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Countless wooden spikes surged from the earth, twisting violently, while a dark blur darted between them with uncanny flexibility.
Orochimaru’s movents were graceful, almost seductive, as he twisted his waist and slipped through the wooden onslaught like a serpent in water.
A raspy chuckle escaped his lips.
"Heh... I didn’t think you had truly integrated the First Hokage’s cells. Quite the surprise."
His gaze swept the forest.
As more Wood Release branches shot toward him, Orochimaru raised a hand and struck them aside.
But to his shock each shattered trunk imdiately grew back... with two heads instead of one.
His pupils narrowed.
Just now, he had felt sothing strange like a sliver of his chakra had been siphoned.
And now the Wood Release technique was multiplying?
So this... this is the true strength of the First Hokage’s power?
The legends had long claid Wood Release could suppress even Tailed Beasts.
Both he and Danzo had obsessed over its vitality and overwhelming control. Now... he was seeing it firsthand.
Suddenly, a massive trunk surged forward, while others closed in from behind, forming a deadly cage.
Orochimaru rely sneered.
You think this is enough to trap ? How insulting.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Biting his thumb, Orochimaru landed gracefully as a summoning circle spread beneath his feet—
BOOM—!
A colossal snake erupted from the seal, crashing through the trees and launching upward.
From its head, Orochimaru looked down at Neji with a faint, mocking grin.
Neji rely tilted his head slightly.
Summoning, huh?
Not what I’m after...
What I want... is your [Yamata Technique]. Only then will the experience be worth the reward.
The massive tree trunks did not strike the snake directly.
Instead, they spiraled upward coiling like a wooden dragon chasing the airborne Orochimaru.
The Sannin narrowed his eyes.
He’s not just using Wood Release... he’s mastered it.
But then—
CRACK—!
A snake erupted from Orochimaru’s mouth, mouth wide open.
Inside it, a second mouth opened launching a blade at breakneck speed.
The Kusanagi Sword.
It shot through the air with a sonic boom, tearing across the forest.
BOOM—!
The sword extended to a thousand ters, piercing through trees, earth, and the cliff walls of the Tenchi Bridge.
The giant wood vine paused mid-growth.
Had it worked?
From afar, Kabuto bloodied and bruised looked up and scoffed.
"Looks like your backup isn’t doing so hot," he said to Sasori.
Sasori, still inside Hiruko, gave him a contemptuous glance.
"You should be more worried about yourself."
SHING—!
A scorpion tail struck out like lightning, forcing Kabuto into desperate dodges.
Wounds kept accumulating as Kabuto channeled green healing chakra, trying to stay alive.
But the truth was clear:
He was no match.
---
At the foot of the canyon, in the smoking crater left by the Kusanagi Sword—
A hand reached up, gripping the blade.
CLANK—!
Neji stood, arms coated in jet-black Armant Haki, fingers wrapped tightly around the sacred sword.
Sharp...
Very sharp.
This sword could almost rival that scher from Soul Society and his infamous Shinsō.
Orochimaru winced from above.
The feedback through the sword told him this wasn’t going to be easy.
Neji twisted his wrist—
SHLICK—!
The sword retracted instantly.
Their eyes t no words, just pressure.
And then they moved.
Orochimaru commanded his giant serpent to flee toward Kabuto’s location.
Trying to run?
Not happening.
"Chakra Manifestation: Assault."
Three glowing spheres of chakra ford around Neji, shooting forward like homing missiles.
Orochimaru, riding his serpent, flung his sleeve outward—
HISSS—!
A massive snake launched from his sleeve to intercept.
BOOM—!
The mont the Chakra Orbs touched it, the creature disintegrated, its flesh turning to carbon.
Still coming.
"—Tch."
Orochimaru’s mount vanished in a puff of smoke.
Three new snakes erged, intercepting the orbs mid-flight and forcing them to detonate.
Orochimaru landed, expression dark.
The battle had made it clear he was outmatched.
He solved it... he actually solved the First Hokage’s cell rejection problem.
The D-Organization’s technology... is far more advanced than I thought.
He had assud Neji’s experint would fail.
That Wood Release would consu him. That the spirit-separation technique would destroy him.
But he was wrong.
"Kabuto!" he shouted.
Kabuto understood imdiately.
He threw himself forward, taking a hit from Sasori’s tail and escaping with blood dripping from his shoulder.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
"We’re retreating. This battle isn’t worth it."
Kabuto’s heart dropped.
Retreat?
But you were winning just monts ago...
Sasori let out a snort.
"Now you want to run? Too late."
A figure appeared silently blocking their path.
Neji.
"Exactly," Neji said softly. "It’s already too late to leave."
Orochimaru scowled. "I can give you the Edo Tensei technique."
Neji raised a brow. "Oh?"
He hadn’t expected Orochimaru to fold.
The snake man grinned faintly.
"We might even... collaborate. After all, there’s no true conflict between us, is there? I’m sure we could exchange so research... maybe even a few techniques."
Neji chuckled inwardly.
Amazing how a strong fist can change soone’s attitude.
Orochimaru’s golden eyes narrowed. The truth was he wanted what Neji had.
Far more than any fight.
There were no eternal enemies.
Only eternal interests.
And Neji’s value?
He was starving for it.
Neji exchanged a quick ssage with Sasori through the comm-link.
Then he said aloud, "Sounds tempting. So... where’s the goods?"
Orochimaru made a hand seal.
Poof—!
A small white snake appeared, spit out a scroll, and vanished.
He caught it and held it up. "All here. As a token of good faith... for future cooperation."
He wasn’t sure what Neji ant earlier about his body being "unsuitable," but he didn’t believe it.
Neji, however, shook his head.
"Not yet. When you’ve finished your current goal, then we’ll talk cooperation."
"This body of yours... it’s falling apart. You’ll need a new vessel. Once you succeed, co find ."
Orochimaru’s eyes darkened.
So Neji anticipated sothing going wrong?
Impossible.
Sasuke’s body had been perfectly prepared there was no chance of failure.
But the ssage was clear:
Co back after you’ve evolved.
"...Understood. Then take this as a symbol of our new alliance."
He tossed the scroll.
Neji caught it.
Kabuto and Orochimaru vanished in a puff of smoke.
Sasori watched them go with a faint snort.
"You’re really letting them leave?"
Neji twirled the scroll in his hand.
"They still have a role to play."
Important cast mbers... in a drama that hasn’t finished yet.
Suddenly, his Observation Haki picked up a familiar squad approaching.
Neji’s eyes narrowed slightly.
What are they doing here...?
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