Chapter 39 The Wound On The Back Is A Swordsman’S Shame

After Naruto successfully resolved his own predicament, he hurried back to the front lines alongside Zoro. There, Sasuke found himself facing Orochimaru alone, perilously close to defeat. Despite Orochimaru's use of Armament Haki to protect himself and avoid leaving a curse mark on Sasuke, it was evident to any discerning observer that Sasuke's defeat was imminent.

On the other hand, Orochimaru seemed to be effortlessly handling the situation. With great interest, he extracted the Kusanagi sword from his mouth and engaged in swordsmanship with Sasuke, each clash echoing loudly.

However, Orochimaru's amusement was cut short when he noticed Naruto approaching with another individual.

"The game is over!" Orochimaru declared, no longer interested in prolonging the fight with Sasuke. He aimed to strike Sasuke in the back with the Kusanagi sword, only to be intercepted by Zoro at the last moment. Zoro blocked the attack with the Wadou Ichimonji, proclaiming, "A wound on the back is a swordsman's shame!"

Unfazed, Orochimaru grinned proudly, remarking, "Sorry, but in the presence of predators, prey usually scurries around!"

"Sasuke, are you okay?" Naruto's voice rang out, prompting Sasuke's body to collapse. He knelt on the ground, exhausted from the intense battle with Orochimaru, a formidable opponent at Kage level. Sasuke remained vigilant, knowing he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

His nerves were taut, constantly on edge, and his Armament Haki was actively engaged, depleting his Chakra reserves. Every action was fueled by sheer determination and willpower.

"Naruto, take Sasuke down to rest first, and leave this guy to me!" Zoro declared, his expression grave as he prepared to confront Orochimaru.

"Be careful!" Naruto responded earnestly, assisting Sasuke to his feet and promising to return to aid Zoro later.

With Sasuke in tow, Naruto vanished in an instant, leaving Orochimaru to observe Zoro with keen interest, neither halting nor hindering their departure.

"May I have your name?" Orochimaru inquired.

"Roronoa Zoro," came the firm reply.

"Hmm, then, Roronoa Zoro, are you sure you want to stand in front of me?" Orochimaru's tongue slithered out to taste the Kusanagi sword.

Zoro remained silent but pulled a bandana from his pocket, tying it securely around his head. Gripping his sword with both hands, he bit down on the third blade hovering in the air. His body tensed, legs slightly bent, ready for action.

The message was clear.

Orochimaru's expression turned colder, his smile taking on an eerie quality. "Another brat who doesn't know how high the sky is. Don't regret it when you die!"

With a swift movement, Zoro unleashed his attack, the Three Swordsman Style·Ghost Slashing, as his response to Orochimaru's challenge.

Zoro, having built up momentum, shot forward like a slingshot, his three blades swirling in the air, filling the sky with their luminous arcs.

Each blade seemed to move independently but followed a precise pattern. The two knives held in his hands formed a protective barrier in front of his body, always ready to deflect any counterattack. Meanwhile, the third blade, clenched between his teeth, attacked from unexpected angles, denying Orochimaru any chance to find a safe spot.

As Zoro closed in, the three blades struck with deadly precision, delivering devastating secondary damage.

His assault was swift and ferocious, reminiscent of a tiger unleashed from its cage.

Though Orochimaru possessed superior strength and speed, Zoro's skillful swordplay and preemptive strikes granted him a fleeting advantage, forcing Orochimaru onto the defensive and exhausting him in the process.

Killer Bee: "Impressive, he's really mastered the three-sword style!"

Killer Bee: "I sensed something special about him from the start. A true swordsman needs courage to advance. I've got high hopes for him!"

Rasa: This Roronoa Zoro guy isn't just some pushover. He's got serious skills!"

Tsunade: "Hmm?"

Tsunade: "Rasa, if you feel threatened, just blink!"

Jiraiya: "Hey, does anyone know who taught Zoro his swordsmanship? He's a real talent. Honestly, the last time I saw someone handle a sword like that was Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo. It's been a while."

Terumi Mei: "If I recall correctly, besides training at the Mist Shinobi Ninja School, Zoro also attended a kendo class called Isshin Gym after school."

Terumi Mei: "The owner, I believe his name is Shimotsuki Koshiro."

Shimotsuki Koshiro.

The name resonated throughout the ninja world, leaving an indelible mark. Today's ninja world truly is full of hidden talents.

You have to keep your eyes open, otherwise, if you offend someone you shouldn't one day, you won't even know how you'll die.

Faced with Zoro's continuous slashing blades, Orochimaru just retreated and retreated, dodging dozens of moves in succession.

It seems Orochimaru is at a disadvantage.

Actually...

The balance of victory has gradually tilted in Orochimaru's favor.

The gap between their levels is quite significant.

Zoro's current fighting strength is enough to take on even Jōnin. However, due to bad luck, he encountered a Kage-level strongman!

However...

Facing such an invincible opponent...

Most people would feel desperate, discouraged, and wonder why Naruto is moving so slowly.

But Zoro is different.

He becomes more... excited!

Now...

Zoro clearly feels he's secreting a lot of adrenaline, boosting his strength, speed, vision, and reactions to 200%, entering the legendary "ZONE" state!

His eyes gleam with a strange light.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

Orochimaru shows a slightly interested expression and admonishes, "You're overdrawing your life. If you continue like this, you'll really die!"

Zoro bites the handle of his knife, making a dull sound, "Of course I know, but there's no need for you to meddle. When I decided to become the strongest swordsman, I put life and death aside long ago. You want to say that I'm stupid? It doesn't matter, because this is my own choice."

Finished...

Zoro takes a deep breath, gives up the third knife in his mouth, and holds the knife with both hands instead.

He prepares to use his strongest move that he's practiced for many years!

"Starburst Stream"

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