Chapter 41

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum] 

[Thank You For Your Support!]

====

"Orochimaru-sama," the jonin who had been trying to stop the fight couldn't hold back any longer.

He still wanted to prevent Orochimaru from fighting Might Duy, after all, Orochimaru was a formidable elite jonin, known as the "Cold Lord" for his lack of empathy. It was a nickname given to him by his own people in Konoha.

What if Orochimaru killed Might Duy?

"Ran-kun," Orochimaru's snake-like eyes fixed on the jonin. "You've opposed me three times now."

A strong killing intent emanated from Orochimaru, enveloping Ran.

The intense pressure made it difficult for him to move freely.

Ran's fingers twitched, but he did not resist and lowered his head.

"Ran, I know you don't want me to go to the front lines, but I can't just sit back and do nothing while the village is in danger," Might Duy said, raising his thumb in a gesture of determination.

"For the sake of the village, I am willing."

At that moment, even those who had been mocking Might Duy couldn't help but lower their heads.

Orochimaru clapped, smiling.

"A very moving speech, Duy-kun, but if you can't earn my approval, I won't let you go to the front lines."

Orochimaru found it increasingly difficult to empathize with these people.

There was a time when he would have been deeply moved.

Now, he just couldn't understand.

Why would someone willingly throw away their fragile life?

"I understand, Orochimaru-sama. I will give it my all," Might Duy nodded seriously.

He believed that to impress a powerful elite jonin like Orochimaru, he might have to open the Death Gate. Unfortunately, he could only manage up to the sixth gate, a feat he achieved thanks to the second stage of Basic Inner Technique.

However, he only needed to gain Orochimaru's recognition.

Orochimaru waved his hand, and instantly, everyone around moved aside, creating space for the two to fight.

"Then I'm coming! Orochimaru-sama!"

Might Duy crossed his arms in front of his face, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Eight Gates: Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit!"

"Gate of View, Six Gates: Open!"

Deep green chakra burst forth from Might Duy, swirling around him like a powerful whirlwind.

His skin turned red from the blood rushing through his veins.

"What an incredible amount of chakra!"

Orochimaru's eyes widened in astonishment. Such explosive chakra— it was almost like a tailed beast's.

"Prelude to Youthful Power!"

In an instant, Might Duy's figure vanished, appearing before Orochimaru in the blink of an eye, launching a flying kick.

The powerful kick hit Orochimaru, shattering him into a flurry of dirt that scattered in all directions.

Earth Substitution Jutsu!

The real Orochimaru emerged from the ground, his legs transforming into snake tails.

His hands reached out toward Might Duy.

"Striking Shadow Snake!" Several large snakes appeared around him.

Just as Might Duy landed, the snake swarm coiled around him.

"Rankyaku! Youthful Dance!"

Might Duy's legs moved in a blur, producing rapid kicks, each sending out a green crescent-shaped energy blade.

The snake swarm was instantly reduced to bloody chunks.

Might Duy safely escaped.

"Rankyaku!?"

Orochimaru immediately recognized it as one of Jin's taijutsu techniques.

The technique involved generating tremendous kinetic energy with the legs, concentrating a large amount of chakra, and creating a vacuum slash. It required high levels of skill and chakra control.

Seeing the incoming slashes, Orochimaru's body was sliced open.

However, the upper half of his body split wide open, and a slick, wet Orochimaru emerged from within.

Orochimaru Style Body Substitution Jutsu.

He threw a shuriken, quickly forming hand seals.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

The single shuriken multiplied into a swarm, filling the air as they flew toward Might Duy, leaving no gaps for escape.

The sheer number of shuriken left no room to dodge.

Might Duy, facing the oncoming shuriken, began punching rapidly. The friction between his fists and the air caused a burning reaction, creating a barrage of fiery shockwaves that met the shuriken head-on.

"This move is called Morning Peacock!!"

It was a solution he had improvised based on Rankyaku.

The countless shockwaves clashed with the shuriken, and for a moment, they were evenly matched.

The shuriken's advance was halted.

Orochimaru then opened his mouth wide, unleashing a torrent of snakes onto the ground.

"Ten Thousand Snakes Wave!"

The ground was quickly overrun by the snake swarm, and each snake lifted its head, revealing sword blades from their mouths. Soon, all the snakes spat out sword blades.

Might Duy pushed off the ground with such force that he seemed to step on air, leaping high into the sky.

"Geppo! Running Youth!"

Orochimaru's smile widened. Might Duy continued to surprise him more and more.

Geppo was one of Jin's most difficult taijutsu techniques. Although it was classified as a B-rank jutsu, its difficulty level was closer to an A-rank due to the extreme speed and strength requirements.

Even Orochimaru's body wasn't suited for it.

"However, it seems Jin himself can't use it this freely."

But there was no time for further thought.

Might Duy was already airborne, moving so fast that even Orochimaru could barely keep up with his eyes.

Might Duy reached Orochimaru, executing a spinning kick that landed squarely on Orochimaru's chest. His foot easily pierced through Orochimaru's torso.

Might Duy's pupils contracted.

Orochimaru's upper torso was filled with intertwining snakes. Might Duy's kick severed many of the coiled serpents.

Simultaneously, Orochimaru's elongated body coiled around Might Duy's leg, his mouth revealing a long sword that extended rapidly.

"Whoosh!" The sword sliced through the air.

A drop of blood fell.

Might Duy tilted his head back, a cut appearing on his forehead as his other leg delivered a powerful kick to Orochimaru's body, using the recoil to quickly distance himself.

The countless serpents within Orochimaru's body disintegrated into blood mist, only to be replaced by more snakes that reassembled Orochimaru's form.

Far away, Might Duy landed, noticing that the snake swarm had vanished.

He placed his hands on the ground, his right leg bent slightly forward, and his left leg extended straight behind him.

"Orochimaru-sama, this will be my final attack."

Might Duy could no longer sustain the Six Gates.

"This move is named after my son, and it's my strongest attack."

"I'm looking forward to it," said Orochimaru, eagerly anticipating Might Duy's next move.

The ground beneath Might Duy began to crack.

The green chakra flow around him started to swell, as if trying to form something. But due to insufficient chakra, it didn't fully manifest.

In the next moment.

The ground shattered, and Might Duy shot forward.

He flew toward Orochimaru, the green chakra around him forming a dragon-like shape.

The air ripped and roared.

"Gai!!"

(End of Chapter)