The gale controlled by Might Guy dispersed, and he fell from midair.
Setsuna voluntarily deactivated the skill, walked down from the air, and stood before Might Guy. "Guy, are you all right?"
Might Guy shook his head and asked blankly, "Big Brother Setsuna, was that the Leaf Dragon God you used just now? But it didn't seem quite the same?"
Setsuna nodded and said softly, "I improved it a little. I'll call this move the Leaf Divine Dragon."
Might Guy's mouth fell open in shock. He had taken two weeks to learn the Leaf Dragon God, and Big Brother Setsuna had called him a Taijutsu genius. So what did that make Big Brother Setsuna, who had learned it at a glance and even improved it?
Fortunately, he had always been optimistic. He quickly recovered from the blow and asked excitedly, "Big Brother Setsuna, how did you do it? Doesn't your Leaf Divine Dragon have the weakness at its center?"
Setsuna explained, "Because you have to constantly maintain the whirlwind for your Leaf Dragon God, you yourself become the opening at the center of the dragon's eye. If you can launch the Leaf Dragon God like a Shuriken, then naturally it won't have that weakness."
Might Guy nodded thoughtfully, then added, "But wouldn't the launched Leaf Dragon God become weaker? Why did yours become even stronger, Big Brother Setsuna?"
"It's intent. I added intent," Setsuna said seriously. "That's why the Leaf Divine Dragon I use is no longer merely impressive in appearance. It now has true spirit."
It was like the Spirit Ball and Destructo Disc from the Dragon Ball World. As long as intent was infused into them, they could be controlled from afar.
Setsuna's control surpassed even the Spirit Ball's. He had come into close contact with Shenron and received a wish granted by Shenron. A trace of his intent had infused this Taijutsu, giving it a true soul.
"Intent?" Might Guy nodded as if he understood, muttering to himself, "Then my Leaf Dragon God should incorporate blazing youth—a hot-blooded youth version of the Leaf Dragon God."
Setsuna's mouth twitched slightly. Might Guy wouldn't turn the Leaf Dragon God into something wearing a jumpsuit, with dragon horns shaped like a bowl cut, would he?
"Amazing!" Asuma Sarutobi watched in shock from the edge of the training ground. After recovering his senses, he jogged over. "Senior! Senior!"
Seeing him panting for breath, Setsuna asked, "Asuma, what happened?"
"I came to report something." Asuma Sarutobi lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Today, I went to see the old man because I wanted him to assign me a higher-level mission. Guess who I ran into?"
Might Guy could not help guessing, "Could it have been the Sage of Six Paths?"
Asuma Sarutobi looked at Might Guy rather speechlessly. Should he say that Might Guy had a rich imagination, or that his thoughts jumped too far?
He sighed. "It was Orochimaru."
"There's nothing strange about running into Lord Orochimaru, is there?" Might Guy scratched his head, still thinking his answer had been creative.
"But when I went in, I happened to hear him asking about Senior Setsuna." Asuma Sarutobi rubbed his smooth chin. "After he left, I asked the old man about it. The old man said Orochimaru had just returned from the Hidden Cloud Village and encountered Jiraiya on the road. Jiraiya wanted to provoke Orochimaru into fighting you, Senior Setsuna."
Setsuna suddenly understood. No wonder he had not been able to wait for Orochimaru these past few days. Orochimaru had gone to the Hidden Cloud Village.
Asuma Sarutobi waved his fist. "Senior, you have to win! It'd be best if you beat him into a pig's head, just like you did to Jiraiya!"
Might Guy asked curiously, "Do you have a grudge against Lord Orochimaru?"
Asuma Sarutobi grunted unhappily. "It's all because the old man keeps using his prized disciple as an example. Hmph, I'm decades younger than Orochimaru. When I reach his age, I might not be any worse than him."
"Unfortunately, according to the original timeline, you wouldn't even live to Orochimaru's age." Setsuna shook his head slightly, dismissing that rather grim thought. "Thank you for informing me. But they say Lord Orochimaru is the most level-headed of Lord Hokage's three disciples. Since he knows it's provocation, this fight will probably never happen."
Asuma Sarutobi waved a hand. "It's fine. I only came to remind you to be careful, Senior. Don't let yourself get ambushed."
Setsuna nodded, though he was considering whether he should take the initiative and seek out Orochimaru.
Setsuna had always acted decisively. Once he had an idea, he quickly put it into action.
At this time, although Orochimaru gave off a somewhat cold and sinister air, his overall image was still very positive. It was not difficult for Setsuna to find out where he lived.
Night fell. After finishing his training, Setsuna bid Might Guy farewell, but instead of heading home, he passed through the mountains and forests toward Konoha's outskirts.
Konoha Village covered a vast area, but its residents occupied only the central region. Most of the remaining land consisted of forests and places like training grounds.
Although Setsuna's home was located at the edge of the residential district, it was at least still in a densely populated area. Orochimaru's base, meanwhile, lay deep within the mountains and forests, far from any human habitation.
As Setsuna continued toward his destination, an uninvited guest arrived at Orochimaru's base.
"Elder Danzo, have you come so late at night because there is an urgent order to deliver?" Orochimaru looked at the visitor and asked with a smile.
"Orochimaru, the time has come for us to restart the Wood Release experiments," Danzo said bluntly.
"Restart the Wood Release experiments?" Orochimaru narrowed his snake-like eyes, their faint glow chilling. "Doesn't Elder Danzo already have a Wood Release ninja under his command?"
"You know about that? Did Hiruzen tell you?" Danzo snorted in dissatisfaction. "He really tells you everything."
Orochimaru smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, that Wood Release ninja should have been the shared result of our work. Did Elder Danzo do this because you don't trust me, or because you think I'm getting in your way as well?"
Danzo fell silent for a moment before saying, "I did have some thoughts along those lines, but it no longer matters. That Wood Release is only a half-finished product."
"A half-finished product?" Orochimaru asked.
Danzo nodded. "It has the form of Wood Release, but not its vitality. I had originally wanted to stimulate that child's potential and see whether he could one day display the power Wood Release should possess. But now, I can't wait any longer."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Because I discovered better material. No talent for ninjutsu, unaffected by Wood Release, a powerful physique, vigorous life force, capable of bearing the power of Wood Release..."
Danzo's eyes burned with fervor. If he had once doubted whether Setsuna could bear Wood Release, those doubts had completely vanished after personally experiencing Setsuna's strength.
Orochimaru's expression turned strange. Danzo's description sounded awfully familiar. Could it be the person Jiraiya had mentioned?
"The person you're talking about is..."
At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door.
In the silent night, the abrupt knocking echoed like a ghost's call, sending chills down one's spine—especially when the voice that followed rang out.
"Lord Orochimaru, are you there?"
Upon hearing that voice, which had appeared countless times in his nightmares, Danzo's hairs stood on end. He glared at Orochimaru with shock and fury. "Bastard, you actually dared to scheme against me!"
Before you continue