Chapter 142 – You're Orochimaru?
The sudden achievement was an unexpected windfall for Naruto.
He hadn't imagined it would trigger at all.
So the draw was basically free.
Naruto rubbed his hands together and activated the system.
[Drawing card… Congratulations, host, you have received one item card.]
Whoa—gold legendary.
Naruto flashed a satisfied grin and flipped the card.
[item card: Copy Card]
[Description: One-time use. After activation, duplicates one Ninjutsu the target possesses. Five attempts remaining.]
[Note: The stronger the Ninjutsu, the higher the chance of failure.]
[Note: If all five attempts fail, the card vanishes. If two or more succeed, the host may keep one Ninjutsu of choice.]
[Note: Bloodline-bound Ninjutsu cannot be copied.]
Three warnings—rare to see.
But shouldn't this thing be called the Hatake Fifty-Fifty Card?
Naruto chuckled, studying the system's notes, speculation flickering in his eyes.
So Bloodline Limits, Bloodline Expansions, and Bloodline Networks are off-limits?
No, that's not it.
It means Byakugan, Sharingan, and the like can't be copied, but Dust Release, Magnet Release—learnable Bloodline Limits—are fair game.
After all, the former need specific organs and are innate to the blood; the latter don't.
If that's the case, this Copy Card isn't bad.
Five tries is plenty.
Only question is: which five Ninjutsu to test?
Rinnegan and company are out, obviously.
Among the rest, the interesting ones are Living Corpse Reincarnation, Edo Tensei, Eight Branches, Eight Gates, Dust Release, Wood Release, and so on.
Naruto glanced back—quite a few of Orochimaru's techniques on the list.
He was leaning toward Living Corpse Reincarnation and Dust Release: Detachment.
Actually, he wanted Wood Release more.
But Obito obviously doesn't know True Several Thousand Hands or Summit Transformation Buddha.
Unless they wait for Uchiha Madara to be revived.
He wondered if an Edo Tensei body could even be copied.
As for other Wood Release jutsu—pretty boring.
He could just toss a few Great Ball Rasengan and get the same blast.
Living Corpse Reincarnation—immortality, flawed but worth learning first.
Dust Release: Detachment, on the other hand, packs serious power.
After the four finished eating, they pressed on.
An hour passed.
'That island is Ghost Realm Island.'
Isaribi pointed at the distant land. 'There aren't many Ninja—just a handful. The strongest should be Lord Tenchi. Like me, he's been modified, only more thoroughly.'
Since she'd already sold them out, she felt no guilt and spilled everything.
'Any outsiders arrive recently?' Jiraiya asked.
'Outsiders?' Isaribi pondered. 'The day before yesterday I saw an unfamiliar teen with Lord Tenchi.'
'Might be Orochimaru.' Jiraiya perked up.
He'd chased Orochamru for years without ever catching him.
Even during Konoha's collapse, he'd been busy rescuing others and arrived too late.
Naruto found it odd.
He knew Orochimaru wasn't in a teen's body right now.
Could it be Yakushi Kabuto?
'Isaribi and Yui stay on the boat. I'll signal when it's safe.'
Naruto decided after a moment.
Isaribi clearly didn't dare go closer.
En Yui was too weak—collateral damage would be trouble—so the two would keep each other company.
He and Jiraiya flickered across the water, landing on Ghost Realm Island.
Excited at the prospect of meeting Orochimaru, Jiraiya charged ahead.
Their presence was soon noticed.
Jiraiya dealt with the scouts.
'Who are you people?'
A green-haired man in a white lab coat appeared—Tenchi.
'Where's Orochimaru?'
Jiraiya cut straight to the chase.
'You want Lord Orochimaru?'
Tenchi blinked, then sneered. 'Not every stray cat or dog gets to see him.'
Jiraiya glanced around—no tools handy.
'Hitting you would dirty my hand.'
He sprang like a tiger, one punch flooring Tenchi.
Tenchi was dazed; seconds later his body convulsed, morphing into a green-skinned monster.
Naruto shook his head.
Truly ugly.
Another guy trading looks for power.
But he was no match for Ido.
He'd merely upgraded from punching bag to sturdier punching bag.
Jiraiya pinned his head, eyes fierce, fist after fist.
After seeing the lab's specimens, he was already furious.
Now this clown was blocking his hunt for Orochimaru.
Naruto couldn't watch.
The scene was straight out of a horror flick.
He opened Kagura Minds Eye—and blinked.
Not because he failed to find Orochimaru, but because there was an extra presence: Sasuke.
Why's that guy here?
'Enough, Pervy Sage.'
Naruto stopped the beating. 'Keep going and you'll kill him.'
'What'd you call me?'
Jiraiya backed off, annoyed. 'It's "teacher."'
'Well, well, Jiraiya—what a rare guest.'
A voice rang out.
Jiraiya turned instinctively and saw a loli-version Orochimaru.
'You're… uh…'
He shook the blood off his hand, thinking hard. 'One of Tsunade's patients, right?'
Naruto glanced past Orochimaru at Sasuke.
He used the Transformation Jutsu.
But, as always, he was cold to the bone.
It was as though the Uchiha flair for showmanship had been carved into his very soul.
Even with a different face, you could still recognize him.
'Still as stupid as ever,' Orochimaru sneered.
What the heck?
Jiraiya scratched his head.
This pretty little loli seemed to have a huge misunderstanding about him.
Just moments ago she'd been quite enthusiastic.
And that line sounded oddly familiar.
Naruto sighed.
What was this supposed to mean?
Did a man's IQ really drop in front of the woman he liked?
'What are you doing here?'
Jiraiya sensed something was off, yet he couldn't bring himself to suspect Orochimaru.
Orochimaru casually pointed at Tenchi. 'This guy's still useful to me—hand him over.'
'No.'
Jiraiya shook his head. 'His experiments are too cruel; I can't let him live.'
'Hmph—naive.'
Orochimaru recalled the time he'd urged him to turn back.
Back when he'd first defected, Jiraiya had once caught up to him.
And then came the lecture.
'After all these years, you still haven't understood.'
Orochimaru glanced at Naruto. 'Xu Qing—he's yours.'
Crap!
Naruto, who'd been watching the show, nearly spat blood.
What kind of lousy name was that?!
Xu Qing?
Kid brother to Xu Xian?
Jiraiya was a bit lost.
But the next instant he understood why.
From Orochimaru's sleeve shot several vipers.
'Hidden Shadow Snake Hands?!'
Jiraiya blurted.
He knew his old partner's techniques all too well.
'Who are you to Orochimaru?'
Jiraiya filled his mouth with Chakra-infused oil and spewed it out; flames roared to life.
The vipers shrieked as they met the fire.
Orochimaru didn't care; the mockery in his eyes only deepened.
He bit his thumb; a trickle of blood appeared, and a swarm of serpents burst from the ground.
'Myriad Snake Net Array?!'
Jiraiya exclaimed again.
This technique was far harder than Hidden Shadow Snake Hands—even Anko hadn't mastered it.
His expression turned serious.
His hands formed seals in rapid succession.
Wild Lion's Mane Technique!
His hair thickened, lengthened, and filled the entire corridor.
Sasuke instantly leapt back.
With his eyes he asked Naruto: Now what?
Whatever—let's wing it.
Naruto shrugged.
No point in the two of them fighting.
Sasuke frowned and shot back a look: Want to put on an act?
Naruto shook his head.
He saw no need.
Orochimaru already knew who he was.
And your acting is hopeless—you'd be found out in a second.
His own identity didn't matter, but Sasuke's disguise couldn't be exposed to Jiraiya.
Otherwise, unnecessary trouble would follow.
Might as well sit back and keep watching.
Jiraiya's hair surged into the vipers, slicing them into pieces.
Blood and flesh flew everywhere.
Yet the snakes seemed endless.
Jiraiya formed seals again and spat a flood of toad oil.
The sticky oil slowed the serpents.
Orochimaru withdrew in time and avoided getting splashed.
The next moment, flames soared sky-high.
Combined with the toad oil, the blaze was far fiercer than before.
Even the tunnel's ceiling cracked from the heat.
The underground lab began to collapse.
Naruto grabbed Tenchi, leapt to the surface, and tossed him aside.
The other three followed, landing nearby.
Sasuke landed beside him, arms folded, watching the fight between Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
Both were seasoned veterans.
To him, it was highly instructive.
Even Jiraiya wasn't so dense as to miss the anomaly.
If this little loli was Orochimaru's pupil, how could she match him blow for blow?
Did everyone think they were Naruto?
What about the dignity of one of the Legendary Sannin?
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed; he leaned back and exhaled a sea of fire.
Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!
The air shimmered from the intense heat.
To probe her identity, Jiraiya was going all-out.
Orochimaru sensed a hint of danger.
He curled his lip.
Jiraiya might be foolish, but his strength couldn't be underestimated.
With a soft grunt, two small hands formed seals.
Before the flames arrived, three massive gates crashed down from above.
Each gate was carved with demons.
The flames vanished on the spot, extinguished before their eyes.
'Triple Rashomon.'
Jiraiya froze.
This was the First Hokage Senju Hashirama's ultimate defense—five gates in its full form—an almost impregnable jutsu.
Its only drawback was the colossal, inhuman amount of Chakra it demanded.
Most Ninja weren't even qualified to learn it.
As far as he knew, only one person in Konoha could summon three gates at once.
Orochimaru!
Jiraiya clenched his fists, staring at the little loli, unable to connect her with the Orochimaru he knew.
He couldn't help but ask, 'Are you Orochimaru?'
Seven thousand words across two chapters—yesterday was too hectic, so consider this only one update repaid. Subscriptions rose by another hundred, so I'll add one more. Still owe two chapters.