Chapter 201 - Orochimaru

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Horyu turned to the north. "Sasori of the Red Sand is attacking from there. He's a master puppeteer from the Hidden Sand Village, and his puppets are laced with deadly poisons. Sasori's body itself is a puppet, giving him enhanced durability and hidden weapons. He's not just controlling one or two puppets; he can manipulate a hundred at once. Be extremely cautious. One scratch from his puppets can be lethal."

A Jonin, known for his medical expertise, asked, "How do we neutralize his poison?"

Horyu stated indifferently, "You can't. Sasori changes his formula every time he uses it in public. Either you'll develop an antidote on foot, which only Tsunade-sama has the ability to do,"Horyu looked at Tsunade, "or you die, and we'll work on your corpse."

The Jonin gritted his teeth but said nothing. Turning to Hidan, Horyu said, "Hidan is there. He's a fanatic from the Hidden Hot Water Village who practices a blood ritual technique. He's essentially immortal as long as he can perform his rituals. If he draws your blood and completes his ritual, any damage he inflicts on himself will be transferred to you. Avoid close combat and keep him at a distance. Disrupt his rituals and use long-range attacks. If he manages to draw blood from either of you, don't let him draw a circle or enter it. Nara Jonins, you will support that side."

The Jonin all accepted the order, except for Jiraiya, who looked like he had something to say. "Leave Orochimaru to me," Jiraiya demanded.

Horyu shook his head. "You are emotionally compromised. I can't allow it."

Jiraiya clenched his fists. "I am not your underling, brat."

Horyu looked at the elders, who nodded in agreement. "Jiraiya, leave Orochimaru to Horyu," they said.

Jiraiya gritted his teeth. "Fine."

Horyu nodded. "You take Kakuzu. You have three elements, so you can counter at least three of his."

Jiraiya didn't say anything more and moved towards the gate.

"Where should I go, Horyu?" Kurenai asked.

"Stay with Tsunade-sama, Ino, and Hinata, Sensei. You can use Genjutsu to protect them and deliver messages between battlefields."

Kurenai nodded and moved towards Tsunade and the two girls. The two elders had no intention to battle, and Horyu didn't want them to. Instead, he led the other Jonin to their various assignments. Drawing Chucky, his trusted chakra sword, he moved towards Orochimaru.

"It has been a while, Orochimaru," Horyu said, his Sharingan spinning.

Orochimaru, standing amidst the chaos, turned to face Horyu. His serpentine eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and malice. "Horyu Uchiha, the prodigy. It's a pleasure to see you again. How is the little gift I left?"

Horyu smirked. "I mastered it," he said, touching his shoulder where Orochimaru had branded him with the Cursed Seal.

"Mastered it?" Orochimaru frowned. "Did you unlock the second form?" he asked curiously.

Horyu's grin widened. "Can't you feel the absence of your soul piece, Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock. He focused, trying to sense his connection to the seal. Panic flickered in his gaze as he realized it was gone. "Kekeke, how brutal you are," he said, his voice filled with dark amusement. "After all the trouble I went through to deliver that gift."

Horyu didn't drop his smile. "How about I give you one in return?"

Orochimaru chuckled, his eyes narrowing. "A gift from you? I'm intrigued."

Horyu's hand moved swiftly, forming a series of seals. "Fire Release: Hellfire Dragon!" A massive dragon of white-hot flames erupted from his hands, roaring toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru barely had time to react. He leapt back, summoning a massive snake to shield himself. The fire dragon collided with the snake, incinerating it instantly. The heat was intense, scorching the ground and sending waves of heat through the air.

Orochimaru hissed in annoyance, summoning more snakes to defend himself. "Impressive, Horyu. But you'll need more than that to defeat me."

Horyu moved swiftly, his Sharingan capturing every movement of Orochimaru's serpentine attacks. He dodged and countered, his sword flashing through the air, cutting down any snake that dared to come close.

Orochimaru's laughter echoed through the chaos. "You have grown stronger, Horyu. But strength alone won't save you."

The battlefield crackled with energy, a storm of clashing forces. Horyu, his eyes ablaze with the spinning Sharingan, advanced toward Orochimaru. Chucky gleamed in the dim light. 

Orochimaru's eyes glinted with malevolent delight as he drew the Kusanagi. "Then come, Horyu. Show me how much you mastered the Cursed Seal."

Horyu surged forward, Chucky a blur as he swung it in a diagonal slash. Orochimaru parried with the Kusanagi, sparks flying. The force of the impact sent tremors through their arms, but Horyu didn't relent. He pivoted, aiming a swift kick at Orochimaru's midsection.

Orochimaru twisted away, countering with a thrust aimed at Horyu's heart. Horyu sidestepped, feeling the blade graze his ribs, and retaliated with a backhand slash. Orochimaru deflected the blow, their swords ringing out in a deadly symphony.

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!" Orochimaru intoned, his voice a serpentine hiss. A gust of wind blasted toward Horyu, who crossed his arms to shield himself. The force pushed him back, his feet skidding across the ground.

Horyu's eyes narrowed. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Three clones materialized, fanning out around Orochimaru. They moved in unison, attacking from multiple angles. Orochimaru grinned, his eyes tracking their movements.

"Too slow." Orochimaru's body elongated, twisting unnaturally as he evaded the clones' strikes. He flicked his wrist, sending the Kusanagi spinning through the air. "Dance of the Serpent!"

The blade arced, targeting the clones and Horyu simultaneously. Two clones dissipated in puffs of smoke, while the real Horyu leapt high, avoiding the blade. He descended with a powerful overhead strike, aiming for Orochimaru's head.

Orochimaru blocked, but the force drove him to one knee. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!" He slammed his hand into the ground, raising a barrier of earth between them. Horyu's sword bit into the wall, but he quickly retracted, anticipating the next move.

"Fire Style: Hellfire Dragon Jutsu!" Horyu shouted, exhaling a stream of white-hot flames that coiled into a dragon. The fiery beast roared, crashing through the mud wall and barreling toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's eyes widened. "Summoning Jutsu: Giant Serpent!" A colossal snake appeared, shielding him from the inferno. The dragon collided with the serpent, flames licking its scales as it writhed and hissed.

Horyu didn't waste a moment. "Chakra Flow!" His blade glowed with chakra as he dashed around the burning serpent, closing in on Orochimaru. He feinted a low strike, then pivoted to aim a thrust at Orochimaru's chest.

Orochimaru, seeing through the feint, twisted his body to dodge, but Horyu anticipated the move. With a flick of his wrist, he redirected Chucky upward, catching Orochimaru off guard. The blade sliced a shallow cut along Orochimaru's arm.

Orochimaru hissed, his face contorting with anger and pain. "Impressive, but not enough." He leapt back, forming hand seals. "Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!" He inhaled deeply and exhaled a barrage of wind bullets.

Horyu weaved through the air, dodging the bullets with acrobatic precision. "I see your tricks, Orochimaru." His Sharingan tracked every movement. "Flame Style: Hell Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" He launched a volley of white fireballs, each guided by his chakra to intercept the wind bullets.

The fireballs Horyu launched grew as they assimilated the wind spheres, accelerating towards Orochimaru. The serpentine shinobi's eyes widened in surprise as the fiery orbs swelled, blazing trails through the air. Orochimaru flicked his wrist, summoning a wall of earth to shield himself, but the enhanced fireballs smashed through, scattering molten debris.

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