Before Orochimaru had finished speaking, he slammed both hands against the ground.
Boom!
The earth beneath Hayashi's feet exploded. More than a dozen giant snakes burst out, their heads and tails intertwining to weave an impenetrable cage in the blink of an eye, trapping him in its center!
Hayashi flicked his wrist, and the tip of his blade traced a clean arc.
Azure light flowed in a ring.
With a series of sharp cracks, the snake cage broke into several sections, and the severed bodies crashed to the ground.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Orochimaru's chest suddenly swelled. He opened his mouth and exhaled, sending savage wind pressure roaring toward Hayashi. Sand and stones flew, and even broken branches as thick as a bowl were swept into the air!
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
Hayashi formed hand seals with one hand, and a wall of water surged out of the ground to shield him.
The gale slammed into the water wall, sending white mist spraying everywhere.
The wall rolled violently backward, but never broke.
As the wind briefly subsided-
A long, narrow shadow suddenly shot through the mist, skimming along the ground!
Orochimaru's lower body had completely transformed into a snake. His thick, long tail plowed a wet trail through the earth, moving so fast that only an afterimage remained. The Kusanagi Sword in his hand thrust straight for Hayashi's throat!
Clang!
The tachi caught the sword, and sparks burst between them.
Then-
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
The Kusanagi Sword struck faster with every thrust, coming from angles no living person could manage.
Orochimaru's upper body bent backward one moment and arched up from the ground the next, every strike aimed at a vital spot.
Azure light flowed over the tachi in Hayashi's right hand as he blocked every strike!