Orochimaru's Immense Excitement

"I suspect the last time was just an accident. Perhaps you weren't well-rested, Orochimaru, and that's why you failed?"

"Is that so? Do I look capable to you today?"

Before the words had even faded, Orochimaru extended his neck and lunged straight toward Uchiha Chen, seemingly intent on leaving another Cursed Seal on him.

Seeing this, Uchiha Chen grabbed Haku and used Flash Step to vanish from the spot.

"Oh? A strange ability. That wasn't the Body Flicker Technique, nor does it resemble space-time ninjutsu. It appears to be nothing more than high-speed movement. You really are an interesting little one."

Orochimaru flicked his tongue, his eyes gleaming with greed; it was clear he had no intention of letting Uchiha Chen go easily.

"Run first. Go to the place I told you and wait for me."

"But..."

Haku was reluctant, clearly unwilling to flee alone at a time like this.

"Go! I can't fight this guy while carrying you."

Uchiha Chen was growing anxious. With his current strength, fighting Orochimaru was nearly impossible; if he had to drag along Haku, who currently possessed almost no combat power, the odds of success would be non-existent.

Under Uchiha Chen's roar, Haku turned and fled, while Orochimaru and Kimimaro made no move to stop him.

One disdained taking hostages, and the other had not received an order from Orochimaru.

"Aren't you going to stop her?"

"Heh, my target is only you. A brat with Ice Release is of no use to me."

"If I had the choice, I truly wish I hadn't caught your eye, Orochimaru."

"Come with me. I can spare your life—provided, of course, that you tell me everything you know."

Orochimaru flicked his tongue, swaying his snake-like neck; he looked increasingly like a deviant.

"That won't be possible."

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball erupted. Orochimaru was taken aback by the attack, as it was a far cry from what he had encountered when they last met.

"It seems you've improved significantly."

"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"

A proper Earth Style Wall appeared without any gaps, successfully blocking Uchiha Chen's attack.

However, before the smoke and dust had even settled, Uchiha Chen's next strike arrived.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

Another enormous fireball appeared, but against Orochimaru, such an attack was meaningless.

Orochimaru wore a playful expression, as if he were a snake slowly toying Uchiha Chen to death.

"Bound by the throne! Mask of flesh and bone, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this wall of sinless dreams, unleash but slightly the claws of your wrath!"

Whether it was the Great Fireball or the Flame Bullet, they were merely diversions for Uchiha Chen; his true killing blow was the Pale Fire Drop.

Because it was not power from the Naruto World, Kido attacks were difficult to defend against.

As expected, Orochimaru, seeing such a technique for the first time, was deeply astonished. This attack, which appeared to be Lightning Release, left him feeling a faint sense of unease.

"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"

Orochimaru cast his defensive ninjutsu, yet the next second, the Pale Fire Drop pierced straight through the wall.

Had Orochimaru not used the Body Flicker Technique to escape, his body would surely have been run through.

Ding, system notification: Pale Fire Drop has met the requirements for an upgrade. Level promoted to LV2.
Basic Taijutsu has met the requirements for an upgrade. Level promoted to LV2.

The system's voice echoed in Uchiha Chen's mind. Two abilities had leveled up in succession, but it was clearly not enough to handle the current situation.

"An interesting ability. Truly, too interesting. To think you've made such progress in such a short time. Little one, you've surprised me too much."

Orochimaru was not angered by his near-miss; on the contrary, he had fallen into a state of fanatical excitement.

As a scientist of the Shinobi World, Orochimaru recognized at a glance that Uchiha Chen's Pale Fire Drop was not ninjutsu.

As a mad scientist, Orochimaru was clearly fascinated by such things.

"While it is a point of pride to be praised by one of the Sannin, I don't consider being targeted by you, Orochimaru, a good thing. How about you just pretend you never saw me?"

"How could that be? To let such miraculous power slip through my fingers—I don't think I could even forgive myself."

As he spoke, Orochimaru opened his mouth and spat out the Kusanagi Sword.

Watching the sticky, viscous liquid coating the Kusanagi Sword, Uchiha Chen couldn't help but feel nauseated. It was absolutely disgusting.

"Damn, this guy is disgusting. Go over there and slap him for me."

The system's voice rang out, leaving Chen speechless. This is Orochimaru we're talking about. Slap him? I'll be lucky if I don't get slapped myself.

Orochimaru unsheathed the Kusanagi Sword, and Chen drew his own Asauchi. Although he knew it was a Zanpakuto, it had never displayed any special abilities from the start; aside from being exceptionally sharp and durable, it was essentially just an ordinary katana.

Chen and Orochimaru charged at each other almost simultaneously, their blades colliding with a sharp ring.

Orochimaru wore an expression of utter astonishment. "What kind of weapon is this? Why can't the Kusanagi Sword cut through it?"

"Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand, so don't waste your breath."

"Fire Release, Flowing Fire Blade!"

Casting Flowing Fire Blade once more, Chen had made further progress in developing this ninjutsu. The flames forced Orochimaru to retreat, and Chen seized the opportunity to use Flash Step to put some distance between them.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

"You dare use Shadow Clone in front of me? I truly don't know whether to call you ignorant or stupid."

Orochimaru looked at Chen with a fanatical gaze. Unknown ninjutsu and unknown weapons held a fatal allure for him. Coupled with the fact that Chen had previously been able to ignore the Cursed Seal, Orochimaru was already impatient to dissect him.

"Fire Release, Dragon Flame Technique!"

As Chen's strongest offensive move at present, the Dragon Flame Technique manifested, with his clones unleashing it as well. Seeing this, Orochimaru felt no fear; instead, he grew even more excited, as few people at this age could cast B-rank ninjutsu.

"Secret Technique, Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

A massive swarm of venomous snakes appeared, successfully blocking Chen's attack. The air was thick with the smell of charred flesh, as it was clear those snakes were not immune to the baptism of fire.

"I must admit, there are few who are stronger than you at this age, but unfortunately, this level of strength is not enough to let you leave this place."

"Is that so? Orochimaru, if I recall correctly, you also thought you could kill me directly with the Cursed Seal last time, but what was the result? Excessive confidence is never a good thing; it might just lead you to dig your own grave."

Seeing that Orochimaru did not launch an immediate attack, Chen chose to hold his ground as well.

"Indeed, I let you escape last time, but you won't be so lucky this time."

"I don't think so. In my opinion, I'll still be doing just fine this time around. Goodbye, Orochimaru."