Dressed in ANBU gear, his white hair gleaming, Kakashi charged toward Orochimaru, the Chidori in his hand casting a dazzling light across the night.
Shluck...
The Chidori pierced Orochimaru's body, which collapsed into a puddle of mud.
Kakashi had struck nothing more than a clone. The real Orochimaru had already circled behind him and drawn a kunai.
Reacting swiftly, Zou Hyuga and Oto moved behind Kakashi and blocked the attack.
"A fine Lightning Release Ninjutsu. But you're still too slow..."
Orochimaru gave a sinister smile. Kakashi's technique could hurt him, but the boy was far too inexperienced to land a hit.
Stepping back, Orochimaru glanced at the other ANBU approaching in the distance, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.
At full strength, he would have had nothing to fear from these ANBU. But his injuries from yesterday had yet to heal completely, and with the Fourth Hokage liable to appear at any moment, he was already considering retreat.
He had risked returning to the village not only to evade his pursuers, but also to see Zou Hyuga and Oto, who had gotten the better of him.
Their strength, however, had exceeded his expectations. That only made them more interesting. Though both were capable, they remained within his ability to control. Perhaps they would make fine test subjects someday.
"Captain, you're finally here..." Standing shoulder to shoulder with Kakashi, Zou Hyuga asked, "How much longer until Lord Fourth and the other ANBU arrive?"
"You fired a signal flare. I don't know about Minato-sensei, but the other ANBU should be here soon. Still, I never expected the intruder to be Orochimaru, the missing-nin. He hasn't even left the village!"
As he spoke, Kakashi kept his eyes fixed on Orochimaru.
He had heard of the Sannin's fearsome reputation throughout the Ninja