Orochimaru chuckled lightly, "Don't be nervous, I'm just..."
Before he could finish speaking, a crimson beam of light suddenly attacked from the side!
Orochimaru's figure instantly turned into a puddle of mud, blasted to pieces by the beam of light.
" Earth Clone?"
The Sunagakure members turned around abruptly, Hoshino's figure had appeared on the sand dune at some point, with a faint wisp of smoke rising from the barrel of the gun on his right arm.
"Hiding and dodging! Orochimaru, you're still so pathetic!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the sand began to ripple.
Orochimaru's figure slowly appeared, his snake-like eyes fixed on Hoshino, and he laughed.
" Hoshino -kun, this is our first official meeting, isn't it?"
Hoshino ignored Orochimaru's greeting and said coldly, "What are you doing here?"
Orochimaru licked his lips. "I'm very interested in that fortress. How about... we make a deal?"
Hoshino snorted coldly and said, " Orochimaru, your current status is that of S-rank missing-nin recognized by the entire Shinobi World. Sunagakure will not negotiate with a stray dog."
In Hoshino's view, Orochimaru's human experiments were nothing.
Similar experiments were conducted daily in the underground laboratory of the Reform Society.
What Hoshino truly despised was Orochimaru's status as a rogue missing-nin.
A stray dog who can only eke out a living in the shadows has no right to stand here and talk about any deal.
This is not a matter of strength, but a matter of stance and dignity.
Just as the Five Great Nations would never negotiate with the leader of a terrorist organization, how could Sunagakure possibly lower itself to make a deal with a missing-nin?
All outside members who joined the Reform Society.
Regardless of what happens in private, at least in public they have a legal and compliant identity.
For example, Shinnō's true identity is a remnant of the Village of the Sky Ninja.
On the surface, he was a wandering doctor with a considerable reputation, and he was even invited to Konoha, where he managed to learn the Eight Gates Released Formation.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, was completely different.
"Want to make a deal? First, stand before me like a real person, with dignity."
Hoshino's voice was cold and hard, his tone carrying an unquestionable resolve.
That is the natural contempt of those in positions of power for those of unequal status.
"A stray dog?"
" Hoshino -kun, you seem... too arrogant."
Orochimaru's voice deepened, becoming dangerously hoarse, and veins bulged on his pale face.
Hoshino's contempt and condescending attitude were like a sharp knife, precisely piercing the most sensitive part of his heart.
Once upon a time, he was one of the Sannin of Konoha, a hero of the Fourth Shinobi World War, and a figure admired by countless ninjas.
But what about now?
Even a junior from Sunagakure dared to humiliate him like this.
This reminded him of the teacher who always looked at him with disappointed eyes.
Although he didn't care about the position of Fourth Hokage.
But I can choose not to give it to you, and you can't simply refuse to give it to me without even asking a question.
In terms of strength, I am not weak among Kage Level fighters.
In terms of ability, he has commanded two Shinobi World Wars, and his talent in the field of biology is unmatched.
But what happened? He became a universally S-rank missing-nin.
This title sounds impressive, but in reality, the ninjas from the Five Great Shinobi Villages, even those who are far weaker Chunin him, look at him with undisguised Jonin.
Just like Hoshino now, just like those small fry from Sunagakure.
"Hehe..."
Orochimaru suddenly chuckled, his laughter carrying a chilling undertone.
"Arrogance? No, it's just stating a fact. As missing-nin, you're utterly worthless in my eyes."
Hoshino's left arm armor popped out a bone blade with a 'click,' and the armor plates unfolded layer by layer, revealing six rotating gun barrels.
"Either get out now, or... I'll send you on your way."
A cold rage flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
His body suddenly twisted, his neck stretched out like a snake, and he instantly closed in on Hoshino, a ferocious smile appearing on his pale face.
"You think... you can threaten me with these toys?"
Orochimaru's lips twisted into a ferocious arc. "Let me see just how much this Sunagakure genius really is!"
As he spoke, dozens of venomous snakes simultaneously sprang from his sleeve.
Hoshino's prosthetic eye instantly locked onto all attack trajectories, and all six gun barrels on his right arm fired simultaneously.
Bang bang bang--
The crimson beam pierced precisely through the vital spot of each venomous snake, while the bone blade on his left arm drew a sharp arc, severing Orochimaru's outstretched neck in two.
The severed head turned into dust and scattered.
"Another Earth Clone?"
Suddenly, the sand beneath Hoshino's feet turned into quicksand, and dozens of white snakes darted out of the sand and coiled around his legs.
Orochimaru's true form slowly rose from the quicksand, his hands rapidly Hand Seals.
" Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent hurricane carrying sand and gravel swept in, leaving fine scratches on Hoshino's body.
He snorted coldly, his knee armor spewing out blue Chakra flames as he forcefully broke free from the snakes' restraints and soared into the air.
Is that all you've got?
Hoshino adjusted his posture in mid-air, and the armor on both shoulders suddenly deformed and reorganized, transforming into a triple-barreled Chakra Cannon.
A sinister glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. He bit his finger and drew blood-red runes on the sand.
" Summoning Technique: The Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!"
The ground shook violently, and thousands of venomous snakes burst forth from the sand, forming towering waves that rushed toward the starry Hoshino.
Hoshino's prosthetic eye rapidly calculated the trajectory, and the triple-barreled Chakra Cannon fired continuously.
Boom boom boom--
A crimson beam of light exploded among the snakes, sending blood and flesh flying everywhere.
However, the snakes were too numerous, and dozens still managed to break through the barrage and charge straight at them.
Hoshino's left arm bone blade suddenly extended, drawing several sharp arcs in the air and severing all the approaching venomous snakes.
Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!
Orochimaru's offensive did not stop; a huge earth dragon rose from the ground, opening its massive mouth and spewing out dense mud bullets.
Hoshino nimbly dodged in mid-air, while simultaneously turning the direction of the gun barrel on his right arm, firing Chakra Cannon that pierced directly through the head of the dragon's head.
At the very moment the earth dragon collapsed.
Orochimaru suddenly burst out from the flying dirt, his Kunai aimed straight at Hoshino's chest!
"Clang!"
The bone blade clashed with the Kunai, sparks flying.
The two faced off briefly in mid-air. Orochimaru's snake eyes flashed with surprise; this young man's Taijutsu was surprisingly solid.
Orochimaru, your strength doesn't seem to match your reputation!
Hoshino suddenly kicked out with his left leg, slamming it heavily into Orochimaru's abdomen.
Bang--
Orochimaru was sent flying backward, but in mid-air he twisted his body strangely, and dozens of venomous snakes shot out from his sleeves.
Hoshino's right arm armor rapidly transformed, unfolding a small Chakra shield that blocked all the venomous snakes.
But the venomous snakes suddenly exploded in mid-air, spewing out large amounts of purple poisonous mist.
"Cough cough..."
Hoshino quickly retreated, and an antidote ejected from his left arm armor, precisely piercing his jugular vein.
Orochimaru sneered upon seeing this, "Interesting. So this is full-body cybernetic augmentation? The path you're taking is somewhat similar to Sasori's, yet quite different!"