Chapter 231: Shinya, and the Konoha Crush Plan
"Summoning Jutsu!"
As Orochimaru bit his finger and pressed one hand to the ground, a black formulaic pattern rapidly spread outwards.
The secret room could no longer withstand the force and finally collapsed with a roar.
Amidst the dust from the collapsed room, a figure flashed out.
"It seems he's summoned quite a formidable big guy."
Kabuto landed after a backflip, lightly dusting off his clothes. He looked at the cloud of dust in the center of the former secret room, his expression turning serious.
A low voice came from within the dust:
"Orochimaru, you've disturbed my sweet dreams again. If there are not enough sacrifices, I'll just eat you!"
"Don't worry, the sacrifices will naturally be offered later."
As he spoke, the dust in the center gradually dissipated.
A massive snake with black and purple ring patterns, over twenty meters long, was coiled up. Its enormous body alone exuded a sense of overwhelming intimidation that Kabuto could feel.
"...Was it really necessary to go this far?"
Kabuto instantly recognized the identity of this giant purple snake, a hint of helplessness in his smile.
—Manda.
Orochimaru's summoning beast, the leader of the summoning snake clan. He was on a completely different level from the other snake creatures Orochimaru had summoned before.
Standing on Manda's head, Orochimaru crossed his arms and chuckled sinisterly, "Kabuto, let me see just how much you've grown."
Manda didn't rush to attack, looking down on Kabuto from above and asking in a sneering tone, "Orochimaru, you're really getting worse with age. You summoned me just to deal with a little brat?"
"It seems your information in Ryūchi Cave isn't very up-to-date," Orochimaru replied in a hoarse, meaningful voice.
"Hmph," Manda snorted disdainfully. "I'm not interested in human affairs, but no matter what, you'd better prepare a hundred living people afterwards. It's been a long time since I've had a full meal!"
"Heh heh, you'll have them, of course," Orochimaru responded with a light laugh.
Although he disliked Manda's arrogant and disobedient attitude, he still needed to rely on Manda's power to enhance his own.
"It seems Orochimaru is determined to force out some of my trump cards this time."
Kabuto murmured to himself, looking at Manda with a bit of a headache.
Dealing with large-sized summoning beasts is not my specialty.
And, I still need to hide some of my trump cards.
At this thought, Kabuto raised his hands, two small, sharp, scalpel-like weapons held in them.
Immediately, his palms filled with blue chakra, and a green mist gradually wound around the blades.
HISS!!
The next moment, Kabuto's figure flashed, disappearing from the spot and rushing swiftly towards Manda.
"You brat! You're courting death!"
Seeing Kabuto dare to take the initiative to attack, a fierce and brutal light flashed in Manda's eyes.
He roared, and an incomparably violent aura surged forth like a tidal wave.
His massive body twisted rapidly, pouncing straight at Kabuto.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
A series of deafening roars echoed through the dense forest.
Large swathes of trees in the forest collapsed. A layer of topsoil was scraped off the ground. Everywhere was littered with flying debris, broken trees, and sky-obscuring dust.
The earth trembled along with it, as if the entire forest were wailing.
This momentum was clearly no less than an A-rank Earth Release ninjutsu, and this was just the destructive power caused by Manda's casual movements.
This was the physical dominance of a large summoning beast. Even just a casual swing of its body could unleash an attack with the force of a landslide.
In front of these large summoning beasts, ordinary ninja could only powerlessly await death in the face of such strength.
After rampaging for a while, Manda finally stopped and snorted, "Orochimaru, where's that brat? Did I crush him?"
Orochimaru frowned, his gaze sweeping across the ravaged forest, trying to find Kabuto's whereabouts.
But the surrounding dust severely interfered with his vision.
Just then.
"Hah~"
BOOM!!
An incredibly distinct sound of breathing came from the side. Manda's huge snake tail instantly swept out.
But Kabuto paid no attention to this, his mind and body submerged in nature.
As his lungs breathed at an inexplicable frequency, a visible white mist was exhaled from his mouth.
Immediately, the two small "scalpels" flowed in his hands, and a green mist condensed on the blades.
As the snake tail arrived before him…
"Seven Heavens Breathing Method: Nest Coiling!"
Kabuto's figure was as agile and soft as a snake. He dodged the powerful blow with perfect precision, then swung his blades in a serpentine, curving path around Manda, the trajectory of his slashes actually resembling a coiling giant python.
The howling gale that scraped past him made his cheeks sting slightly.
The two "scalpels" in his hands unleashed several seemingly soft and powerless attacks.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!!
As several green glints of light flashed past, like the two fangs of a giant python, Manda's body was caught in the center. Blood sprayed from fine wounds.
"ROAR! You brat!"
Manda couldn't help but roar in pain, the fierce look in his snake pupils growing even stronger.
However, a hint of suspicion also arose in his heart.
An ordinary blade couldn't even leave a mark on his scales, yet this human brat's weapon had directly cut through his muscle.
The disdain in Manda's heart immediately lessened.
"Heh heh, both your weapon and your sword style are interesting."
Looking at the two unimpressive "scalpels" in Kabuto's hands, and at the green mist exuding a dangerous aura that swirled around the blades, the doubt and gravity in Orochimaru's eyes revealed his current mood.
Are those "Chakra Blades" forged from "chakra-conducting metal"?
Although it seemed only a small amount of conductive metal was used, they still possessed excellent chakra conductivity.
"However, what secret technique did you just use to stimulate your speed, and that snake-like, curving, and agile sword style…"
"It seems that even after leaving me, your research has not been affected."
For some reason, a hint of sourness suddenly arose in Orochimaru's heart.
Kabuto's talent in Sage Art and ninjutsu development was something that even the proud Orochimaru felt envious of.
"It's just a minor trick, far from being comparable to Lord Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation."
As Kabuto spoke, he held the two "scalpels," one in a forward grip and one in a reverse grip, without a trace of complacency.
The stolen Seven Heavens Breathing Method, combined with my self-created Snake Style swordsmanship. Such a small trick can only be used once.
For the next battle, I'll have to reveal a bit of my hand.
Suddenly, Kabuto stomped his feet on the ground and once again took the initiative to attack Orochimaru.
"Striking Shadow Snakes!"
Orochimaru, on Manda's head, attacked at almost the same time.
A dozen long snakes flew out of his sleeves, either biting or coiling, and flew towards Kabuto.
HISS!!
The scalpel, covered in a green poisonous mist, slashed past. The dozen long snakes were instantly all beheaded, their bodies twisting and struggling in the air, a nauseating sight.
Kabuto's figure once again vanished from the spot.
Orochimaru frowned. Danger approached from behind. He shifted his body slightly, and the scalpel, wrapped in green light and chakra, missed.
"...Poison?"
When he smelled the foul stench, Orochimaru's pupils suddenly shrank, and he subconsciously closed his mouth and nose.
Lacing weapons with poison was a common technique for ninja.
If one was careless and got cut by the blade, the poison would spread from the wound and gradually seep into the flesh and blood.
If one didn't know the formula of the poison, detoxifying it would become very troublesome.
Orochimaru turned, reaching for Kabuto's neck, wanting to choke him.
But the first strike having failed, Kabuto had already retreated, avoiding Orochimaru's attack.
Kabuto landed steadily and said with a smile, "Lord Orochimaru, let's stop here. I've done my best."
"Done your best?"
Orochimaru said in a cold voice, "You haven't even used Sage Art, just some minor tricks. Are you looking down on me?"
However, at this time, Orochimaru was also a little puzzled.
The most effective way to deal with large summoning beasts was to use area-of-effect offensive ninjutsu. Conventional taijutsu was basically useless against them.
Kabuto still isn't using Sage Art. What is he waiting for?
Orochimaru looked down at Manda and said, "That attack just now was nothing to you, right? Help me one more time. I'll give you two hundred living people afterwards."
Manda had originally planned to retreat and let Orochimaru face the enemy himself.
After all, even if his power was astonishing, he had to be able to hit that brat.
And that brat's speed and sword skills were a bit strange, to be able to cut through his body that was as hard as steel.
This agile, assassination-type ninja was also the type he disliked the most.
However, hearing Orochimaru double the reward, Manda, who had wanted to backstab his teammate, was tempted.
"...Hmph, if there's even one missing, I'll use you to make up for it."
Manda bared his fangs savagely, a bloodthirsty red light flickering in his vertical pupils.
Immediately, his massive body twisted again, crushing rows of trees, causing the earth to rumble as he charged towards Kabuto.
Looking at Manda, who was the size of a mountain, a hint of impatience appeared in Kabuto's eyes. He put the scalpels in his hands back into his sleeves.
"Ah, what a pain."
Dealing with a large summoning beast with just scalpels, even if he used all his strength, the effect would be very limited.
Therefore, Kabuto decided to end this quickly.
"It seems I underestimated the bond between Lord Orochimaru and Lord Manda."
Biting his thumb, Kabuto formed hand seals while saying, "Speaking of which, I haven't used this jutsu many times since I learned it. Since Lord Orochimaru has so cordially invited me, I won't be polite!"
Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram…
As his voice fell, he pressed his palm on the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
POOF! BOOM!!
With a huge puff of white smoke, the surrounding light seemed to dim.
Manda's massive body also crashed into it, even causing the entire ground to tremble.
However, the powerful resistance was like hitting a wall. A look of astonishment flashed in the eyes of both Orochimaru and Manda.
Soon, as the smoke gradually dissipated, a huge figure was gradually revealed.
It was a massive, deep-red giant snake coiled on the ground. The terrifyingly fierce aura from its body, and its massive chakra fluctuation, were even more terrifying than Manda's.
But what was most noticeable was the giant snake's blind right eye.
Kabuto stood quietly on the giant snake's head, meeting Orochimaru's eyes on Manda's head.
"Could this be… Shinya?!"
At this moment, the look of calm control on Orochimaru's face was gone. Looking at Kabuto standing on the head of the deep-red giant snake, he felt that this scene was incredibly absurd and strange.
When Orochimaru had entered Ryūchi Cave to choose a summoning beast, he had once heard of this great snake that gave even the White Snake Sage a headache.
It was a one-eyed great snake with reverse scales and a violent temperament.
If what the White Snake Sage said was true, then the deep-red giant snake before him was undoubtedly a summoning beast on the same level as Manda.
And unlike the naturally powerful but lazy Manda, Shinya lived deep in the most violent snake nest in Ryūchi Cave and possessed richer combat experience and abilities.
But Orochimaru clearly remembered that Shinya had been betrayed by its previous contractor and had not trusted humans since then.
But now…
Shinya snorted a puff of white mist from its nostrils and asked in a muffled voice, "Kabuto, why did you summon me?
But just after speaking, it noticed Manda opposite it.
"Yo, so it's you, you bastard Manda!"
Its huge orange vertical pupil moved to Orochimaru's front. "What, is this your contractor? A female human?"
It was obvious that it held disdain and ridicule for Orochimaru and Manda.
Manda also came back to his senses at this time and said with some trepidation, "Shinya, weren't you betrayed by your contractor just a few years ago? Is this brat your new contractor?"
He had never expected Kabuto to summon Shinya.
This guy Shinya had lost an eye a few years ago due to the betrayal of his contractor. Since then, his personality had become abnormally violent. He rampaged all over Ryūchi Cave, devouring other members of his kind. All the snakes living in Ryūchi Cave hated him, and no one was willing to get close.
The key point was that he had mastered a part of Ryūchi Cave's Sage Art, and even the White Snake Sage couldn't do anything about him.
In Manda's eyes, this guy Shinya was a lunatic.
"Hmph! You're as annoying as ever."
With a heavy snort, Shinya suddenly opened its mouth at Manda, spitting out a substance like black ash.
The ever-cautious Manda instantly dodged, but the tip of his tail was still splashed.
TSSS!!
In an instant, the ground covered by the "black ash" turned into a field of stone, and Manda's tail also began to petrify.
"Shinya! You dare to attack me, are you insane?!"
Hearing Manda's angry and fearful tone, Shinya raised its head, its single vertical pupil staring at Manda, its forked tongue hissing.
"This isn't Ryūchi Cave. Since you've delivered yourself to my door, it's a good chance for me to satisfy my craving. It's been a long time since I've tasted a great snake!"
With that, its body swayed, and its huge snake tail swept towards Manda like a whirlwind.
BANG!!
Manda, who had a larger body, was hit by the blow, and his body also let out a low, muffled sound.
Hiss, hiss, hiss~
Manda opened his mouth wide, a fierce light flashing in his snake pupils.
However, seeing the "Sage Art" accumulating in Shinya's mouth, Manda's momentum instantly deflated.
"You're a real lunatic! I'm not going to bother with you!"
With that, he said to Orochimaru, "Hey, Orochimaru, don't forget the sacrifices you promised me!"
POOF!!
Before Orochimaru could react, Manda exploded in a puff of white smoke and disappeared from under his feet, clearly having already returned to Ryūchi Cave.
Manda didn't know how to use Ryūchi Cave's Sage Art; all his natural energy was used for growing bigger.
Compared to the lunatic Shinya, he only had an advantage in size.
Helping Orochimaru slaughter humans was usually no problem, but fighting Shinya to the death for Orochimaru was out of the question.
As Manda left, Orochimaru fell from mid-air to the ground in astonishment.
"Manda…"
That guy actually abandoned him and ran away so righteously, and even remembered to remind him about the sacrifices before leaving.
Just then, Kabuto, standing on Shinya's head, adjusted his glasses and looked down at Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru, now you can't do anything to me, and I can't do anything to you. Is there any need to continue this boring probing?"
As he spoke, Kabuto patted Shinya's head and then also released the summoning jutsu.
"Kabuto, next time you run into Manda, be sure to call me first. If it's that guy, I'll beat him up for you for free."
As Shinya's figure and voice disappeared, Kabuto also descended from the air, landing steadily in front of Orochimaru.
After a moment of silence, Orochimaru laughed. "Kabuto, you've really opened my eyes. Even Shinya has become your summoning beast. It seems you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve!"
"You praise me too much, Lord Orochimaru. I was just lucky enough to gain Shinya's recognition."
For some reason, Orochimaru always felt that Kabuto's tone carried a faint hint of a smile.
However, Shinya's attitude was indeed much better than Manda's.
"To think you've become so strong without me noticing."
Orochimaru started walking towards the outside of the forest, asking casually as he walked, "You came to see me specifically this time. Is there something important?"
Through this exchange, Orochimaru felt that he had already grasped Kabuto's bottom line.
In his opinion, Kabuto did indeed have the strength to cooperate with him on an equal footing, but he had not yet reached the point where he could threaten his life.
In short, he should still be able to control Kabuto, and his value for utilization had even increased.
"It's all thanks to Lord Orochimaru's teachings."
Kabuto naturally understood his thoughts and also chuckled lightly as he followed. "There are some matters regarding experiments that I do need your help with."
"Also, regarding that assistant of yours named Yomi, and the Land of Demons' demon and prophecy you mentioned, could Lord Orochimaru enlighten me?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru's steps paused.
Immediately, he looked at Kabuto meaningfully, licked his lips, and said, "If you're curious, I can take you with me."
"I even hope you will lead a few Akatsuki members to the Land of Demons. The murkier this water gets, the better."
"I am preparing for the Konoha Crush plan. There is something I need in the Land of Demons."
(End of Chapter)
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