Aoba's voice resounded deep and indifferent, like an emotionless machine uttering unfeeling words.
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's face suddenly changed.
This was not the technique from before; it was something different. Orochimaru immediately realized the distinction.
Although the gesture was the same, different words dictated a different technique.
A powerful chakra buzzed, converging towards Aoba's right palm, reaching its peak almost instantly.
At that moment, the snakes rushing towards Aoba were about to reach him. If nothing changed, Aoba would be easily entangled by them.
For a moment, even Orochimaru grew tense.
Orochimaru's narrow, snake-like eyes were fixed on Aoba's right hand, feeling that this was no simple gesture. He vaguely sensed that Aoba had a powerful countermove ready, yet he could no longer predict the capabilities of the Rinnegan.
After all, he was very unfamiliar with the Rinnegan.
He only knew that the Rinnegan was an eye once possessed by the legendary Sage of Six Paths, and no one else in the ninja world had such eyes.
Orochimaru had once hypothesized during his research on Hashirama's cells that the Rinnegan might evolve from the Mangekyo Sharingan.
However, such speculation remained purely theoretical; it was never proven through experiments because the live experiments with Hashirama's cells were particularly challenging, costing many lives.
Orochimaru had a rich intellect when it came to theory; he envisioned many possibilities.
But possibilities were just that: without concrete breakthroughs, there was a way to confirm that theory matched reality.
Now, facing this young Uchiha, though he didn't know what this Uchiha looked like or exactly which Uchiha he was, Orochimaru understood from the transformation of Sharingan to Mangekyo and then to Rinnegan. He realized that the Rinnegan was indeed an evolution of Mangekyo as he had speculated.
Orochimaru only knew so much about the Rinnegan, much of it based on ancient lore and conjecture. But what exact powers did the Rinnegan hold?
That was still unknown!
Now, as Aoba raised his right hand, rich with chakra but not executing the previous attraction power, he called out the name of the technique - "Shinra Tensei" - not the "Bansho Ten'in" used before.
These changes were enough to make him reassess the situation.
As the snakes opened their jaws wide, preparing to bite Aba, a powerful repulsive force emerged from his right palm, deflecting all the incoming snakes.
In an instant, the space before Aoitsubasa cleared, nothing remained.
The previously approaching snakes were sent flying backwards as if struck by an invisible force, crashing into the unseen barrier.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The bodies of the snakes made sounds as they collided with the barrier.
"This…"
Orochimaru ignored the snakes being repelled and stared intently at Aoba's right hand.
Repulsive force! This was a repulsive force!
Orochimaru instantly deduced the power used based on his observations.
Understood!
The Rinnegan can control both attractive and repulsive forces!
Orochimaru quickly pieced together this information.
Judging an opponent's strength during battle is an essential skill for a ninja.
With Orochimaru's intellect, he was particularly adept at discerning, simply observing once to identify Aoba's abilities easily.
"Bansho Ten'in" is attractive.
"Shinra Tensei" is repulsive.
Just by raising his right hand, he can wield either attraction or repulsion!
Such abilities were beyond human reach; without the Rinnegan, it was impossible to unleash such capabilities.
Excited and astonished, Orochimaru attributed this terrifying strength to the Rinnegan, and he wasn't wrong—such power is indeed due to the Rinnegan, and those without it cannot manifest such abilities...
But there was one issue.
Rinnegan's powers also depended on the person using it.
Aoba was such a special person.
"Got no other tricks?"
Aoba's Rinnegan stared indifferently at the astonished Orochimaru, still able to see the fleeting glints in his elongated snake-like eyes. Despite now showing overwhelming superiority, he could not dispel Orochimaru's desire for the Rinnegan.
Perhaps, after demonstrating the formidable powers of "Bansho Ten'in" and "Shinra Tensei," Orochimaru's covetous heart for the Rinnegan might grow even stronger.
He could understand this point.
After all, Orochimaru always appreciated talented individuals, and the truly formidable talent was the Rinnegan user.
Aoba was unconcerned with whatever Orochimaru thought.
He intended to display the power of the Rinnegan right before Orochimaru, not only to catch his attention but also to shatter his confidence thoroughly.
"If you have no other skills..."
"Then you might not excite me much!"
"And you'd have no practical value."
"It's time to send you on your way."
"Have you thought it through?"
Aoba's Rinnegan narrowed slightly, his gaze chilling, utterly indifferent to what Orochimaru was thinking. To this person, known in the original story as a great ninja scientist, he found the situation rather interesting.
"You…"
Orochimaru's expression changed instantly. He felt that he had been deeply insulted. This Uchiha youngster simply didn't take him seriously. Wasn't it just because he had a pair of Rinnegan? If he were truly pushed too far, he wouldn't mind a mutually destructive outcome.