Orochimaru Was Incredibly Excited

"Last time was probably just an accident. Maybe you hadn't gotten enough rest, Orochimaru, so you weren't up to it?"

"Is that so? Do I look up to it today?"

Before the words had even left his mouth, Orochimaru stretched his neck and lunged straight at Chen, apparently intending to leave another Cursed Seal on him.

Seeing this, Chen grabbed Haku and used Flash Step to escape.

"Oh? What a strange ability. That just now wasn't the Body Flicker Technique, and it didn't seem like Space-Time Ninjutsu either. It looked like nothing more than high-speed movement.

"You really are an interesting little fellow."

Orochimaru licked his lips, greed gleaming in his eyes. Clearly, he had no intention of letting Chen go easily.

"Run ahead. Wait for me at the place I told you about."

"But..."

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

"Go! I can't fight this guy with you slowing me down."

Chen was getting anxious. With his current strength, fighting Orochimaru was practically impossible. And with Haku, who had almost no strength left, his chances of winning were less than zero.

At Chen's furious shout, Haku turned and ran. Orochimaru and Kimimaro made no move to stop him.

One didn't bother taking hostages, while the other hadn't received an order from Orochimaru.

"Aren't you going to stop him?"

"Heh. You're my only target. A little Ice Release brat is no use to me."

"If possible, I'd really rather you hadn't taken an interest in me, Orochimaru."

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

Orochimaru licked his lips as his snake-like neck writhed. He looked more and more like a complete pervert.

"That won't do."

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A huge fireball appeared. Seeing Chen's attack, Orochimaru froze in surprise; Chen had changed far too much since their last encounter.

"Looks like you've improved a lot."

"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"

A proper Earth Style Wall, without any hooks, sprang up and successfully blocked Chen's attack.

But before the dust had even settled, Chen's next attack had already arrived.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

Another huge fireball appeared, but an attack like that was utterly meaningless against Orochimaru.

Orochimaru looked amused, as if he were a snake slowly playing Uchiha Chen to death.

"Ruler! Mask of flesh and blood, all creation, fluttering wings, bearing the name of man! Truth and temperance, upon the wall of sinless dreams, fly aloft!"

The Great Fireball and Flame Bullet had both been feints. The real killing move was Pale Fire Drop.

Since it wasn't a power from the Naruto World, Kido attacks were difficult to defend against.

Sure enough, Orochimaru was taken aback by the unfamiliar technique. The attack looked like Lightning Release, and it made him feel vaguely uneasy.

"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"

Orochimaru used a defensive technique, but in the next instant, Pale Fire Drop pierced straight through the wall.

If Orochimaru hadn't escaped with the Body Flicker Technique, the attack would have pierced his body too.

"Ding! System notification: Pale Fire Drop has met the upgrade requirements. Level increased to LV2.

"Basic Taijutsu has met the upgrade requirements. Level increased to LV2."

The system's voice suddenly rang out in Chen's mind. Two abilities had leveled up in succession, but that still wasn't enough to handle the situation.

"What an interesting ability. It's truly fascinating.

"It hasn't even been long, and you've already made such progress.

"You've really surprised me, little fellow."

Orochimaru wasn't angry at nearly being hit. On the contrary, he had fallen into a state of feverish excitement.

As a scientist of the Shinobi World, Orochimaru immediately recognized that Chen's Pale Fire Drop wasn't a Ninjutsu.

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

"Being praised by one of the Sannin is certainly something to be proud of, but I don't think it's a good thing to have you, Orochimaru, set your sights on me.

"Why don't you just pretend you never saw me?"

"How could I? If such a wondrous power slipped away right before my eyes, I wouldn't forgive myself."

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

Seeing the sticky fluid still clinging to the blade, Chen felt nauseated. It was seriously disgusting.

"Ugh, this guy's disgusting.

"Go beat the crap out of him for me."

The system's voice rang out, leaving Chen speechless.

That's Orochimaru. "Beat the crap out of him"? I'd be lucky if he doesn't beat the crap out of me.

Orochimaru drew the Kusanagi Sword, and Chen pulled out his Asauchi.

Although he knew it was a Zanpakuto, it had never shown any special abilities. Aside from being sharp and sturdy, it was just an ordinary katana.

Chen and Orochimaru charged at each other almost simultaneously, their blades colliding.

Orochimaru looked utterly astonished.

"What kind of weapon is this? Why can't the Kusanagi Sword cut through it?"

"I've already told you—you wouldn't understand. So let's not waste our breath."

"Fire Release: Flowing Fire Blade!"

Chen used Flowing Fire Blade again. He had made some more progress in developing the technique, and the flames forced Orochimaru to retreat. Chen seized the chance to use Flash Step and open up some distance.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

"You dare use a Shadow Clone against me? I don't know whether to call you ignorant or stupid."

Orochimaru stared at Chen with feverish excitement. Unknown Ninjutsu and an unknown weapon held an irresistible allure for him.

And since Chen had previously managed to ignore the Cursed Seal, Orochimaru could hardly wait to dissect him.

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!"

Dragon Flame Technique, Chen's strongest offensive move at the moment, burst forth. His clone released it as well.

Seeing this, Orochimaru showed no fear. Instead, he grew even more excited. After all, few people could use a B-rank Ninjutsu at Chen's age.

"Secret Technique: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

A swarm of snakes appeared and successfully blocked Chen's attack.

The air filled with the smell of burning. Clearly, the snakes couldn't withstand the flames.

"I have to say, there probably aren't many people your age who are stronger than you. Unfortunately, you're still not strong enough to leave here."

"Is that so?

"Orochimaru, if I remember correctly, last time you thought you could kill me with the Cursed Seal too. But what happened?

"Overconfidence isn't a good thing. It might just lead you to dig your own grave."

Seeing that Orochimaru hadn't attacked, Chen chose not to attack either.

"That's true. You escaped last time, but you won't be so lucky this time."

"I don't think so. As far as I'm concerned, I'll come out of this just fine.

"Goodbye, Orochimaru."