While my dogs were guiding me towards Orochimaru using his smell, we came at a problem.
"Kakashi, the smell is splitting into 9 different paths."
Pakkun informed me that Orochimaru has thrown us off with most likely his snakes.
Honestly, I would have turned my back here and called this mission a failure, if not for some of the ANBU being on the mission with me.
"I will take the right-most path."
So, we split up. And I decided to take the most smelly path. Since it's Orochimaru, he must have made it so that the path with his strongest smell is just some snake—
"Move!"
I shouted and jumped out of the way. But half of the ANBU with me weren't lucky and got hit by Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.
Though it's a C-rank ninjutsu, its power under Orochimaru is not less than A-rank.
Shit! Half of the allies got taken out of the fight!
"Kukuku! You have good instincts, Kakashi-kun."
!!!
As my gaze fell on Orochimaru behind a tree, I felt fear.
Fear of Death.
The fear of a prey in front of a predator.
I bit my tongue, forcibly calming myself down.
I put my kunais in front of me, ready for an incoming attack as raindrops started splashing.
Below!
I jumped up as a giant snake came from below, and slashed it with Shiden.
The rest of ANBU died.
Useless fodder!
Well, I can't really expect much from these Chunins and Special Jonins, but even Naruto performed better than them in the Forest of Death against Orochimaru.
"A new Jutsu huh? It's the first time I have seen purple lightning. How did you achieve it?"
Orochimaru casually asked me about Shiden, while the rain went from a drizzle to full blown downpour.
...I have to somehow survive this encounter.