https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-348-Orochimaru-and-Root-s-Ambush-/12934856/
Chapter 349: Targeted Weapon: Flame Serpent!
Chapter 349: Targeted Weapon: Flame Serpent!
"Earth Style: Nether Swamp!"
Orochimaru performed the ninjutsu that Jiraiya was most adept at.
As a Kage-level master of all attributes, Orochimaru possessed an extensive arsenal of jutsu, but most of them paled in comparison to his self-developed techniques.
Meanwhile, Dong Ping began to form hand seals, preparing to counter with his own fire jutsu.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
This Uchiha fire technique, when executed by him, unleashed a terrifyingly powerful blaze.
A ferocious golden fire surged forth.
Not only that, but the surrounding flames also blocked the incoming long-range ninja tools.
The Root ninjas had no chance to get close.
The temperature around Dong Ping was so intense that even the air seemed distorted. Without sufficiently strong chakra, they wouldn't even have the qualification to approach him.
Orochimaru's Nether Swamp was meant to create a geographical advantage, but the earth beneath him was instantly melted and dried up by Dong Ping's fire technique.
Both ninjas displayed astonishing jutsu power, but for them, this was merely an appetizer and a test.
After the initial probing, Dong Ping, with his formidable chakra, prepared to unleash his ultimate move.
On his right index finger, countless flames condensed and gradually transformed into a small white flame, emitting an eerie sensation that made one's scalp tingle.
Initially, achieving this level of temperature might have required Sage Mode.
But now, with his profound mastery over fire techniques, Dong Ping could enhance his power to this extent even without Sage Mode.
The white flames signified a strength far beyond that of ordinary fire techniques.
It was as if he could match the power of ten or more chakras with just one.
There was a significant gap in the 'quality' of their techniques.
The Root ninjas, naturally, were unwilling to see Dong Ping effortlessly use his jutsu, so they bombarded him with various techniques and tools.
However, Dong Ping's Flame Robe, like a solid barrier, blocked all these attacks.
As he couldn't reveal his Earth Style, he couldn't use the Zhu Rong Armor, only slightly exposing a hint of its power.
But even this small display was enough to ensure his safety.
The Root ninjas' strongest cards were insects and poison—did he not know that?
With the Flame Robe fully covering him, he was unafraid of these threats.
Without such dangers, he didn't bother with these Root ninjas, not even a single Jonin among them.
"Great Serpent Scythe!"
Dong Ping swung his right index finger forward, unleashing this long-unused ultimate move.
A ferocious white flame, initially resembling a small fire, rapidly grew as it left his hand, transforming into a massive white inferno that engulfed everything in its path.
Whether plants or anything else, they held no significance before this all-consuming fire.
Facing this wide-range fire technique, Orochimaru had nowhere to escape. He could only confront it head-on. He bit his thumb and formed a seal, then slammed his hands on the ground.
"Summoning Technique: Triple Reincarnation Gates!"
The ground shook violently, and three several-story-high, meter-thick ghost-faced gates rose before Orochimaru.
The white flame wave crashed into the gates.
The terrifyingly high temperature melted the incredibly resilient ghost-faced gates. (The gates were projections and could be repeatedly summoned, preventing their destruction from hindering further summoning.)
"Indeed, it lives up to its reputation as the strongest defensive jutsu!"
Dong Ping gazed at the ghost-faced gates in front of him with awe.
The Great Serpent Scythe's strength lay in its area-of-effect damage, so it was no surprise that it couldn't break through the Triple Reincarnation Gates.
If he entered Sage Mode and used the Zhu Rong True Body state with the Heaven's Cluster Cloud Sword, he was confident he could slice through the gates with a single strike.
But there was no need! His current strength was already formidable enough to make others wary. Displaying too much power might lead to undesirable consequences.
At the very least, not under this identity.
Switching to the Shell Organization's alias, he wouldn't care about revealing his strength, as it wouldn't affect the Heavenly Fortress.
Dong Ping dashed towards Orochimaru, ready for close combat.
In his Flame Robe state, he walked through the fire, like a fiery deity, rushing towards Orochimaru behind the Triple Reincarnation Gates.
"Flame Finger!"
As soon as he crossed the final gate of the Triple Reincarnation Gates, Uchiha Dohei pointed his finger, and a golden laser-like Flame Finger pierced through Orochimaru... an Earth Clone.
Haha, Dohei, you're so impatient!"
Orochimaru's body emerged from the side, unbothered, as if they were just playing a game.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several shadows rushed towards him.
The Root Ninjas, having confirmed that Dohei was no longer playing with his ninjutsu, launched their attack.
"Annoying pests!"
Dohei's eyebrows furrowed slightly, unsure why Danzo had sent these people.
Are all the Root's experts dead?
Among these ninjas, there wasn't even a single Jonin, as if they were intentionally sent to annoy him.
In fact, Dohei's guess was correct.
The Root's strong ninjas were indeed almost all dead.
Aside from a few close aides, the others had been exhausted through countless missions.
Not to mention other factors, Hyuga Cangyue's two forceful intrusions into the Root's base had killed many strong ninjas. Later, during the Rain Country's encirclement of the Akatsuki, they encountered Nagato's rage, and no matter how many elites there were, it wasn't enough to handle him.
The new recruits to the Root also needed time to be cultivated, so the current Root truly had very few strong ninjas.
Suddenly, Dohei sensed something amiss and turned his gaze towards the Root ninjas.
"Damn!"
He cursed subconsciously.
Because an unusual sound rang out from the Root ninjas' bodies.
Sizzle, sizzle!
It was as if the sound of a fuse being lit.
Explosive Tags! Dohei instinctively realized their intention; these Root ninjas were planning something.
They were prepared to trade their lives for his! In terms of strength, these Root ninjas indeed lacked the qualifications to threaten him.
But they carried Explosive Tags on their bodies, ready to ignite and charge at him.
If they were thrown or used as traps, Dohei could easily dodge them.
But this method was indeed speechless.
One could say that Danzo's version was years ahead of the rest.
However, this tactic wasn't his original idea.
The earliest person to think of this was the Second Hokage, who developed the Impure World Reincarnation just to have the impure resurrected ninja get close to the target and use the 'Mutual Amplification Explosive Tag' technique.
Now, Danzo was simply using the Root ninjas as substitutes for the impure resurrected ninjas.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Dohei quickly increased the distance and precisely killed these guys with Flame Finger.
If they were Jonin or higher, dodging Flame Finger wouldn't be difficult, but these ninjas, at most Special Jonin level, naturally struggled to evade it.
Boom, boom!
One by one, the Explosive Tags detonated.
Just as Dohei finished killing these Root ninjas.
A slender red serpent emerged from underground, unafraid of the terrifying high temperature from the Flame Robe on his body, and bit into his shoulder.
Puff! The snake's head deeply bit into Dohei's shoulder, but the Flame Robe's intense heat had no effect on this finger-thick crimson serpent.
"Orochimaru, is this your trump card?"
Dohei's voice remained calm, as if the serpent on his shoulder didn't exist.
To be honest, he was also surprised that Orochimaru had managed to cultivate a snake that could ignore flames.
But this was the Shinobi World, where even aliens existed, so this was just a minor scene.
"That's right, this Flame Serpent was commissioned by the Root for me to cultivate, and it's indeed very effective!"
Orochimaru himself appeared several dozen meters away.
Even with his killer move succeeding, he had no intention of getting closer.
His prominent trait was 'Caution'.
He spoke now to buy time for the snake's venom to take effect.
This Flame Serpent actually had no venom, but he could inject his specially formulated poison into its fangs, specifically to deal with Dohei.
One could say that this Flame Serpent, capable of ignoring high temperatures and flames, was indeed a targeted weapon against Dohei.
But there was only one chance.
Next time, there wouldn't be such an opportunity for a surprise attack.
Soon, Orochimaru sensed something amiss.
(End of Chapter)
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