I Just Wanted to Slack Off, But I Was Forced to Become Hokage

Chapter 77: B-Rank Technique: [Longsword of the Sky]!

The Orochimaru with a small, round hole in his forehead turned into a pile of mud and scattered on the ground.

The next moment, another new Orochimaru emerged from another spot on the ground, completely unharmed.

"Was that attack method just now the secret technique that Nara-kun previously used to kill Shimura Shin?" Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, the light in his snake-like eyes growing even more intense.

The "long-range pellet attack" the other had just used instinctively reminded Orochimaru of the Hozuki clan's Hydrification secret technique from Kirigakure. To be precise, it was the derivative ninjutsu developed based on the Hozuki's Hydrification—the Water Gun Technique!

The difference was that the Hozuki clan's Water Gun Technique could only be used for attacking. But Nara Keisuke's "lacquer-black pellet" also had the control effect of the shadow secret techniques. Orochimaru had not yet perceived the subtle difference between the [Shadow Piercing Bullet] and the [Shadow Binding Bullet]. But even so, in his eyes, the "black pellet technique" that Keisuke had researched already surpassed the Hozuki clan's "Water Gun Technique" in comprehensive value!

What a genius secret-technique-type ninja!

Orochimaru finally understood why the Nara clan valued Nara Keisuke so highly, even going so far as to resist Root for him. If he were the head of the Nara clan, he would also protect this super genius in the same way.

Faced with Orochimaru's inquiry, Nara Keisuke responded very coolly, "No comment."

Screee—

With a sharp eagle's cry, a giant eagle composed of ink flew out from the forest. Its back carried both Nara Keisuke and Yakushi Nono'o, soaring high into the sky.

'The Super Beast Scroll also has a flight effect?'

Orochimaru looked up at the ink eagle in the sky, a feeling of surprise once again rising in his heart. 'Even Root didn't know about this...'

In the ninja world, the ability to fly could be described as an out-and-out "high-end ability," possessed by only a very small number of ninja. Mastering the ability to fly basically symbolized that the ninja held the absolute initiative in battle. Whether to fight or retreat was entirely up to their whim.

Nara Keisuke did indeed have the intention of calling a truce. He knew the shameless snake was hard to kill, but he hadn't expected him to be this hard to kill. Piercing his heart, blowing his head open—he could use all sorts of "body replacement techniques" to shrug off the damage. In comparison, old man Kakuzu, who died once for every heart pierced, was simply too honest...

Yakushi Nono'o controlled the ink eagle, circling and flying in the sky. Seeing this, Orochimaru also continuously moved on the ground, dodging the ink eagle's shadow. What he was wary of was not the eagle itself, but Nara Keisuke, who was merged with its shadow. While he was moving, Orochimaru was not only dodging Keisuke's shadow, but also his unpredictable "shadow bullets."

But after dodging for a long time, the other party still didn't attack, as if they were just toying with their prey. A feeling of annoyance also arose in Orochimaru's heart.

He suddenly stopped, summoned the Sword of Kusanagi, and once again used the long-range attack of extending the blade to strike. The streak of silvery-white silk once again cut across the sky. But Nono'o, who was already prepared, simply had the ink eagle flap its wings and dodge the sword's thrust.

The reason why a ninja's ability intelligence was so important was in large part because "the same ninjutsu cannot be used twice on the same ninja."

Staring intently at the ink eagle circling in the sky, Orochimaru unhappily retracted the Sword of Kusanagi, formed a hand seal, and submerged into the ground, his intention to avoid battle very clear.

"It seems the other party doesn't intend to continue fighting us..." Nara Keisuke activated his [Lacquer Eye] and looked down at the earth below, not finding any trace of spiritual energy flow. "In that case, let's go back to the Kikyo Orphanage too."

"Okay!" Nono'o controlled the ink eagle, continuously lowering its altitude until it landed on the ground.

The act of "repelling one of the legendary Sannin" did not bring much of an emotional impact to either Keisuke or Nono'o. Nono'o, who was quickly heading back towards Kikyo Castle, actually seemed rather worried.

"Keisuke, do you think Root will just stop their actions like this?"

"Root already has a rough idea of our strength. If Shimura Danzō wants to deal with us, he'll have to be willing to dispatch a Jonin squad. The current atmosphere and situation do not allow him to make such a big move," Keisuke said, comforting her. "Although I don't know how Danzō convinced Orochimaru, this Sannin should be the 'strongest trump card' he can play right now. I imagine that for a while, Root's small movements should completely cease."

Although he was comforting Nono'o, in his heart, Keisuke was calculating ways to deal with Danzō. As the saying goes, a thief can steal for a thousand days, but you can't guard against a thief for a thousand days. The problem was, Danzō wasn't an ordinary "petty thief," but a sinister and vicious "old thief." To deal with him, Keisuke had to plan for the long term.

'And in dealing with Danzō, I also have to consider Sarutobi Hiruzen standing behind him... the latter is the real big trouble!' Keisuke's thoughts churned. 'I should first use the [Shadow Transformation Technique] to find out Danzō's daily activity areas...'

Back at the Kikyo Orphanage.

Before the anxious Nono'o could arrange for people to go search for Oyakata En's whereabouts, the thin monk rushed over with a piece of good news—the fat nun, who had unexpectedly disappeared earlier, had returned to the orphanage on her own!

Nono'o let out a long sigh of relief. No matter what, it was good that she was back.

"Keisuke, you go rest for a while. I'll go check on the nun." Nono'o said to Keisuke, then hurriedly went to check on the fat nun's condition.

'The fat nun came back by herself? Was what happened earlier just a coincidence?' Nara Keisuke looked at Nono'o's back, his brow furrowed slightly. 'I somehow feel it's not that simple...'

Back in the small room.

Keisuke called up his panel and found the B-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll] he had just obtained. "I wonder what's recorded in Orochimaru's secret scroll... this shameless snake is an out-and-out 'master of forbidden jutsu'!"

With a thought, Keisuke opened the scroll.

[Opening...]

[Contents of this B-rank Shinobi Secret Scroll: Technique]

[B-rank Technique: Longsword of the Sky]

[Technique Description: Ride the sword on the wind, a dance of the deathly sword.]

[Technique Effect: Through simple use of the natural energy that fills the atmosphere, indirectly interfere with and control inorganic substances rich in one's own chakra, causing them to fly freely in the air.]

[Technique Evaluation: Sword Kinesis.]

'Natural energy? A senjutsu move!?' Looking at the technique information on the panel, Keisuke's eyes widened. 'Has Orochimaru really mastered senjutsu??'

On the other side.

Orochimaru's figure reappeared in the forest. He looked up at the sky, which was empty. "They really left? The ability to fly is really convenient..."

Orochimaru was not without countermeasures against a flying target. But if he really used those means, it would inevitably cause too much of a commotion and easily attract the attention of the ninja from Kikyo Castle. This did not align with his original plan.

His original plan was to test Keisuke's quality, minimize conflict with the Ino-Shika-Chō, and at the same time, get the corresponding "reward" from Root's Danzō. But the vigilance and comprehensive strength that Keisuke displayed were a bit too far beyond his expectations.

"Nara-kun, I'm really getting more and more curious about you..."

Taking a scroll from his ninja tool pouch, Orochimaru wrote furiously on it. After he finished, he put his thumb in his mouth, lightly bit the tip of his finger, and performed a summoning jutsu, calling over a small snake. "Go find Tsunade's location, and give this scroll to her..."

Poof!

The small snake took the scroll in its mouth. With a puff of smoke, its figure disappeared. The next moment, Orochimaru also vanished.

After some travel, Orochimaru returned to the village from outside Kikyo Castle and arrived in a dark area, which was the Root base.

"You're back?" Shimura Danzō, having received his subordinate's report, rushed over immediately. He sized up the empty-handed, alone Orochimaru and questioned him coldly, "Why did you come back alone? Is the mission complete?"

"I am not your subordinate, Elder Shimura. Do not speak to me in that tone." Orochimaru lightly licked the corner of his mouth. "Right now, we are only in an equal trading relationship..."

A cold light flashed in Danzō's eyes, but knowing the man's strength and methods, he forcibly suppressed his displeasure. "Since it's a trade, then where is the 'goods' you've brought back?"

"Goods?" Orochimaru's mouth curled. "What was the content of our trade back then? You offered 'that item' as payment for me to test the quality of Yakushi Nono'o and Nara Keisuke. If the opportunity arose, to secretly eliminate the former and bring the latter back to Root. But it's a pity, their skill levels were a bit beyond my expectations."

Danzō's voice was filled with sarcasm. "One of the esteemed Sannin can't even handle one big and one small?"

"There was a problem with your intelligence, Elder Shimura," Orochimaru said coolly. "Nara Keisuke is not just involved with the Nara clan, but also with Tsunade. Before you sent me into action, you never said that he was Tsunade's subordinate!"

Danzō was stunned. "How is that possible..."

"What's there to hide about something like this?" Orochimaru's vertical pupils stared faintly at Danzō. "Elder Shimura, shouldn't you be settling the 'payment' now? The cells of the God of Shinobi!"

(Author's Note:)

Let's talk about the [Longsword of the Sky]. The precise name is [Sword of Kusanagi: Longsword of the Sky]. It appears at the end of chapter 123. Orochimaru remotely controls the [Sword of Kusanagi] to pierce Sarutobi Hiruzen's body from behind. In the "Tō no Sho" (Book of Fighting) description, this is a B-rank, mid-to-close range attack ninjutsu, meaning its usage is limited to within 10 meters. The specific principle isn't mentioned, only that it's a technique unique to Orochimaru. When Kishimoto draws manga, some ninjutsu might just be thought up on the spot. The most typical example is Uchiha Itachi, who always has a trump card... But considering the rationality of fanfiction creation, I have to fill in the gaps of the original work myself. For example, the [Longsword of the Sky]. Although in the databooks Orochimaru is described as an "all-nature ninja," he shouldn't be a "Magnet Release ninja"... So the inference of controlling the [Sword of Kusanagi] through "Magnet Release" to achieve a kinesis-like effect is ruled out first. Also, I looked through Orochimaru's personal abilities, including Kabuto's. I found a ninjutsu that seems to have some connection to the [Longsword of the Sky]... hmm, that would be [Sage Art: Inorganic Reanimation]! The so-called [Inorganic Reanimation] is a senjutsu that controls inorganic matter through natural energy. Also, in manga chapter 297, when Orochimaru fought Sai, he also transformed the Sword of Kusanagi into a snake, controlling it to crawl back to him... Referring to the above two pieces of information, I have regarded the [Longsword of the Sky] as a technique that simply manipulates natural energy. Although this implies that Orochimaru knows senjutsu... this is a secondary setting.

(End of Chapter)

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