Within the dense forest where Wood Release experints were previously conducted, Manda appeared beneath Orochimaru's feet.
And that wasn't all.
Tens of thousands of vibrantly colored, highly venomous snakes slithered out from the smoke as well. Like a tidal wave, they rapidly flooded the dense forest, accompanied by the unsettling sound of hissing and writhing.
"I ca seeking cooperation with sincerity, yet you are so arrogant, truly disappointing." Through his unique Substitution Technique, he shed his old body like a snake molting its skin, erging from the mouth of his forr form.
With a casual flick, he tossed the discarded skin—marked with the Flying Thunder God technique—into the swarm of writhing serpents.
The venomous snakes eagerly tore it apart, completely destroying the Flying Thunder God mark.
As the disciple of the Third Hokage he was well-versed in nurous forbidden techniques. And after collaborating with Danzō, he had nearly mastered all of Konoha's forbidden jutsu. Being abruptly transported from his lab to this place, how could he not recognize the Flying Thunder God Technique?
Since Jiraiya's disciple had learned the Flying Thunder God, he had studied the technique for so ti himself. Though his aptitude for space-ti ninjutsu was lacking, preventing him from mastering it, he fully understood its principles and combat applications.
This kind of silent, unnoticed technique inscription... It might pose a threat to those unfamiliar with it, but not to him.
"You're reacting so strongly, do you actually want to be Hokage?" Kei looked up at Orochimaru, who stood atop Manda's head, with a pained expression.
If not for [Zero-Fra Start], which allowed him to respond quickly to Orochimaru's attack and bring him here, Experintal Base No. 7 would have been destroyed!
That place cost money! It was built with massive funding from Root!
"In Konoha, aside from , who else could take that position? You?" Orochimaru placed one hand on his hip and looked down at Kei.
Hiruzen was already past his pri—his strength had begun to decline, his thinking was rigid, his thods were weak, and his hesitation made him unfit to continue as Hokage.
Among the younger generation... When it ca to war achievents, experience, strength, potential, and prestige... Who else was more qualified than him to beco the Fourth Hokage?
"How desperate do you have to be to want that position...? Do you really want to be Hokage?" Kei rubbed his forehead, ignoring the sea of snakes surrounding him, and continued questioning Orochimaru.
Just now, he had been having a serious conversation with the Snake Sannin about cooperation.
He had laid out his own conditions while also offering substantial benefits.
Didn't this guy want immortality?
Ample funding, abundant manpower, the correct research direction, the secrets of the Uchiha clan, and the ultimate origins of ninjas... That was enough sincerity, wasn't it?
And the three conditions he proposed, Orochimaru was not to recklessly conduct human experints unless the research had stable results. Any test subjects had to be provided by Root; he was forbidden from capturing people on his own. All research findings were to be shared, with no private hoarding of discoveries. He must withdraw from the battle for the Hokage position and stop scheming behind the scenes—he was to focus solely on research.
Everything was going smoothly until the third condition ca up.
At that mont, Orochimaru's eyes flashed with hostility, and he imdiately made a move against him.
If that wasn't wanting to be Hokage, then what was? But... was this really Orochimaru's own desire? Had he truly thought it through?
"..."
Orochimaru's snake-like pupils narrowed into thin slits.
What... did he really want? If becoming Hokage was truly that important to him, he wouldn't have delved into forbidden human experints or sought out dangerous jutsu.
If that position was his ultimate goal, he wouldn't have used such controversial thods during the wars—thods that alienated the lower-ranking ninjas, even if they secured victories. With his intelligence and understanding of human nature, gaining greater prestige and more support would have been an easy feat.
But... his mind conjured up an image of Hiruzen, placing a hand on his shoulder, telling him he had high hopes for him and would always be watching over him.
Then, an image of Danzō standing beside him, promising to help him ascend to the Hokage position.
He saw Nawaki, he saw Anko, he saw the subordinates who had followed him...
The images wavered slightly...
"Kai!"
Orochimaru pressed his hands together. The illusionary mories before him shattered like a broken mirror. The imnse chakra of Manda within him receded, and the annoying voice of the other person finally reached his ears.
"Kai! Kai! Kai! You idiot, you actually fell for a genjutsu! Hahaha! I just saved your sorry ass—double the tribute! You owe double the tribute!"
"It will be sent to you later." Orochimaru, his expression dark, wiped away the cold sweat forming at his temple due to the ntal disturbance.
Earlier, when Kei had dealt with Oyashiro, he had simply tapped his arm with a finger—and that alone had instantly used a genjutsu.
Just now... Was it that forehead-rubbing gesture? What an utterly unpredictable genjutsu technique!
"Awake now? Have you figured things out a little?"
Kei looked at Orochimaru, who had just broken free from the illusion, feeling an overwhelming urge to punish Manda. He had almost managed to trap Orochimaru within his own thoughts.
Just a little longer, with enough psychological suggestion inside the genjutsu, Orochimaru might have willingly abandoned his desire to beco Hokage. But that damned snake just had to interfere!
"Do you think my ambition to beco Hokage was sothing forced onto by others?" Orochimaru's tone remained as composed as before, but his hand remained pressed firmly atop Manda's head, and he avoided making direct eye contact with Kei.
"Expectations, pressure, environnt, experience, sunk costs... and the idea that it is simply 'how things should be'?" Kei pondered for a mont before offering his response.
"A fair answer. In that case, show the power to convince otherwise—let see for myself that turning back now is the best choice. Otherwise..." A sinister smile spread across Orochimaru's face as he ran his tongue over his lips, then issued an attack command to the surrounding venomous snakes.
He didn't care why Kei wasn't interested in becoming Hokage or why he was trying to stop him. But since they couldn't co to an agreent, then they would let their fists do the talking.
Let the victor dictate the path of the loser!
Root, huh? He was actually quite looking forward to taking full control of that power and freely conducting all the research he wanted!
"Tsk... random question: are Tagitsuhi, Ichikishimahi, and Tagorihi beautiful?"
"Soone as powerful as you still cares about superficial appearances?"
"A little. Beautiful things can be pleasing, after all. But the real reason I ask is just that I have a bit of a hobby—collecting various summoning creatures. Also, if I'm going to fight, I feel like I should get sothing out of it. Otherwise, I'd feel like I lost out."
"Heh... If you win, I will personally take you to Ryūchi Cave. But if you lose..."
"It's a deal, Orochimaru-kun!"
Boom—!
ROOOOAAARR!
Several massive wooden dragons erupted from beneath the ground, soaring into the sky with deafening roars! A colossal wooden figure, several tis larger than Manda, slowly rose from beneath Kei, its powerful arms pushing against the earth as it erged—like an ancient deity towering over the battlefield, blocking out the sunlight behind him!
The surrounding lush forest suddenly seed to co alive, its branches stretching outward.
Several unnaturally large ancient trees swayed and twisted, their thick branches giving birth to massive, vividly colored flower buds!
POOF—
Manda wasted no ti. Without a single word, he imdiately dispelled the summoning technique and vanished back into Ryūchi Cave.
Fight?
Fight my ass!
That damned wooden freak loved to wrestle—Manda couldn't stand the sight of blood!
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