Horse-Dog-Snake.
"Wood Release: Wood Clone."
A wooden human silhouette gradually grew from Naoki Senju's back. After separating from his body, the wooden figure's appearance became identical to the original, so lifelike that it was difficult to tell which was the real one.
Orochimaru made no move to stop him. Instead, he watched Naoki Senju perform his Wood Release ninjutsu with interest and commented:
"A Wood Clone. What a truly unique Clone Technique. But with just one Wood Clone, Naoki-kun, do you think you can fight me?"
Naoki Senju had entered a peculiar state. Although the pain from his arms and back remained incredibly clear, it could not affect the flow of his chakra. Even his thoughts had become exceptionally calm.
Ignoring Orochimaru's provocation, Naoki Senju and his Wood Clone charged forward, alternating their positions at the front.
"Too slow."
Orochimaru easily caught the Wood Clone's fist, then flung him into the distance, countering the Wood Clone's bizarre vine attacks that way.
Then he unleashed Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands. His left arm turned into several snake hands that reached for Naoki Senju, who was preparing to launch a surprise attack from above.
But just as the snake hands extended, Orochimaru abandoned the attack of his own accord. With incredible flexibility, he twisted a full circle on the spot, and his snake tail lashed hard against a nearby tree trunk, sending his entire body shooting away.
The moment Orochimaru left, countless sharp branches burst out of the ground. Had he moved a moment slower, he would already have become a snake-meat skewer.
Having evaded Naoki Senju's Wood Release attack, Orochimaru was about to offer some praise and pointers when two Wood Clones closed in and engaged him in close combat. Every move targeted a vital spot, though their speed and strength were hardly outstanding, and their technique was still immature.
But both Wood Clones fought in a completely suicidal, "kill me if you can" fashion, attacking with all their might without leaving any room for defense.
This reminded Orochimaru of Kumogakure's Lightning Clones. They also sent their clones in close to "die," naturally aiming to exploit the paralyzing effect of Lightning Release after the clones disappeared. And the Wood Clones' wooden spikes and vines were far more potent than the Lightning Clones' paralysis.
Hampered at every turn, Orochimaru set aside his playful attitude. Both hands simultaneously transformed into Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, tightly wrapping around the two Wood Clones before squeezing hard. Wood cracked sharply, then sharp wooden spikes and vines severed the surrounding snake hands, and the Wood Clones fell to the ground as irregular chunks of wood.
"Naoki-kun, do you have any other moves? If this is all you can manage..."
Orochimaru extended his long, scarlet tongue and swept it around in an unrestrained lick. His tone suddenly turned chilling and menacing:
"You'll be eaten by Manda."
Orochimaru's clumsy provocation had no effect whatsoever. Although every word reached Naoki Senju's mind clearly, in his state of extreme calm, he was not affected in the slightest.
After completing his hand seals in hiding, Naoki Senju stepped out holding a strangely shaped "wooden staff."
"Naoki-kun, are you planning to give up?" Orochimaru asked in confusion. Taijutsu was Naoki Senju's definite weakness. There was no reason for him to abandon his strengths and expose his weakness of his own accord.
But Naoki Senju's utterly calm eyes made Orochimaru's heart tremble. That gaze... it was so similar, so much like Itachi's!
Seizing the instant Orochimaru lost focus, Naoki Senju swung his long staff. A sharp whistle tore through the air, and battle instinct forcibly pulled Orochimaru back to reality.
The snake hands collided with the wooden staff. Naoki Senju instantly judged the difference in their strength. He absolutely could not meet him head-on. Shifting half a step sideways, Naoki Senju swept the staff around once before bringing it crashing down.
Orochimaru extended his snake hands again, easily blocking it, and taunted, "It's useless. Your taijutsu is too weak, Naoki-kun."
Naoki Senju remained expressionless, but silently poured chakra into the "wooden staff." The tiny wooden spikes at its tip instantly lengthened, piercing Orochimaru's snake hands as well.
Orochimaru tilted his head aside, avoiding the wooden spikes by a hair. He touched the bloody mark on his face, deeply startled. That thing had nearly pierced his head. Although it would not have killed him, the sensation certainly would not have been pleasant.
"Interesting. Is this a Wood Release ninjutsu you developed yourself?"
What a shame, Naoki Senju thought. It would be difficult to get another opportunity like that. The wooden spikes shrank again, and Naoki Senju tightened his grip on the staff before swinging it at Orochimaru once more.
This time, Orochimaru no longer dared underestimate the strangely shaped "wooden staff." He put some distance between them, then released more venomous snakes to attack Naoki Senju.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall."
The sturdy Wood Locking Wall slowed the pace of Orochimaru's attacks. Then three Naoki Senjus leaped out from behind it, each holding the same strange "wooden staff."
"What a troublesome ninjutsu. It looks like I really can't do without it. To think a junior would push me this far. How embarrassing."
Orochimaru's gaze grew grave. Then his mouth opened to an exaggerated degree, and he spat out a large, brightly patterned snake. The snake, in turn, slowly spat out a sword hilt.
Giving the Kusanagi Sword a flourish, Orochimaru cast a challenging look at Naoki Senju.
"Naoki-kun, be careful. This Kusanagi Sword is very sharp."
Three wooden staves whistling toward him were the answer Orochimaru received. In his current state, Naoki Senju truly was ruthless and a man of few words. One move followed another, and even Orochimaru found them rather taxing to handle.
The three long staves crashed toward Orochimaru from different angles. Chakra brimming with vitality flowed through them, and the spikes along their shafts stirred, seemingly about to turn Orochimaru into a snake-meat skewer at any moment.
But Orochimaru lived up to his title as one of the Sannin, and the Kusanagi Sword did not disgrace its reputation as a divine weapon either. In a brief instant, dazzling sword light reduced all three wooden staves to short stumps. Had he not been truly unable to distinguish the Wood Clones from Naoki Senju, the two Wood Clones would probably have lost their heads as well.
With the Kusanagi Sword in hand, Orochimaru's combat prowess instantly rose by more than one level. Even the exceptionally calm Naoki Senju felt a wave of helplessness. Orochimaru seemed to notice the change in his mood and sneered chillingly:
"Naoki-kun, is this already as far as you can go? My pets are still hungry."
The large snake at Orochimaru's feet hissed right on cue. Its narrow pupils fixed on Naoki Senju, as though considering how to swallow him.
Naoki Senju, who had been silent with his head lowered, suddenly looked up. Thinking he was about to launch one final attack, Orochimaru raised the Kusanagi Sword and prepared for close combat. He had not expected Naoki Senju to have already completed his final seal.
The Snake seal.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Thick branches instantly sprouted from the wooden staves Orochimaru had cut apart earlier. In a single breath, Orochimaru was surrounded by thick roots and trunks, while the trees around him continued their rampant growth.