Chapter 230: Orochimaru vs. Yakushi Kabuto
As time passed, the sky gradually darkened, and the moon hung high.
Yakushi Kabuto walked alone in a valley in the Land of Rice Fields, his leisurely appearance like that of a traveler on a spring outing.
As he walked deeper into the valley, the path became narrower. The chirping of insects nearby gradually disappeared, and it became completely silent…
Only the "rustling" sound from the dark woods remained.
BOOM!!
In the originally pitch-black canyon, a fierce flash of fire suddenly erupted.
The entire earth seemed to tremble as a muffled explosion detonated underground.
The explosion came and went quickly, and the canyon once again returned to silence and darkness.
Scorching smoke and dust swept through the entire canyon, and Kabuto's figure could no longer be seen.
SWISH!!
A figure holding a bone blade suddenly appeared in the distance of the canyon.
Looking at the darkness shrouded in smoke and dust, there was not a trace of a smile on Kaguya Kimimaro's face.
"Where did that guy go?"
Was he so easily blown to ashes by the explosive tag trap?
Just as Kimimaro was pondering…
"I quite like your welcoming gift…"
A figure instantly appeared from above his head, a highly compressed chakra blade condensed in his hand.
"In that case, please accept my gift in return."
With a sharp sound of tearing wind, the blade slashed fiercely towards Kimimaro's neck.
Kimimaro hurriedly manipulated his bone blade to slash upwards.
However, realizing that he was too late to block, he had no choice but to form a hard layer of bone membrane under the skin of his neck, attempting to block this fatal blow by enhancing his body's defense.
Kekkei Genkai: Shikotsumyaku—a Kekkei Genkai that allowed free manipulation of all the bones in one's body. Osteoblasts, osteoclasts, calcium concentration, and so on could all be manipulated without limit, allowing for the creation, decomposition, or hardening of bones for defense or attack.
When attacking, it was the strongest spear; when defending, it was the firmest shield. Kimimaro believed he could withstand this blow.
BAM! CRACK! CRACKLE!!
But, the bone membrane on his neck actually began to crack under this single slash.
"This…"
A hint of astonishment finally appeared on Kimimaro's always-calm face.
The hardness of the bone is comparable to refined steel, but the opponent's single strike actually destroyed it?
The next moment, Kimimaro's neck was directly severed by the blade.
Kabuto landed steadily, and without looking back, smiled with an unchanging expression. "I've come to see Lord Orochimaru."
Poof!
The Kimimaro who had just been killed suddenly turned into a puff of smoke.
"You bastard…"
Kimimaro once again walked out from the side, looking at Kabuto with a grave expression.
Seeing the smile on his face, the look of dread on Kimimaro's face grew stronger.
He subconsciously touched his own neck.
Although the one killed by Kabuto was just one of his shadow clones, the painful sensation of having his head cut off was still very profound.
"Enough!"
Just as Kimimaro was about to attack again, a cold voice suddenly came from the side.
A man in a white robe walked out from the depths of the forest.
Kimimaro hurriedly said, "I can kill him right now!"
The white-robed man frowned, his tone becoming even colder. "Don't waste any more of Lord Orochimaru's time."
With that, he stopped paying attention to Kimimaro, looked Kabuto up and down, and then smiled. "My name is Yomi. I am Lord Orochimaru's assistant."
"Please follow me. Lord Orochimaru has been waiting for a long time."
Seeing the white-robed man's unfamiliar face, a trace of doubt flashed in Kabuto's eyes.
Yomi?
A name I've never heard.
Where did Orochimaru find a new assistant?
Yomi turned back to look at Kabuto and asked knowingly, "What's wrong?"
Kabuto shook his head, concealing the strange look in his eyes.
The three of them continued until they reached an underground entrance.
Yomi turned to Kabuto and instructed, "There will be some snakes at the entrance. You don't need to worry. As long as you follow me, they won't attack you."
Kabuto smiled and nodded.
Along the way, not only was Kimimaro's hostility and unwillingness undisguised, but Kabuto also discovered ten traps, five seals, and more than a dozen ninja hidden in the dark.
Such a heavily guarded and cautious arrangement was truly Orochimaru's style.
Of course, it also represented Orochimaru's warning to him.
"This really makes me feel disheartened~"
Hearing Kabuto's lament, Yomi said with a profound tone, "I hope Senior Kabuto can forgive Kimimaro's actions. It would be best if it could be treated as an accident. After all, Lord Orochimaru is truly terrifying when he gets angry."
Hearing this, Kimimaro, at the side, clenched his fists and unwillingly swallowed the words in his mouth.
Kabuto smiled and said, "It seems you have your own ideas too."
Yomi did not deny this point.
However, the smile on his face also faded.
"Senior Kabuto was also Lord Orochimaru's assistant before, right?"
"Lord Orochimaru's ideals and charisma will make people gradually forget their true selves. Even if one willingly becomes a pawn in his hands, it's hard not to feel the same confusion in one's heart…"
The evening night wind grew colder, messing up Yomi's black hair.
He said to Kabuto in a serious tone, "So, when I learned of Senior Kabuto's identity, I felt heartfelt joy in my heart. We are the same kind of people. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."
Kabuto's expression did not change. He just smiled and adjusted his glasses, not responding to Yomi's words.
Seeing this, Yomi frowned, but quickly returned to normal and asked with a smile, "What, does Senior Kabuto think there's a problem?"
"No, to be able to become Lord Orochimaru's assistant means your abilities are excellent."
Kabuto smiled kindly, then suddenly changed the subject. "However, your disguise skills are too poor. And, you don't understand Lord Orochimaru."
As his voice fell, Yomi's body suddenly stiffened, and a layer of cold sweat appeared on his face.
Hiss, hiss, hiss…
The head of a white snake crept over his shoulder, its thin tongue licking his neck.
The cold, slimy, and chilling sensation filled Yomi's eyes with fear, and his stiff body did not dare to make a single move.
"Yomi, it's better to come and chat with me next time about these questions of exploring the truth of life."
Orochimaru's unique, hoarse voice hissed out from the white snake's mouth.
"I will help you with the matter of the Land of Demons. I am also very curious about the so-called demon, and the priestess's ability to predict the future. But compared to Kabuto, you are still too green. If I find out one more time…"
Orochimaru's voice sounded again, still with a hint of a smile in his tone, as if he was not blaming Yomi for his defiance.
But Yomi knew in his heart that Orochimaru just didn't care.
For Orochimaru, subordinates were divided into two types: "useful" and "useless."
As long as his "Dark Medical Ninjutsu" was still useful to Orochimaru, and as long as he didn't cross Orochimaru's bottom line, he would not be killed, at most, he would be subjected to the capital punishment of "Ten Thousand Snakes Bite."
But it was also because of this that Yomi respected and feared Orochimaru.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
Yomi smiled bitterly and took a step back, moving to the side. He looked at Kabuto and said, "Lord Orochimaru is inside. Please go in and see him yourself."
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you to lead the way~"
Kabuto nodded and walked into the dark and damp underground.
Watching his back slowly disappear into the darkness, Yomi couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart.
It seemed he would have to be more honest for a while.
Compared to Kabuto, who had broken away from Orochimaru, his current level was indeed far too inferior.
He had been so focused on winning over Kabuto, attempting to obtain intelligence and an ally, thinking his disguise was very successful.
But, in the eyes of Orochimaru and Kabuto, he was probably just a buffoon.
This feeling of being played with in the palm of their hands was truly shameful.
Meanwhile, Kabuto passed through several underground corridors and, following a familiar path, arrived in front of a secret room.
Turning the handle of the secret room's door, Kabuto walked in with a calm expression.
Click…
In the spacious secret room, Orochimaru was kneeling on the floor, a scroll spread out before him.
The candlelight cast his shadow on the wall, which twisted as the wind entered, like a black snake shadow waiting to devour someone.
Hearing the sound of Kabuto opening the door and entering, Orochimaru said in a hoarse voice, "Kabuto, I have a doubt. Can you answer it for me?"
Kabuto lowered his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips.
"Please speak, Lord Orochimaru. I will naturally tell you everything I know."
Orochimaru did not speak in a hurry. Under the flickering candlelight, his face was sometimes bright, sometimes dark.
Immediately, he tossed the scroll on the table to Kabuto.
Taking the scroll, Kabuto opened it unhurriedly and saw that it recorded information about himself.
It even included news of his recent battle with Hiruko.
Kabuto was not surprised. He smiled and said, "It seems you have been paying attention to me. I'm truly flattered."
Only then did Orochimaru raise his head, turning to face Kabuto.
He…
No, it should be "she."
If Orochimaru's original appearance was merely androgynous, then she could now be considered feminine.
In order to completely escape the endless pursuit of the Akatsuki, she was forced to use the "Forbidden Jutsu: Living Corpse Reincarnation."
With Kabuto's assistance, she had faked her death and escaped very smoothly.
But this also caused some damage to her soul, completely stripping her of the qualification to learn "Ryūchi Cave Sage Art."
Orochimaru extended his thin tongue, licked his lips, and said sinisterly, "No need to be flattered. Your outstanding performance is worthy of my constant attention."
Without a doubt, Kabuto's current strength and performance were enough to make him feel wary and surprised.
Compared to the other members of the Akatsuki, Orochimaru's understanding of Kabuto was much deeper.
At the very least, Orochimaru knew that with Kabuto's current strength, he was already sufficient to rank among the top of the Akatsuki members.
"I heard Hiruko's forbidden jutsu has been successfully developed, and he has even fused three Kekkei Genkai?"
After pondering for a moment, the corner of Orochimaru's mouth curled up as he asked, "You fought him, and you defeated him?"
Kabuto smiled humbly. "I dare not take the credit. It was Hidan who did his best to probe his abilities, which allowed me to use a strategy to subdue him."
Orochimaru bringing up Hiruko was completely within his expectations.
After all, the dead-last he once looked down upon had now reached the same level as himself.
Even if Orochimaru didn't say it, his pride would make him feel awkward.
At this time, it was better to give the credit for defeating Hiruko to Hidan.
What's more, he wasn't lying.
As expected, Orochimaru did not have too many doubts and continued to ask, "How do you feel… about his forbidden jutsu?"
Kabuto first nodded, then shook his head. "The potential is great. If it continues to be developed, it might become even stronger, but the risks are equally not small."
"Hmph, a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse."
Orochimaru snorted coldly, his tone somewhat disdainful. "That dead-last's talent can't even compare to Jiraiya's. To be able to forcibly fuse three Kekkei Genkai now is just him being relatively lucky."
Kabuto lowered his head slightly and pushed up the frame of his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Risk and opportunity coexist. To change one's destiny, one must pay a price."
"So, what price did you pay?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru looked at him with sharp eyes, a grin spreading across his face. "Kabuto, are you loyal to Pain, or to me, Orochimaru, or… to someone else?"
A faint smile appeared on Kabuto's face as he replied, "I am, of course, loyal to the choice of my heart, loyal to my current identity, and loyal to you, Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru's gaze hardened, and he retorted, "Then why are you unwilling to be branded with the Cursed Seal of Heaven?"
"I wanted to do so as well."
Kabuto was unhurried and neither servile nor overbearing. "But Pain is too cautious. If he discovers anything, I will be killed by him, and I will no longer be able to gather intelligence for you."
After a pause, he met the pair of snake pupils eye to eye. "Lord Orochimaru, you wouldn't want that to happen either, would you? After all, you still need me, don't you?"
The smile on Orochimaru's face froze.
Immediately, he stuck out his tongue, licked his lips, and revealed a slightly strange smile.
"Kabuto, you are becoming more and more fascinating to me!"
"I'm very curious now, what level has your Sage Art reached?"
The moment his voice fell, Orochimaru's hands shot up.
HISS! HISS! HISS!!
Countless snake shadows shot out from his sleeves, opening their savage mouths and sharp fangs, and pounced straight at Kabuto's face.
Countless venomous snakes then pounced at Kabuto from different directions.
Kabuto stood in place, not dodging or evading, until the venomous snakes were right in front of him.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!!
A chakra blade condensed in his hand, and a blue light flashed past.
Without exception, they were all decapitated.
Countless venomous snakes were all cut in half, chunks of flesh falling to the ground.
For a moment, the sharp, piercing sound of tearing wind echoed continuously in the nearly enclosed secret room.
As Kabuto killed more and more venomous snakes, the bloody mist seemed to make the air even more viscous.
However, he paid no heed to it, and his body did not show any abnormal signs.
Orochimaru crossed his arms, watched him kill all the venomous snakes, and said with an interested smile, "You've really learned a lot. It seems ordinary ninjutsu and poison are useless against you."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his tone laced with a smile. "Lord Orochimaru, am I qualified now?"
"This is just an appetizer. If you want to be in a cooperative relationship with me, you're still far from it!"
Orochimaru grinned, then bit his own finger.
He quickly formed hand seals, slammed his hands directly on the ground, and shouted, "Summoning Jutsu!"
POOF!!
With a huge puff of white smoke, the secret room was directly blown apart, and rubble from the ceiling scattered on the ground.
A low voice came from within the white smoke:
"Orochimaru, you've disturbed my sweet dreams again. If there are not enough sacrifices, I'll just eat you!"
(End of Chapter)
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