After drinking his fill, Orochimaru was fished out by Miki.
He was completely drenched, his hair was plastered to his face, his makeup was smudged, and his golden snake eyes gazed up at the clear blue sky with a puzzled expression.
What happened?
"It was poison, just a little trick," Miki said, extending her hand as Parasitic Minute Bugss entered Orochimaru's body to detoxify him.
This was the result of her battle with Hanzo; not only did Miki crack Hanzo's effective paralyzing toxin, but she also obtained a sample.
It wasn't much, but it was usable.
In some ways, this poison wasn't strong; compared to some more lethal toxins, its lethality was insufficient.
Toxins are generally divided into two categories: protein toxins and non-protein toxins, including bacterial toxins, plant toxins, animal toxins, and fungal toxins.
Hanzo's poison was a protein, a venom produced in the venom glands of poisonous animals, released through spraying or injection.
Miki merely released it through Byromicrobes; it wasn't much, but it was enough to instantly incapacitate Orochimaru at close range.
Toxins, in this regard, actually have a lot of potential, but biological toxins targeting living organisms are actually difficult to effectively use against Chakra creatures, such as Tailed Beasts.
"Poison, huh…" After his body regained sensation, Orochimaru trembled as he got up and said, "I understand. Next time, it won't be so easy."
Snakes are also experts in using poison, with a wide variety, including neurotoxins, cytotoxins, hemotoxins, hemorrhagic toxins, cardiotoxins, myotoxins, or necrotoxins.
Most of them have strong lethality, and not only are their types complex, but they can also combine to enhance each other, forming even more complex and deadly toxins.
Such venomous small snakes are not uncommon in Ryūchi Cave; they are everywhere.
It's just that compared to powerful Earth Release and various giant pythons that appear more directly lethal, Orochimaru simply hadn't paid attention to these small snakes.
Now, he understood.
Big does not mean strong.
Especially for snakes.
Toxins are the real weapons.
Being so easily taken down by Miki made him realize this problem.
Since graduating from Sarutobi-sensei four years ago, Orochimaru had already mastered five-nature Earth Release.
That is, he had completed the nature transformation for all five elements.
In this regard, most Jonin only master one element they possess, and only consider training new elemental nature transformations to compensate for their own shortcomings.
By this time, most are already over twenty years old.
In the entire Konoha, let alone his peers, even among the Jonin, Orochimaru was the only one who had mastered five-nature transformations, and the same would be true for future young Shinobi.
Just this alone was enough to call him a true genius.
Currently, Orochimaru had mastered a large number of Earth Release, but mastering many Earth Release was useless; in actual use, he would only use one or two practical Earth Release.
In other words, he had nothing left to learn.
Orochimaru's current focus was on developing secret techniques that were more suited to himself, and Soft Physique Modification was born from this.
Many snake-related secret techniques had also been developed.
All based on the application of Summoning Technique.
Summoning giant snakes to face the enemy.
With the existence of Manda, Orochimaru naturally focused his attention on giant snakes.
Therefore, Orochimaru was quite confident in his current strength.
Tsunade from ten years ago could be easily defeated without pressure.
But now, he had been taught a lesson.
Being taken out in one encounter was a very heavy blow.
Coach, I want to learn how to use poison.
Orochimaru looked at Miki, his eyes flickering.
"What's wrong, interested in toxins?" Miki asked.
After a moment of silence, Orochimaru nodded.
"Toxins are also part of biological research," Miki said. "Speaking of which, I'm quite interested in snake venom too, but I just don't have that many types of venomous snake specimens."
As for poisons, Miki also had quite a few types: bee venom, scorpion venom, spider venom, etc.
The Oil Girl Clan itself also conducted research on this, but… *lick*
Moreover, these toxins are not as effective as Parasitic Minute Bugss for small-scale applications.
But a wide variety can also be used for medicinal purposes.
"I have them," Orochimaru said coldly. "There are plenty of snakes."
"I know," Miki said. "Once they're in my hands, these little snakes won't be safe. Is Ryūchi Cave okay with that?"
"There are plenty of snakes…" Orochimaru said coldly. "As long as I don't touch the big snakes, Ryūchi Cave doesn't care about the small ones."
"Not bad, huh…" Miki said casually. "I heard the Serpent Sage is very powerful. Have you met him?"
Orochimaru said coldly, "Very powerful."
"Have you learned Sage Mode?" Miki asked.
Hearing this, Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
"Have you?" Orochimaru retorted.
"No," Miki said bluntly.
Orochimaru didn't dare to believe her.
"What about you?" Miki asked.
"No," Orochimaru shook his head and said, "I can learn it, but I might die. The Serpent Sage told me that."
If he died, he would be swallowed whole by the Serpent Sage.
Every time he thought of it, Orochimaru's face would turn ugly.
Miki was the same; she could sense Natural Energy through the Slug, but she was afraid of dying.
So, she politely declined.
"I see…" Miki said. "Have you thought about killing the Serpent Sage and researching him?"
"Can… he be killed?" Orochimaru asked, puzzled.
"Can't… he?" Miki retorted.
"It seems…" Orochimaru hesitated for a moment and said, "he can…"
"Then that's that," Miki said.
Orochimaru was silent for a long time, then said, "Not now!!!"
"This is my Summoning Animal!!!"
Miki said, "I'm your boss."
Orochimaru looked at Miki, and after a long while, said with difficulty, "Let me do it myself!"
"Alright, I want this many." Miki held out her hand and gestured.
"That's too much…" Orochimaru was displeased, reaching out and gesturing, "I can only give you this much."
Orochimaru liked snakes, but not snakes that would give him attitude.
Miki looked at the stingy Orochimaru and said, "Fine, you stingy one."
The stingy one's face darkened.
"Follow me." Ignoring Orochimaru's dark face, Miki turned and left as she spoke.
"Wait." Orochimaru opened a medicine bottle and asked, "How do I take this?"
"Swallow it," Miki said without turning back. "Three times a day, one at a time."
A three-month supply.
Looking at the medicine bottle, Orochimaru grabbed one, hurriedly closed the lid, closed his eyes, put it in his mouth, and then swallowed it with difficulty.
It was too disgusting!!!
After eating, Orochimaru bent over, hands on his knees, and gagged for a while.
"Ugh—!!!"
After taking the medicine, Orochimaru finally felt at ease.
Looking at Miki's receding figure ahead, Orochimaru quickly caught up and walked beside Miki, shoulder to shoulder.
"Where are we going?"
As he spoke, Orochimaru unconsciously stuck out his long tongue.
This thing was long, and it felt uncomfortable stuck in his throat, like a glob of old phlegm.
He had to spit it out.
Miki glanced at Orochimaru and said with disgust, "How disgusting! Don't spit on the ground, thank you."
His fair, delicate face flushed crimson, his tongue retracted, and Orochimaru said in a low, angry voice with a cold face, "Where are we going!!!"
"You'll know if you follow me," Miki said.
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