that's all.
Araki stood still.
Waiting for time to pass.
Without realizing it.
Time passed by, minute by minute.
Even Araki didn't know how long he had been standing there until he came to his senses and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Call..."
Araki's eyes flashed with a strange light as he looked at Orochimaru. Just a moment ago, he had completely devoured Orochimaru's soul power and gained an unexpected ability.
Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique!
That is, Orochimaru's ability to shed his skin!
During the battle just now, Araki had realized just how abnormal the Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique was. The user could shed their skin at any time and transform into a Stand, thus completing the Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique.
This is almost a technique that grants near-immortality!
but...
Araki's Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique is somewhat different from Orochimaru's.
Orochimaru uses snakes as a base. After molting, he spits out his true form from his mouth, and can spit out snakes at will. The snakes can then spit out swords, and so on, endlessly nesting together.
However, Araki had no connection with snakes. What he obtained was a core usage method of the Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique, which he then modified into the Wood Release-Style Substitution Technique, using wood to replace the snake.
Such a strong thought arose in Araki's mind.
If he wanted, he could transform the area around his body into Wood Clone from behind, thus forming a rather unique wooden substitute.
Not only that.
Some snake-related maneuvers, such as the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands and Araki, can be simulated using wooden sticks.
He's practically a wooden version of Orochimaru.
Araki was quite surprised to have mastered this method, but for him, this ability was tantamount to adding a life-saving function, which was a very positive and helpful tool.
"Next, we need to handle the aftermath!"
Araki still felt a sense of relief, as if he had survived a disaster. Everything that had just happened felt like a dream.
He never expected to clash with Orochimaru at this point in time, and what surprised him even more was that he could actually defeat Orochimaru.
Although luck played a huge role, the Hashirama Cells he had just acquired also provided a lot of help. These factors combined to give him many buffs in this battle, ultimately allowing him to successfully and luckily defeat Orochimaru.
Regardless, he has already won.
Araki took out a Kunai, looked at Orochimaru was no longer breathing, and still stabbed it into his heart.
Pfft!
With a piercing sound, Orochimaru's heart was suddenly crushed.
Regardless of whether he was dead before, he is definitely dead now. This is Araki's final blow to Orochimaru, and it is also what he considers the most important basic quality: finishing him off!
Always be ready to finish them off!
This is a crucial action to ensure the enemy's death!
Many tragedies occur not because of a lack of skill, but because of a failure to finish off the enemy in time, coupled with a degree of carelessness, which gives the enemy a chance to breathe and ultimately allows them to turn the tables.
Araki would not allow such a thing to happen to him.
As Orochimaru's body slumped to the ground, his snake-like eyes, devoid of their former luster, reflected Araki's image in the sunlight, and then gradually dimmed.
"Thank you for helping me take care of those three Anbu Ninja."
Araki whispered to Orochimaru's corpse, "If those Anbu Ninja were to spread the word about what happened here, then the villagers would know that I can use Wood Release."
At least at this point in time, Araki doesn't dare to trust the Third, who is not a very capable person. Yamato once walked out of Orochimaru's laboratory and eventually entered Root. After several twists and turns, he was taken away by the Third. However, judging from the implication in the conversation between the Third and Kakashi, it seems that he had already sensed something but did not investigate it in detail.
And another very important point.
Orochimaru is dead, Danzo!
Danzo is an extremely dangerous figure. Thanks to his instigation, the Uchiha Clan was wiped out. He can't afford to gamble now. If he encounters another situation that spirals out of control, he can't be sure if he'll be so lucky again.
Orochimaru's ability to eliminate the three Anbu Ninja was, to some extent, a relief for him.
"Let's tidy up the scene now."
Araki dragged Orochimaru's corpse toward the corpses of the three Anbu Ninja and placed all four bodies together.
Orochimaru's corpse was the most intact, while the three Anbu Ninja were completely shattered and broken by the Eight-Headed Serpent's attack.
Araki dragged the four corpses toward Orochimaru's underground laboratory. Most of the underground laboratory was preserved, except for one laboratory where the ceiling had been pushed open by a tree, revealing a hole the size of a tree trunk.
After Araki removed the Chakra from them, the trees began to disappear, reopening the hole leading to the underground laboratory and giving Araki a passage through it.
After entering the passage, Araki placed the four corpses, including Orochimaru, on the ground. The vines in the room disappeared. Apart from some broken experimental pods, the rest of the laboratory was almost undamaged, and at least 90% of its functions were still usable.
"We'll tidy up the lab later."
A log appeared beneath Araki's feet. As Chakra was injected, the log grew rapidly, lifting him to the ground like an elevator.
Many traces of this still remain here.
These traces require thorough processing.
Araki had already figured out how to handle it; given his current green Chakra, it should be relatively easy for him.
In an instant.
Araki's hands began to Hand Seals rapidly.
A surge of Chakra flowed from his feet and surged toward the ground, causing the entire earth to tremble slightly.
" Earth Release!"
Araki slammed his hands directly onto the ground, a faint green glow emanating from his palms as terrifying Chakra surged into the earth.
The next moment.
The hard ground here began to melt like chocolate, turning into a mudslide that altered the entire landscape, destroying everything on the ground and even burying broken trees in the mud.
After these mudslides appeared, they began to rotate around the Araki, and after a full three minutes, the entire ground became barren.
"Certainly!"
A resolute glint flashed in Araki's eyes. The mudslide on the ground suddenly stopped flowing, then began to dry up and reform the ground. However, the ground here still looked somewhat different from other dry soil.
If anyone else did this, it would eventually be discovered, because it would be far too obvious and clearly visible.
but...
The one standing here now performing the spell is Araki.
Strictly speaking, he wasn't Earth Release ninja; the reason he was able to withstand such a mudslide transformation was due to the large amount of Chakra mentioned in Hashirama Cells.
Araki also possesses another ability unknown to others: Wood Release. As Wood Release ninja, he can cleverly conceal the terrain here.
After the soil on the ground gradually dried, Araki's hands began to Hand Seals rapidly again. This time, the Hand Seals were not complicated; he simply clapped his hands together and then interlocked his fingers. He looked even more serious.
" Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Araki once again unleashed this signature Wood Release Ninjutsu, channeling powerful Chakra into the ground from his feet. This Chakra, brimming with life energy, continuously activated the seeds in the ground, causing the plants to grow rapidly.
This time, Araki's Deep Forest Emergence technique still penetrated to the very top of the laboratory without damaging it. After all, Orochimaru's laboratory contained many technologies that surpassed those of the village, making it not only a very suitable place for his research but also an invaluable secret base.
Inside this base, he can do whatever he wants, whether it's making Explosive Tag, configuring poisons, conducting cell research, forging weapons, or exercising—all within a highly private environment that can satisfy all his needs.
Araki felt that this base was exactly what he needed right now, and that it was the perfect opportunity to take it for himself. Therefore, he was determined to handle it properly and preserve the base intact.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground above the base began to tremble rapidly, the entire ground shaking continuously. Fresh new buds sprouted from the parched soil at a visible speed, and then trees grew rapidly and wildly.
Nourished by Wood Release Chakra, which possesses life force, these trees grow extremely fast. From initially resembling vines, they gradually become thicker and stronger, eventually becoming lush and towering trees, all within just a few minutes.
When Araki felt it was about time, the area had transformed into a forest. The previous clearing was nowhere to be seen, and the forest was so dense that it connected directly with other forests in Konoha, forming a single, identical expanse.
only...
The ground beneath this grove of trees appears slightly dark red.
It looked like it had been soaked by rain.
This makes sense, considering that clouds had just appeared in the sky and a heavy rainstorm had hit, leaving the ground damp, so it's not particularly strange.
In particular, besides the trees, messy weeds grew on the ground, making it look no different from other parts of the forest.
It's like if someone came here and noticed something unusual, they wouldn't be too suspicious, since the trees here look at least several decades old and couldn't possibly have grown recently.
If there's nothing wrong with the trees, then there's nothing wrong with the ground. It's unrealistic for someone to plant trees on such a large scale in Konoha.
Furthermore, there were no records of Wood Release ninjas in the village.
This would perfectly conceal the traces of the crime scene and the underground base.
at the same time.
When Araki used Wood Release, he also changed the entrance to the underground base. The original entrance was now covered with vines, sealing the small door tightly, and there were many more horizontal networks of wood and vines at the entrance.
In this way...
Even if others knew about this underground base, it wouldn't be easy for them to enter through the main entrance.
We must overcome all obstacles along the way.
That would inevitably cause a commotion, but if Araki were in the underground base, he would have ample time to make subsequent preparations.
certainly.
If it could deter potential applicants, that would be even better!
Araki left the laboratory entrance where he had just come up, where a large tree now covered the area.
This tree looks no different from any other tree, but it is actually hollow inside. This was specially designed by Araki, and only he could design such a tree. The tree has no heart, but it can still live. This is the wonder of Wood Release.
At the very top of this tree, there is a weak spot. By slightly altering the leaves there, one can enter the dark trunk and directly access the underground base.
No one could possibly find a design like this!