Orochimaru vs. Shinnō

Orochimaru's subordinates immediately abandoned their dismissive attitude at the sight, shock filling their hearts. He had actually regained his youth.

Orochimaru, however, was delighted. "Just as Ye Feng said, his muscle strength has clearly surpassed what it was before, and his youthful appearance has returned."

Once his transformation was complete, Shinnō merely flexed, making his muscles bulge, and tore the venomous snakes wrapped around him to pieces.

This change also marked the beginning of the real battle.

The surrounding ninja immediately formed hand seals and unleashed ninjutsu at Shinnō: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique.

These ninja were top-class as well. In an instant, they combined their ninjutsu, the wind feeding the flames and considerably increasing the power of Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique.

Surrounded by flames, Shinnō remained completely unruffled. He leaped straight up and escaped the encircling fire from above. But a large net awaited him. Four ninja suddenly descended from the sky and caught Shinnō in a fishing net.

The ninja below immediately used even more powerful ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Whip and Lightning Burial: Feast of Thunder. The techniques intertwined in pairs, forming three water dragons crackling with lightning that charged toward Shinnō.

Shinnō did not remain idle either. Grabbing the net with both hands, he swung it hard, his tremendous strength sending the four Jonin controlling it flying. Then he tore the fishing net apart with a heave and broke out to the side before the ninjutsu arrived.

But Orochimaru was there to meet him. Orochimaru unleashed Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, an upgraded version of Hidden Shadow Snake Hands. Countless venomous snakes flew out, blocking Shinnō's path, while countless more emerged behind him and attacked.

Shinnō's expression remained unchanged. He concentrated his strength in his right fist and punched straight ahead, turning the snakes before him into minced flesh and charging out of their encirclement.

Orochimaru had not expected to defeat Shinnō so easily either. He followed up with Manda Luo Formation, summoning countless venomous snakes that crawled toward Shinnō.

Orochimaru's subordinates seized the opening to surround Shinnō again, leaping up and launching kunai with explosive tags attached to them, giving him no chance to jump.

With the snakes almost upon him, Shinnō struck the ground again, shattering it into cracks and burying countless venomous snakes there.

Shinnō also knew that with so many people harassing him, he could not deal with them all. He abandoned Orochimaru and charged straight at one of Orochimaru's subordinates who had just landed. His speed alarmed the subordinate, leaving him no time to use ninjutsu.

Shinnō's sudden change of tactics left Orochimaru too late to intercept him. But this Jonin subordinate was no weakling either. He raised both arms before his chest and took the blow head-on. He had not expected Shinnō's strength to be so great, however. His arms could not stop it at all, and he flew backward, smashing through two large trees before finally stopping against a third. He spat out a large mouthful of blood. Both arms, which he had used to shield his body, were already broken, leaving him unable to fight.

Seeing this, Orochimaru was secretly alarmed. That strength was almost on par with Tsunade when she used her monstrous strength.

"Spread out! Don't engage him at close range!" Orochimaru hurriedly changed his strategy, intending to make himself the main attacker while the others restrained Shinnō from a distance.

Upon receiving the order, Orochimaru's subordinates leaped away and used various ninjutsu capable of restricting Shinnō's movements, while Orochimaru lunged forward.

Orochimaru was not to be underestimated. His body was extremely formidable as well, though he had not obtained it through training, but through various technological modifications. After all, the Orochimaru of the future was one of the hardest beings to kill.

Orochimaru drew a kunai and slashed at Shinnō, who nimbly dodged. Although Orochimaru was formidable, he still could not match Shinnō in taijutsu. They exchanged several rounds of blows, but Orochimaru failed to land a single slash, while Shinnō handled him with ease.

Then something suddenly changed. As Orochimaru swung his kunai at Shinnō again, two venomous snakes emerged behind Shinnō and bit him squarely in the back. Orochimaru had just thought he had succeeded when he saw that neither snake had managed to pierce Shinnō's skin.

Taking advantage of Orochimaru's momentary distraction, Shinnō formed a blade with his right hand and slashed at Orochimaru's waist, cutting him in two with a single strike.

Just as Shinnō thought he had finished his opponent, countless snake heads suddenly emerged from the severed sections at Orochimaru's waist and lower body, reconnecting his body. However, this move also consumed a great deal of Orochimaru's chakra. Now restored, he was already panting.

Shinnō spoke to Orochimaru with considerable interest:

"You seem to be an expert in researching the body too. Rather than fighting here, why don't we collaborate on research in the future? It would benefit both of us, wouldn't it?"

Orochimaru would never place his own lifeline in someone else's hands. If the secret between him and Ye Feng were exposed, the consequences would be far too severe.

Orochimaru was hesitating now. Shinnō happened to counter many of his ninjutsu. If he used the Summoning Technique or more powerful ninjutsu, he would cause considerable damage to Konoha. Meanwhile, his subordinates' ninjutsu could not keep up with Shinnō's speed at all.

While Orochimaru hesitated, Shinnō also decided to retreat. Orochimaru's ninjutsu was very peculiar, and he knew he could not kill him. Besides, he had already been delayed for so long that Konoha's elite ninja would arrive soon. It was time to retreat; otherwise, once Konoha surrounded him, it would be too late.

Having decided to retreat, Shinnō did not intend to waste any more time. He abandoned Orochimaru and made to flee. Orochimaru, who had just decided to use a powerful move, panicked when he saw Shinnō trying to escape. If Shinnō fled at that speed, none of them could stop him. He could only shout urgently to his subordinates, "Stop him, quickly!"

Even Orochimaru could not keep up, much less the ninja under him.

Seeing that Shinnō was about to escape, Ye Feng grew anxious too. He immediately activated his Sharingan and Eight Gates Released Formation, barely managing to block Shinnō's escape route.

When Shinnō saw that it was Ye Feng, the boy who had always followed him around looking so eager to learn, he deeply resented him for actually launching a sneak attack. He put several degrees more strength into his blow and struck straight at Ye Feng.

Against someone whose strength and speed far surpassed his own, Ye Feng's tai chi method of redirecting an opponent's force no longer worked. Besides, he had only just managed to get there and was not yet prepared. He could only shield himself with both arms and take the punch head-on.

The punch sent Ye Feng flying backward at high speed. Then he dragged both feet along the ground and brought himself to a stop, leaving two trails of smoke before him from the friction of his feet. The tremendous force had numbed both his arms as well. Fortunately, his bones were unharmed; he had barely withstood the blow.