang Xing from rushing to his death. As his punch missed, Orochimaru's genjutsu hand seals were already complete.

It was clear that Orochimaru's previous attack was merely a distraction to lure Yang Xing out. While rushing toward her, he had already woven the seals for a genjutsu, deceiving even Anko.

It was too late for Anko to warn him.

She watched helplessly as Yang Xing's brow furrowed. He met Orochimaru's gaze and was instantly trapped by the genjutsu, collapsing to the ground, his body rigid. For the first time, she felt her heart tremble.

"Stop it, Orochimaru! Don't touch him—if you have the guts, come at me!" Anko didn't know why, but she didn't hate Yang Xing's recklessness; seeing the boy sacrifice himself for her, she couldn't help but be overcome with emotion.

The young girl's heart stirred along with it.

"Haha, Anko, it's a pity—a real pity—that I truly have no interest in you anymore." Orochimaru didn't even turn his head, walking instead toward the motionless Yang Xing on the ground: "Brat, I am quite interested in you. Your ninjutsu is fascinating—the Substitution Technique, the clones, and that Fireball Technique—none of them are things I have seen before."

"For the sake of research, I would like to invite you to return to my base with me. It's fine, I'll just help you change a little, help you be reborn." Orochimaru reached out, intending to grab Yang Xing.

Anko's eyes were bloodshot with anxiety, and she didn't know what to do.

Just as Orochimaru's hand was centimeters away from Yang Xing, the unexpected happened.

Splurt!

Blood gushed wildly from Orochimaru's severed arm.

The crimson color magnified in Anko's eyes. What shocked her even more was that this incredibly powerful, terrifying man—the one who had been her nightmare—had actually had his right arm severed by a child not much older than herself.

It was clear that Yang Xing had never been caught in any genjutsu. Instead, the careless Orochimaru had lost an arm. Although he could regenerate it instantly, the blow to his pride caused his body to falter.

"Impossible! Ahhh, impossible!" Orochimaru roared hysterically. He looked up at Yang Xing's blood-red eyes and froze again, his face full of fury: "You... the Sharingan! You are of the Uchiha Clan! You lied—you tricked me!"

Facing Orochimaru, Yang Xing only offered a faint gaze and lightning-fast hand movements: "At this distance, even if you had Rashomon, you wouldn't be able to use it, would you?"

"Wait, hold on—no, at this distance..." Orochimaru faltered. In that moment of hesitation, he forgot he had made a mistake—a massive, fatal mistake—by standing so close to such a freakish opponent.

It was pure suicide; a hundred lives wouldn't be enough.

"Water Style: Water Wave!"

Enhanced by the Sharingan and the total release of Yang Xing's chakra, the power of this boosted Water Wave reached S-rank, perhaps even surpassing it.

The water jet moved like the speed of light; one could barely hear more than a sharp whoosh.

Boom!

A massive, deep hole had been punched through the towering cave wall not far away, spanning over ten meters in diameter and extending deep into the rock.

Anko stood frozen.

Orochimaru, his chest pierced by a gaping hole, was equally stunned.

The dazed Orochimaru stared at the cavity in his chest, his entire body trembling before he collapsed backward.

"Orochimaru?" Watching him slowly fall, Anko found that her mind had ground to a halt; she could not think, she did not want to think, she could only stare at the exceptionally handsome brat standing ahead.

Indeed, nothing could compare to the allure of a ninja unleashing such overwhelming power.