bookpower Chapter 194: The Sannin Skirmish (8)
Chapter 194: The Sannin Skirmish (8)
Chapter 194: The Sannin Skirmish (8)
'What is this? Some kind of Shinobi Face-off?' Jiraiya shakes his head. This feels a little off. The situation, that is. And by that, he did not mean their objective being exposed but rather Su's demand.
Still keeping his hands clasped together, Jiraiya leans forward and whispers, "What the hell, Orochimaru? Did you tell him this is no picnic?"
Not making the mistake of turning back and addressing Jiraiya, leaving herself open to a Jinchuriki whose information is known little, Orochimaru keeps her silence and chooses to observe their surroundings.
They are in a spacious ground far from Taki. This is the location Su settled in. While Su led them here, Orochimaru and Jiraiya did consider escaping and backing Tsunade up but this bare minimum of intent was met by a derisive smirk from Su whose smile didn't quite reach his peculiar pupilless orange eyes.
"Please, don't look at me like that," Su sighs with a smile, "This area is quite distant and if I lose control of myself, I spare Taki from any damage."
'Or... this area might as well have a trap set for us,' Orochimaru doesn't lose her caution. There is no way her accumulated experience NOT come to this conclusion. And what if Su maintains his disarming smile? Danger often lay in the shallowest and calmest depths of the Shinobi world.
"Oh, another thing," Su adds with a rather eccentric motivation, "Fatal 'wounds' for a Jinchuriki are quite different, that much you should be aware so do not feel that your mission is fulfilled just because you got in a fatal stab or something. My organs are subject to regeneration."
This earns him even more stern gazes from Jiraiya and Orochimaru. They could not understand Su's 'game.' And this is why a STRONG eccentric individual is rather feared in their 'academic' community. It is simply hard to get a read on them. That is why Orochimaru is much more willing to crush the opponent with their strongest might... known to the public.
That would be Jiraiya's Sage Mode.
Of course, Sage Mode itself is not well-known. The only one who survived Jiraiya's pathetic attempt at Senjutsu before this was Hanzo and as stated a Pathetic Attempt. Those that are aware of the true might of Sage Mode fear Jiraiya's potential and nothing more.
With a sing-songy chime, Su claps his hands, "Right! Deals have been made, warnings have been issued, and consequences are set. Shall we get to it, gentlemen? Or do you wish to prepare... whatever it is you're preparing?"
Jiraiya bites back his groan as he feels a chill creep up his spine the moment Su lay his gaze upon him. Fighting the urge to give into his more primal and base fears and let them dispute his mind to gather Nature energy and mold it within his chakra to birth Senjutsu Chakra, he grows more cautious, too.
This feeling... is more than just his experience warning him. Until now, Su has been controlling everything. From their pace of conversation to choosing the location of their battle Su has only revealed a level of respectable calm.
"He isn't done," Orochimaru narrows her eyes shamelessly, "And if you're giving us time, why not? May as well take this few moments to explain your kindness or is that rooted in your confidence of killing us despite whatever we may throw against you?"
Clicking his tongue, Su waggles his index finger sideways, "Tututu, that is not confidence. I have merely lived a life where enemies and allies... well, have the same outlook about me. You see, I am better off dead, something my dear Friend would agree, too. But I... have a knack for life."
Adopting a grandiose pose with his arms spread wide open as if he did not fear kuna stabbing into him, Su chuckles, "I live to see tomorrow. Tomorrow will be better, I am sure."
'A fucking nutjob!' Jiraiya characterizes Su astutely as he feels the mold of Senjutsu Chakra slowly morphing his reserves. He is almost there. Maybe Orochimaru can sense it as she leads the conversation and delays for as much time as possible.
"Tomorrow? A grand philosophy or ideal, I assume. Jinchurikis are known to adopt larger-than-life personalities be they good for the village or bad."
"It is a philosophy indeed," Su smiles, "What has occurred cannot be changed. What is occurring is affected by the past. But tomorrow... What will occur tomorrow is always a mystery. A brighter hope lies in the future," Su smiles appreciatively, "That is why I like tomorrow. I can hope for many things... tomorrow."
Feeling Senjutsu Chakra course through his veins, Jiraiya feels his senses expand. His pitch-black pupils expand and adopt yellow irides with long horizontal pupils like a toad. His sharp nose bulges and forms tiny warts on them. And the two streams of blood-red tears etched under his eyes expand in a rather telling sign.
Sage Mode.
"Tomorrow... that's not half bad," Jiraiya affirms with a low grunt before tapping Orochimaru's back thrice.
A sign of a trap at 3 o'clock.
Jiraiya's figure, meanwhile, flickers at a speed that would leave most gaping as he appears behind Su with a kunai... easily piercing through his stomach.
Not even coughing blood, Su smiles, "Actually, I lied. You'll have trouble fatally wounding me."
But showing the unknown capabilities of his Sage Mode, Jiraiya smiles, "I know. I sense it."
*Srrt*
'So, genjutsu doesn't work either... and that wind nature jutsu...' her body falls to the ground with a light thump. The light in her eyes slowly fades away.
The puppet reverts to the humanoid shape and sits on a branch.
Time passes but not quietly. It is obvious that the paper bomb did not work on Su.
But at the puppet's side... things are calm if one ignores the wave of flames that threaten to spread out significantly enough.
*Twitch*
Orochimaru's lips twitch for a second. Her skin and clothes, or at least, what is left of them visibly start to turn... flaky? Thin. Removable, even.
'I need to work on my substitution Jutsu slightly more to increase its time... Its ability to catch isolated opponents off guard and give them a sense of victory is unmatched even.'
Her thoughts have some merit. For all intents and purposes, the puppet does not take note of her.
*Ugghaaaaahhh*
With a rather wet and nauseating sound, Orochimaru's 'corpse' stretches her lips exponentially wide as another Orochimaru fully drenched in viscous liquid zooms out. Before the puppet even has a chance of assessing her threat, she blitzes forward with her lower body mimicking a white snake!
*Swish*
'Most naturally, if a 'puppet' cannot be dealt with physically or through intangible means then the next simplest and most efficient option is...'
A familiar scroll slips into her hand from the pouch around her hip that she waves in front of the puppet as the scroll unfurls due to her action.
With her dried blood already decorating the seal matrix one of the more obvious choices of preparation by any shinobi she seals the puppet with an animated 'poofing' sound engaging her surrounding.
'I need to commission HIM for more such sealing scrolls... but these are quite expensive and dearie poor old me can either support my research, my soon-to-be adopted 'son' or these lavish items...' It's hard to not let her thoughts wander when her body is put through such excitement. Her battle may seem simple... but as she 'showed.' An ordinary Shinobi would be dead by now.
Swiping back her drenched hair, Orochimaru flicks her tongue, 'When money falls short, a desperate woman can only come up with one simple arrangement, no?'
She visibly exerts herself and suppresses her desires before gazing at the burning wood and then at the region where Jiraiya is battling Su.
'His Sage Mode won't last long... but this puppet itself was far more dangerous than expected. I may be even incorrect to call it a puppet,' she narrows her eyes, 'I should take this chance to mold as much Senjutsu Chakra as I can and observe Su more and see if I can catch him off-guard.'
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Alternate Title: Su's a Nutjob; Nauseating Victory; Orochimaru Thinks of a 'Different' Arrangement; Future Payment in 'Kind'?; Orochimaru? Desperate?; Orochimaru is Really 'Ho'Kage's Student!
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