WebNovels

Chapter 32 - Chapter 032: Calling Reinforcements? I can do that too

In the dark night, a pillar of light shot up from the top of a round building, like a lighthouse marker.

Standing on a treetop, Orochimaru stared into the dark forest where the light couldn't reach, quietly waiting for his enemy to appear.

Since he had already guessed Kumogakure's plan to ambush Konohagakure near the fortress, Orochimaru didn't bother to keep running and wasting strength. Instead, he simply wrapped a roadside building with barrier jutsu and turned it into a giant light bulb.

It was better to wait in comfort than arrive exhausted and under attack.

Of course, if Kumogakure chose not to take this bait, then he would just set up more fake light pillars and use tricks to win the fortress without a fight.

But Raikage's temper was just like the rumors said—straightforward and blunt. Not someone you'd want to play tricks with.

"Bang!"

A heavy thud rang out as the Fourth Raikage leapt out of the darkness. The ground caved in under his stomp, leaving a massive crater.

His entrance fit his style perfectly—loud, shocking, and full of raw power.

Seeing this, Orochimaru let out a dark smile and hissed, "Explode!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant, shockwaves burst out, dust scattered everywhere, and blazing flames tore through the smoke. The explosive fireball expanded violently, swallowing the Raikage's huge body in a flash.

The Konoha shinobi fixed their eyes on the smoke, their faces full of expectation.

Even a prepared jonin would suffer heavy injuries from such a blast. The Raikage had charged in recklessly—maybe he would be taken out just like that…

"No, he's not dead."

The Uchiha elites had already activated their Sharingan. In their vision, a massive chakra presence still pulsed within the smoke.

Szzzt…

A sharp chirping noise pierced the air. Lightning split the smoke apart, and the Fourth Raikage's body appeared. He ripped off his shredded upper clothes with one motion, his chest bare, his aura wild and fierce.

Not only had he survived—he wasn't even scratched.

Facing the Raikage's savage expression, Orochimaru gave a chilling laugh. "Looks like Raikage-sama is quite pleased with my little gift."

But inside, he grew wary. Just like the old man said, the Fourth Raikage was more than just brute force.

Konoha had been waiting for this moment, fully prepared. The Raikage had thrown himself into danger on purpose, using his body to test the trap.

It looked reckless, but in truth, it showed his absolute confidence in his own toughness.

Orochimaru licked his lips. This was turning troublesome.

Now that they had really clashed, the Raikage's strength was clearer than any report.

He was the same type as Jiraiya—physically overwhelming, quick to adapt. Without overwhelming firepower, defeating him was nearly impossible.

Orochimaru knew his ninjutsu was never meant for killing. He didn't have the sharp spear needed to pierce someone like this.

In this fight, his best outcome was not losing.

But even "not losing" could mean very different things.

That thought lasted only a heartbeat. The instant the Raikage stepped out of the smoke, Orochimaru jumped down from the treetops.

His hands flashed through seals. "Forbidden Jutsu: Eight-Headed Serpent!"

In the blink of an eye, a massive monster appeared—eight heads, eight tails, like a tangle of enormous snakes. Its entire body was white and smooth, without scales, radiating chakra on the level of a tailed beast.

No more words. From the start, it was all-out battle.

Orochimaru roared. With a swing of one gigantic tail, a towering pillar of light shattered and collapsed, plunging the forest into darkness once again.

That was the signal. The shinobi of Konoha and Kumogakure charged at each other.

Both sides avoided the area where the Yamata no Orochi and the Raikage clashed, instead fighting in the dark forest.

Darkness gave a clear edge to those with eye techniques, but Kumogakure had the advantage of numbers.

They collided head-on, and for a while, neither side could break the balance.

But the ones who decide a battlefield's fate are always the strongest.

The Raikage's eyes sharpened. Even in the face of the Yamata no Orochi's overwhelming presence, he showed no fear.

He had fought tailed beasts many times. The Eight-Tails Gyuki? Just another opponent he had beaten countless times before.

The white snake might be big right now, but compared to the Eight-Tails, it's just an empty shell.

"Lightning Release: Lariat Dance!"

With a low roar, the Fourth Raikage burst into blue lightning all over his body. He leapt forward and, moving at a speed no slower than the Yellow Flash, struck one of Orochi's heads.

His hand chop was like thunder, tearing through the tough outer skin of the snake head with ease. The leftover force was unstoppable, hacking downward like a battle axe.

The long snake body split in two, spraying blood all over Raikage, dyeing him red.

Even Orochimaru, with his iron will, couldn't help but cry out in pain under this blow. The other snake heads lunged at Raikage, trying to bite him.

"Boom!"

The Fourth Raikage stomped hard, dodging the snake head's attack, and landed back on the ground. His eyes locked on Yamata no Orochi, and his thick brows furrowed.

The split-open snake head was sticking back together with the support of the other heads, visibly healing. At this rate, it wouldn't take long before it was fully restored.

Wiping the snake blood off his face, the Raikage cursed, "What kind of monster is this?"

The "Three Legendary Ninja" were famous powerhouses of the older generation, but to be this troublesome was beyond his expectations.

Not only did Orochimaru turn his body into something like a tailed beast, his healing ability was unbelievable. With power like this, he could shrug off Raikage's attacks and still go after the other Kumogakure shinobi.

Destroying Konohagakure's fighting power with the strength of a tailed beast was supposed to be Kumogakure's strategy. But now, Orochimaru was using it against them.

Thinking of this, the Fourth Raikage shouted into the dense forest, "Killer Bee, help me take down this monster!"

Their original target no longer mattered. A cruel smile appeared on Raikage's face—he would use this chance to kill Orochimaru.

"Yes, big bro!"

Killer Bee slashed away the Konoha shinobi around him, then eight tentacles suddenly stretched out from his body as he started to transform. In an instant, the massive body of the Eight-Tails filled the battlefield.

Seeing this, both Konoha and Kumo shinobi quickly retreated from the area, not wanting to get caught up in the fight's shockwaves.

Orochimaru also noticed the giant beast in the dark. His cold slit-pupiled eyes glanced at the Eight-Tails Gyuki, and he gave a sinister laugh. "Calling in help? I can do that too."

From the central snake head of Yamata no Orochi, Orochimaru's upper body emerged. Forming hand seals, he shouted, "Summoning Jutsu!"

"Boom!"

With a burst of smoke, the massive summon Manda from Ryuchi Cave appeared on the battlefield. Its eyes swept across the field, taking everything in before it spoke coldly,

"Orochimaru, every time you summon me, it's never for anything good."

"Boom!"

Dodging Raikage's sneak attack, Orochimaru slid back into Yamata no Orochi. The white snake head opened its mouth and said, "Relax, once this battle is over, I'll give you plenty of revenge."

"I want ten times more than last time."

Manda let out a hiss and lunged straight at the Eight-Tails Gyuki.

---

You can read 20 Chapters ahead on my

pat reon.com/GMadman

Free member can read 3 chapters ahead

More Chapters