Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 316: Interested in Joining Me, Orochimaru?

As soon as Hagoromo Gengetsu completed his moves, another shadow clone rushed in, but it was instantly turned into white smoke upon contact with the boiling mist. Without sparing it a glance, Hagoromo Gengetsu clapped his hands together and unleashed:

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A fierce gale shot up towards the sky, intent on tearing apart the mist.

However, to his surprise, just as the Hidden Mist Technique began to show signs of dispersing, it quickly reformed and returned to its original state.

At this moment, not only was the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, putting all her effort into maintaining the Hidden Mist Technique, but several reanimated ninjas were continuously channeling chakra into her, sustaining her energy consumption.

Before Hagoromo Gengetsu could take further action, another opponent charged at him. Amid the fluttering of paper scraps, the assailant, ignoring their severe burns, clenched their fist and punched towards Hagoromo Gengetsu.

"Superhuman strength? No, it's Explosion Release!"

With the attacker so close, Hagoromo Gengetsu's Rinnegan scanned the vast amount of chakra gathering in the fist. It wasn't distributed like superhuman strength but rather was filled with the violent nature of Earth and Lightning Release chakra.

Hagoromo Gengetsu tilted his head, narrowly dodging the explosive fist. He glanced at the attacker—a man in black with spiky hair, wielding Explosion Release. Judging by his appearance, he was likely a member of the Iwagakure's Explosion Corps.

Hagoromo Gengetsu vaguely recalled seeing him among the reanimated forces; his name was likely "Shou."

"Trying to use these individuals to divert my attention?"

Before Shou could react further, Hagoromo Gengetsu reached out with his right hand, crushing Shou's head, and muttered indifferently.

Shou's headless body froze momentarily.

Just as Hagoromo Gengetsu was about to place a forbidden curse on him, a vine shot up from the ground, hurling Shou away. However, the vine quickly melted away under intense heat before it could retract.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Three sharp blades of light suddenly sliced through the air behind Hagoromo Gengetsu. Moonlight Hayate, his face marred by burns and cracks, launched a determined strike with his sword in a Crescent Moon Dance.

Hagoromo Gengetsu calmly observed this, extending his fingers to block and counter the strikes. With a single powerful slash, the real Moonlight Hayate was cut in two.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Almost instantly, several windmill shurikens charged with Magnet Release power whizzed towards Hagoromo Gengetsu from all directions.

Just as Hagoromo Gengetsu predicted, one after another, reanimated ninjas from outside the five Kage emerged, their movements guided by Flying Thunder God kunai and augmented by Byakugan and Yamanaka clan techniques, relentlessly attacking Hagoromo Gengetsu within the mist.

Although they caused little trouble, their strategy effectively divided his attention and drained his stamina.

"Interesting. So this is the method you've devised to deal with me?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu remarked calmly as he shattered half the body of a ninja he didn't recognize with a single punch.

While most of these reanimated opponents posed little threat, there were exceptions.

For instance, now.

"Fire Release: Explosive Flame Formation!"

As Hagoromo Gengetsu dodged, he shattered the throat of a competent taijutsu user and placed a sealing curse on them. Just as he shifted to a new location, an array of exploding tags ignited, latching onto his legs.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions rang out.

Amidst the lingering smoke, Hagoromo Gengetsu emerged, casually brushing the dust off his clothes, his only visible damage being slightly torn pant legs.

"Hanzō of the Salamander?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu narrowed his eyes as he looked towards the attacker.

Without the usual gas mask, Hanzō's figure flickered as he appeared in front of Hagoromo Gengetsu, swinging his sickle as he spoke:

"Didn't expect the famed Hagoromo Gengetsu to know my name."

As he spoke, Hanzō's body released toxic gas into the air through his breath. Upon exposure, Hagoromo Gengetsu felt a slight numbness throughout his body.

Even someone of his caliber couldn't completely ignore the effects of the poison, which made him wonder how much worse it would be for others facing Hanzō of the Salamander.

Clang!

But quickly, the numbness subsided as Hagoromo Gengetsu casually drew a kunai, deflecting Hanzō's poison-coated sickle before reaching out to grab Hanzō's head.

Hanzō's face showed surprise, and in the next moment, his entire body turned into a puddle of water.

Reappearing on the other side of Hagoromo Gengetsu, Hanzō continued his assault with his sickle, the kunai and sickle clashing fiercely.

As sparks flew, the two figures collided at high speed.

Hanzō's proficiency with the Water Body Technique allowed him to maintain the upper hand temporarily, though he remained on the defensive. Thanks to the mist's cover, he managed to avoid falling like the others.

Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't pay much attention to Hanzō. After dispersing Hanzō into water once again with a punch, he inquired:

"I'm curious, why would someone from Amegakure fight so hard for the Five Great Shinobi Villages?"

Hanzō continued his attacks but replied with resentment, "It's not by choice! A vile person is controlling me from behind. Who would've thought the Five Great Shinobi Villages would stoop so low?"

"Oh?"

Hagoromo Gengetsu was somewhat surprised.

He had assumed that all reanimated individuals on the Allied Shinobi Forces' side could control themselves, but it seemed some were being manipulated.

It made sense; given that Hanzō wasn't from one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, it was only logical to have a safeguard.

Still, wasn't the intel that only the Five Great Shinobi Villages' own ninjas were reanimated?

Now even outsiders were being summoned and forcibly controlled?

Indeed, once a line is crossed, there's no limit to how far it can go.

For a ninja like Hanzō, known as the "Demi-God," both the Five Great Shinobi Villages and Orochimaru wouldn't pass up the opportunity.

"Orochimaru, why not show yourself and say hello?"

After repelling Hanzō again, Hagoromo Gengetsu, now familiar with the pattern of Hanzō's Water Body Technique, smiled slightly as he addressed the thick white mist surrounding him.

As his voice faded, a towering figure emerged from the mist. This time, Hanzō didn't immediately attack but instead spoke:

"We meet again, Hagoromo-senpai."

Although the words came from Hanzō, the voice was distinctly Orochimaru's raspy tone.

Casually deflecting incoming kunai and shuriken from other directions, Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at Hanzō.

Knowing that Orochimaru was observing him through Hanzō's eyes, he sighed:

"Orochimaru, you're really hard to kill."

Orochimaru chuckled politely, replying, "Thank you for the compliment, Hagoromo-senpai."

"Interested in joining me? Under my name, Orochimaru, you'll gain freedom and safety," Hagoromo Gengetsu offered.

As the caster of the reanimation jutsu for the Allied Shinobi Forces, if Orochimaru genuinely wished to defect, Hagoromo Gengetsu wouldn't hesitate to honor his promise.

However, it was clear that Orochimaru only trusted himself and never believed in others' promises. He certainly wouldn't want his life to be in someone else's hands in the years to come.

"There's still the matter of our unresolved feud, Hagoromo-senpai," Orochimaru laughed softly, refusing the offer.

"And besides, Hagoromo-senpai, don't waste your energy trying to find my true location. I won't give you the chance."

With those words, Orochimaru ceased possessing Hanzō.

This rendered Hagoromo Gengetsu's effort to trace Orochimaru's chakra back to his true location fruitless.

He shook his head.

It was merely a casual attempt; he wasn't disappointed.

"Since that's the case, you're of no use anymore."

Hagoromo Gengetsu coldly observed the oncoming Hanzō, extending his hand forward.

(Support me and read additional chapters on my Patreon: [email protected]/craxxtranslation. Leave a positive review if you've enjoyed it so far. Thank you for your support!)