The three moved through the trees and landed on the grass.
On this vast expanse of grass, Orochimaru sat on a stone stool, the tip of his right index finger raised, as he coldly watched them.
Observing more closely, one could see a small black dot on his fingertip, which was the female insect Shibi had sent out.
He flicked his finger, and the female insect flapped its wings, landing on Shibi’s face and then crawling into his neck.
“He really was deliberately waiting for us.” Ryosuke immediately pulled a Kunai from his ninja tool pouch and took a fighting stance.
“You arrived later than I expected, and you even triggered that simple trap.
Such a performance is not up to par for me.
If you can’t snatch the bells next, I will send you back to Ninja Academy to study for another year.” Orochimaru remained seated on the stone stool, speaking in a slightly hoarse voice.
“Yosh, now watch my performance, I’m definitely getting the bells.” Nawaki probably had the memory of a goldfish, forgetting his earlier pathetic display and near total annihilation.
He held a Kunai in both hands and charged straight out.
Ryosuke was dumbfounded.
What kind of behavior was this?
Had he been possessed by Naruto, the future protagonist?
Although Orochimaru wouldn’t actually do anything to Nawaki, that was an Elite Jonin, the famous Orochimaru.
Charging straight in was simply asking for a beating.
Ryosuke quickly rushed out to cover for Nawaki, shooting the Kunai in his hand before Nawaki and Orochimaru could engage in close combat.
Shibi’s reaction was also extremely fast.
A cloud of insects flew out from his left sleeve, heading in the opposite direction from Ryosuke, swarming towards Orochimaru.
From the left, a Kunai was shot.
From the right, a cloud of insects enveloped him.
And Nawaki was charging forward.
It was a three-pronged attack, but Orochimaru remained unhurried.
Just when the Kunai was about to hit him— Orochimaru, who had been on the stone stool, was gone, as if the figure sitting there just now was an illusion.
He appeared behind Nawaki, pressing his right palm onto Nawaki’s head and pinning him in place.
Ryosuke and Shibi were startled.
They immediately twisted their bodies and, by unspoken agreement, charged towards Orochimaru to rescue Nawaki.
Seeing them charge, Orochimaru’s lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile.
He waited until Ryosuke was right in front of him, then grabbed Nawaki by the back of his collar and flung him towards Ryosuke.
Almost at the same time, his left palm struck out, hitting Shibi’s chest, but passing through him.
Shibi’s entire body disintegrated, turning into a puddle of insects on the ground.
This was an insect clone.
Shibi’s reaction was fast, and Ryosuke’s reaction was also peculiar.
He pushed forward with his left hand, sending Nawaki flying into the air.
He himself continued his rapid advance towards Orochimaru, a Kunai already in his hand.
Ryosuke’s Kunai was about to strike Orochimaru, but somehow, Orochimaru’s body shifted, and the Kunai missed.
Ryosuke had already anticipated that it wouldn’t be easy to succeed.
With a flick of his hand, the Kunai quickly reversed its trajectory, slashing at Orochimaru’s waist.
With a single foot, Orochimaru blocked Ryosuke’s Kunai with his sandal.
Shibi’s true body had already appeared behind Orochimaru, delivering a punch.
At that instant, Orochimaru pressed his left hand on Ryosuke’s shoulder, using it as a fulcrum to twist his body and swing his right foot to kick Shibi.
He continued to spin, sweeping Ryosuke three meters away with another kick.
Bang, bang, bang!
Nawaki, Shibi, and Ryosuke fell one after another with three distinct thuds, landing in different directions, forming a triangle with Orochimaru standing in the center.
This was an all-around crushing defeat in terms of speed, taijutsu, and experience.
“Taijutsu training ends here.
Next is Ninjutsu training time, don’t be careless.” Orochimaru reminded them.
Then, he quickly formed hand signs, and his body drilled into the ground, disappearing.
Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!
A C-rank Ninjutsu that turns the solid sand and rocks underground into a fluid, allowing the user to move quickly through the soil.
Orochimaru possessed five Chakra natures: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water and was proficient in almost all Ninjutsu.
Even if he couldn’t earn the esteemed title of “Ninjutsu Professor,” he certainly inherited the true teachings of Hiruzen.
He was a formidable powerhouse with no weaknesses, and his combat methods were diverse.
Now, Orochimaru has submerged himself underground, leaving no trace for Ryosuke, Shibi, and Nawaki to find.
Where will he emerge from?
The three of them focused their attention to the limit, all staring at the ground, not daring to be the slightest bit careless.
Rustle, rustle…
A faint sound reached Ryosuke’s ears and his eyes widened as he roared, “Jump away quickly!” A hand emerged from the grass and grabbed Nawaki’s ankle before he could jump.
Nawaki was dragged into the earth, leaving only his head exposed.
Orochimaru leaped out from underground, ignoring Nawaki, who was buried alive.
He quickly formed hand signs and slammed his hands onto the ground.
Ryosuke and Shibi, who were airborne, discovered that the grass below had turned into a muddy swamp.
If they fell in, they would surely sink deep.
Buzz, buzz, buzz…
Countless tiny insects flew from Shibi’s arms, carrying him away and quickly escaping the muddy encirclement.
What about Ryosuke?
He had long anticipated that Orochimaru would make a move on the ground and was prepared.
His left hand flicked out a Shuriken that landed on a nearby tree.
The steel wire tied to the Shuriken wrapped around the tree branch, with the other end of the wire wrapped around his left hand.
Just as he was about to fall into the mud, he pulled the wire, thus avoiding the embarrassing fate of being buried in the mud.
As soon as he left the range of the mud, Ryosuke quickly let go, landing on the firm grass.
He couldn’t stay in the air for too long, that would turn him into an easy target.
“Not bad, both of your reactions are quite good.” Orochimaru crouched down and patted Nawaki’s head.
“Next, Nawaki will have to suffer as a hostage.
How do you two plan to rescue him?” Crack!
Suddenly, a hand pierced through “Nawaki’s” body, reaching towards the bell hanging at Orochimaru’s waist.
There was no change in Orochimaru’s expression.
The moment that hand touched the bell, he flashed away.
In the blink of an eye, he retreated a few meters away.
By the time he stood still, the sound of the bell had just reached them, showing how incredibly fast he was.
The person from under the grass smashed “Nawaki” and jumped out.
It turned out to be the real Nawaki, the one trapped was just his Earth Clone.
He used the Earth Clone as a cover, hiding underground to ambush Orochimaru, and was just a hair’s breadth away from snatching the bell.
Orochimaru said, “What a pity, you were almost successful.” Nawaki scoffed, and said discontentedly, “You already found out, Orochimaru-sensei.” Orochimaru smiled noncommittally.
“I’ll definitely succeed next time.” Nawaki clenched his fists, full of confidence.
Ryosuke couldn’t help but tease, “Not bad, you idiot, you actually fooled me.
I thought you were really buried alive and was about to give up on you.” Nawaki patted his chest, then gave a thumbs-up, smiling smugly.
“Hehe, I’m good at both Water Release and Earth Release.
Don’t underestimate me.” “What should we do now?” Shibi was not distracted in the slightest, his attention fixed on Orochimaru from beginning to end.
“Let’s go together.
The power gap is evident, no amount of planning will help.
However, I’m guessing we’ll still have to rely on you.” Ryosuke gave Shibi a meaningful look, implying that he should act on his own initiative.
Shibi spoke in his usual tone, “Plans are important, but in battle, there’s no time for planning.
Adapting on the fly is the only way.
Ninjas cannot be bound by conventional thinking, they need the ability to create miracles.”