Chapter 76

A cold glint flashed through Banjiu's eyes as her slender fingers tightened around the long blade, slashing it out abruptly. The blade cleaved through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound, aimed straight at that ferocious Poison Dragon.

However, just as the blade was about to touch the Poison Dragon, a sudden change occurred.

The Poison Dragon's body suddenly swelled, followed by a "Bang!" as it exploded. Pungent poisonous mist surged forth like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing Banjiu.

"What?!" Banjiu cried out in alarm, but it was already too late.

A "hiss-hiss" corrosion sound came from within the poisonous mist, and Banjiu's meticulously prepared gorgeous kimono rapidly rotted away under the erosion of the poisonous mist.

The fabric peeled off like snowflakes, turning tattered in the blink of an eye, revealing large expanses of snow-white skin, while simultaneously beginning to corrode her body. "Mmm... ah..."

Banjiu let out a muffled groan, her brows furrowed tightly, a trace of annoyance flashing in her eyes. She took a deep breath, the long blade tracing a graceful arc through the air.

"Muketsu-ryu·Feng Hua Zetsu Dai!" Banjiu shouted in a low voice.

In an instant, a fierce whirlwind erupted with Banjiu at its center.

The gale howled, expanding unstoppably in all directions. The surrounding poisonous mist was instantly dispersed by this powerful airflow.

However, just as her vision cleared, Banjiu's pupils suddenly contracted, only to see that Orochimaru's clones had finished forming hand seals.

"Wind Release·Great Breakthrough!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Lightning Release·Lightning Strike!"

Three ninjutsu fused instantly. The gale fueled the flames, fire and lightning intertwining, forming a heaven-destroying, earth-annihilating torrent of energy that surged straight at Banjiu.

Banjiu's heart skipped a beat, instinctively wanting to leap back and dodge. However, just as she was about to move, her body suddenly froze.

Another Orochimaru clone was seen drilling out from the ground, firmly grabbing her ankle, shouting in a low voice: "Earth Release·Heart Decapitation Technique!"

Simultaneously, the fused ninjutsu mass above her head had already drawn near, a heat wave rushing at her face, the air permeated with a scorching aura.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Banjiu's forehead, yet a trace of determination flashed in her gaze. She took a deep breath, her hand tightly gripping the sword hilt at her waist.

"Yi Yi·Ye Cha Kong Kong!"

The moment the words fell, a chaotic sword qi suddenly erupted from within Banjiu's body.

That sword qi, like materialized blades, instantly minced the underground Orochimaru clone into smithereens.

"Hum——"

Followed by a clear, resonant sword cry that rang through space. Banjiu's figure suddenly transformed into a dazzling silver light, shooting straight into the fused ninjutsu mass above her head. In an instant, fire sparks flew in all directions, electric light scattered everywhere, and Banjiu's figure was instantly swallowed.

The next second, a figure suddenly burst forth from the center of the explosion — it was precisely Banjiu. She was like a meteor, tracing an arc through the air.

The nearest Orochimaru clone hadn't even reacted before being pierced through the chest by this stream of light, turning into a puff of white smoke.

Afterward, Banjiu continuously changed direction in midair; the light's trajectory wove into a net, like lightning frozen in an instant, illuminating the entire battlefield.

"Chi! Chi! Chi!"

Three consecutive sharp air-tearing sounds rang out, and Orochimaru's pupils contracted sharply.

The surrounding clones almost simultaneously dissipated into white smoke. Before Orochimaru could even react, Banjiu's figure was already charging straight at him.

The long blade in her hand sliced through the air, dragging a pitch-black crack in its wake.

"This is... it cut through space?!" Horror struck Orochimaru's heart, his gaze fixed dead on that black line.

Just then, Manda opened its bloody maw wide, spewing a thick stream of purple-black poison to block the opponent.

However, before the poison could approach Banjiu, a ring of fierce sword qi forced it to disperse.

Orochimaru wanted to retreat, but suddenly felt a powerful illusion assail him. Banjiu's figure turned blurry in his eyes, appearing near then far, as if space and distance were no longer clear.

And in the blink of an eye, Banjiu's figure had already arrived before Orochimaru.

"Too late!" This thought flashed through Orochimaru's mind.

Just at this critical moment, a deafening boom suddenly exploded.

"Boom!"

A golden light suddenly flashed into existence behind Orochimaru. It was a gigantic golden pillar, sweeping horizontally toward Banjiu with lightning speed.

The air was instantly compressed, emitting a piercing explosive roar. Where the golden giant pillar passed, the ground instantly cracked open, rubble flying in all directions.

Banjiu's long blade and the golden giant pillar collided head-on.

"Clang!"

A deafening metal collision sound reverberated through the entire space. Blinding sparks scattered in all directions, like fireworks.

The shockwave spread outward from the collision point, whipping up a gale.

And at the point where blade and giant pillar met, a fine crack spread across the golden surface, but extended only a few millimeters before stopping.

A trace of surprise flashed in Banjiu's eyes, but before she could react, she felt an irresistible force sweep over her.

"Boom!"

Banjiu's body was like a kite with its string cut, instantly sent flying.

She traced an arc through the air, smashing through several remaining cherry blossom tree trunks, finally crashing heavily onto the ground, sliding out a long trench on the hard earth.

Orochimaru turned to look behind him, only to see a black, muscular half-bodied giant standing there, emitting a heart-palpitatingly powerful aura.

Within that giant, Uchiha Fugaku's figure flickered in and out of view, his eyes shining with the distinctive light of the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Fugaku looked at Orochimaru, his voice carrying a hint of apology: "Sorry, I'm late."

The corner of Orochimaru's mouth curled into a smile, a glint of brilliance flashing in his golden pupils: "No, you arrived at exactly the right time."

The smoke and dust gradually dispersed, revealing Banjiu's figure. She struggled to climb up from the ground, her sword-holding hand trembling slightly.

At this moment, her upper-body clothing was almost completely ruined, only scattered scraps of fabric hanging on her shoulders, revealing her graceful figure.

The hem of her skirt was also torn, leaving only a small section barely covering her vital parts. She was barefoot, her fair, slender legs exposed to the air.

Her long hair was likewise disheveled, draped over her shoulders, a few strands sticking to her slightly flushed cheeks.

Despite being scantily clad, she still maintained a noble bearing, though a trace of shame and anger difficult to conceal still flashed in her eyes.

Without hesitation, Banjiu quickly picked up a still relatively intact strip of cloth, deftly wrapping it around her chest.

"What a sorry state," Banjiu said coldly, his voice tinged with self-mockery.

Orochimaru tilted his head slightly and said softly to Fugaku, "You fight her head-on; I'll hold her back."

Fugaku nodded without another word. The Mangekyo pattern in his eyes spun wildly, and his ocular power erupted instantly.

The next second, Fugaku kicked off the ground with both feet, and Susanoo charged at Banjiu like a bolt of black lightning.

The ground shattered instantly under this tremendous force, cracks spreading like a spider web.

(Chapter End)