Chapter 27: How Did Snake Aunt Catch Fire?

After Luo Jie defeated Jian Meicheng, his gaze instantly locked onto Yakushibujo standing on the tree trunk.

Without the slightest hesitation, the fiery stream spewing from his mouth instantly reversed direction, surging with rolling heat toward Yakushibujo.

Yakushibujo had anticipated this—he sensed the danger the moment Luo Jie’s eyes swept over him.

He had already formed hand seals in advance, his fingers moving so fast they blurred, leaving afterimages in the air, his hands dancing like flowers.

Luo Jie snorted.

What century is this, still playing with hand seals?

Catch up with the times!

Just before the raging flame reached him.

Yakushibujo barely succeeded in activating his ninjutsu.

No wonder he’s the product of Snake Uncle’s orphanage.

Far superior to those stupid ninja academy students.

Yakushibujo took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully.

Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!

A massive water sphere erupted from his mouth like a cannonball, exploding midair into a torrent of surging water that rushed toward the blazing flame.

Seeing this, Luo Jie smirked.

Sorry, I’m the master of inverse elemental affinity!

Boil that water!

The flame’s power surged violently, its temperature skyrocketing, instantly vaporizing the incoming water.

In an instant, thick steam spread everywhere, shrouding the entire area in a dense fog of vapor—spectacular beyond words.

Yet the blazing flame’s momentum remained unbroken, roaring onward toward Yakushibujo’s position.

Yakushibujo stared at the flame piercing through the mist, his face filled with shock.

Fortunately, that water technique had provided some delay.

Using this brief respite, he flickered sideways, barely evading the lethal strike, avoiding being reduced to ash.

Immediately, Yakushibujo used the fog as cover to swiftly close the distance toward Luo Jie.

He knew this was a life-or-death moment—no more holding back.

He no longer cared about exposing his identity; survival was all that mattered.

Shadow Snake Hand Technique!

Dozens of thick, scaly snakes shot from his sleeves like arrows, their bodies gleaming with cold light, tongues flicking as they lunged at Luo Jie.

But the next instant, Luo Jie merely glared at him fiercely.

Yakushibujo felt a bone-chilling cold surge up his spine, spreading instantly through his entire body—he froze rigid, as if petrified by a spell.

Spy boy, stand at attention.

The once-fierce snakes, too, seemed crushed by an overwhelming force, halting midair, not advancing an inch.

This was the power of the Fitness Milk Dragon’s ability.

Terrifying Face.

Then Luo Jie’s hand glowed with a soft green light as he shot forward, snatching at Yakushibujo with lightning speed.

Hmph, taste my claw!

The frozen snakes offered no resistance—they were torn apart instantly by Luo Jie’s force.

Several gruesome claw marks appeared on Yakushibujo’s body, yet the wounds continuously steamed.

Luo Jie’s eyes flickered.

Medical ninjutsu?

Yin Healing: Wound Extinguishing?

Mediocre. Purity’s too low. Needs more practice.

Luo Jie said nothing, only kept delivering heavy punches.

Just as Yakushibujo was about to kick the bucket and embrace eternal peace.

Suddenly, several enormous snakes materialized out of thin air.

Their bodies were colossal, crashing through trees, devastating the Hidden Leaf Village’s greenery.

Then they opened their massive jaws and lunged at Luo Jie, as if intending to devour him whole.

Luo Jie was immediately swept away by the onslaught.

Anko Yamato and Lei Menyue, who were fighting against Chi Tongkai, noticed the commotion.

Such a huge disturbance.

Unless Itachi’re blind and deaf, anyone would notice.

“Luo Jie!”

Anko Yamato’s pupils shrank as she shouted anxiously.

She immediately activated her genjutsu: Illusion: True Birth.

Instantly, the giant snakes shattered into countless chunks of flesh, spraying everywhere.

Then, a blazing flame erupted from the bloody debris, unstoppable.

The flame’s power was terrifying—trees along its path were utterly obliterated, streaking toward a spot deep in the forest.

The next moment, countless giant snakes surged forth from the mist, attempting to block the deadly flame.

But these snakes, before the flame, were as fragile as paper—instantly consumed and reduced to ash.

Then, a grass ninja wearing a wide-brimmed hat couldn’t dodge in time—he was engulfed by the flame.

It was Orochimaru, disguised as a grass ninja.

Snake Aunt didn’t die of social embarrassment after her cross-dressing was exposed—she caught fire.

Literally caught fire.

The next instant, her skin, nearly charred to carbon, peeled away rapidly—she crawled out of her own mouth, drenched in slime.

Snake Aunt tilted her head slightly, gazing in surprise at the direction the flame had come from.

Natural energy?

What an interesting little brat.

Minato’s student?

Mastering Sage Mode at this age?

Snake Aunt felt a surge of excitement, licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with eagerness.

The kidnapping urge surfaced!

But then she remembered something, didn’t charge forward—instead, she spun around and vanished swiftly into the forest depths.

Huh?

Why’d she run?

Seeing Orochimaru flee on the spot, Luo Jie blinked in surprise.

The Three Sannin turn and run the moment they see me.

Could it be… I’m the KAMI of the ninja world?

Luo Jie prepared to chase after her.

But at that moment, his peripheral vision caught Anko Yamato beside him.

She was as pale as paper, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead, her body swaying unsteadily.

Clearly, she’d overextended herself using her kekkei genkai.

Hmph, beaten opponent.

I’ll let Itachi off for now.

Luo Jie stopped, walked over to Anko Yamato, and steadied her firmly.

“Yamato, how are Itachi?”

Anko Yamato forced a weak smile, shaking her head slightly to indicate she was fine.

A short distance away, Lei Menyue stood guard beside Chi Tongkai, tightly bound by steel threads, watching warily.

Should he help Luo Jie?

He was just a lowly genin.

How could he possibly interfere in a battle between a mad scientist and an otherworldly demon?

As for the mysterious Bo Ku man, he’d already slipped away during the chaos, vanished without a trace.

Seeing Luo Jie approach, Lei Menyue, as if finding someone to vent to, blurted out: “Is this even a Chunin Exam?”

“Are our Hidden Leaf genin really this strong?”

Luo Jie tapped him on the head, grumbling: “Do Itachi think these are normal candidates?”

“They’re spies—internal traitors trying to secretly overthrow the Hidden Leaf Village.”

“I told Itachi so—these treacherous outsiders had no good intentions!”

Lei Menyue flinched from the tap, at a loss for words.

He replayed everything that had just happened—the senior Yakushibujo definitely wasn’t an ordinary candidate.

He’d thought he was an easy target.

Turns out he was a hard nut to crack.

Lei Menyue sighed inwardly.

If someone like Dou, a senior with this level of strength, can’t become a Chunin, then I’ll probably spend my whole life as a Genin.

Thinking this way, he felt Luo Jie’s words might not be without merit.

Could someone truly be plotting to overthrow the Hidden Leaf Village?

No.

Lei Menyue’s gaze sharpened.

Have I been assimilated too?

That won’t do—I’m a proper man.

(End of Chapter)