Orochimaru

Orochimaru stood atop the head of a colossal snake, watching Hōzuki Mangetsu with a beaming smile.

"A decent combination of techniques. If not for that move, I might have nearly been finished off by you."

He licked his lips and chuckled, "What a bad boy. It seems dealing with you will take a bit of effort after all."

Is it really impossible after all?

Mangetsu looked at the behemoth before him, casting a lingering, reluctant glance at the Kusanagi Sword in Orochimaru's hand.

It seemed he would have to find another way next time.

"Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

Mangetsu suddenly spat out a massive volume of water, rapidly submerging the surrounding area. High-level Water Style ninjas were capable of performing B-rank or higher Water Style techniques even in places without a water source.

"A mere parlor trick!"

Orochimaru sneered, driving the giant snake to charge toward Mangetsu.

"Farewell, everyone. I will return."

Mangetsu smiled, his body gradually liquefying and merging into the water. The Exploding Water Colliding Wave was not meant to injure the enemy, but to provide cover for his retreat.

The Hozuki Clan possessed the secret Hydrification Technique; by merging his body into the water, even someone at the Super Kage level like Orochimaru would be powerless to stop him.

This was his final trump card.

As long as he could use this technique, he could escape successfully regardless of how dangerous the enemy might be.

However, an accident occurred.

A massive bolt of lightning suddenly struck Mangetsu.

Mangetsu let out a miserable cry as his Hydrification Technique was instantly broken; his consciousness gradually slipped away from his body, and he fell into a coma.

Because the lightning strike was so sudden, Orochimaru and the others were caught off guard as well, though fortunately, the giant snake shielded him from the brunt of the electrical discharge.

The summoned snake vanished, and Orochimaru landed on the ground.

"So, the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique is weak against Lightning Style."

He muttered to himself.

At this moment, Mangetsu had curled into a ball, his body becoming translucent due to the Hydrification being interrupted by the Lightning Style.

Orochimaru suddenly felt a sense of boredom.

In his pursuit of immortality, he had betrayed Konoha and traveled everywhere in search of a suitable body.

The Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique was wondrous, allowing one to liquefy any part of the body to negate all physical attacks.

If the First Hokage's Rashomon was the ultimate defense of hardness, then the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification was the ultimate defense of softness.

Therefore, the secret Hydrification Technique had always been within Orochimaru's considerations, but it appeared that it possessed a glaring weakness: a fear of Lightning Style.

Orochimaru sought a perfect, flawless vessel, and the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique was now excluded from his list, though the secret art itself was still worth studying.

Just as he prepared to dispose of Mangetsu's body, Mangetsu suddenly stirred and opened his eyes.

Unlike his previous ferocity, his gaze was somewhat dazed.

Orochimaru!

Mangetsu suddenly shouted, "It really is Orochimaru! Holy crap, what is going on?"

He scrambled to his feet, looking at his own hands with a strange, bewildered expression.

Hōzuki Mangetsu, a veteran Naruto fan, had been rewatching the anime at night when a rare lightning strike hit; the screen went black, and when he woke up, he was here.

Yet, the first thing he saw was Orochimaru.

"Snake Uncle" was one of the most charismatic bosses in Naruto, and Hōzuki Mangetsu was extremely familiar with him. Especially that iconic, snake-like face.

It was the kind of face that made you not want to look a second time.

This must be a dream.

Hōzuki Mangetsu slapped his own cheek hard.

Splash. His body reacted to the impact by subconsciously liquefying.

Is this... the Hydrification Technique?

He stared at the sight in shock.

"So, being struck by lightning really does make one stupid, Hōzuki Mangetsu!"

Orochimaru watched the bewildered Mangetsu with amusement, though he felt a strange sensation in his heart.

"I am Hōzuki Mangetsu!"

Mangetsu was shocked, a bizarre thought suddenly flashing through his mind.

This name was also very familiar to him as a fan of the series.

One of the strongest Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, a powerhouse proficient with all seven blades, and a genius of the Hozuki Clan.

He never imagined that he would transmigrate into the body of Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Wait, what is happening right before my eyes?

Hōzuki Mangetsu felt another consciousness in his mind gradually merging with his own, as over a decade of Hōzuki Mangetsu's memories flashed rapidly through his brain.

So that's how it is!

Hōzuki Mangetsu instantly understood the situation.

That bolt of lightning had sent him to the world of Naruto, transmigrating him into the body of Hōzuki Mangetsu, and the current year was 53 of the Konoha calendar.

The protagonist of the series hadn't even graduated from the Konoha Ninja Academy yet?

However, Hōzuki Mangetsu had no time to be excited, because Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword was thrusting toward him mercilessly.

Having discerned the weakness of the Hydrification Technique, this time, streaks of electricity flickered across Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword.

The flow of Lightning Release chakra.

Orochimaru was a ninja with all elemental affinities; although his Lightning Release wasn't as proficient as his Earth or Wind Release, using a few B-rank ninjutsu was no problem at all.

Splash!

Mangetsu's body immediately turned into a puddle of murky water.

A Water Clone?

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his gaze landing on Mangetsu not far away.

"The Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Technique truly fears Lightning Release!"

In truth, he hadn't intended to kill Mangetsu with that strike just now; it was merely a test.

Mangetsu hadn't used Hydrification, but instead used a Water Clone to dodge the attack, which was proof enough that his Hydrification Technique was indeed vulnerable to Lightning Release.

In that case!

Orochimaru smiled faintly and said, "Be a good boy and come back with me!"

As he spoke, he raised the Kusanagi Sword.

That was close!

Hōzuki Mangetsu gasped for air, his chest heaving.

He had long known that the Hydrification Technique feared Lightning Release, so he had instinctively used the Water Clone jutsu to evade that attack.

Now, he had no choice but to accept the fact that he was Hōzuki Mangetsu.

In reality, for a veteran Naruto fan like Hōzuki Mangetsu, things like Konoha, the Hokage, Naruto, Sasuke, the Uchiha, or the Senju held no attraction, because he was far too familiar with their storylines.

Recently, Hōzuki Mangetsu had suddenly become fascinated with Kirigakure.

The Bloody Mist era, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kekkei Genkai, and the Silent Killing Technique.

He was particularly curious about Hōzuki Mangetsu; although this character only appeared via Impure World Reincarnation in the original work, he shone brilliantly the moment he appeared, leaving behind one mystery after another.

"Orochimaru!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu coughed and slowly stood up; what he needed to do now was figure out how to escape from Orochimaru's grasp.

There wasn't much information on Hōzuki Mangetsu, and the cause of his death was even more obscure, but Hōzuki Mangetsu believed that Orochimaru absolutely possessed the ability to kill him—perhaps Hōzuki Mangetsu had even died in this very battle.

What he needed to do now was figure out how to persuade Orochimaru to let him go.

The Hydrification Technique was marvelous, but his life was more important; besides, even if he didn't give it to Orochimaru, the latter would eventually obtain the secret of hydrification through researching his younger brother, Shui Yue'er.

"If all you want is the secret of the Hydrification Technique, I can give it to you."

Hōzuki Mangetsu weighed the pros and cons before speaking.