To be honest, at this moment, Orochimaru truly had no confidence. It wasn't that he hadn't tried…
The method of his sudden attack just now, looking across the entire ninja world, probably no one could discover and block it so simply.
He could even counterattack… Luffy's displayed combat ability and his level of sensitivity truly shocked Orochimaru.
At the same time, the importance of Luffy, this "test subject," in Orochimaru's mind "soared" several notches, even surpassing Uchiha Sasuke.
If Orochimaru were to choose his most perfect vessel, Uchiha Sasuke would certainly be in the first place.
But now, it would have to be this outsider, Luffy.
"As long as I find this guy's weakness… control this outsider, the value of what I research from him… I can't even imagine it!!!"
Orochimaru fled, while conceiving a "beautiful future" in his mind.
"Hmph… how is this guy chasing so closely…?"
Sticking close behind him, and with the distance getting shorter and shorter, Luffy, seeing that he was about to catch up to Orochimaru, finally shattered the beautiful illusion in Orochimaru's mind.
"Hahaha! Gotcha!"
Luffy could now see Orochimaru not far ahead with his naked eyes.
And Orochimaru was still in that half-human, half-snake form, which allowed him to move even faster through the dense forest.
However, it seemed his current speed was still not fast enough.
"Gomu Gomu!"
He finished speaking, and the trees beside him were instantly shattered by Luffy's extended fist!
Orochimaru reacted quickly, dodging in the first instant. Then, he opened his large snake mouth and spewed out a flurry of countless shuriken!
Clink, clank! Unfortunately, such an attack couldn't cause any obvious damage to Luffy.
His fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, was basically immune to this kind of physical blade attack.
Luffy's original weakness fear of sharp objects which came with his Devil Fruit ability, was also nullified by the existence of Armament Haki.
Seeing that Luffy wouldn't be harmed by these common ninja harassment techniques.
Orochimaru grew even more interested in Luffy's body and the special power it contained!
However, it seemed that getting this vessel into his hands would indeed require some effort!
At least for now, it's best to escape first… Orochimaru was preparing to weave through the denser forest.
Around Konoha Village, there were dense, ancient forests, simply inexhaustible.
He wondered if this was related to the great battle between the First Hokage Hashirama Senju and the Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Madara, back then…
According to Orochimaru's plan, relying on his understanding of the environment around Konoha when Orochimaru hadn't yet betrayed Konoha, he had found many suitable places to establish his laboratories around Konoha.
It was just that before the laboratories could be properly established, Orochimaru's affairs in the East Window came to light, and he became a despised rogue ninja of Konoha.
Of course, now he no longer considered himself a Konoha ninja.
But he was still quite familiar with the village and its surrounding environment.
After all, no matter what, Konoha Village itself was Orochimaru's "hometown" where he grew up from childhood.
The scenes of him training ninjutsu in his youth, alongside the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, were still vivid in his mind at this moment.
Orochimaru was the kind of person whose personality would not be affected by past memories and emotions.
He always knew what kind of things should be done at what time, and he wouldn't easily give up on a goal and direction he had set for himself because of external obstacles.
It sounded like a righteous declaration, but this was precisely the unwavering creed that Orochimaru, this thoroughly evil man, always adhered to.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
In Orochimaru's direction of travel, several tightly packed walls of rock and earth suddenly appeared!
This was a basic Earth Release ninjutsu, almost every Jonin in Konoha Village knew how to use it.
Orochimaru stopped dead in his tracks. He naturally recognized the ninja who performed this jutsu as the once incredibly famous Konoha genius, who now still existed in the village as a sort of main pillar… Hatake Kakashi!
"Hmph!"
"Hmph!"
Asuma and Kurenai fell to Kakashi's left and right.
"Orochimaru! You actually still dare to show your face near the village!"
Asuma, among Konoha's Jonin, was also an excellent elite.
Although there were risks in dealing with Orochimaru, to ensure safety, the Old Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, still dispatched his own son.
"Asuma… Kakashi… and Kurenai, you've gathered here, do you intend to deal with me?"
Orochimaru's snake-like body flickered its tongue, actually standing upright like a human.
Then, his mouth opened wide, and two sticky, slimy arms extended from within.
Then it was his head, then his body… Orochimaru actually crawled directly out from this snake's body.
At this moment, he also clearly saw the current situation.
He was afraid that trying to leave safely now and avoid battle was probably impossible.
Whether it was Luffy pursuing from behind, or Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai in front, none of them were easy opponents.
"It seems my teacher has discovered me…"
Orochimaru sighed helplessly.
He naturally knew that although Kakashi and the other two now held considerable positions in Konoha, they couldn't yet obtain intelligence to this extent in the first instance.
Now, all three of them acting together clearly meant they had received orders from the Hokage.
"This teacher of mine never intends to let me go… Shouldn't he, as a teacher, be proud when his disciple becomes a success and achieves results?"
Kakashi and the other two did not have such gentle and accommodating personalities. They wouldn't bother with Orochimaru at this time.
Luffy was currently a guest of Konoha Village. Orochimaru ambushing Luffy was slapping Konoha's face!
Plus, this guy impersonated the Fourth Kazekage and deceived the Konoha villagers…
Even the Third Hokage had said before Kakashi and the others left.
Orochimaru's move likely still aimed to provoke a war between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, Konoha and Suna.
Compared to a complete, united ninja village, Orochimaru's power was still too weak.
So, creating chaos and obtaining what he wanted and benefits from that chaos was the choice Orochimaru made.
Theoretically speaking, this was the most secure choice for him at the moment.
Whether it was resolving Orochimaru, this traitor, or explaining to the Hidden Sand Village of the Land of Wind after capturing Orochimaru, these were unavoidable. Moreover, it was a battle Konoha had to win!
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