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Inoiki stood his ground, his sharp gaze locked onto Shiore. His voice was steady but tinged with suspicion as he spoke. "Such overwhelming killing intent... Who are you? You can't possibly be just a Genin from Kusagakure. This level of malice is far beyond even most Jonin. And your adept use of the Summoning Technique—snakes, no less. Tell me, what is your connection to Orochimaru?"
He was testing the waters. While Inoiki knew the truth—that the man before him was Orochimaru himself—he couldn't reveal his knowledge so openly. That knowledge came from being a reincarnator, someone privy to the events of this world's future. But he needed to tread carefully. Confronting Orochimaru directly with this knowledge could create dangerous questions.
Shiore tilted his head slightly, a sinister smile curling his lips. "Oh, you're quite the sharp one, aren't you?" he said, his voice carrying an air of amusement. "It seems the snakes I sent to intercept you weren't much of a challenge. How impressive."
Despite the compliment, there was no real weight behind Orochimaru's words. His tone was casual, dismissive. To him, Inoiki was merely an intriguing nuisance—nothing more.
Without waiting for a response, Shiore's expression darkened, and his arm shot forward. "Let's see how you handle this," he said.
In an instant, four snakes burst from his sleeve, their scales glistening in the dim light. The serpents moved with incredible speed, their fangs bared as they lunged toward Inoiki. The attack was precise and calculated, a clear demonstration of Orochimaru's power.
Inoiki didn't flinch. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the incoming threat, his hand subtly twitching. Five kunai floated around him, their tips gleaming ominously. Controlled by his Psychokinesis, they hovered with deadly precision, ready to strike.
The battle had begun, and Inoiki knew he was now face-to-face with one of the most dangerous figures in the ninja world.
The five kunai moved with surgical precision, slicing through the attacking snakes in a flurry of sharp, metallic arcs. The severed serpents collapsed to the ground, lifeless, their scaled bodies twitching in defeat.
Orochimaru's smile twisted into something more sinister. "Impressive," he hissed. Without hesitation, he activated the Slithering Snake Mode, his body elongating and moving with inhuman speed. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance between them, his fist arcing toward Inoiki in a devastating strike.
But Inoiki was ready. Channeling his Psychokinesis, he projected a mental barrier in front of himself. Orochimaru's punch connected, the force rippling against the barrier. It held for a fraction of a second before shattering like fragile glass. Undeterred, Orochimaru pressed forward, launching another attack, his movements relentless.
Inoiki didn't flinch. As Orochimaru's fist neared, he sent his kunai hurtling toward him from all directions, their speed and precision forcing Orochimaru onto the defensive. Each blade spun and darted like predatory birds, their sharp edges gleaming. Orochimaru twisted and swerved, deflecting the attacks with effortless skill before retreating a few steps.
"You're full of surprises," Orochimaru said, his tone equal parts amusement and irritation.
Inoiki didn't give him time to regroup. Seizing the initiative, he dashed forward, his kunai forming a deadly ring around Orochimaru. The five blades spun faster and faster, creating a spiraling vortex that surrounded the rogue ninja. The edges of the kunai pointed inward, slicing and grazing Orochimaru's body in shallow cuts as they closed in, their movements like a cyclone of steel.
Blood began to trickle from Orochimaru's wounds, but before the attack could reach its deadly crescendo, he vanished. In his place was a wooden log, shredded into splinters as the kunai tore through it in an instant.
Inoiki narrowed his eyes. Substitution technique. The splintered remains of the log were a stark reminder of what could have happened if Orochimaru hadn't escaped.
The move Inoiki had just used—Phantom Spiral—was one he had created and perfected only a month ago. It was a technique designed to trap and shred his opponent in a relentless storm of blades, leaving no room for escape. But Orochimaru had slipped through, a testament to his skill and experience.
Across the clearing, Orochimaru reappeared, licking a cut on his right arm with a grotesque, serpentine tongue. His golden eyes gleamed with predatory delight. "Although I came to Konoha for Sasuke," he said, his voice smooth and menacing, "your unique Kekkei Genkai intrigues me. You'd make a fine specimen for my experiments."
Inoiki felt a chill run down his spine at the words, followed by a surge of anger that burned in his chest. His telekinetic grip on his kunai faltered, and they fell to the ground with a muted clatter. But this wasn't a surrender—it was a shift in tactics.
Fixing his gaze on Orochimaru, Inoiki focused every ounce of his mental strength at a single point. His Psychokinesis pulsed, invisible and powerful, and he unleashed a concentrated mental attack directly at Orochimaru's mind.
Orochimaru's smile faltered as a sharp, searing pain exploded in his head. "Ahhh!" he cried out, clutching his temples as he staggered back.
Inoiki stood firm, his eyes cold and unyielding. "You won't get what you came for," he said, his voice steady, though anger simmered beneath his calm exterior. "Not Sasuke. And definitely not me."
The battle was far from over, but for the first time, Orochimaru had been forced to take him seriously.
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