Chapter 85: A Brief Clash
As Baishi charged directly at Kisame Hoshigaki, the latter didn't hesitate for a moment. With a swift motion, Kisame drew a short sword from his back and slashed downward diagonally in a calculated strike.
The slash, though hasty, was precise and aimed perfectly at Baishi's trajectory. As Baishi closed the distance, the blade seemed to graze his face.
In the nick of time, Baishi channeled chakra into his body, employing Lightning Release to stimulate his leg muscles. His speed increased explosively, leaving behind a faint afterimage as he evaded the strike and reappeared on Kisame's left side.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
Executing a technique he had perfected, Baishi launched a sweeping kick aimed at Kisame's side, his leg slicing through the air with enough force to sting the ears.
Kisame, sensing the incoming force, quickly realized the kick wasn't one he could withstand directly. He planted his short sword into the ground and used it to pivot his body upward, flipping into the air to evade.
Baishi's kick passed harmlessly below him, the momentum carrying through the space between Kisame and the sword. Not missing a beat, Baishi twisted his waist and unleashed a follow-up kick with his other leg, targeting Kisame mid-air.
Kisame braced himself, raising his left arm defensively. His muscles bulged as he prepared to take the hit head-on. Though the force of Baishi's kick sent him flying backward, Kisame managed to mitigate most of the damage, thanks to his exceptional physical resilience.
As he was propelled through the air, Kisame hooked his foot around the hilt of his short sword, yanking it free from the ground.
The battle that followed was relentless. Baishi's superior speed and strength placed Kisame under constant pressure. However, Kisame relied on his extensive combat experience, deft swordsmanship, and unusual physical strength to fend off Baishi's attacks.
Yet, no matter how skilled the opponent, prolonged defense inevitably leads to errors.
When Kisame attempted another downward slash toward Baishi's chest, Baishi's sharp gaze locked onto a critical opening. Seizing the moment, Baishi concentrated his focus, and time seemed to slow around him.
As Kisame's blade neared, Baishi leaned back slightly to avoid the strike. At the same time, he raised his right palm, and a sharp wooden spike emerged, aiming directly at Kisame's chest.
It was a gamble. If neither of them relented, Baishi would likely suffer an injury, but Kisame would almost certainly be impaled. Once the spike pierced him, Baishi's follow-up Wood Release: Insertion Technique would ensure a fatal outcome.
Kisame must have sensed the imminent danger. Without hesitation, he released his sword and shifted to the side, narrowly evading the wooden spike.
Baishi's eyes flickered with disappointment. A moment's hesitation or a slight misstep from Kisame would have ended the battle there and then.
"At least I gained something," Baishi thought, his eyes briefly darting to the short sword now lying on the ground.
Without giving Kisame a chance to recover, Baishi pressed the offensive, engaging him in close-quarters combat.
Kisame, now armed only with a kunai, found himself at a disadvantage as the proximity allowed Baishi's superior speed and power to shine. It didn't take long for Baishi to find another opening. He delivered a powerful punch to Kisame's chest, sending him hurtling backward.
Blood sprayed from Kisame's mouth as his mask flew off, revealing his face. Yet, despite the pain and apparent injury, Kisame's focus remained sharp. He noticed Baishi's next attack and made a surprising choice.
Rather than defending or countering, Kisame allowed Baishi's follow-up punch to land, using the force to propel himself further away.
Capitalizing on the distance, Kisame formed hand seals with remarkable speed and unleashed Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
A torrent of water erupted from his mouth, rapidly engulfing the battlefield. Within seconds, a massive spherical water dome surrounded them, spanning hundreds of meters.
Kisame didn't stop there. Ignoring the searing pain in his chest, he summoned his chakra reserves and performed Thousand Feeding Sharks, conjuring a horde of shark-shaped constructs to attack Baishi.
"Go!" Kisame commanded, sending the sharks swarming toward Baishi.
As Baishi dealt with the onslaught, Kisame executed another jutsu—Water Clone Technique—splitting himself into four identical copies. The clones surrounded him, and in unison, they each performed Water Shark Bullet Technique. Encased in chakra-formed sharks, the clones shot upward, breaching the water dome and escaping into the open air.
Amid the chaos, Baishi realized Kisame's true intention.
"He's running?" Baishi muttered, momentarily stunned.
Kisame had sacrificed much to create this opportunity. Recognizing his disadvantage in both close combat and ranged tactics, Kisame prioritized retreating with the critical intel he had gathered.
Without Kisame maintaining the water dome, it soon dissipated, along with the sharks. As the battlefield returned to normal, Baishi spotted Kisame's silhouette in the distance.
Baishi raised his hands, prepared to create wood clones to pursue the fleeing opponent. However, he suddenly froze, his senses catching something off. Turning toward the forest, he called out, "No need to hide. Come out."
A slow, deliberate clapping sound broke the silence, followed by a raspy voice.
"Hehehe… that was truly entertaining!"
Hearing the familiar tone, Baishi's eyes narrowed, and he smiled faintly.
Fixing his gaze on the source of the sound, Baishi addressed the figure. "Orochimaru-sama… What brings you here? Surely, Konoha isn't so boring as to drive you all the way to my little island?"
Emerging from the shadows was none other than Orochimaru.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 86: The Deal
From behind a tree trunk, Orochimaru slowly stepped out into the open.
His long hair draped over his shoulders, pale skin glowing faintly in the dappled light, and his cold, snake-like vertical pupils gave him the same eerie aura he had before the war broke out.
"Hehehe~"
Orochimaru chuckled as he walked forward, stopping just five meters away from Baishi.
'He's seen my speed and strength, yet he dares to come this close. Is this confidence, or a show of intimidation?' Baishi thought, his figure vanishing from where he stood.
Orochimaru's pupils narrowed slightly, and he swiftly bent backward at an unnatural angle, avoiding Baishi's sweeping kick by mere millimeters.
'Soft body modification?' Baishi mused, watching as Orochimaru's body contorted like a snake.
Before Baishi could strike again, Orochimaru snapped back upright like a coiled spring. His movements were as fluid as a serpent, and in a heartbeat, he had wrapped himself around Baishi, his fangs aiming for Baishi's neck.
Startled, Baishi immediately activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and disappeared from Orochimaru's grasp.
---
Baishi reappeared a short distance away, walking out of the woods with steady steps. Internally, he felt a bit awkward about his reaction. His sudden retreat had been fueled by the belief that Orochimaru intended to place a curse mark on him. In hindsight, he realized it was unlikely—Orochimaru hadn't yet met Jūgo and would not have developed the Curse Mark Technique at this point.
Still, Baishi had no intention of letting Orochimaru sink his fangs into him, regardless of the reason.
Composing himself, Baishi resumed his calm demeanor and asked, "Why are you here, Orochimaru-sama? Surely you have more important things to do than come to my little island."
Orochimaru, brushing aside his failed ambush, smirked and replied, "Isn't it you who wanted to see me?"
'Dealing with a sharp mind like his is always a challenge.' Baishi sighed inwardly, deciding there was no point in dancing around the subject.
"How about we make a deal?"
Orochimaru's interest was immediately piqued. "A deal?"
"Yes, a deal."
Orochimaru's playful smile faded slightly, and his gaze became more serious. "What do you want?"
"I need Hashirama cell extracts and rare toxins," Baishi replied without hesitation.
His request was straightforward. Ever since advancing his Wood Release to Level VI, progress had slowed significantly. Without an external catalyst, further improvement would take an exorbitant amount of time, which Baishi considered a waste.
Thus, Hashirama cells reentered his plans. While they no longer provided a direct boost to his Wood Release abilities, the cells' invasive nature could accelerate his body's adaptation and evolution, significantly reducing the time needed for growth.
As for the toxins, they were crucial for enhancing his Poison Resistance. Orochimaru, with his vast expertise in poisons and access to Ryūchi Cave's venomous snakes, was an ideal supplier.
Baishi was confident Orochimaru wouldn't refuse his request—so long as Baishi could offer something in return. After all, neither Hashirama cells nor rare toxins held much value for Orochimaru compared to the potential gains.
Orochimaru pondered Baishi's request for a moment before remarking, "You should know, Baishi, that Hashirama cells won't be of much use to you anymore."
Hearing his name instead of the designation "Thirty-Six," Baishi's expression softened slightly. He quickly corrected, "That was my past designation. My name is now Baishi."
Orochimaru repeated the name, his golden eyes scrutinizing Baishi. After a pause, he chuckled. "Very well, Baishi. But during your original experiments, I already injected you with the most active Hashirama cell extract available. More won't enhance your abilities."
Before Orochimaru could continue, Baishi interrupted, "That's for me to decide. Just tell me your price."
Orochimaru's curiosity deepened. 'What is he planning? Does he know something about Hashirama cells that I don't? Or… could his cells have undergone some sort of transformation?'
Suppressing his greed, Orochimaru leaned closer and whispered, "Your blood and flesh."
Baishi had anticipated this demand, and while it irritated him slightly, he didn't outright reject it. With a curt nod, he indicated his willingness to proceed.
The two then began negotiating the specifics of their exchange, including the timing, location, and precise terms of the deal.
Once the details were finalized, Orochimaru prepared to depart. However, Baishi suddenly asked, "By the way, Orochimaru-sama, how many members remain in Minato's team?"
"Minato's team?" Orochimaru paused, turning back to Baishi with a puzzled expression. "All four members are still alive. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing. Just curious," Baishi said nonchalantly, waving his hand before walking off into the forest.
Orochimaru lingered, his snake-like eyes narrowing in thought.
"He's asking about Minato's team, not just Minato himself. And he phrased it as 'how many remain' rather than 'who's left.' Interesting choice of words…"
The question gnawed at Orochimaru's mind as he finally departed from Central Peak.
Baishi's inquiry served two purposes. Firstly, it was a subtle probe to gauge whether Madara Uchiha's plans had already commenced. Secondly, it was a seed—a carefully planted idea in Orochimaru's mind.
Baishi believed that, despite any potential butterfly effects, Obito would likely still fall into Madara's schemes. Whether it was the tragedy at Kannabi Bridge or some other manipulation, Obito's fate seemed inevitable. Once the rift in Minato's team became evident, Orochimaru would undoubtedly recall Baishi's cryptic question.
And when that time came, the seed Baishi had planted might grow into something far more significant.
(End of Chapter)
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