Legendary Battle

Orochimaru was really not happy to be part taking in this mission with his former squad mates. In reality he found them unsuitable to be ninja.

The level of morality and higher than thou grand standing they had acquired from their Sensei was nauseating. Unlike himself who knew such idiotic restrictions kept them away from progress, they were all to happy to continue the old mans non sense. Jiraiya in particular was a lost cause, to think such potential was wasted because of an old man demanding peace at all costs. If it was even remotely his Sensei's true dream, he should simply conquer all the other villages and make them submit to the rule of Konoha. Only then would true peace be achieved.

How did such simple logic escape someone famed for his intellect?

Regardless Orochimaru took the mission as was expected of him. Playing the simpleton ninja who follows orders blindly grants you a lot less suspicion when you do unsavory things. For example he managed to get his hands on some of the Uzumaki corpses from Danzo recently that allowed for experimentation. His research into the Hozuki bloodline also began shortly after there so called alliance with Kiri. The sample from Gengetsu Hozuki's corpse he had managed to acquire had provided great progress into providing himself a jutsu similar to Hydrification.

The most surprising thing in these last few years really had been the introduction of the boy known as Ren. For reasons Orochimaru could not personally place he felt that Ren's existence was corrupting Tsunade. Others may not notice the fact but the same glint that appeared in his own eyes while performing research appeared not only on Ren but Tsunade as well. If she could see the light of research while focusing on medical ninjutsu , they could eventually cooperate with each other and bring forth a being with eternal life. Orochimaru was sure of it. Approaching her could wait however as he needed sufficient research to present to reach a balanced negotiation.

These were Orochimarus thoughts as the stare down between four colossal beasts was taking place. As Orochimaru gazed at the man he assumed to be Hanzo of the Salamander he was in all honesty underwhelmed. The man seemed to have a large chakra reserve and was renown for his Taijutsu particularly when wielding his scythe. Stronger than that was his use of poison which as long as Tsunade was present was as of little to no worth. Dissecting this useless garbage would not be worth it. If any Taijutsu master warranted dissection it would be the man known as Konohas Green Beast, Duy. The man was said to have supernatural strength even for shinobi, what a glorious specimen.

"Manda kill them and see if you can steal the beasts poison."

"Weakling this will cost you a lot of blood. Are you sure you can pay?"

"Of course now lets get this over with."

As Manda rushed forward in a direct path that would lead face to face with the giant Salamander, Gamabunta could be seen leaping into the air above the beast with his Tanto aiming to pierce not only the beast but its rider. Katsuyu was already spreading some clones to Orochimarus and Jiraiya's future positions, while also seeming to flank the Salamander from behind.

Jiraiya atop Gamabunta also could be seen preparing a large scale jutsu from what Orochimaru could tell. It seemed like a waste of chakra and resources to Orochimaru but the fool would continue to be show off until death it seems. Either way as the fool would not be so serious for no reason he began to prepare a defensive jutsu just in case.

This would prove to be one of his most intelligent choices in quite some time.

As Gamabunta's Tanto was approaching Hanzo of the Salamander the man casually raised his hand and caught the blade with his hand after a very small amount of blood could be seen slipping down his raised arm. In one fluid motion he threw his scythe towards Manda and threw Gamabunta who was still trying to push down the Tanto towards his back. The bastard had blocked off Tsunade and Katsuyu who were preparing to use Katsuyu's potent acid against him.

This impressed Orochimaru. The mans combat awareness was high but throwing some silly scythe at Manda was foolish. They would simply dodge the blade and approach the bastard and his beast.

The Salamander beneath Hanzo seemed to be taking a large breath, most likely preparing his poison, so Orochimaru was determining where to release the Rashomon he was preparing to block the beast's breath. Which is why he didn't notice what was quickly approaching Manda was not a scythe but a rather large Kurasigama. Using the Kurasigamas chain to pull him forward Hanzo had already closed the gap and pulled the Kurasigama blade to himself once more which after doing a flip mid air he released again. This time the Kurasigama was too close to Orochimaru and Manda and it collided and tore into Manda's left side.

Noticing the danger Orochimaru released his Rashomon gates as close to the Salamanders maw as he could and quickly jumped off Manda. Another wise decision as Hanzo used his Kurasigama to propel himself to the location he once stood and punched down with such force that Manda seemed to crumple in on himself.

Luckily it seemed Jiraiya was not a complete buffoon as he was flung back with Gamabunta the two coordinated an attack mid air. Gamabunta used a Toad Oil Bullet on the Salamander not only locking the annoying beast in place but coating it in oil which Jiraiya quickly supported with Fire Release: Flame Bullet. If Orochimaru remembered the oafs words correctly he called it Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet. Orochimaru was loathe to admit it but it was a fearsome and effective technique despite the rather simple thought process required to create it.

Tsunade was quickly approaching his own position while Katsuyu was closing in on the Salamander. Katsuyu could not only further bind the beast but Tsunade could assist himself in dealing with Hanzo's colossal strength. Well at least if he didn't kill this annoying bastard before she arrived.

Performing a single handed spinning hand stand Orochimaru quickly threw several kunai at Hanzo that the silly boor seemed to have allowed to make impact. Orochimaru was wary when he saw this and believed it to be a substitution technique so decided to look around his surroundings. Unfortunately this was where his wise decisions ended as he turned his eyesight away from Hanzo the man had not only reached him but already swung his powerful fist toward him.

Hoping to mitigate the damage Orochimaru began to raise his arm to parry the blow. Hanzo's speed did not allow him to complete his guarding motion but he managed to move enough that instead of taking the punch directly to the chest he took it near his shoulder. In Orochimarus mind this would still allow him to offset the impact and due to his snake like flexibility bsorb the shock to not receive to much physical damage. Mistake number two.

Staring at the gap where his shoulder and arm once connected for the first time in his life Orochimaru was horrified. Through his research he knew a shinobi's physiology allowed for them to shrug of several tons of force. Taking even Tsunades ridiculous physical strength, where she could crush mountains, it could still be mitigated by many Jonin and even some chunin could withstand her monstrous strength. Yet in this moment the man known as Hanzo simply punched through him.

Orochimaru quickly retreated from Hanzo but he could not stop staring at his arm sitting in the pool of blood ahead of him.

How in the world was this possible?

By virtue of his body modifications alone such a thing should be infinitesimally improbable to occur. Per his research no ninja alive should be capable of such a feat let alone this bastard from some backwater village with minimal high level jutsu. It mattered little when the poison set in he would dissect this arrogant prick and work on achieving the same phenomenal strength for himself.

That's when Orochimaru noticed another problem.

Hanzo had been pierced by five kunai containing extremely paralytic poison and anesthesia. One kunai could take down most Jonin but the man allowed five to pierce him directly to his torso. Currently on the mans torso were none of the five kunai but more than that not a single pierce mark could be seen on his body. Noting that his kunai now on the floor were definitely coated in blood...

Orochimaru began to wonder if his death would come today.