"Hehe... if I have the chance, I naturally want to study it. After all, this kind of power is quite rare..." Orochimaru replied.
Far from rare, this thing is unique in the entire Ninja World, or rather, there are two of them.
Hinata thought of a super fun idea; she was going to trick Danzo.
Hinata stood up and looked at Orochimaru.
"Here's what we'll do: you reply to Danzo and say... you've captured a lone Hyuga Hinata who was trying to investigate the truth behind her clansmen's disappearance. However, she's very powerful, and you've temporarily restrained her, making it impossible for her to escape, but you need assistance."
Orochimaru's golden snake eyes instantly lit up. He immediately understood Hinata's intention—to lure the snake out of its hole, to pull the rug out from under him. (No, he's a snake, can't say that.)
It should be said, using herself as bait.
This courage and calculation made him feel a trace of chill and excitement. Without a doubt, Danzo would fall for it. He didn't know that he and Hinata had close cooperation, and wasn't his core objective Hinata anyway?
"Hahaha! What a bold and brilliant plan!" Orochimaru licked his lips, a twisted and pleased smile appearing on his face.
"For someone as special as you, he will definitely be tempted, and even more uneasy. The probability of him coming personally to capture you is very high. Moreover, in his perception, you are too young, so being ambushed by me is quite normal."
Hinata's plan was simple and direct, but this reason was enough to touch Danzo's suspicious and greedy nerves.
Hinata could directly crush Danzo, just like a drop of water, overturning everything. She could even fly to his base and kill him.
But that wouldn't be fun. Over time, she would become dull, turning into a super brute who only knew how to use power.
After confirming the location and preparations with Orochimaru, ripples of space reappeared around Hinata, and her figure instantly vanished.
Orochimaru looked at the spot where Hinata disappeared, his golden snake eyes gleaming with excitement.
"I can't wait. How can I miss such a wonderful play?"
He replied to Danzo's message, tidied his robes, and then slowly walked out of the laboratory. Outside, Yakushi Kabuto and Kimimaro were already waiting respectfully.
"Lord Orochimaru, are we going to..." Kabuto pushed up his glasses, sensing that something big was about to happen.
"Kabuto, prepare yourself. We're going out to put on a good show," Orochimaru said with a pleased tone.
"Notify Karin and Jugo; tell them to come too. They should participate; it will be good for them."
Though puzzled, Kabuto immediately bowed and responded, "Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
Soon after, everyone was assembled.
Orochimaru looked at them and chuckled hoarsely.
"Let's go."
He summoned Manda, carrying everyone, and sped towards the barren mountain range agreed upon with Hinata... Meanwhile, Hinata's figure had already appeared in the central area of that designated mountain range.
She didn't make any fancy arrangements; for dealing with Danzo, especially Danzo who might possess Izanagi, traps were of little significance.
What she needed was absolute power, precise timing, and an explosive force capable of deciding victory or defeat in an instant.
She stood quietly on a giant rock, her white clothes fluttering slightly in the desolate wind. She had deliberately smeared some dust on her face and torn her clothes to appear disheveled, preparing to cooperate with Orochimaru's act.
The spiritual energy within her body circulated slowly, adjusting to its optimal state. The big dipper seven stars sword, nurtured within her Dantian, emitted a faint hum, poised for action.
Hinata stood quietly on a giant rock in the barren mountain range, her Divine Sense spreading out like an invisible spiderweb.
Soon, she locked onto Danzo Shimura and his 'Root' squad, who were stealthily infiltrating the area from a hidden route in the distance. She also sensed Orochimaru and his group already in position on a distant cliff.
"Everyone's here," Hinata murmured to herself.
Danzo concealed himself, carefully observing the lone Hinata at the center of the battlefield from the shadows, weighing whether this was Orochimaru's trap, hiding very far away.
"Swish swish swish!"
Several figures broke through the air, precisely Orochimaru, Kimimaro, Yakushi Kabuto, Karin, and Jugo.
They landed in a fan shape opposite Hinata, their faces showing'solemnity' and 'Killing Intent'.
"Hyuga Hinata!" Orochimaru's hoarse voice rang out, carrying a deliberately crafted hint of 'urgency' and 'greed'.
"Nowhere left to run, are you?"
Hinata secretly praised Orochimaru's acting skills, while outwardly displaying a cold expression.
"Orochimaru, tell me the whereabouts of my clansmen!"
"Hehehe... you should worry about yourself first!"
Orochimaru sneered, his hands quickly forming seals—"Myriad Snake Net Formation!"
Countless venomous snakes surged out from his sleeves like a tide, swarming towards Hinata! The momentum was immense, their fangs glinting with cold light.
Hinata retreated rapidly.
"Eight Trigrams Empty Palm!"
Waves of shockwaves burst from her palms, precisely pulverizing the attacking snake swarm into fragments. Green poisonous blood and snake corpses splattered, making the scene appear incredibly intense.
She then used a 'Rotation' to deflect all other attacks, forming a perfect defense.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Orochimaru's arm transformed into a long snake, cunningly coiling towards Hinata.
Hinata's fingertips gathered spiritual energy, forming sharp Qi blades. She didn't actually hit Orochimaru but, with exquisite control, transformed her spiritual energy into countless afterimages, striking at the attacking snake hands, making it seem as if she was in a tough fight.
Karin 'anxiously' sensed from the side: "Lord Orochimaru, her Chakra is very peculiar, and her recovery speed is extremely fast! And her movements are too quick!"
Jugo, partially transformed by his cursed seal, charged at Hinata ferociously, his fists striking down with a whooshing sound. Hinata neither dodged nor avoided, striking out with a palm.
"Bang!" With a muffled thud, Jugo's massive body was actually knocked back several steps by her palm. On the surface, it appeared to be a clash of strength, but in reality, Hinata used a gentle force, not harming him in the slightest.
Kimimaro plunged his bones into the ground, and giant bones attacked Hinata.
Yakushi Kabuto moved around, occasionally throwing shuriken imbued with Wind Release, which Hinata either avoided with Body Flicker Technique or deflected with Gentle Fist. The battle scene appeared dazzling, with the roar of colliding energies incessant.
Orochimaru was even more 'dedicated,' unleashing various Forbidden Jutsu and summoning techniques in succession, fighting Hinata to a'stalemate,' stirring up dust and shaking the ground, completely transforming this desolate land into an intense battlefield.
Danzo, hidden in the shadows, carefully observed this 'death match' through his monocular telescope and his own senses.
He saw that Orochimaru and his subordinates had indeed used all their means, and Hyuga Hinata also displayed strength far exceeding the intelligence reports. Her powerful taijutsu, facing so many strong enemies without defeat, indeed made her not easy to capture alive.
He saw that after Hinata 'narrowly' avoided Orochimaru's thrust, her breathing seemed to become slightly 'disordered,' and Orochimaru also clearly showed signs of 'considerable exhaustion'.
"It seems Orochimaru didn't lie to me... This woman is indeed troublesome. Orochimaru won't be able to take her down in a short time, and she might even escape him."
Danzo mused, his greed finally overriding the last trace of doubt. A pair of pure Byakugan with immense potential, and this Hyuga main branch member who might harbor even greater secrets, were worth him personally intervening. Hinata did not have the caged bird seal, so he could take her eyes for his own use!
Just as Hinata'strenuously' repelled Jugo's combined attack once again, and was 'gasping for breath' in a standoff with Orochimaru—
"Enough."
A cold, aged voice rang out.
Danzo Shimura's figure, surrounded by a squad of 'Root' members wearing animal masks, slowly emerged from the shadow of a rock.
He leaned on his cane, his single eye coldly sweeping across the battlefield, finally settling on Hinata, his gaze like that of someone examining a precious artifact.
"Orochimaru, you did well," Danzo said flatly. "Now, leave it to this old man."
Orochimaru's face appropriately showed a hint of 'unwillingness' and 'relief.' He slowly retreated a few steps with his subordinates, adopting a posture of handing over the battlefield, and said hoarsely.
"Elder Danzo, don't forget our agreement."
Danzo ignored him, only looking at Hinata, his single eye flashing with determination.
"Hyuga Hinata, abandon your futile resistance and come with this old man. Your power should contribute to the stability of Konoha."
Hinata looked at the main culprit who had finally appeared, the 'fatigue' on her face instantly vanishing as she smiled.
"You finally decided to show yourself, Elder Danzo. I've been waiting for you for a long time."
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