Chapter 62: The Tentacle Tail Within Reach

Ninjas of the Ninja World all know that Orochimaru's Ninjutsu is bizarre and his strength is unfathomable.

But as the Fourth Raikage, Ai never fears any opponent.

Especially since he has Killer Bee, the perfect jinchuriki, by his side; the two share a single mind, killing gods if they meet gods, and killing Buddhas if they meet Buddhas.

It wasn't until he met the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, that he discovered there were people faster than himself—so fast that neither brother could react, and they simply couldn't reach the other's level.

From then on, besides his father, the Third Raikage, the Fourth Raikage gained another ninja he admired, even becoming willing to give up the war with Konohagakure for this reason.

But he still believed that any ninja or Tailed Beast he could catch up to and hit was nothing but trash.

Naturally, he didn't hold Orochimaru in high regard, but after truly fighting Orochimaru today, he discovered that Orochimaru's speed wasn't fast enough, his attacks couldn't break his defense, and a single casual punch could make him bleed profusely...

But no matter how he hit Orochimaru, he just wouldn't die!

The Fourth Raikage struggled for six hours, eventually becoming so desperate and shameless that he went to kill ordinary Konoha Ninja, hoping to disturb Orochimaru's focus and create an opportunity for a one-hit kill.

As a result, Orochimaru turned around and went to poison the Cloud Ninja.

This snake is also morally impeccable!

The Fourth Raikage didn't feel the same sense of helpless resignation he had when meeting Minato Namikaze, but he truly didn't know what to do anymore.

At this moment, Killer Bee stopped his rapping and said to his big brother: "The legendary the Legendary Sannin is so strong, why don't you let me and Gyuki have some fun with him?"

The Fourth Raikage's heart stirred slightly: "The Tailed Beast power of Gyuki?"

"Fine, Killer Bee, you and the Eight-Tails give it a try."

Having received permission, Killer Bee grew excited; the Eight-Tails chakra within his body erupted with a boom, and the eight thick octopus tentacles behind him grew even larger, completing a partial Tailed Beast transformation in an instant.

Orochimaru slowly lowered his head, a flash of excitement and eeriness appearing in his golden slit pupils.

"Finally, finally taken the bait!"

The Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki are both quite interesting opponents.

However, he, Orochimaru, has no interest in the battle; the only thing he wants to obtain is scientific knowledge, specifically, the flesh and blood of the Eight-Tails.

But in the previous battle, the Fourth Raikage was the undisputed protagonist, not giving him, Orochimaru, any chance to make a move at all.

But now that the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki is going to take the lead in the attack, the opportunity has truly arrived!

Orochimaru was overjoyed in his heart, though his face remained calm, and his hands quickly formed seals: "The next opponent is the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, so I must find a helper big enough."

"Summoning Technique: Manda!"

A massive cloud of smoke exploded instantly, and when the smoke cleared, the gargantuan Manda appeared beneath Orochimaru's feet, lifting him to a height level with the fortress.

Manda's blue-black scales shimmered with a metallic luster, its forked tongue flicking incessantly, exuding the aura of a terrifying predator.

But when Manda's crimson eyes saw the Fourth Raikage Ai and Killer Bee, it trembled and shrank back slightly.

"Orochimaru, you've found a very strong opponent this time!"

"If you want me to help you fight this battle, I need at least 200 people as sacrifices, otherwise I won't make a move."

Orochimaru said indifferently: "Rest assured, if we win this battle, the Cloud Ninja on the battlefield will all be your sacrifices."

"But if you slack off and we lose this battle, you won't get a single hair."

"Hmph, I'll let you know right now the power of Ryuchi Cave!"

Manda let out a hiss and lunged fiercely toward the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee.

Its blood-red maw opened wide, sharp fangs flashing with a cold light, its pitch-black throat undulating, impatient to devour the two.

Raikage Ai's eyes narrowed slightly, and he shouted: "Leave this snake to me, you go deal with Orochimaru!"

"Yirai Shinrai Fu!!"

He leaped high into the air, his entire body's Lightning Release chakra surging, shooting out countless electric arcs that turned into a blinding trail of lightning as he charged toward Manda's head.

The Raikage turned in mid-air, his right leg like a giant axe, carrying the force of ten thousand tons of thunder, and slashed fiercely onto Manda's head.

Boom!!

Manda's huge mouth was forced shut by the immense power, its sharp teeth colliding, some snapping on the spot, others sparking with blinding flashes.

Its massive body was dragged by its head and slammed heavily onto the ground, causing the earth to shake.

Manda was in unbearable pain and began to writhe violently.

Killer Bee was not to be outdone; in his partial Tailed Beast form, he handed his ninja swords to his eight tentacles, waving them into rings of light as he attacked Orochimaru.

A large amount of Lightning Release chakra condensed on the seven ninja swords, the blades vibrating at high frequency, the piercing sound of the vibration spreading across the battlefield.

Orochimaru's hands formed seals: "Ninjutsu: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Countless small venomous snakes poured out from his sleeves, rushing toward Killer Bee like a tide.

He didn't expect to wound Killer Bee, only to interfere with his line of sight.

Killer Bee's ninja swords whirled into an impenetrable defense, slicing all the snakes into segments, only to be surprised to find that the Orochimaru in front of him had already been replaced by the gargantuan Manda.

Manda, now thoroughly enraged by the excruciating pain, didn't care how its opponent had been swapped; it hissed and twisted its massive body, its giant tail whipping fiercely toward Killer Bee.

The partially transformed Killer Bee could not withstand the impact of the mountain of flesh and could only jump to avoid the snake tail's strike.

But Orochimaru suddenly lunged from Manda's side, his neck instantly stretching dozens of times longer, wrapping around Killer Bee's left leg like a real python and dragging him down by force.

Seeing the giant snake tail about to crash down, Killer Bee had no choice but to use the Tentacle Substitution Technique, paying the price of one severed tentacle to narrowly break free from the restraint.

With a loud bang, the substitute tentacle and the real python were both smashed into pulp.

Smashed along with them were the rocks on the ground and several Cloud Ninja who couldn't dodge in time.

Killer Bee passed through the smoke and dust, circled behind Manda, and the remaining seven tentacles tightly bound Manda's body.

At the same time, he condensed Tailed Beast chakra in his mouth, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Manda.

The Raikage, who had just been played by Orochimaru, also rushed over; he leaped high, concentrated his Lightning Release chakra into his right palm, and slashed toward Manda's vital spot.

"Lightning Release: Lariat!"

This move had been honed through thousands of trials, and its power was great enough to sever the Eight-Tails' left horn.

As long as it could land solidly on Manda, it would surely kill it on the spot, and might even decapitate the snake directly.

Manda was not Gamabunta; seeing that he had fallen into danger, he roared, "Orochimaru, remember my sacrifice!"

Then he took the initiative to dispel the Summoning Technique, turning into white smoke with a "Poof" and returning to Ryuchi Cave.

Orochimaru had long anticipated this and had no intention of rescuing him at all, instead taking out a Sealing Scroll to seal the Eight-Tails' substitute tentacle.

With this tentacle, this war could not be considered a loss.