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The screeching wind was deafening.
Even before Might Duy's attack reached Orochimaru, the sheer force of the wind was already pressing down on him.
Orochimaru's eyes widened as he braced himself against the wind and quickly formed hand seals.
"Summoning Jutsu: Triple Rashomon!"
Three massive gates materialized in front of Orochimaru with a thunderous "boom, boom, boom," appearing just in time to shield him.
But Might Duy's kick connected with the first gate.
With three successive, earth-shaking impacts, all three gates were shattered instantly, not even holding for a second.
Under the force of Might Duy's kick, everything was obliterated in an instant.
Faced with the incoming kick, Orochimaru had no time to react. He barely managed to cross his arms in an attempt to form hand seals.
In that moment, Might Duy's kick hit him, reducing Orochimaru to a shower of blood.
Boom!!
The ground itself caved in under Might Duy's kick, leaving a large crater.
Might Duy knelt, panting heavily as the green chakra surrounding him dissipated, his Eight Gates technique now impossible to maintain.
Orochimaru emerged from the ground, his Kusanagi sword resting against Might Duy's neck. A slight movement, and he could sever Might Duy's head.
"Duy-kun, you've lost."
Orochimaru licked his lips, realizing that if that kick had landed, he would have been dead.
Looking at Might Duy's bearded face, Orochimaru couldn't help but think, What a terrifying man.
He hadn't expected his former classmate to have kept up so well.
"My apologies, Orochimaru-sama," Might Duy said, scratching his head awkwardly. "I can only open up to the Sixth Gate right now."
"I heard you," Orochimaru replied, retracting his sword, a smile playing on his lips. "You mentioned the Eight Gates—you're referring to the Eight Gates of the human body, right?"
The concept of the Eight Gates was not a secret to a researcher like Orochimaru. Many of his studies on unlocking human potential were based on the Eight Gates.
But he had never imagined that someone could unlock the gates in such a brute-force manner as Duy.
"Yes, I felt I would need to open the Eighth Gate to land that strike on you, Orochimaru-sama. But the Eighth Gate can only be opened to protect something precious."
After all, opening it would put his life on a countdown.
Orochimaru stared at Might Duy, his mind in turmoil.
Are you trying to kill me? Orochimaru thought, barely able to keep himself from cursing aloud. He forced a smile to suppress his inner rage.
That kick alone had been more than enough. If Duy had opened the Seventh Gate, Orochimaru would have been completely outmatched.
The Eighth Gate? That would be a death sentence.
Looking at Might Duy's earnest expression, Orochimaru couldn't help but feel a chill.
This man… he's terrifying in so many ways!
If he hadn't used the Body Substitution Jutsu to hide underground in time, he would have been dead. Even Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, wouldn't have been able to withstand that kick.
"This was just sparring, not a life-and-death battle," Orochimaru thought, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Orochimaru-sama, can I join the squad now?" Might Duy asked nervously.
Seeing Orochimaru's suddenly stern expression, Duy grew even more anxious.
Maybe my strength still isn't enough?
"Just call me Orochimaru; no need to be so formal," Orochimaru said coolly. "From now on, you'll be acting with me. I'll report your transfer to the Hokage."
Ninja transfers required the Hokage's approval, and with the current situation, the village would not block such a transfer.
"Thank you, Orochimaru—" Duy began, but stopped when he saw Orochimaru's sharp look, quickly correcting himself, "Thank you, Orochimaru."
So, Orochimaru wasn't as heartless as other shinobi said.
Orochimaru looked expressionlessly at the other shocked shinobi, many of whom were still standing with their mouths agape.
Then he looked at Might Duy, who was beaming with joy.
This man doesn't even realize just how strong he is.
Jin-kun really does have a knack for finding talent.
The ninja squad, now with Might Duy, set off for the front lines in the Land of Rain.
Orochimaru led the way.
The shinobi moved swiftly through the trees.
To those they passed, they were nothing more than fleeting shadows, easily mistaken for startled birds.
The mobility of a ninja squad was unparalleled, allowing them to travel without drawing unwanted attention.
Might Duy took the rear, a position Orochimaru had specifically assigned to him.
Ahead of him was the jonin named Ran.
Ran slowed his pace slightly to move alongside Might Duy.
"You shouldn't be going to war."
Ran's voice was low.
Even knowing that Might Duy's strength far surpassed his own, Ran still didn't want Duy on the battlefield.
"Ran-kun—"
"What about your wife and child if you go to war?" Ran interrupted, not giving Duy a chance to respond. He slowly shared his thoughts.
"Duy, do you know? I've always mocked you, looked down on you, never took you seriously. But I've also always been envious of you."
He had been in the same class as Orochimaru, but always placed in the lowest-ranked class, from a supposed cannon fodder class to a jonin. No one knew how much he had sacrificed to get there.
He had given up all his time to improve his skills and rise in rank.
That was the plight of a commoner ninja.
He had even given up on the idea of marriage and children, thinking that one day he might die in some forgotten corner of the village.
He had resigned himself to that fate.
But he knew it wasn't the life he wanted.
"You've got the life I always wanted, Duy. You could have lived out your days in peace, with a wife and child by your side, no need for risks, no need for battles."
"Couldn't you just live on peacefully with our hopes in your heart?"
Might Duy might have been seen as a failure by many, but to those who had experienced the horrors of war, he embodied their desire for a peaceful life.
Seeing the power Duy had displayed, many had reconsidered their views.
But not Ran.
You already have the life I've dreamed of, so why step into this bloody vortex?
"Ran-kun."
Might Duy smiled at Ran and gave him a thumbs-up.
"I want to protect you all too!"
Ran's lips moved, but he couldn't find any words. He only bowed his head and sped up.
Maybe that's why so many had pinned their hopes on Might Duy.
Because he was purer than most in the village.
The ninja squad, moving swiftly, came to a halt at Orochimaru's signal.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the distant forest.
There.
Figures emerged from the trees, one after another.
The forehead protectors they wore bore the mark of Sunagakure.
"Suna shinobi." Orochimaru's eyes locked onto the middle-aged man leading the group.
"Ebizō."
A troublesome figure had appeared.
What had happened on Sakumo's front?
(End of Chapter)