First Clash with Orochimaru

The sword was strange. It could lengthen or shorten, and it shot from Orochimaru's mouth, stretching toward Long Ye without end.

Hiss!

The blade pierced the rock wall as if it were tofu, sinking three feet deep.

Long Ye dodged the strike with ease.

"No wonder they call you Lightning Flash. Your speed really does rival the Body Flicker Technique!"

Orochimaru sounded impressed despite missing his target.

He did not pause. As the sword missed, he raised a hand, and a python as thick as an arm shot from his sleeve.

The snake had been summoned and possessed keen intelligence. Its jaws opened wide as it lunged for Long Ye's neck.

This time, Long Ye did not dodge. He seized the cloth wrapped around the weapon at his waist and swung it forward. The wrapping tore apart, lightning flashed, and a head as large as a bowl fell to the ground.

The summoned snake had been cut in two. Its upper half thrashed at Long Ye's feet. Snakes held grudges; even after losing its head, this one still sought revenge.

The severed head bared two venomous fangs and snapped at his ankle.

Long Ye did not even look at it. He drove his blade into the ground behind him, pinning the head in place. Lightning crackled, and the head turned to charred ash.

A cold gleam entered Orochimaru's eyes.

Long Ye's gaze had never left Orochimaru.

This was Orochimaru, after all. He had no end of bizarre tricks. Long Ye might not fear him, but he still had to stay fully alert.

"Very good!"

Orochimaru's gaze dropped to the Lightning Branch in Long Ye's hand. He seemed curious about the oddly shaped weapon he had never seen before.

"From what you said earlier, Danzo's recent attempts to deal with me