Room for Choice

Why would Orochimaru appear here?

And why was he wearing that lecherous expression, as if waiting for Lin Qing?

This matter must be traced back to not long ago.

After Itachi Uchiha refined his entire clan in an instant and followed Obito to join the Akatsuki, he was paired with Orochimaru to execute internal missions for the organization.

During the course of these repeated missions, Orochimaru set his sights on Itachi Uchiha's Sharingan, desiring to make it his own. He seized an opportunity to launch a sneak attack, only to be countered and killed by Itachi, losing an arm in the process before fleeing the Akatsuki.

Orochimaru is a man who knows how to adapt.

Weren't there two other Uchiha left in the world?

He set his sights on the currently prominent Lin Qing, but Lin Qing had previously been in the Land of Water, his movements elusive, and Orochimaru could never find a suitable opportunity—until he heard that Jugo and Kimimaro had encountered Hope Village.

Kimimaro had followed Orochimaru across the lands in his early years and understood the customs of various nations; upon arriving at Hope Village, he quickly discovered that the people of this village were...

Abnormal.

The lifestyle habits of the Land of Water.

There was no record of Hope Village on the maps of Konoha.

Combined with the uproar over the human trafficking case in the Land of Water some time ago—the survivors who had gone to Konoha for political asylum had clearly stated that a group of people intended to establish their own village.

Synthesizing the above intelligence, Orochimaru deduced that the villagers of Hope Village were that very group of survivors.

"...And so, I played along, killing some and letting others go, all to lure you here."

Orochimaru's snake-like pupils scrutinized Lin Qing carefully, as if looking at a work of art.

Lin Qing drew the Blade of Ruin: "You killed so many people just to find me?"

Orochimaru chuckled softly.

His voice was hoarse, yet not unpleasant; it sounded like the peculiar comfort of plunging one's hand into a bag of supermarket rice.

"Lin Qing, I understand you; we are the same kind of people."

Orochimaru raised a finger: "Life is the most precious thing in the world, but look at them—living in poverty, distressed every day by food, taxes, and labor."

"If living is only for suffering, it is better to end it early and enter the next cycle of reincarnation. I kill them to help them find release, and I achieve my goal; this is a win-win situation."

This was Orochimaru's theory, and Kimimaro's face revealed adoration.

He had long been brainwashed by Orochimaru and believed firmly in the "theory of release."

"Arrogant! Disgusting!"

A reprimand filled with anger came from the side.

Orochimaru turned his head to look.

The one speaking was not Lin Qing, but Little Sasuke, who was standing to the side.

The so-called poor, wrapped in hardship all day, depressed and unhappy... this was entirely the "fantasizing" of the upper class toward the bottom-dwellers, used to satisfy their own sense of pity.

Sasuke had thought the same way in the past.

But during his time living in Snowfall Village, he discovered that even the poorest people—even the Lame Man, widows, or the elderly without children—would find various joys in life to satisfy themselves.

They would cry, they would laugh, they would tell witty jokes, and they would have their own moments of beauty.

To kill them in the name of release, with such self-righteousness...

Disgusting!

Sasuke wanted to say every word in his heart and throw it in Orochimaru's face.

But when he met Orochimaru's snake-like gaze, fear sprouted from the depths of his heart, cold sweat broke out on his back, and he even forgot his breathing technique, nearly suffocating—

A figure blocked Orochimaru's gaze.

"I also think it's quite disgusting."

Lin Qing looked at Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and Jugo: "Whether it is you, or..."

He glanced at the five members of Root.

"...you."

Before arriving at this village, Aero Smith had been flying ahead, and Lin Qing had long since noticed the five people hiding on the outskirts of the village.

Lin Qing would no longer be surprised by anything Danzo did.

As for Orochimaru... Lin Qing had originally thought that he was a tough guy for daring to strike at Itachi Uchiha.

Now it seemed he was just another lunatic.

A figure flashed over and landed beside Lin Qing; it was Jiraiya, who had been lying in ambush in the rear.

Jiraiya's brows were locked tight, his expression grave.

The enemy was Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and five Root jonin.

Their side consisted of Lin Qing, Jiraiya, and Little Sasuke.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru were evenly matched.

Lin Qing was undoubtedly stronger than Kimimaro and the members of Root; in terms of raw combat power on paper, Lin Qing's group held the advantage.

However...

Ambushing Orochimaru and being ambushed by Orochimaru in return were two entirely different matters!

"Based on my understanding of Orochimaru, he suffered a setback at the hands of Itachi Uchiha, so he has definitely made full preparations this time."

Jiraiya said in a low voice, "Let's retreat."

Given Jiraiya's temperament, if he were alone, he would have charged in regardless of the consequences long ago.

But after spending the last two days interacting with Lin Qing and Sasuke, Jiraiya had come to recognize their resolve; such outstanding young people should not die here.

"You two go first, I'll hold them off. Orochimaru and I were classmates, after all—even if I lose... he shouldn't kill me."

Jiraiya spoke lightly, but he felt no confidence in his heart.

Orochimaru seemed to perceive his old friend's anxiety and shook his head, as venomous snakes flowed from his pant legs to devour the flesh and blood of the dead villagers.

"Don't struggle, Jiraiya. Anyone can leave today, except for Lin Qing."

The venomous snakes surrounded the village, spitting out thick, toxic mist to seal off Lin Qing's escape route.

Orochimaru curled his lips into a smile: "Lin Qing, I don't particularly enjoy fighting. How about this? I'll let Jiraiya and this little friend go, and you come back with me to assist in my research."

"And if not?"

"Otherwise, I will have no choice but to kill them and take you back by force."

Lin Qing nodded slightly, indicating he understood.

"Lin Qing!"

Jiraiya grabbed Lin Qing's arm, signaling him to take this chance and run.

The Fox Mask Ninja spoke up: "Orochimaru, this is not within the scope of your deal with Danzo. Lin Qing is a rogue ninja of Konoha, and we have the authority to take him back."

Without waiting for Orochimaru's response, the five Root ninjas arrived before Lin Qing, and one of them produced shackles.

The Fox Mask Ninja said coldly: "Bind your own hands and break your own legs, and I will take you back to Konoha to face judgment. If you dare to resist, we will join forces with Orochimaru to kill you."

Lin Qing nodded again.

Seeing this, two Root ninjas approached Lin Qing with the shackles.

The Blade of Ruin was raised.

Lin Qing did not launch a sneak attack; he clearly let the two approaching ninjas see the movement of him lifting the blade, but by the time they intended to flee the reach of the blade, it was already too late.

"You dare!" the Fox Mask Ninja shouted.

Thud—thud—

Two headless corpses fell to the ground.

Lin Qing flicked the blood off his blade.

"You people are truly strange. You all love making me choose, but since you love choices so much, why don't you leave yourselves any room to maneuver?"

He took a step forward and arrived before Orochimaru.

The other three ninjas charged at Lin Qing's back with cold faces, but Jiraiya blocked them, shouting angrily: "You don't deserve to be called Konoha ninjas."

The three ninjas remained expressionless: "Lord Jiraiya, we are protecting Konoha in the way of 'Root,' please do not interfere with our work."

"A bunch of idiots!" Jiraiya cursed loudly.

With Jiraiya there, Lin Qing did not concern himself with the enemies at his back.

He gripped the Blade of Ruin tightly with both hands, channeling his Sunlight Yellow Ripple to the limit, and streaks of golden lightning appeared, coiling around the blade.

He swung his blade, and Orochimaru's body melted like liquid, transforming into countless small snakes. Thousands of them leaped up, swarming toward Lin Qing from every angle!

"Star Platinum!"

Ora! Ora! Ora!

His fists moved like the wind, blasting the small snakes out of the air.

Just then, the ground shattered, and a straight blade thrust toward Lin Qing's chest.

Orochimaru had hidden underground while transforming into snakes.

Lin Qing did not dodge at all; he concentrated the power of the Ripple into the soles of his feet and stomped hard onto the ground. A muffled groan came from beneath the earth, and the thrusting blade turned limp, losing all its strength.

The ground burst open, and Orochimaru emerged from the other side. There was blood on the corner of his mouth, but in the blink of an eye, all his injuries vanished. He opened his hands toward Lin Qing.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Hundreds of thick pythons surged toward Lin Qing like a tidal wave.

Orochimaru released the giant pythons with one hand while the other was already forming seals; if Lin Qing dodged, a Fire Style jutsu would be waiting for him in the next second.

But Lin Qing did not dodge.

Because Star Platinum stood before him.

Hundreds of pythons bit into its body, but all that followed was the sound of metal clashing against stone. Each fang snapped and shattered, failing to even pierce the Platinum Skin of Star Platinum.

This was the Platinum Skin acquired after leveling up to rank three!

Floating in mid-air, Star Platinum looked down coldly at Orochimaru with a majesty that did not belong to the mortal realm, like that of a god or a buddha.

Orochimaru swallowed instinctively, his instincts screaming at him to take half a step back.

A violent tugging sensation arrived.

Like a game of tug-of-war, Star Platinum yanked Orochimaru toward it in one swift motion.

Orochimaru severed his connection to the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands the instant it happened.

But it was too late; carried by momentum, he still flew toward Star Platinum.

He flew toward...

Its raised fist.

"Ora!!!"

Star Platinum smashed a fist into Orochimaru's head. With a sickening crack, his skull was instantly shattered, and Orochimaru let out a wretched "Waga!" before flying away like a discarded sack.

In that moment, Orochimaru remembered how Itachi had once described Lin Qing.

"Do not let Lin Qing find a single opening, not even for an instant."

Before this, Orochimaru could not understand. Others were one thing, but with his own physical regenerative abilities and combat expertise, what could a single punch from that legendary "Evil Spirit" really do?

Now, he knew.

Orochimaru possessed over a dozen ninjutsu capable of accelerating regeneration.

His body had undergone complex modifications, making him nearly immortal and indestructible on the battlefield.

But there was simply no time.

Star Platinum, like a true Evil Spirit, had already caught up to Orochimaru. It took another deep breath, gathering power into its fist, ready to strike again.

A snake tail lunged out, wrapping around Orochimaru's body to pull him away.

Lin Qing followed the direction of the tail.

A strange woman with long green hair and a golden crown was currently holding Orochimaru.

For the first time, awe appeared on Orochimaru's face:

"I leave it to you... Tagorihime."