The air shimmered with haste. A small ground had been cleared for their commander — black hair tied in a ponytail, a sharp jaw that added to his features. His eyes remained slitted, like a snake that had chosen its prey.
"Don't worry, boy. I'm not aiming to hurt you," his voice droned low. "Though I would like to see that swordsmanship I've heard so much about."
Kyojiro nodded, his eyes narrowing. 'Orochimaru... one of the most dangerous people in the Leaf. However, I should be fine for now.' His wariness was obvious, and it wasn't as if Kyojiro was being overly cautious.
The man — the Snake Sannin — must have already started some cruel experiments. The degree of cruelty would only increase in the future. Kyojiro's pupils dilated. 'Such a cruel person... one who didn't even spare children.'
His hand on his sword tightened further. 'I wonder... once I have enough strength, I might just come for you.'
"Then, let's start the fight, Leader," Kyojiro muttered. His words traveled through the wind, stopping like water against a dam.
Their fight wasn't being observed — just a little south from the camp. If enough sound was produced, people would come flocking. But for now, both men could duel in peace.
SWOOSH.
'Flame Breathing — First Form: Unknowing Fire.'
Kyojiro shot forward, his sword blazing through the air. The path to Orochimaru marked open — his blade reached for the man's neck with explosive speed.
BOOM.
TING.
Kyojiro's pupils dilated. 'He stopped that... with a kunai?'
He felt it — the tremor in his hands, the effort he had put in. Unknowing Fire was one of the most explosive moves of Flame Breathing.
A sigh escaped his lips. 'I need to go all out — combine the ninja combat I learned under Jiraiya with my swordsmanship.'
Before Orochimaru could disengage and counterattack, Kyojiro pulled out a few shuriken. The bladed weapons rushed toward the man's neck.
Pulling back, he plunged his katana into the ground. His hands blurred through hand seals. A familiar heat rose up his throat. 'Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.'
Under his control, a colossal ball of chakra heat formed. The fireball rushed toward the Sannin at breakneck speed.
Despite the danger he felt from his own technique — the very heat that even made him hesitate — 'I just know Orochimaru will be able to dodge this.'
Kyojiro had watched the show with almost fanatic focus. He knew Orochimaru was different from Jiraiya. The white-haired Sage would have probably put up an Earth Wall to block it.
His hand on his katana tightened. 'Yet I know this man would dodge it... even if he might not have created his iconic technique yet.' His mind shifted through images of the show — of Orochimaru spitting out another Orochimaru.
While he didn't remember much of the timeline, he still remained on guard.
And just as he thought, he saw it — a black flicker across the field. His heart tightened. 'Now!'
'Flame Breathing — Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!'
BOOM
An upward slash — his katana, with its dull metal sheen, rushed at the Sannin.
However, unlike what Kyojiro had expected of the snake, reality was different.
Orochimaru didn't panic.
He used to in the show, since his soul had been weakened far too much. However, in the current timeline, one could say Orochimaru was in his physical prime.
His expression remained distant — emotionless. He redirected the upward slash in a single step, moving out of range before the blade's edge could reach him.
Kyojiro couldn't help but feel frustration rising within him. 'This... fuck, the only reason he could dodge so easily is because his speed is still superior to mine.' The sheer difference in capability showed.
Kyojiro had grown immensely since he received the Hashira's memories, but even in his current peak state, he was only near the speed of an elite Jonin.
There was a clear rule in the Naruto verse — if your speed doesn't match your opponent's, no jutsu will save you.
Kyojiro felt the thrum of his blood under his skin. 'This... I wonder, can you really dodge if I cut off all your routes?'
A jutsu appeared in his thoughts — one he had used only once and never again, due to its destructive potential.
Steeling his gaze, he turned toward the idolized Orochimaru. The man remained quiet, just as he had throughout the fight.
Boar.
Monkey.
Ram.
Serpent.
Tiger.
Multiple hand seals appeared in quick succession on the Uchiha's hands. It took him a few seconds, yet Orochimaru stood still — the lack of interest clear in his eyes.
Kyojiro nodded to himself the moment the jutsu was complete. 'Let's see you dodge this... my strongest ninjutsu up until now.'
'Flame Breathing + Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!'
Kunai shot through the air, covering almost all of Orochimaru's escape routes. Balls of crimson flame escaped his mouth, shrouding the kunai in terrifying heat.
The air trembled as the offense unfolded, heat pulsing in waves. Anyone with a working brain could sense a massive explosion was about to occur.
Yet somehow, even after such an attack, Kyojiro couldn't help but stay on guard. 'Something about this man... why isn't he attempting to dodge it?'
Kyojiro's eyes widened as the blast occurred — sequential detonations, each boom carving massive craters into the ground. The grass burned, the field squirmed. Orochimaru seemed to drown in the explosion, making no move to counterattack.
Kyojiro's breath hitched. 'What the hell is happening?'
Yet, unlike his wildest expectations, a voice echoed behind him. "The fight's over."
The voice was cold, unwavering, and most of all, familiar. Kyojiro turned around — his eyes widened as he saw Orochimaru leaning against a tree.
Completely uninjured.
His expression still lacked emotion, his words hollow and detached. "I guess Jiraiya wasn't lying... you do have a lot of potential."
He walked toward the confused Kyojiro, the air shimmering with his presence.
"But... you are far too lacking."
...
Yo guys, what do you all think of this fight and Orochimaru.
The story will keep upping the stakes from now on guys, hehe, so stay on your seats.
90 Powerstones = 1 bonus chapter
I give the bonus chaps at the end of the week if anyone was wondering.
Also show some love and comment guys, i do read all your comments yk- they motivate me ;).
peace out brothers