Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 302: The Oriole

Midnight, the Hokage’s office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the scroll handed to him by Homura Mitokado.

It recorded the locations of several of Orochimaru’s secret bases, along with fragments of some experimental records. These explicitly mentioned using "live subjects" for research.

Although key data was missing, the implications were clear enough.

"Bang!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his fist on the desk, his eyes filled with pain and anger.

"That wretched disciple... how could he... how could he use his comrades’ bodies..."

Homura Mitokado sighed.

"Hiruzen, now is not the time for anger. We must immediately restrain Orochimaru to prevent him from destroying more evidence or... committing more extreme acts."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"I will go myself!"

...

Deep within the Forest of Death, one of Orochimaru’s hidden bases.

Orochimaru was quickly stuffing several scrolls into his robes. His golden serpentine eyes flickered with cold resolve.

He knew the situation was exposed. Konoha no longer had a place for him.

"Orochimaru!"

A shout filled with heartache and fury rang out at the cave entrance.

Orochimaru’s movements halted. He looked at the figure appearing at the entrance, clad in the white Hokage robe. It was Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Oh my, Sensei Sarutobi. What brings you here so late?"

"Are these... true?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen threw the scroll at Orochimaru’s feet. "You used Konoha ninja... for experiments?!"

Orochimaru glanced at the scroll and sneered.

"Sensei Sarutobi, you are still so naive. What are necessary sacrifices in the pursuit of ninjutsu’s truth?"

"You have sat in the Hokage’s seat for too long. Your eyes have long been blinded by false light. You cannot see the truth hidden in the shadows!"

"Absurd!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was furious. "The dignity of life cannot be trampled! That is the foundation of the Will of Fire! Orochimaru, it is not too late to turn back now! Hand over all research materials and accept the village’s judgment!"

"Turn back? Judgment?"

Orochimaru laughed as if he had heard something hilarious. "Hehehe... Hahaha! Sensei, you have grown old and confused. My path cannot be judged by anyone!"

Before his words faded, Orochimaru’s hands swiftly formed seals!

"Wind Style, Great Breakthrough!"

A violent whirlwind swept towards Sarutobi Hiruzen!

"Stubborn fool!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed. He also quickly formed seals. "Earth Style, Earth-Style Wall!"

Boom!

A solid earthen wall erupted from the ground, blocking the wind jutsu.

The battle erupted instantly!

Master and student clashed fiercely within the narrow cave, the sounds of booming explosions unceasing.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wielded fire and earth styles with ease, combined with the fierce attacks of his Adamantine Staff, forcing Orochimaru into a rather disheveled state.

Although Orochimaru’s methods were bizarre, with serpentine jutsu and forbidden techniques emerging endlessly, he was still at a disadvantage against his teacher going all out.

’Indeed... Sensei may be old, but his strength is still not to be underestimated.’

Orochimaru thought to himself, his resolve to leave growing even stronger.

Staying here would only mean restraint, unable to pursue infinite truth.

The battle continued for a while. Orochimaru found an opening, deliberately taking a staff strike from Sarutobi Hiruzen to use the force to fly backwards.

He took a deep look at Sarutobi Hiruzen, whose eyes were complex but who ultimately did not deliver a killing blow. Orochimaru sneered, transforming into countless small snakes that melted into the ground’s shadows and disappeared.

Sarutobi Hiruzen held his Adamantine Staff, looking at the empty cave entrance and the small bloodstain on the ground. Finally, he sighed dejectedly and did not pursue.

He, in the end, had been too soft-hearted.

...

At the border of the Land of Fire, in a desolate valley.

Orochimaru wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes sinister.

"Hmph, Sensei Sarutobi... You have indeed grown old, indecisive, and soft-hearted to a fault!"

He cursed under his breath, then thought of those who had precisely leaked his information. A strong killing intent flashed in his eyes.

"Damnable fellow... Don’t let me find out who you are..."

Just then, an extremely intense sense of crisis suddenly descended!

Orochimaru looked up sharply!

In the night sky, a figure wreathed in blue lightning plummeted down!

"Boom!"

The ground was smashed into a large crater, dust billowing.

Sora slowly stood up from the crater. His cold, cyan-gold slit pupils locked onto Orochimaru.

At the same time, purple light shone from four directions. Four of Sora’s shadow clones each occupied a corner, their hands forming seals!

"Four Violet Flames Formation!"

Hum!

A purple, transparent barrier, far more solid and covering a larger area than the one used by the Sound Four in the original, instantly rose up, enveloping the entire valley!

"!!"

Orochimaru’s pupils constricted sharply.

The strength of this Four Violet Flames Formation far exceeded his expectations!

The chakra aura of each shadow clone was extremely dense, clearly indicating astonishing chakra volume and control. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Sora-kun..."

Orochimaru regained his composure, his golden serpentine eyes fixed intently on Sora. "So you are finally making your move against me?"

Sora wasted no words, directly extending his hand. "Hand over the ’Living Corpse Reincarnation’ technique."

A flash of understanding passed through Orochimaru’s eyes, followed by a smile.

"Hehe... I see. The destruction of my several laboratories some time ago by an unknown force was also your doing, Sora-kun?"

"Yes."

Sora admitted frankly. "That time in the Land of Lightning, because you leaked information, I was besieged by the Third Raikage, the A-B Combo, and ten jonin. This Living Corpse Reincarnation will be your compensation to me."

Orochimaru’s smile widened, filled with intense curiosity.

"I have always wanted to know, Sora-kun, how exactly did you escape from such a desperate situation back then? Even the Flying Thunder God Technique would be difficult to use under that kind of encirclement and interference."

"Could it be you already possessed such strength back then? Then what is your true level of strength now?"

Sora looked at Orochimaru’s probing gaze. He knew that without demonstrating sufficient strength, this cunning snake would not yield easily.

He said no more.

Hum!

A violent aura erupted towards the sky!

Partial Beast Transformation, Gate of View, perfected Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Three states stacked!

At this moment, Sora’s aura was so terrifying it made Orochimaru, trapped within the Four Violet Flames Formation, feel suffocating pressure!

"You want to know how I left?"

"Today, I can let you personally experience that power."

The smile vanished from Orochimaru’s face, replaced by unprecedented seriousness.

He could feel that Sora now was far more fearsome than the strength he had displayed on the Iwagakure battlefield!

At this state, his speed likely could indeed rival or even surpass Namikaze Minato’s Flying Thunder God!

As for his power, having personally witnessed Sora clash with the Third Raikage, that spoke for itself!

"Sora-kun, even if your strength is great, you should know what ’Living Corpse Reincarnation’ means."

Orochimaru forced himself to remain calm. "You cannot kill me."

"Cannot kill?" Sora sneered, his mind moving.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter!"

Several chains of light, shimmering with golden runes, instantly shot out from behind him. They radiated a powerful aura capable of sealing everything!

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