Son Goku's Disciple Naruto

Chapter 205 - 205

'Was it that old bastard Danzo? Or had Jiraiya finally found this place?'

Those were the only two people he could think of. He had many enemies, but very few mortal ones. Most of those who truly hated him were already dead.

So besides those two, no one else should be able to find this facility.

Actually, there was one other person, Rasa. That unlucky Kazekage had been ambushed during the Konoha Crush, his facial skin completely torn off. His hatred for Orochimaru ran incredibly deep. Still, it was highly unlikely he could locate this specific laboratory.

"Lord Orochimaru, we're in trouble!"

A member of the base's management staff stumbled in. Seeing Orochimaru was like finding a lifeline, and he shouted in a panic. "Invaders have broken into the base!"

"No, they aren't human! They're puppet monsters that feel no pain and don't bleed!"

"Puppets?" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.

Among his acquaintances, only one expert used puppets, Sasori of the Red Sand. Had the Akatsuki come knocking? He had already abandoned their ring. What more did they want?

"You, notify Kidomaru immediately. Tell him to gather the Sound Four and intercept them," Orochimaru commanded.

Since the Sasuke retrieval mission never happened, the Sound Four were still alive and well. To be precise, they were noticeably stronger than in the original timeline. By utilizing Cursed Seal Level Two, they could easily overwhelm a Konoha Jonin. They were among the most powerful assets currently stationed in this facility. Their brutal teamwork made them incredibly dangerous opponents.

Between the former Otogakure elites and the deadly traps installed inside, they could delay any opponent. Furthermore, this Northern Base was the primary testing ground for the Cursed Seal. Countless mutated monsters from failed experiments roamed the lower levels. If push came to shove, he would simply release them all. The resulting chaos would bury the intruders alive.

Orochimaru planned to hide in the shadows and observe the situation. If Sasori had come alone, he would bury the puppeteer here today. If multiple Akatsuki members showed up, he would immediately pack up and run.

"Lord Orochimaru, watch out!"

Karin's desperate warning rang out. A sharp whistling wind rose at his side. A short sword had appeared in the administrator's hand, stabbing fiercely toward Orochimaru's back.

The strike was several times faster than a typical Jonin's, completely unlike anything the weak administrator should have been capable of. The cold metal reflected a chilling glint under the dim fluorescent lights.

Fortunately, Orochimaru had survived countless battles and multiple Shinobi World Wars. His predatory reflexes kicked in the instant Karin shouted. He twisted his body, and the blade merely scraped a thin layer of skin.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Almost simultaneously, Orochimaru unleashed his counterattack. Countless venomous snakes bared their fangs, surging from his sleeves and pouncing directly onto the traitorous administrator.

Even from several meters away, the foul stench of venom filled the air. A faint, metallic smell of blood permeated the sterile laboratory.

The blade had grazed Orochimaru's shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood. It was a flesh wound, he didn't even need to use the Orochimaru-Style Substitution Jutsu. His attacker, however, fared far worse. Countless venomous snakes had sunk their fangs deeply into his neck, shoulders, and limbs. He clearly wouldn't survive for long.

"Mutora, why attack me?" Orochimaru narrowed his slitted eyes, fixing his cold gaze on the administrator. Mutora had been an orphan, raised single-handedly by the Sannin. He was usually a fanatic who showed the utmost respect.

Orochimaru couldn't fathom why this subordinate would launch a sudden assault, nor how his physical speed had increased so drastically. It made absolutely no logical sense.

Karin was even more confused. Throughout the rapid assault, her sensory abilities hadn't detected a single shred of malice from the man. Had she not seen the flashing blade with her own eyes, she never would have guessed he harbored any intent to harm her teacher.

*Crack-crack.*

The administrator emitted a series of bizarre, mechanical sounds. Hard cracks spread across his face, and where the venomous snakes had bitten him, large patches of synthetic skin sloughed off. The figure shed its disguise in seconds, revealing its true, wooden form beneath the torn flesh.

This wasn't Mutora at all. It was a puppet.

What a masterful physical disguise. Since it wasn't a chakra-based Transformation Jutsu, it had easily bypassed their sensory sweeps. As a lifeless puppet, it held no malice of its own, that emotion belonged solely to the puppeteer controlling the strings. That was exactly why Karin hadn't detected the incoming threat.

*Crack-crack.*

Several more puppets appeared at the laboratory's entrance.

"It seems you aren't Sasori." Orochimaru examined the constructs with dark interest, searching the shadows for the master's true body. "I didn't expect another top-tier puppeteer to emerge in the Shinobi World."

To his mild disappointment, the controller was exceptionally well-hidden. Even with his keen eyesight, he couldn't spot a single flaw in the surroundings. They were buried deep.

"Are you Suna-nin?" Orochimaru tried to pry for their identity.

Receiving no answer, he continued, "No. You shouldn't be Suna-nin."

"Orochimaru, there is no need to test them. These puppets will not answer you."

A voice echoed through the room, and a figure slowly phased up from the stone floor.

"That voice?" Orochimaru's pupils constricted. "I thought you were from Sunagakure, but to think you are from Iwagakure."

"Correct and incorrect. It is not we of Iwa seeking you, or rather, not entirely."

It was Iwagakure Jonin, Monga. He was one of the village's elite masters, his physical strength surpassed only by Akatsuchi, Kitsuchi, and Kurotsuchi.

"What do you mean?" Orochimaru paused, slightly stunned.

"I might as well tell you. We wish to invite you to be our guest."

Another figure emerged from the floor tiles. This one kept his face concealed in shadow, preventing Karin from making out his features. His sudden arrival managed to surprise Orochimaru.

"Oh? It's you. When did you join Iwagakure?" Orochimaru immediately recognized the man.

"It is not just Iwagakure," the man continued. "Our organization is far larger than you can imagine, Orochimaru. You had best consider the consequences."

'Threaten me? With just two Jonin and a few puppets? Do you have any idea who you are speaking to? One of the Legendary Sannin!'

Orochimaru spoke in his hoarse voice. "Is that so? And if I refuse?"

'I always love saying "no" to those who think they hold all the cards.'

"Orochimaru, you do not have a choice in the matter." The shadowed figure spoke in a low, even tone. "You are coming with us today."

"Hahaha, has it been so long that you've forgotten my terror?"

Orochimaru ignored their empty threats. Even if his arms were sealed, making most ninjutsu impossible, he was not someone this pack of strays could easily intimidate.

He moved to strike, but his body suddenly stiffened.

'Poison?' He realized his predicament instantly. No wonder the two of them were so incredibly confident.

'But what poison could possibly take me down?'

Orochimaru's jaw stretched unnaturally wide, and a pair of pale hands emerged from his throat. Accompanied by a mass of viscous fluid, a completely unharmed Orochimaru shed his ruined body and stepped out before them.

Orochimaru-Style Substitution!

'The poison should be purged now. Wait, impossible?'

He prepared to launch his counterattack, but his legs suddenly gave way. A crushing wave of dizziness washed over his mind. Using his signature substitution hadn't purged the toxin from his system, it had actually intensified the effects.

"Down!"

"Down!"

"Down!"

The figure in the shadows counted down excitedly. On the final word, a heavy thud echoed through the lab as Orochimaru collapsed onto the floor.

"This is a special toxin created by Lord Black himself," the shadow laughed triumphantly. "It's not a standard physical poison, but a compound based entirely on Yin-Yang Release. It cannot be dispelled by merely shedding your skin. It was custom-made just for you."

"So, Lord Orochimaru, come with us quietly."

He waved a hand at the Otsutsuki Puppets. "Bind him and take him away."

Even with the Sannin completely paralyzed, they refused to touch him directly. Despite their scornful bravado, this was still Orochimaru. Who knew what kind of lethal backup plan the snake might have lying in wait?

"Lord Orochimaru!"

Karin, who had remained perfectly silent until now, suddenly shouted. Her hands flared with a vibrant green chakra as she prepared to intervene.

In the next instant, she appeared before an Otsutsuki Puppet and slammed her fist directly into its featureless face.

*Bang!*

Countless wooden fragments scattered in all directions. Her punch was incredibly fast, ruthless, and heavy, obliterating the sturdy construct in a single, devastating strike.

"What terrifying physical strength!"

The figure in the shadows flinched backward. He knew exactly how durable those puppets were, their frames were harder than tempered steel, and yet they couldn't withstand a single blow from this red-haired girl.

'It's like looking at Tsunade.'

"Stop her!" Monga shouted urgently.

Several more Otsutsuki Puppets swarmed toward Karin.

"Great strength creates miracles!"

One punch. One kill. The Otsutsuki Puppets blew apart into splinters one after another.

She was simply too strong. The Chakra Enhanced Strength technique was a natural counter to any puppet master. The brutal reality of that matchup had been proven time and time again during the Great Ninja Wars.

Did they think Karin was trying to save Orochimaru? No, she was actually...

"Lord Orochimaru!"

"Over here!"

Accompanied by Karin's piercing shouts, a rapid series of footsteps echoed from the corridor moments later. Orochimaru's surviving subordinates were rushing toward the lab, the explosive commotion from her fight acting as a perfect beacon.

Karin leaped out of the tight encirclement and pointed accusingly at the remaining Otsutsuki Puppets. "Stop them! Lord Orochimaru is being taken away by these monsters!"

She had just been stalling for backup.

===============

Dear Readers and Fans,

For those eager to dive into next chapters earlier before others, I invite you to join us on Patreon. By becoming our Patron, you not only gain access to exclusive advanced chapters but also help us continue this endeavour and expand it further.

pat reo n.co m /8Ashes8

(no space)

You can read upto 30 Chapters in advance.