Chapter 41: Forest of Death II
The shadowy figure stood on the branch, immobile, imperturbable, the only indication that it was alive and not an illusion or a statue was the movement of it's breathing, instead of panicking and blindingly running away, I took the few seconds before the combat to compose myself, analyzing the surroundings to determine the advantages and restrictions the battlefield provided, the humidity in the air would provide me with enough water to produce Water Style Jutsus, but the terrain would make it difficult for Earth Style, it was a closed area the game should relay in agility more than in speed, short sprints and constant changes of height and terrain between branches and ground level.
The shadowy figure, flickered from the branch it was standing, it punched me in the gut, instead of being sent flying my figure transformed in electricity, stunning my attacker with the Lighting Style Substitution Jutsu, I reappeared above it, threw a senbon at it that landed in the shoulder, somehow it was able to end the effect sooner than I expected, the figure turned around finally revealing its face, it was none other than Orochimaru, the way it looked at me made me remember yesterday stalker, making me flinch by instinct, he took the opportunity, extending his left arm, he grappled me, his arm constricting my body, he pulled me closer until we met face to face.
"You have talent, but you lack strength" Orochimaru said, sending a shiver through my body, for the first time I was afraid of death, I felt his Chakra trying to disturb the flow on my brain "interesting, you are not only good at it, but you can dispel Genjutsu, before it affects you" he laughed at his comment, happy of his findings "I have the perfect gift for you, the Uchiha has the Heaven Seal, but you seem to be better suited for the Earth Seal" He tightened his grapple, pulled me even closer, I felt his breath on my neck, and then he pierced my skin and muscles with his teeth.
Sadly for him, it was just a Genjutsu, he didn't realize that I didn't prevent his Jutsu from influencing me, I reflected, the special ability of my skill Iron Will activated at the last moment, he was biting his own arm, while I managed to release myself in those few seconds, but the pain brought him back to reality, I was unable to buy me enough time to escape, my only option was to keep stalling, I raised one arm to the sky and the other to my face.
"Water Style Hidden Mist Jutsu" I said, while the fog spread around me, I knew that he will have a hard time locating me using his eyes, but if he is as close to a snake as I think he is, he should have a way to replicate the special organ they have to sense my presence, since I couldn't see him as well, instead of attacking him blindly or trying to find the sound of his breath and heart, I created multiple Real Illusions, replicating my odor and taste in different zones of the around the area of the Hidden Mist, giving me enough time to run away.
I thought that I managed to fool his plans, but a Giant Snake, definitely a summoning beast he prepared beforehand, ambushed me, cutting my escape route, it wasn't too difficult to deal with it, but Orochimaru was now aware of my location, he caught up almost immediately, I dodged the Giant Snake ram, jumping in the air, but Orochimaru was waiting for me to make a follow-up attack, releasing whip-like snakes from his arm, he tried to capture me, but this time I had time to counter both of my attackers.
"Storm Style Laser Senbon" three glowing balls appeared around me, sending needles in all directions, the Giant Snake, had thousands of holes and cuts caused by the needles, with burn marks caused by the nature of the attack, Orochimaru was able to react, sacrificing the whip-like snakes, he dodged at the last second by covering himself behind a tree trunk.
"You are full of surprises" he said, laughing at my efforts "I was able to corroborate your strength, it is time to end the games" something pulled me from the air to a branch, it was Orochimaru's arm, making sure I was unable to move, my head slammed against the branch leaving me dizzy, Orochimaru's face popping from under me, phasing through the tree, this time it was impossible for me to escape, once again he aimed for my neck this time succeeding.
"When I'm done, you will become stronger, you will thank me for this, and you will search for me willingly, and I'll be there waiting for you with open arms" he said, pouring his Chakra, into the wound, trying to brand me with the Cursed Seal.
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{Orochimaru POV}
I finally completed both of my objectives, the Saske Uchiha was given the Cursed Seal of Heaven and my back-up plan Kenji Yūhi was in the middle of receiving the Cursed Seal of Earth, but this time something is different, sometimes people struggle, trying to release themselves by force, others try to resist my Chakra fighting with their own, but there is something different with Kenji.
"I won't let you do as you please Orochimaru" Kenji said, I'm glad the people from Konoha are teaching the new generation about me even as an enemy, instead of the hero I was once for them "You will never have me" everyone says the same, is a shame they always fail to stop me, but something change, something was burning me.
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{Kenji POV}
I have to stop him somehow, I can feel the influence of the Seal already corroding my sense of self, corrupting my thinking and my values, his greed, his ambitions, his hatred and obsession were becoming part of me; I tried using my physical strength, but unless I open the Fourth Gate, I doubt I will be able to overpower him, but that will leave me tired and weak, defenseless against anything else and won't guarantee my freedom, the other option is to kill myself, but I would like to avoid that, and knowing him, is not a real option, my Chakra was unable to fight against him, I think is accelerating the assimilation rate of the Seal, I have only one shot and is a big maybe.
"You will never have me" I said, I stopped the circulation of Chakra and instead coated my body with a Storm Flame layer, I concentrated all my Will, in surviving and destroying, I let the nature of the Storm take over me, soon the Cursed Seal stopped expanding, then I felt the corruption slowly dissipating, it was working, Orochimaru let me go in pain, his lips were hurt, the same wound I provoke when I coat my attacks with the Storm Flame, he wasn't mad about it, he was intrigued by the outcome, but there was a sound coming in our direction, making him leave the scene, lost consciousness after hearing a notification from the System.
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