"What incredible speed."
Orochimaru studied Hayashi with keen interest.
"Even I couldn't see that last move clearly."
"If those two burdens weren't holding you back-you might actually have what it takes to drive me off."
"Now you have to protect them while splitting your attention to fight me."
"That must be quite unpleasant."
Hayashi answered with silence.
-No shit.
Blood kept dripping from his shoulder, striking the rotting leaves beneath him.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The instant his words faded, Orochimaru jerked his wrist back.
The Kusanagi Sword slid out of Hayashi's shoulder.
"Ngh-"
The force sent Hayashi stumbling forward two steps before he barely regained his footing.
Blood gushed faster from the wound in his shoulder, and his left hand was a mangled, bloody mess, no longer capable of gripping anything.
He tried lifting his left arm, only to feel an agonizing stab of pain shoot straight into his brain.
He decisively switched his blade to his right hand and raised his eyes, fixing them on Orochimaru.
Orochimaru watched him, a smile rising at the corners of his mouth.
Then he leisurely retreated several meters and turned his gaze toward Sasuke.
"What a shame."
He said smugly:
"You could have accomplished so much more, Sasuke-kun."
"In the end-it's all because you're too weak."
"You have no strength at all."
Hayashi sneered inwardly.
Had I walked into some kind of manipulation session?
Orochimaru wasn't content with killing people. He had to break their spirits, too.
If his hands weren't full right now, he would have loved to slash that bastard's mouth.
Sasuke said nothing, the two tomoe in his eyes spinning rapidly.
Before him lay a hell of blood and fire.
Hayashi stood in front of him, drenched in blood, the Kusanagi Sword piercing her shoulder as blood dripped onto