"Hatake Sakumo!"
Kato Dan's expression shifted several times as he faced the arrogant figure standing between him and Jiraiya. Eventually, he silently dispelled the ninjutsu.
"Sakumo, what's your intention? Do you want to conclude our discussion?" Dan Kato questioned Hatake Sakumo in a low voice, staring at him intently.
"Hehe, Dan Kato, do you think I don't know you well enough? That's sufficient," Hatake Sakumo replied mercilessly, paying no attention to him. After glancing at both of them, he walked away.
Among the few present, Tsunade perhaps didn't fully grasp Kato Dan's psychological assault.
"Humph! The teacher explicitly instructed you to come and support the situation, and this guy actually..."
Dan Kato wasn't as amiable as he appeared; his clenched fists trembled slightly.
Hatake Sakumo was too upright, a lone wolf with an unbending spirit who sometimes didn't even heed Danzo's words.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together, and it's not without reason that Danzo favored Kato Dan.
Meanwhile, Sakumo Hatake had the backing of his family, was a prodigy, and didn't see eye to eye with Danzo Kato or even Danzo himself.
Observing Sakumo Hatake's indifferent and haughty demeanor, along with the ninja sword on his back, Dan Kato felt an even deeper sense of apprehension!
The dynamics among Hiruko, Kato Dan, and Hatake Sakumo were entirely different from the Sannin trio.
"Hu-hu-Kato Dan!"
Jiraiya, who regained his composure, clenched his fists, glaring angrily at Kato Dan with eyes full of wrath.
However, Jiraiya chose restraint at this moment. He refrained from mentioning Kato Dan's use of mental ninjutsu, silently storing it away.
Evidently, Jiraiya had long moved beyond mere impulsiveness.
"Haha, interesting."
Given the situation, where everyone seemed to be ganging up on him, Takeshi's clone couldn't just stand by. Slowly advancing, he regarded Kato Dan with indifference.
When some people genuinely seek their demise, one can't afford to be overly polite.
A person's temperament should align with their measure and strength. Takeshi, possessing the power of a Mangekyō Sharingan, couldn't blindly tolerate such provocations.
"Oh? Orochimaru, any advice for me?"
Observing the approaching clone, Kato Dan's eyes lit up. Hadn't he angered Jiraiya just to gauge Orochimaru's power when he attacked?
Orochimaru had captured the attention of Danzo and the revered Gen-sama, who saw him as a potential threat in the future.
There was no doubt about Orochimaru's strength, and he remained somewhat unpredictable. During the Chunin exam, he had even defeated Dan Kato.
To be honest, Dan Kato lacked confidence, but this was a competition. As long as the opponent showed signs of going all out, he could concede defeat.
Regarding his own strength, Kato Dan still held confidence.
Moreover, Orochimaru was known for his keen interest in scientific and technological research. Depending on his stance, Danzo might have his own considerations about him.
"Hehe, isn't it your goal for us to compete?"
Wood Clone reciprocated with a warm smile, and an unspoken understanding passed between the two.
"You...!"
Tsunade observed the unusual tension between the two and was about to comment when Jiraiya pulled her back, shaking his head in silence.
"Let's not provoke them."
Dan Kato smiled warmly, his mental energy stirred, a hint of seriousness reflecting in his eyes.
Kato Dan dared not lose this supposedly once-in-a-decade genius!
However, he couldn't help but wonder why this person in front of him seemed... so feeble? There was an absence of spiritual power, which felt peculiar!
Even Kato Dan, proficient in spiritual power, struggled to comprehend Takeshi's Wood Clone.
"Wait a moment!"
Yet, Wood Clone raised a hand and abruptly halted him, causing Kato Dan's prepared ultimate move to freeze.
"Stay here and don't move. I'll buy you one... um, I need to use the restroom!"
"...Huh?!"
As the suddenly departed clone left, Kato Dan was taken aback, the smile on his face becoming even more strained.
"Inexplicable..."
In a secluded corner, Wood Clone abruptly froze, transforming into a wooden figure.
Under the influence of a mysterious art, the wooden figure morphed into a large snake.
"Bang!"
The snake dispersed, only to reappear a second later.
"Hee hee, quite interesting. It seems I've returned in time."
A youth in white attire and black hair appeared silently, a slight residue of mucus covering his body. The big snake transformed into a piece of dead wood and dissipated with the wind.
It took him three minutes to absorb the clone's memories through Takeshi, quickly grasping the situation.
Orochimaru, wearing an evil grin, returned to the Konoha Camp once more!
"Orochimaru, you're here..."
"What's wrong with you?"
Observing Orochimaru's approach, Tsunade and Jiraiya sensed an unsettling presence.
But Kato Dan's expression changed abruptly. He felt like he was being stared at by a venomous snake; the aura seemed calm and bottomless like a lake, yet it instilled fear in him!
What just happened?!
"Orochimaru, you..."
Tsunade expressed her concern.
Orochimaru maintained an evil, charming smile, but his steps seemed unsteady. His originally pale face resembled white wax, and after a few steps, Orochimaru was visibly short of breath.
"It's nothing. Just some warm-up exercises."
This was a side effect of utilizing the Blood Furnace earlier. Orochimaru continued to gaze at Kato Dan, licking the tip of his teeth.
"Damn, that face-changing feeling again!"
Jiraiya complained inwardly, sensing that the person before him had once again split his personality!
"Let's begin!"
Having just experienced a peak duel of kage-level strength, Orochimaru, despite releasing the fusion, retained that arrogant aura!
"This guy!"
Sakumo, on the verge of departure, sensed a genuine aura of death. His eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively gripped the hilt behind him.
Such an overwhelming presence...!!
Am I still too careless?
"Bring it on!"
Dan Kato couldn't maintain his usual sunny smile; instead, he felt a tinge of regret as he unleashed his full strength.
"Secret Art, Spiritual Attack!"
A venomous and enigmatic mental force crashed into Orochimaru's consciousness, seeking to strangle him outright.
Having witnessed the failure of the previous Chunin exam, Dan Kato was well aware of Takeshi's ability to counteract mental attacks. He dared not employ Soul Sleeping, a move easily vulnerable to such attacks. However, the Spiritual Attack technique was a precise and efficient mental shock.
"Hehe, I'm becoming more intrigued by your ninjutsu." Orochimaru calmly sensed the sinister power approaching but showed no apparent reaction.
"You damn bastard, you really know how to play!"
Kato's expression soured as he inwardly cursed. Orochimaru was evidently resisting the move.
The origin of my ninjutsu is far from simple. If your mental power surpasses mine, resisting this technique would be impossible!
Let yourself be exposed as a fool!
"Bam—!"
An obscure ripple in the air suggested a silent confrontation between the two motionless figures.
"What?!"
His attack seemed to collide with an indestructible steel city wall. The vast spiritual power remained unshaken, rendering his own abilities as feeble as a small stream.
Is he truly this powerful?!
"Ha ha."
Even in the weakened state of the blood furnace, only the blood power had been suppressed, not the original spiritual power!
And with the might of the Mangekyō Sharingan, Orochimaru's spiritual defense was incomparable to before!
"Looks like you can't handle me?"
Orochimaru chuckled, putting Kato to the test. His scarlet eyes gleamed, and a larger, majestic spiritual force transformed into a torrent, countering back through the spiritual link established by Kato!
If you dare provoke me, I'll leave you with an unforgettable memory. Every time you face me, a flaw in your soul will remind you!
"Wait..."
Kato Dan, frozen in place, suddenly retreated, but Takeshi's attack had already relentlessly invaded!
"What—!"
A distant scream pierced the air.
********
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