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However—
"Whoosh!"
Another sharp sound tore through the air. Akira's pupils suddenly shrank.
A dagger shot in from the side, stabbing straight toward his throat, clearly meant to kill him.
Akira twisted his body. The blade grazed past his shoulder.
But in the next instant, the dagger's owner abruptly changed direction, slashing across Akira's waist. The impact sent him flying backward before he crashed heavily onto the ground.
"Swish!"
A figure appeared beside him.
It was Orochimaru, who had vanished moments ago.
Orochimaru walked forward with a cold grin."Kid… my turn now, right?"
Akira's gaze sharpened.
"Earth Style: Hiding in Rock Technique!"
A layer of earth surged up around him, solidifying into thick stone that blocked Orochimaru's advance.
At the same time, Akira pushed off the ground. Using the stone cover for momentum, he leapt far into the distance.
Orochimaru burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Trying to run? Too late!"
In the next second, chakra exploded from his body.
"Hell Mode: Serpent Strangulation!"
Orochimaru's body twisted in a grotesque way. Rings of massive snake tails coiled around Akira before whipping toward him with brutal force.
Akira reacted instantly. He used a ninjutsu to evade the attack, but one of the tails still clipped him.
"Rip—"
His clothes tore open, leaving a shallow wound across his skin.
"Ha… ha…"
Akira took a few steady breaths. His eyes grew colder.
With a flick of his wrist, three cards suddenly appeared in his hand.
A faint smile crept across his lips as he spoke softly.
"Summoning Jutsu."
The next second, a massive dragon's head appeared out of thin air. It lunged forward and bit down on one of the incoming snake tails, tearing it cleanly in half.
"ROOOAR!"
The dragon let out a thunderous roar.
Its enormous body whipped violently, sending the remaining snake tail flying away.
"Thud!"
The severed tail dropped to the ground.
Orochimaru's face turned pale. Clutching his chest, he staggered backward.
"Damn it… cough… damn it…"
Akira glanced at the fallen tail and said coldly,
"You're not my opponent."
His gaze shifted to Orochimaru. Slowly, he extended his left hand as if gripping something in midair.
"Tell me your real identity. Otherwise, I won't let you go."
Orochimaru suddenly burst into a twisted laugh.
"Heh… my real identity? You'll never guess it."
His smile grew savage.
"Because… you're destined to die!"
His muscles bulged violently.
With a bend of his legs, he launched himself forward, clawing straight at Akira's face.
"Bang!"
Akira blocked the strike with his forearm and retreated with the force.
Orochimaru immediately rushed forward again.
A foul, bloody stench radiated from him as he lunged like a venomous snake.
"Boom… boom… boom…"
The two figures clashed repeatedly. Dust filled the air as the ground cracked beneath their feet.
"Bang!"
Akira suddenly slipped, his footing giving way as he was knocked backward.
A vicious glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
He closed the distance instantly and slammed his palm against Akira's forehead.
"Water Style: Waterfall Technique!"
Orochimaru's eyes turned blood-red as a massive torrent of water surged forward, crashing down on Akira.
Akira was swallowed by the raging current.
Moments later, he finally struggled free from the rushing water.
Orochimaru watched him with a cold smirk.
"You lost."
Akira shook his head calmly.
"No. You lost."
Orochimaru frowned in confusion.
"How could I lose…? I clearly had the upper hand…"
Before he could finish speaking, his expression suddenly froze in shock.
Akira's lips curved into a faint smile.
"I said… you lost."
In an instant, his body accelerated.
Like a phantom, he appeared right in front of Orochimaru.
Without hesitation, he thrust a finger forward.
"Whoosh!"
A piercing gust of force shot out from his fingertip and struck Orochimaru's throat.
"Crack!"
The sharp sound of bone snapping echoed.
Orochimaru's eyes bulged. Blood poured from his mouth as his lips trembled.
Before he could react, Akira slammed his palm onto Orochimaru's forehead.
A wisp of black smoke spread from Akira's palm and seeped into Orochimaru's body.
"Remember this well," Akira said coldly."My name… is Ōtsutsuki Indra."
Orochimaru's vitality and regeneration were terrifying.
In the blink of an eye, he regained consciousness.
But his body felt weak. Inside him, it was as if blazing chakra was burning through his organs, scorching his insides with unbearable pain.
Orochimaru stared at Akira in shock.
"He actually possesses such terrifying regenerative energy?!"
It was monstrous.
Even so, Akira wasn't satisfied. If Orochimaru's regeneration hadn't been so powerful, the fight would already be over.
Akira looked at him again and asked calmly,
"Who are you?"
"Hmph. You'll find out soon enough!"
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Rampart!"
Orochimaru's body suddenly dissolved into a puddle of mud.
A massive earthen wall then erupted from the ground, surrounding Akira and sealing off his movement.
Orochimaru controlled the huge block of earth and slammed it down toward him.
"BOOM!"
Akira's figure was instantly buried beneath the soil.
Orochimaru stood where he was, his expression dark.
He never expected to suffer like this at the hands of a mere child.
But slowly—
Akira's body began to rise out of the collapsed earth.
He looked at Orochimaru, eyes narrowing slightly as a cold smile appeared on his lips.
"Orochimaru… in the end, you're still too young."
"What?!"
A cold light flashed in Orochimaru's eyes as he immediately drove a punch into Akira's abdomen.
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of blood burst from Akira's lips.
He let out a muffled groan.
Then Akira slowly lifted his gaze, scanning the surroundings.
"Rumble… rumble…"
Orochimaru manipulated the surrounding earth, forcing chunks of soil to press down relentlessly on Akira.
Akira sprang up with a sharp twist of his body, rolling away. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a mocking smile creeping onto his face.
Glancing at Orochimaru, he said casually, "Attacks at this level? They don't even count as scratching an itch."
The moment he heard the taunt, the anger in Orochimaru's eyes erupted completely.
With a furious roar, his entire body began to swell, expanding violently like a string of firecrackers going off.
In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a gigantic python nearly a hundred meters long. His massive body was covered in pitch-black scales, and razor-sharp claws gleamed along his limbs.
Akira stared at the enormous serpent, his expression gradually turning serious. He took a slow breath.
"My body…" he said quietly, "is an immortal one."
"So even if you turn into a hundred-meter snake, I'm still not afraid of you."
His gaze hardened as he locked eyes with Orochimaru's serpentine pupils, a strange light flashing in them.
"And that means… I can kill you without holding back."
The moment his words fell, Orochimaru's tongue flicked out.
The colossal snake lunged forward like lightning, charging straight at Akira. At the same time, its enormous tail rose high into the air and came crashing down toward him.
Orochimaru's strength was terrifying, powerful enough to rival a Kage.
But Akira wasn't an ordinary ANBU ninja.
And this mission… he had to finish it.
"Raikiri!"
Akira let out a low shout as the lightning blade sliced forward.
The Raikiri collided with Orochimaru's tail, unleashing a violent shockwave that rippled through the air.
But the next instant—
The space beside Akira suddenly shattered, and a dagger shot out from the void.
Clang!
Akira reacted instantly, twisting his waist to dodge. The dagger missed his vitals, but it still sliced across his shoulder.
"Hissss…"
Orochimaru let out an excited snake-like hiss, his eyes filled with bloodthirsty madness.
A moment later, he spat out a massive spray of venom.
Akira's pupils shrank.
His body vanished.
The venom slammed into the wall behind him, instantly corroding it into pitted holes.
Orochimaru froze for a moment before a faint smile curled at his lips.
"Invisibility, huh? Interesting. But trying to ambush me with a trick like that… impossible."
Whoosh—
At that moment, Akira suddenly dropped down from above, landing beside Orochimaru's head.
He thrust forward with a kunai, aiming straight for Orochimaru's skull.
But Orochimaru's enormous body twisted abruptly, barely dodging the fatal strike.
His body flipped in midair, and his tail whipped out like a massive lash.
Bang!
Akira was sent flying.
He crashed onto the ground, his expression grave. He knew he couldn't drag this out any longer.
He had to finish Orochimaru quickly.
"Humm—"
A dense green mist suddenly erupted from Akira's body.
"Shhhk—!"
Green vines sprouted from his wrists and ankles, coiling around him like living cords.
Akira remained calm. He pressed his hands together in front of his chest and murmured,
"Wood Release: Cutting Technique."
Countless thin green vines shot forward and burrowed into Orochimaru's body.
Orochimaru's massive form stiffened.
He roared in fury, but his movements slowed noticeably.
Akira seized the moment. Gripping his kunai, he thrust forward and pierced straight through Orochimaru's left arm.
Slash!
Orochimaru screamed in pain as the blade sliced clean through, severing his arm entirely.
His face twisted into a monstrous expression. Roaring, he grabbed at the weapon with his remaining hand, trying to tear the kunai free.
But Akira suddenly clamped down with his legs, pinning Orochimaru firmly to the ground.
Pulling the kunai free, Akira swung it toward Orochimaru's throat.
Slash—
Orochimaru clutched his neck, mouth opening as foul-smelling blood spilled out. His eyes filled with venomous hatred.
Then suddenly, a faint blue glow emerged from his body.
His form began to melt.
Within seconds, Orochimaru's entire body dissolved into a puddle of thick liquid.
Akira watched the fading remains and let out a quiet sigh.
"Still as slippery as ever…"
Orochimaru had escaped.
Akira didn't know why he chose to flee, but he didn't pursue him.
Orochimaru's escape abilities were first-class. Killing him completely wasn't easy.
Instead, Akira turned his gaze toward the direction of the Fire Capital, his expression instantly turning cold.
Earlier, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had actually sent people to trouble him.
What a death wish.
Without another word, Akira headed straight for the Fire Capital.
This trip had only one objective.
Kill the Daimyo.
…
"I've been waiting for you, brat. Die!"
At the gates of the Fire Capital, Kenshiro—who had been lying in ambush—suddenly lunged out, a sharp dagger flashing toward Akira's throat.
Akira narrowed his eyes slightly and tilted his body to the side.
The deadly blade cut through empty air.
Kenshiro's heart skipped a beat.
But Akira didn't stop moving. His body flashed forward in an instant.
Kenshiro hadn't expected such terrifying reaction speed. He froze for a split second before snapping back to his senses.
His face darkened. He couldn't believe his sneak attack had failed.
In the next moment, Akira was already right in front of him.
Kenshiro had no time to dodge. He could only raise his arms to block his chest.
But Akira's right leg shot out like lightning.
Crack!
The kick smashed into Kenshiro's arm, shattering the entire limb. Blood sprayed into the air.
"Damn it!"
Kenshiro cursed under his breath and swung his remaining hand toward Akira again.
Akira showed no sign of panic. His expression remained calm.
He pushed off the ground with both legs and launched himself upward.
Midair, he twisted his body, his left hand forming a claw. He grabbed Kenshiro's head and slammed it down toward the ground.
Boom!
The force drove Kenshiro's skull into the dirt, sending dust flying along with a miserable scream.
Akira landed smoothly nearby.
Standing there, he looked down at Kenshiro with indifference.
"You're too weak," he said slowly. "You're not even good enough for a warm-up."
Kenshiro's face flushed red with rage. He struggled to his feet, glaring at Akira with venom in his eyes.
Then he realized something.
The wounds he'd just suffered were healing at an astonishing speed.
Akira raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.
He had noticed Kenshiro earlier, but he hadn't expected him to possess a healing-type Bloodline Limit.
A sharp glint flickered in Akira's eyes.
If he could obtain that bloodline ability, his strength would become even more terrifying.
But he knew it was impossible.
From Kenshiro's eyes, he could feel nothing but deep hatred and hostility. Someone like that would never willingly give up their bloodline.
Akira shook his head slightly, sighing at the wasted opportunity.
"Die, brat!"
Kenshiro lunged again, clearly intending to drag Akira down with him.
But to Akira, the attack looked like a joke.
A mocking smile appeared on his lips as his figure flickered, effortlessly dodging the assault.
The next instant, he appeared behind Kenshiro.
Both hands formed eagle-like claws as he grabbed Kenshiro's shoulders and yanked hard.
Crack!
Kenshiro's shoulder bones snapped, and he cried out in agony.
Akira vanished again.
A heartbeat later he appeared in front of him.
Smack!
A loud slap struck Kenshiro across the face, twisting his entire head to the side.
"Ahhh!"
Blood sprayed from Kenshiro's mouth as he flew backward, crashing into a stone monument in the distance. The monument cracked apart, fragments scattering as dust filled the air.
Akira walked over slowly.
He looked down at Kenshiro, who lay on the ground clutching half his face.
His eyes were ice cold.
"Don't blame me," he said calmly. "You shouldn't have picked a fight with me."
He grabbed Kenshiro by the collar with one hand and lifted him into the air before slamming him back down.
"Cough—!"
Kenshiro struggled to raise his head, glaring at Akira with bitter hatred.
At this moment, his heart was filled with humiliation and regret. He never imagined Akira would be this terrifyingly strong. After just two exchanges, he was already completely defeated.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
He needed to escape.
Unfortunately for him, Akira had no intention of letting him go.
His gaze grew colder with every step he took forward, each footstep feeling like it was crushing down on Kenshiro's soul.
The pressure alone made Kenshiro almost unable to move.
In the next instant, Akira reached out and grabbed his throat, lifting him off the ground.
He bent slightly at the knees, chakra gathering in his right fist.
Then he drove a brutal punch into Kenshiro's abdomen.
Boom!
Kenshiro's entire body slammed into the ground beneath him.
Akira looked down at him coldly.
"You know," he said slowly, "the way you look right now is disgusting. You're no different from a trash can by the roadside."
Bang!
Another punch slammed into Kenshiro's stomach, nearly knocking him unconscious.
"Trash like you doesn't deserve to live. So just die quietly."
His voice was calm and flat as he prepared to end Kenshiro's life.
The next second, Akira stomped on Kenshiro's ankle, kicking him flying more than ten meters away.
Then he rushed forward again, both hands shooting toward Kenshiro's head.
Puchi—
Black lightning chakra wrapped around his fingertips as they pierced straight through Kenshiro's throat.
"Grrk…!"
Kenshiro's eyes bulged as he stared at Akira.
He never imagined he would die like this… at the hands of someone so much younger.
The thought filled him with bitter unwillingness as darkness closed in.
"..."
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