It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

Orochimaru knew this well.

Although his Orochi-style Substitution Technique was enough to evade most attacks in the ninja world—and even after being hit, he could shake off the damage—there was one fatal flaw.

Because the "substitute" and the "main body" overlapped in position, the substitution technique could not evade the Shadow Binding Technique's control.

So, after performing the substitution, Orochimaru continued his assault.

Hidden Shadow Multi-Snake Hand!

The translucent mucus coating his new body hadn't yet dried, but Orochimaru immediately summoned a large swarm of thick snakes through his right hand.

Under his will, these snakes piled up, overlapping their shadows, forming a massive shadowy area suspended in the air.

The Shadow Binding Technique could extend its reach via other black shadows, but it could neither interfere with nor control shadows cast by different objects.

When multiple shadows overlapped, the technique's precision and timing were greatly disturbed—after all, reshaping one's own shadow or accurately detecting the enemy's shadow requires a certain amount of time.

The moment the massive snake-shadow was formed, Orochimaru seized the fleeting opportunity—his Shadow Binding connection weakened and disconnected—and instantly vanished from his original spot using the Body Flicker Technique.

The "new Orochimaru" moved swiftly away.

Meanwhile, the "old Orochimaru" standing in place shriveled like a deflated doll, collapsing limply to the ground—a "snake slough" without a breath of life.

This strange and terrifying scene was reminiscent of the mythical snake demon shedding its skin.

At that moment, the tiny black scorpions—after a long journey—finally crawled onto the lifeless "snake skin," stabbing their needle-like tails fiercely into it.

Poof!

The scorpions' venomous tail hooks pierced the body defenses perfectly, releasing drops of black ink that seeped into the "snake skin."

Eventually, the scorpions even flowed themselves into the skin's substance.

A rich, enchanting purple spread rapidly from the sting points across the "snake skin."

Thin streams of smoke rose from its surface.

Wounds festered and expanded.

After a while, the "snake skin" completely melted, leaving only a pool of fishy-smelling, mixed liquid.

As a medical ninja and elite Root spy, Yakushi Nono's front-line combat ability was limited.

But in assassination, sneak attacks, poisoning, and support, she excelled.

"The ink scorpions filled with poison—worthy of a Root ninja's style."

Orochimaru glanced nervously at the venom pool.

Had he been stung, he would have met a grim fate.

Now free from the Shadow Binding Technique's control, Orochimaru decisively summoned back the floating Kusanagi sword and gripped it tightly.

He still had no visual on Yakushi Nono—only Nara Shikadan.

Due to the Nara clan's shadow secret technique, he couldn't initiate close combat.

After pondering, Orochimaru poured a massive amount of chakra into the Kusanagi sword.

Shine—

The sword's silver-white blade stretched instantly, shooting across the air like a streak of lightning, aiming straight at Shikadan.

The attack speed was so fast Shikadan couldn't react.

The sword pierced cleanly through him.

Orochimaru licked his lips.

Though the Kusanagi sword was razor sharp, it never caused lag when piercing a body.

That flowing sensation when cutting through air told Orochimaru his strike had failed—

No!

His pupils contracted sharply as he noticed the "Nara Shikadan" pierced by the sword was a ball of ink flowing back to where it had originally stood.

And behind that ink ball was a slender, long shadow line still connected.

"It's still the Shadow Binding Technique!"

A flash of insight hit Orochimaru.

He dropped the sword without hesitation.

"This kid wants to use the Kusanagi sword's reflection to reconnect my shadow!"

Shikadan emerged from another part of the forest.

His tentacle-like shadow pulled the now-shrunk sword back to his hand.

A panel message popped up:

[A-level ninja tool [Kusanagi sword] detected!]

I accidentally picked up an A-level—

Before Shikadan could tighten his grip, an inexplicable force seized the sword and made it vanish.

Spirit summoning technique?

Shikadan clapped his palms a few times and eyed Orochimaru warily.

"What a clever tactical strategy, Nara-kun."

Orochimaru's forked tongue flicked over the recalled blade as he said hoarsely,

"I finally understand why Minato summoned the toad from Myoboku Mountain during your sparring match…"

To counter the Nara clan's shadow secrets, a massive summoning beast is indeed effective.

Orochimaru had a contract with a giant python from Ryuchi Cave and could summon it to fight.

However…

Summoning ten thousand snakes just to teach a child a lesson…

Orochimaru felt like he'd taken a serious loss.

Also, the kid has used shadow clones twice so far. Is this the real body or a clone? If a clone, how much chakra is left?

"It seems the Root really gave you plenty of intel."

Shikadan was unsurprised Orochimaru knew his records and cared little.

Most of Root's information was surface-level "results."

They had no clue about the actual "moves" Shikadan used.

Nor did they know that his trump cards were still evolving.

"Heh…"

Orochimaru chuckled meaningfully.

"The information I have isn't limited to that. For example, the bullet-like Yintun Ninjutsu you used against Shimura Arata…"

[Shadow Piercing Bullet] had been exposed?

Shikadan's expression remained neutral, but he pondered the reason.

Shimura Arata… Danzo must have recovered his body and extracted ninjutsu traces.

Previously, the clan elder never revealed Arata's whereabouts—only that Yamanaka Hayashi had returned home.

But if the Yamazaki ninja returned to the Yamanaka clan, the Shimura ninja's corpse would naturally return to the Shimura clan.

Shikadan wasn't worried his combat techniques were leaked.

Since [Shadow Piercing Bullet] is out, let's just make it part of the routine skills...

While Shikadan was thinking, Orochimaru prepared another display of "snake-spitting."

Ten Thousand Snakes Formation!

Orochimaru crawled on the ground, and waves of pythons poured endlessly from his mouth, flooding every inch of ground.

Summoning ten thousand snakes was inefficient, but Orochimaru hoped to overwhelm Shikadan's shadow technique.

Just as he summoned snake after snake—

A spiral black bullet shot from behind him.

[Spiral Shadow Binding Bullet]!

Hearing the strange sound, Orochimaru tried to stop the formation and dodge.

But the attack was too fast.

Caught off guard, Orochimaru was struck by shadow and seized again.

"What? I'm fine… No! I'm controlled again!"

Orochimaru's surprise was brief.

Shikadan's next attack was already incoming.

[Spiral Shadow Piercing Bullet]!

Two black shadow bullets struck Orochimaru's heart and right chest.

Enchanting blood-red flowers bloomed on his green jonin vest.

Shikadan, hidden in the back, watched as the bullets pierced Orochimaru's vital points.

A normal ninja would've died instantly.

Before Shikadan could fire a third bullet to the head—

Orochimaru, crawling on the ground, opened his mouth and performed the iconic Orochi Style Substitution Technique.

A fresh Orochimaru emerged, fully healed.

Shikadan launched a final [Shadow Piercing Bullet].

But Orochimaru's substitute dodged it easily.

"…"

The lazy snake was just too hard to kill.

Shikadan stopped his attack, frustrated.

He had killed—but not completely.

Judging by this, the mission against Orochimaru might drag on…

As expected, we should speed through the mission!

[You speed through [A-level mission: Orochimaru]! ]

[You obtain a B-level [Ninja Secret Scroll]! ]

-End Chapter-

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