Facing Orochimaru

When Orochimaru used the Body Flicker Technique to rush in front of Feng Yao, he was immediately drawn to the aura surrounding him.

For some reason, he felt a little closer to Feng Yao, but his will was firm, and he naturally wouldn't let that affect him in battle.

He formed Hand Seals and gave a low shout.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

This was one of Orochimaru's B-rank ninjutsu, a highly versatile technique. He could summon multiple snakes in an instant, each serving a different purpose—intimidating, restraining, or capturing the enemy—to unleash a series of consecutive attacks.

Often, before an enemy could react, they were already bound.

Dozens of brown snakes with black stripes darted toward Feng Yao's limbs and vital points.

Tayuya couldn't help worrying about Feng Yao. Even she found that feeling unbelievable.

But her concern was clearly unnecessary. Feng Yao pushed off with both feet and used Moonwalk to easily evade the pursuing snakes as they tried to bind him. Orochimaru kept up the chase for more than ten meters before finally recalling the technique.

Orochimaru's expression turned grave. His Hidden Shadow Snake Hands had not only overwhelmed the enemy with sheer numbers.

They were also so fast that even a Kage Level fighter could get caught if he let his guard down. Yet Feng Yao had dodged them despite the close range.

There was only one way Orochimaru could think of to do that: the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan.

The Sharingan could copy ninjutsu and see through ninjutsu and Taijutsu, allowing its wielder to read an opponent's movements. But Feng Yao's eyes clearly weren't the Sharingan.

Feng Yao had managed to evade Hidden Shadow Snake Hands without entering Sage Mode thanks to the changes in his physique.

His understanding of ninjutsu now far surpassed what Orochimaru could have imagined.

The moment Orochimaru made his move, Feng Yao had mentally simulated all the different ways the technique could unfold. That was how he had dodged it.

"Yao, your secrets are even more interesting than I thought. But if all you can do is run away, you can't expect me to acknowledge your strength."

Orochimaru wore a cold sneer, radiating a mature, gloomy air as he tried to provoke Feng Yao.

Feng Yao pressed his palms together, silently wondering if this would be the last time he used Sage Mode.

Shadows appeared at the corners of his eyes, and his pupils changed.

That didn't mean Feng Yao could now enter Sage Mode in an instant. It showed that he could focus on two things at once: while tangling with Orochimaru, he had also been entering Sage Mode.

Orochimaru could clearly feel Feng Yao's strength changing. He was now more than ten times as terrifying as before.

For a moment, Orochimaru felt as though he were facing that man again—Itachi Uchiha. It was the same feeling of being unable to win.

He gave a cold snort. He wouldn't let the humiliation from that day happen again. Feng Yao might have defeated the Third Hokage, but the Third Hokage was old and frail, far from his prime. Orochimaru, on the other hand, was one of the mighty Sannin.

Orochimaru crouched low to the ground and opened his mouth wide.

"Many Snake Array!"

This technique summoned countless snakes that crawled out of the user's mouth to attack the enemy, burying them alive beneath a mass of snakes before detonating the swarm.

Watching Orochimaru spit things out of his mouth nonstop, Feng Yao frowned. Roasted snake meat might actually be pretty good.

He quickly formed Hand Seals, moving so fast that his hands left afterimages.

Kimimaro, watching from a distance, widened his eyes in astonishment. Feng Yao was forming three different sets of Hand Seals at once.

Feng Yao took a deep breath, puffing out his cheeks.

"Sage Art: Goemon!"

Feng Yao combined Wind Release, Fire Release, and Toad Oil to create a vast spread of blazing oil. The intense heat mercilessly engulfed the giant snakes Orochimaru had summoned.

Feng Yao hadn't used this technique before because although he knew how, he hadn't been able to use three ninjutsu at the same time. Now he could.

Not only that, he could even unleash four ninjutsu at once.

Orochimaru immediately leaped back. Even he couldn't afford to be hit by a Fire Release technique of this caliber.

He bit his finger and slapped his palm against the ground.

"Triple Rashomon!"

Three gates rose from the ground: red, blue, and black, each bearing a wide-open demonic face as if ready to swallow every attack.

The three gates represented the three stages of absolute underworld-gate defense: receiving, nullifying, and dispersing. They also had the ability to absorb all attacks.

They could protect the user and intimidate the enemy.

The first gate took the hit.

The second reduced its force.

The third dispersed its power.

By the time the flaming oil struck the third gate, its momentum had run out. It couldn't harm Orochimaru behind it.

"So it was that technique... Thank goodness."

Just as Orochimaru breathed a sigh of relief, Feng Yao suddenly appeared behind him. A cold voice rang out.

"Mr. Orochimaru, the battle isn't over yet."

Feng Yao brought his hands together and murmured,

"Sage Art: Myojinmon!"

Several red torii gates came crashing down from the sky.

They pinned Orochimaru to the ground. The technique could temporarily seal an opponent's chakra.

He even knew Sealing Techniques! Orochimaru felt the chakra in his body being sealed. He was now completely at Feng Yao's mercy.

Feng Yao didn't stop. He continued forming Hand Seals, as if he meant to take Orochimaru's life right there.

Orochimaru finally lost his composure and cried out in fear,

"Get over here and help me, already!"

Kimimaro had wanted to help the moment he saw Orochimaru losing, but he'd been waiting for an order. At the sound of it, he rushed in at once.

Everyone except Tayuya sprang into action as well.

They all entered Cursed Seal Level Two. Their skin darkened and hardened, their hair changed color and grew longer, and claws sprouted from their hands.

Tayuya struggled with herself for a moment before finally joining them.

"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Clematis!"

"Secret Technique: Spider Sticky Gold!"

"Earth Release: Earth Mausoleum Dumpling!"

"Multi-Punch!"

They each unleashed the techniques they were best at.

The Sound Four were not to be underestimated. Each possessed unique abilities, including secret techniques, genjutsu, or Kekkei Genkai.

Feng Yao turned toward the attacks coming from behind. His hands shifted through a new set of seals, his stomach swelled, and he exhaled a phantom white dragon.

"Sage Art: White Fury Technique!"

The white dragon clutched a purple orb and sped toward the Sound Four.

The technique used vibrations in the air to make its targets feel their bones grinding together. It also emitted a powerful light that damaged their sight and hearing.

Feng Yao had stopped using this technique because its side effects were too severe. The intense light had even blinded him by accident once.

He hadn't used it since. Now, though, a gleam covered his eyes, a thin film protected his eyeballs, and his body's resilience let him withstand the air's vibrations.

The Sound Four shut their eyes in pain and covered their ears. They could no longer use ninjutsu, and even their Cursed Seals seemed on the verge of failing.

Feng Yao took the opportunity to rush into the blinding light and knock them aside, one by one.

Tayuya had been a moment late and wasn't caught within the technique's range. Now she was the only one on the field still standing besides Feng Yao.

"Damn it, he's actually this strong."

In that brief moment, that was the thought that crossed Orochimaru's mind.

The next instant, Feng Yao's Rankyaku slammed into his chest.

Orochimaru's vision went black. A wave of intense dizziness made him lose his balance, and he collapsed to the ground.

He lay there for one or two breaths before starting to recover. Once his vision cleared, the first thing he saw was Feng Yao's feet standing right in front of him.

"Damn it." Orochimaru tried to get up.

Feng Yao raised his right foot and stomped down.

He slammed Orochimaru's head into the ground as if it were a stone, the impact ringing out with a heavy thud.

"Feng Yao!" Orochimaru roared in fury, trying to rise again.

Feng Yao stared coldly at him and stomped down once more.

Orochimaru's head struck the ground hard. His scalp split, and blood poured out.

"I'll find a way to kill you, no matter what." Orochimaru gritted his teeth so hard they nearly cracked. The fury in his chest threatened to consume him.

He lifted his head and fixed Feng Yao with his snake-like eyes. His voice was dark as he said,

"Yao, I was out of line just now. I acknowledge your strength. How about we call it here?"

Seeing Orochimaru back down, Feng Yao released Myojinmon and helped him up with easy familiarity, as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.

"Come on, come on, Mr. Orochimaru, get up. The ground's cold. We were just sparring casually, so don't take it to heart."

The Sound Four stared, dumbfounded. Was this really the same man who had just been so ruthless? He'd changed faces far too quickly.

Orochimaru was stunned too. Sparring casually? Feng Yao had come within inches of killing him.

Yet around Feng Yao, Orochimaru could feel his anger and murderous intent fading. He was astonished, but also growing greedier.

His physique seems extremely unusual. He can affect the thoughts of those around him, and from what I just saw, he's mastered Sage Mode. A body like that would make a perfect vessel.

At the thought, Orochimaru licked his lips. If he hadn't been outmatched, he would have cut Feng Yao apart for research right then and there.