Next time we meet, I hope you have an even more interesting surprise for me

Amid a relentless barrage of impacts, Orochimaru's attacks failed to pierce the Lightning Release armor surrounding Uchiha Yi. He formed hand seals and shouted "Dance of the Clematis: Flower!" His brows knotted as he unleashed another furious assault.

His attacks still failed to break through the lightning shield. Instead, the recoil shattered his own bone spikes, and he darted back several yards.

Orochimaru's lips curled. "Yi, you really have given me quite a few surprises. Your Lightning Release resembles the Fourth Raikage's nintaijutsu, but its power is clearly superior."

Uchiha Yi scoffed. "No need to thank me, Orochimaru. Stop showing off those flashy little tricks and give me something real."

Orochimaru's expression darkened, his snake pupils narrowing to slits. Had Kabuto Yakushi been there, he would have recognized that Orochimaru was already considering bringing out his trump cards.

"Since you're so eager to get started, Yi, I won't waste any more time."

Uchiha Yi suddenly frowned. He could distinctly sense dense natural energy pouring out of Orochimaru.

Had Orochimaru gone to Ryūchi Cave to study senjutsu under the White Snake Sage?

The thought had barely entered Uchiha Yi's mind before he dismissed it. The changes taking place in Orochimaru weren't senjutsu's Sage Mode, but Sage Transformation.

That was Jūgo's Sage Transformation!

Uchiha Yi realized it instantly. Orochimaru's body swelled before his eyes, purple-brown scales covering him until he looked like a giant serpent that had gained sentience.

Even in this form, Orochimaru's physique retained its serpentine characteristics. His chakra mingled with dense natural energy, increasing its strength severalfold.

Orochimaru raised his head. "What do you think of me now, Yi?"

Although he had used Sage Transformation, Uchiha Yi saw through him the moment he spoke. Orochimaru smiled smugly. "That's right. This is my perfected Chimera Technique."

His voice brimmed with undisguised pride. "Three years ago, I helped Hiruko capture ninja with kekkei genkai in exchange for his Chimera Technique. Using the combat data left behind by your fight with him, I've spent the past two or three years researching it and have now perfected it completely."

Understanding dawned on Uchiha Yi. Orochimaru's Shikotsumyaku, Sage Transformation, and even the Sharingan on his body were all products of the Chimera Technique.

"I see. So this technique is why you have Shikotsumyaku, Sage Transformation, and the Sharingan."

"Exactly. But you seem to have forgotten, Yi-I also have the First's cells."

As soon as he finished speaking, Orochimaru rapidly formed hand seals and shouted "Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Countless thick trees and vines erupted from the ground, swarming toward Uchiha Yi.

Uchiha Yi stood unmoving. His senjutsu lightning shield firmly blocked the encroaching branches and vines, preventing them from getting anywhere near him.

Orochimaru raised his brows smugly. "What do you think of this Nativity of a World of Trees, Yi? This is Wood Release enhanced with senjutsu after entering Sage Transformation. Senjutsu gives Wood Release an incredible boost. It's far more powerful than ordinary Wood Release."

Orochimaru was still showing off his accomplishments when Uchiha Yi utterly crushed the sense of superiority he had only just managed to recover.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

With that low shout, an even larger forest sprang into existence, tearing straight through Orochimaru's technique and lifting Uchiha Yi high into the air.

Uchiha Yi looked down at Orochimaru. Though his eyes were closed, Orochimaru almost seemed to see the mockery in them.

"Sorry, Orochimaru. I can use Wood Release too."

Orochimaru's expression instantly turned hideous, the purple-brown scales covering him making his face look even more twisted.

"Uchiha Yi, you absorbed the First's cells too?"

This time, Orochimaru dropped the familiar address and called him by his full name.

Uchiha Yi scoffed. "The First's cells? To put it bluntly, that's a dead man's corpse. Do you think I, Uchiha Yi, would eat corpses like a disgusting bastard like you?"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Without the First's cells, there's no way you could use Wood Release!" Orochimaru refused to believe it.

Uchiha Yi couldn't help laughing aloud.

"What are you laughing at? Am I wrong?"

"Damn right you are!" Uchiha Yi shook his head, his voice dripping with contempt. "Orochimaru, didn't you claim to know all about my Uchiha Clan's Sharingan? As far as I can see, you don't know anything."

"What do you mean?"

"Want to know?" Uchiha Yi asked suddenly. Once Orochimaru leaned in to listen, he sneered. "I'm not telling you!"

Orochimaru flared with anger, but quickly calmed down. He stared at Uchiha Yi, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.

"That's fine. If you won't tell me, I'll make you."

As his words fell, an enormous amount of chakra surged from Orochimaru, forming a gigantic pale-green figure-Susanoo.

"Well, Uchiha Yi? This is your Uchiha Clan's strongest power, and now I'm using it. How does that make you feel?"

Uchiha Yi had barely finished answering before Orochimaru lost his composure.

"Empty taunts won't help you. I'll show you real power."

Orochimaru's tone was firm. He was certain that without activating his Sharingan, Uchiha Yi couldn't withstand Susanoo's attacks.

But a moment later, Orochimaru could no longer smile.

"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!"

"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"

Two thunderous booms rang out as a giant wooden golem appeared before him with a wood dragon coiled around it. It was a full size larger than Orochimaru's Susanoo, leaving him speechless.

What could he even say?

He had never heard of this Wood Release, much less seen it. Since when did Wood Release have such absurd ninjutsu?

Orochimaru felt as though the entire world was against him.

Still, he didn't panic for long.

His Susanoo wasn't a complete form, but its strength was undeniable. Within a few blows, it snapped the wooden golem's arms, then smashed the wood dragon apart.

"Tsk, tsk. Just what I'd expect from Orochimaru. You even managed to create a senjutsu-enhanced Susanoo?"

Uchiha Yi folded his arms and scoffed. But when he noticed Orochimaru's unsteady aura and rapidly fading sage power, he knew this state wouldn't last long.

Without another word, he raised his hands and formed seals.

"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!"

"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"

This time, he summoned three wooden golems and three wood dragons-three times as many as before.

The breath Orochimaru had just released caught in his throat again.

He had strained every muscle to destroy those Wood Release constructs and was just starting to feel pleased with himself, only for Uchiha Yi to produce this many more. Could this bastard play by the rules for once?

"Aah! Uchiha Yi, I'll fight you to the death!"

Trapped and pummeled by three wooden golems and three wood dragons, Orochimaru's furious roar sounded suspiciously like a scream of pain.

Still, he didn't simply wait to die.

"Eight Branches Technique!"

With a thunderous crash, an enormous white monstrosity burst forth, smashing every wooden golem and wood dragon into splinters.

So the eight-headed serpent had finally appeared?

Uchiha Yi raised his brows. This serpent differed from the one in the original story. Its white body had a grayish tint, and its heads bore feelers. It looked somewhat like Kabuto Yakushi's version of the eight-headed serpent-a rather novel sight.

But what happened next left him completely stunned.

The outline of Susanoo actually formed around the eight-headed serpent!

Holy shit, had Orochimaru lost his mind?

Uchiha Yi was a little surprised. This move really was wild.

"Heh heh, interesting, isn't it? Unfortunately, Yi, now that you've seen this, you won't have a chance to enjoy it."

Orochimaru's voice came from one of the serpent's heads, brimming with indescribable arrogance.

"Unfortunately?"

"That's right. You're about to die here. What is there to regret?"

Hah. Had Orochimaru's ego soared into the clouds?

Uchiha Yi shook his head, unwilling to waste more words on him.

That dismissive attitude thoroughly enraged Orochimaru.

"It seems you still won't accept your fate. Then I'll let you witness my true strength!"

The eight-headed serpent suddenly moved. Its massive body slammed against the ground with a thunderous crash, shaking everything around it.

Uchiha Yi glanced back, his brows creasing slightly.

He had intended to play with Orochimaru a little longer and see where his limits lay, but now there was no time to waste.

He abruptly looked up at Orochimaru, his voice cold as ice. "Orochimaru, I don't have time to indulge your nonsense."

"But since you've entertained me so thoroughly, I'll give you a proper funeral."

Uchiha Yi abandoned his playful mood as well, his chakra surging violently.

"Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!"

A gigantic Buddha statue covered in countless enormous arms rose from the ground, blotting out the sky.

The eight-headed serpent's pupils contracted sharply. The urge to flee struck it instantly, but it was already too late.

"Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!"

As that low shout fell, a sky-filling barrage of giant fists came howling down, their thunderous impacts shaking the entire space.

The Majestic Attire: Susanoo surrounding the eight-headed serpent lasted only a few seconds before it was smashed apart. Shredded flesh and black blood splattered across the ground.

Orochimaru's heart lurched. His vision went black, and he lost consciousness, his last thought still one of shock at Uchiha Yi's strength.

But once everything settled, Uchiha Yi's brows knotted. He had just detected a strange fluctuation of energy.

Unease stirred in his mind. That fluctuation was far too bizarre. Orochimaru hadn't died?

He had genuinely struck to kill. Knowing Orochimaru's body-switching tricks, he couldn't afford to hold anything back if he wanted him dead.

Wait. Something suddenly occurred to him.

Uchiha Yi considered it. Orochimaru had used the Chimera Technique to merge five kekkei genkai, yet throughout the fight, he had used only four.

It seemed that despite his confidence in his own strength, Orochimaru had still left himself an escape route. That fifth kekkei genkai was his backup plan.

He smiled. "Interesting. Next time we meet, I hope you have an even more interesting surprise for me, Orochimaru!"

Inside a dilapidated house, a figure sprawled on a bed suddenly jerked upright. His voice rasped like sandpaper. It was Orochimaru.

He chuckled. "This Uchiha Yi really does keep giving me more and more surprises."