Chapter 254: Orochimaru Tempted by Immortality
Naruto slowly raised his head.
Or rather, the one now looking through Naruto's eyes was Asuramaru.
Those brilliant crimson pupils settled on Orochimaru.
A proud smile touched his lips.
"So this is your method."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
Asuramaru continued.
"You transfer your soul from one body to another in pursuit of eternal life."
His gaze held open disdain.
"It certainly extends your lifespan, but the drawbacks are enormous."
"To call such a crude method immortality is almost laughable."
Orochimaru's expression changed.
For the first time since appearing in the Forest of Death, genuine shock crossed his face.
Living Corpse Reincarnation.
That technique was one of his greatest secrets.
He had never explained it to Naruto.
He had never mentioned it during this battle.
Yet the being in front of him had seen through the principle behind it almost immediately.
Orochimaru became far more cautious.
"You are not Uzumaki Naruto."
His golden eyes carefully studied the boy's crimson gaze.
Then understanding slowly appeared.
"Let me guess."
His smile returned, though there was more vigilance behind it now.
"You are the consciousness within that sword."
Asuramaru gave a small nod.
"Correct."
Then he added casually,
"But there's no prize for guessing."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered.
He remained outwardly composed.
"That is unfortunate."
His interest, however, had only deepened.
"Then perhaps you can satisfy my curiosity instead."
"Who are you?"
"And where did you come from?"
Orochimaru paused before asking the question that truly mattered.
"You also called Living Corpse Reincarnation crude."
His smile widened.
"Does that mean you know a superior path to immortality?"
Asuramaru did not attack immediately.
Naruto's body needed every second it could get to stabilize.
So he answered.
"My name is Asuramaru."
"Whether that means anything to you is irrelevant."
Orochimaru silently repeated the name in his mind.
Asuramaru.
It felt strangely familiar.
He could not remember where he had heard it.
"As for immortality…"
Asuramaru smiled.
"For me, achieving it is extremely simple."
That was not arrogance.
Within Asuramaru's accumulated abilities were more than a few methods that could extend existence beyond an ordinary lifespan.
Kenjaku's method of transferring his brain into other bodies.
Ryomen Sukuna's ability to divide and preserve the soul.
And those were merely two examples.
Then the system interrupted.
[Ding! Would the host like to purchase Muzan Kibutsuji's blood?]
[I collected a considerable amount in the past.]
[Special offer: one hundred emotion points per drop.]
[Infectious properties will be removed. Each drop will affect only one designated individual.]
Asuramaru's eye twitched.
Even during this?
"System."
His irritation was immediate.
"Will you die if you stop trying to sell me things for five minutes?"
The system went silent.
Asuramaru felt even more annoyed.
Now there was nowhere to direct his frustration.
Orochimaru, unaware of the exchange, had become completely captivated by one phrase.
Immortality was extremely simple.
Those words struck directly at the obsession that had shaped his entire life.
Why did Orochimaru seek eternal life?
Because one human lifespan was too short.
There were too many ninjutsu in the world.
Too many mysteries.
Too many secrets hidden within chakra, bloodlines, souls, and life itself.
He wanted time.
Enough time to learn everything.
Enough time to understand everything.
If Asuramaru truly possessed a superior method of immortality…
Then this encounter might be more valuable than Orochimaru had ever imagined.
He smiled.
"In that case, perhaps you would be willing to enlighten me."
"What is this superior method of yours?"
Asuramaru looked at him.
Then laughed.
"What makes you think I would tell you?"
Orochimaru's smile stiffened slightly.
Asuramaru placed one hand on the hilt of Ryūjin Jakka.
"We've wasted enough time."
His crimson eyes sharpened.
"Are you ready to die?"
Orochimaru's amusement disappeared.
His posture changed immediately.
He no longer regarded the opponent before him as a talented child.
Whatever Asuramaru was, he had wounded Orochimaru's soul, seen through Living Corpse Reincarnation, and possessed knowledge that should have been impossible for Naruto to obtain.
Underestimating such a being would be idiotic.
Asuramaru lowered his center of gravity.
Naruto's body was the problem.
Asuramaru possessed countless powerful abilities, but most would place too much strain on his current vessel.
He needed techniques Naruto's body could survive.
Breathing Styles.
Certain Cursed Techniques.
Abilities that relied more on precision than overwhelming output.
Asuramaru drew in a breath.
Lightning exploded.
Crackle!
Golden arcs wrapped around Naruto's body.
The earth beneath his feet fractured.
Sakura and Anko both turned toward him in shock.
Asuramaru's hand closed around Ryūjin Jakka.
"Thunder Breathing: First Form."
Lightning screamed across the sword.
"Godspeed: Chidori!"
Boom!
The ground burst apart.
Asuramaru vanished.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
"So fast!"
He had no time to evade normally.
His hands flashed through seals.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"
Invisible wind slashes tore through the forest.
Trees split.
Branches fell.
The cutting currents converged on Asuramaru.
He did not slow down.
Ryūjin Jakka swept forward.
The incoming wind attacks shattered against the sword.
The next instant, Asuramaru was already in front of Orochimaru.
Slash!
Orochimaru's head flew into the air.
But almost before the severed body fell, its mouth opened.
A new Orochimaru emerged from within.
He landed several metres away and immediately used his strange flexible body to flee across the ground like a serpent.
His mind raced.
That movement was astonishingly fast.
But speed like that had a weakness.
At that velocity, changing direction should be extremely difficult.
All he had to do was evade the initial line of attack.
Then the opponent would need time to stop.
Asuramaru's foot touched the ground.
Orochimaru's eyes widened.
Asuramaru turned immediately.
No pause.
No loss of balance.
Lightning erupted again.
He came straight back.
Orochimaru lunged sideways.
Ryūjin Jakka passed close enough to cut his clothing.
Asuramaru landed.
"Sixfold."
Lightning roared.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Orochimaru twisted between the attacks.
Four.
A slash opened his shoulder.
Five.
Another cut appeared across his ribs.
Six.
Ryūjin Jakka nearly reached his throat.
Orochimaru barely escaped.
Then Asuramaru stopped.
His breathing remained controlled.
Naruto's body did not.
The muscles in his legs were already beginning to tear.
The bones were nearing their limit.
Another burst at the same intensity would likely shatter the leg completely.
Healing could repair the damage.
But not before Orochimaru exploited the opening.
Orochimaru noticed.
Blood ran from several cuts across his body, yet his smile returned.
"So that's the weakness."
His gaze moved over Naruto's trembling legs.
"This child's body cannot support your real strength."
Asuramaru did not bother denying it.
"Correct."
Orochimaru seemed surprised by the straightforward answer.
Asuramaru had another reason to remain calm.
His Perception had already detected someone approaching.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And he was moving quickly.
Orochimaru raised the Kusanagi Sword.
"Then what will you do next?"
His tongue slid across his lips.
"I'm becoming more interested with every passing moment."
Asuramaru smiled.
"Then let's stop wasting time."
Another sword appeared in his free hand.
Orochimaru's expression sharpened.
Asuramaru adjusted his stance.
One sword in each hand.
His breathing changed.
Heat surged.
Flames erupted from both swords.
The fire expanded around him, twisting and gathering until it formed the shape of a massive dragon.
It wrapped tightly around Naruto's body.
The blazing creature raised its head.
Orochimaru stared.
There was something deeply strange about these abilities.
No conventional chakra transformation.
No hand seals.
No familiar ninjutsu structure.
Yet the power was undeniable.
Asuramaru stepped forward.
"Hinokami Kagura."
The flaming dragon surged with him.
"Esoteric Art: Purgatory Dragon!"
Roar!
The dragon of fire charged through the forest.
Trees ignited along its path.
Heat distorted the air.
Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly.
"That truly is frightening."
His expression remained composed.
Compared with the previous lightning attack, however, this was easier to avoid.
Fast attacks were troublesome.
Large visible attacks gave him time.
Orochimaru used his replacement technique.
The blazing dragon swallowed his abandoned body.
Fire erupted across the clearing.
Boom!
Smoke and dust covered everything.
Orochimaru appeared safely outside the blast.
A smug smile returned to his face.
Powerful.
But predictable.
Then a voice came from within the smoke.
"Dismantle."
Orochimaru's smile vanished.
His instincts screamed.
He moved immediately.
Too late.
Something invisible crossed the battlefield.
Slash!
Blood sprayed.
Orochimaru's right arm separated from his body.
His eyes widened.
"What?"
The severed arm fell to the ground.
Orochimaru jumped backward and stared into the smoke.
No projectile.
No visible chakra.
No sword arc.
Nothing.
An invisible attack.
His expression finally became truly serious.
The mysteries surrounding Asuramaru were piling up faster than Orochimaru could analyze them.
A sword that attacked the soul.
A transformation that amplified Naruto's power.
Techniques that did not resemble ninjutsu.
Lightning movement with impossible acceleration.
A strange style of fire swordsmanship.
And now invisible slashes.
Orochimaru's desire to understand Asuramaru had become almost overwhelming.
But curiosity did not require recklessness.
He had already accomplished his original goal.
The Cursed Seal was on Sasuke.
There would be other opportunities.
And Konoha Shinobi would soon arrive.
Continuing to fight here would only increase the risk.
Orochimaru looked once more toward the smoke.
Then he vanished with Body Flicker.
He left without another word.
Several seconds passed.
The dust slowly cleared.
Asuramaru emerged.
Naruto's body looked terrible.
Blood covered his clothes.
Muscle fibres had torn beneath the skin.
His legs trembled under his weight.
Numerous wounds had opened simply from forcing the body through movements it was never built to perform.
Anko stared at him.
Sakura did the same.
Neither knew what to say.
They had both witnessed Naruto fight before.
But this had not been Naruto.
That much was obvious.
The posture.
The voice.
The crimson eyes.
The techniques.
Everything had changed.
Only one question remained in both their minds.
Who was Asuramaru?
Asuramaru briefly examined Naruto's condition.
Badly damaged.
But alive.
That was enough.
He released control.
The crimson color vanished from Naruto's eyes.
His body immediately lost all strength.
Naruto closed his eyes.
Then fell forward.
Thud.
He struck the cracked earth and lay motionless.
"Naruto!"
Sakura rushed toward him.
Anko turned sharply toward the forest.
Several chakra signatures were approaching at high speed.
A moment later, figures burst into the clearing.
ANBU.
And at their head was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage had finally arrived.
....
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