newbobooks Chapter 191 Captured Alive?
Chapter 191 Captured Alive?
Chapter 191 Captured Alive?
"brush--!
A chilling light suddenly shone in the darkness, and a dozen giant black snakes shot out from Orochimaru's hands!
Almost in the blink of an eye, the snake's coiled body tightly wrapped around Rope Tree, who was at the forefront, as well as several Konoha ninjas who were about to follow into the cave.
"Huh?! This—this is..."
Caught off guard, the Konoha ninja cried out in surprise.
But when they saw the giant black snake flying out of Orochimaru's sleeve, they all showed strange expressions, but they did not panic.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hand.
Orochimaru's signature ninjutsu.
Since it was Orochimaru who made the move, they vaguely realized that the current turn of events probably had a deeper meaning.
"Huh? Lord Orochimaru! What is this?!" The leader, Inuba Jaw, stared wide-eyed at the giant snake body binding him, and asked in a daze.
Orochimaru then lowered his head to look at his hands, which had transformed into giant snakes, as if even he himself was somewhat surprised by his own actions.
Just moments before, he had sworn that he would never be swayed by mere illusions, and that he would never interfere even if the dream reenacted the tragedy of his disciple's death.
However, when that familiar scene played out again, and it seemed that Rope Tree was about to repeat the same mistake, his body moved involuntarily before his reason!
Orochimaru was filled with complex emotions, and in the end, he simply sighed softly and slowly withdrew his arms.
In the end, he still made his move.
[Ding! Orochimaru's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +500!!]
"call.
Orochimaru slowly exhaled from his tense chest, then sighed softly, his hands trembling slightly.
The giant black snakes that had been coiled in front of them swung back.
The snakes, still tightly coiled around the few Konoha ninjas who had been restrained, were brought back with them.
In that instant, he only saw a dark shadow flash before his eyes, and before he could react, he was bound and dragged back by something soft yet strong.
Upon closer inspection, he was astonished to see a thick black snake slipping from his waist back into Orochimaru's body.
"Teacher?" Nawaki strode forward, looking up at Orochimaru with a puzzled expression. "What happened? Why did you suddenly bring us back?"
The other Konoha ninjas who were rescued also looked confused.
They had thought victory was in sight, but were suddenly stopped halfway by their own superiors, leaving them completely bewildered.
Orochimaru lowered his eyes, his emotions complex and difficult to discern.
After a long pause, he shook his head with a wry smile, his voice low and hoarse: "—This operation is a trap. The enemy is lying in ambush in that cave; we can't go in."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked.
"What? Such a thing?"
"Could the intelligence be wrong?"
Several Konoha ninja exchanged glances, their expressions revealing lingering fear.
Rope Tree's eyes widened in disbelief: "I-I see! There was an ambush?!"
"Oh no!" Not far away, Inuzuka Jacques, who had been serving as the squad's second-in-command, suddenly changed his expression upon hearing this.
He immediately realized that many of his companions were still scattered nearby searching, and if they unknowingly entered the cave, the consequences would be unimaginable. "Many people are still unaware of the situation; let's go and inform them quickly!"
Inuyagi uttered these words in a deep voice, then picked up his kunai and turned to leave.
"I'll go too!" Nawaki quickly responded. He nodded solemnly to Orochimaru, and then, together with Inuzuka Jaw, led the few ninjas who had managed to escape and sped towards the other side of the jungle, intending to warn the other teams as soon as possible.
In the blink of an eye, only Orochimaru remained in front of the cave.
Orochimaru's eyes flickered as he watched Nawaki's retreating figure.
Just as the boy was about to disappear into the woods, he suddenly, as if possessed, blurted out, "Rope Tree!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Rope Tree stopped abruptly, obediently turned around, and ran back.
"Teacher, is there anything else you need?" He raised a slightly childish smile and stood confidently in front of Orochimaru, his expression full of trust in his teacher.
Under the hazy moonlight, the boy's face was clean and vibrant, and his own slightly shadowy figure was reflected in his dark eyes—this scene was both familiar and strange to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's throat tightened involuntarily.
Since being trapped in this dream, he hadn't taken a serious look at his disciple because of his instinctive resistance and vigilance. Many years had passed, and he thought he had long forgotten what the boy looked like. But now, standing face to face with him, Orochimaru realized that the vivid figure in his memory had never faded for a moment.
Orochimaru's throat moved slightly, and a slight soreness rose in his chest.
He stared at Nawaki's bright eyes, which were quite similar to Tsunade's, and recalled many things from many years ago.
After a long while, he gently exhaled and raised his hand to cover the soft top of Rope Tree's hair.
My fingertips touched the boy's warm body, and the vibrant texture was exactly the same as in my memory.
So warm, so real.
Orochimaru's lips unconsciously curved into a faint smile, and his voice softened: "--It's alright. Go ahead, be careful."
Rope Tree was stunned, clearly not expecting that the teacher had called him back just to give him this one instruction.
He blinked, scratching his head in confusion, "Huh? That's...that's it?"
Orochimaru nodded slightly, withdrew his hand from Orochimaru's head, and a barely perceptible smile remained in his eyes and brows.
Although he didn't understand why, Nawaki still gave the teacher a bright smile: "Then take care, teacher! I'm off!"
After saying that, he nodded firmly, turned around and chased after the forest again, disappearing into the night in no time.
Orochimaru stood silently in place, watching Nawaki's figure disappear completely into the distance.
Meanwhile, in the audience.
In the silence, only a few rapid breaths could be heard rising and falling.
For a long while, no one could speak.
Kabuto Yakushi looked incredulous.
The confident smile on his face had long since frozen, replaced by an undeniable look of mistake and confusion.
No one knows Orochimaru's ruthlessness better than Kabuto—that man has always regarded the lives of others as worthless and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Whether it's using his subordinates as live experimental subjects or sacrificing his ninja under his command as offerings for the Impure World Reincarnation, Orochimaru never hesitates to do it!
Of the Sound Four, some are still imprisoned in Konoha's dungeons, their fates unknown. Orochimaru has never shown any intention of rescuing them. In Orochimaru's eyes, the lives of those henchmen of the Sound Village are nothing but weeds, so why would he care?
However, in this bizarre dream, Orochimaru unexpectedly intervened and saved the brat who should have been dead for many years...
Even as he looked at Nawaki as he left, a gentle smile appeared on his face that Kabuto had never seen before!
Kabuto unconsciously adjusted his thin-rimmed glasses, his eyes behind the lenses appearing dark and unfathomable.
[Ding! Kabuto's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +500!!]
The eerie silence in the theater lasted for several minutes.
Jiraiya was the first to come to his senses.
"Haha, I knew it! Orochimaru isn't hopeless after all!"
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a slight sense of satisfaction, then turned to look at Jiraiya, a complex expression creeping onto his face.
After a long pause, he nodded meaningfully: "It seems that you still haven't given up on him, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya smiled and said, "Why give up?"
"Old man, you've seen it too—Orochimaru isn't entirely without room for maneuver in his heart."
Hiruzen Sarutobi silently gazed at Jiraiya, his eyes filled with both relief and shame.
He understood his disciple's inner turmoil; ever since Orochimaru's defection, Jiraiya had been unable to let go of it, and for many years had searched everywhere for Orochimaru's whereabouts.
Over the years, Jiraiya had tried countless times, both openly and secretly, to win Orochimaru back, but all his efforts were in vain.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly and turned his gaze back to the still-lit large screen.
In the scene, Orochimaru stands quietly in place, watching Nawaki leave.
His profile was hidden in shadow, making it impossible to see his expression clearly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at his enigmatic disciple on the screen, muttering to himself, "Orochimaru, what exactly are you planning to do—?"
On the other side, Tsunade, having recovered her senses, gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, let out a long breath, and slumped back into her chair as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She pressed her hand to her chest, trying to calm her rapid breathing, and murmured, "Thank goodness—Rope Tree, Rope Tree has been rescued..."
After calming down slightly, Tsunade suddenly turned around, her face filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Jiraiya! Nawaki survived in the dream this time! Does that mean that if I can enter the dream space next time, I'll have a chance to see him?!"
[Ding! Tsunade's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +1000!!]
Jiraiya felt a pang of pain in his heart when he looked into Tsunade's bloodshot, anxious eyes.
After a moment of silence, he sighed softly and advised, "Tsunade, I understand your desire to see Nawaki again. But—I really can't guarantee that."
"There isn't just one dream world."
Upon hearing this, the hope on Tsunade's face gradually faded.
She released Jiraiya's hand, pursed her lips, and nodded with a look of disappointment on her face.
She may not have the chance to actually enter the dream, and even if she did...
It's also not certain that they'll be able to enter the world where the rope tree still exists.
Thinking of this, Tsunade couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy and helplessness.
[Ding! Tsunade's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +600!!]
Jiraiya looked at his best friend's gloomy expression, but for a moment he didn't know how to comfort him.
He could only pat Tsunade's shoulder gently to offer comfort.
The two looked at each other in silence, their hearts heavy with complex emotions.
Meanwhile, Kabuto, who had been silent for a long time, had heard every word of their conversation.
At this moment, he narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze behind his glasses unfathomable: Are the people of Konoha so familiar with this dream world?
Judging from their tone, they seemed to have already witnessed many different dream scenarios and could even summarize the patterns!
At dawn the next day, the long night finally came to an end.
In a cold, dark dungeon somewhere beneath Amegakure, Orochimaru, who had been asleep all night, suddenly opened his eyes and woke up from his dream.
He sat up abruptly, cautiously surveying his surroundings.
The surroundings were dark and damp, filled with the sticky, musty smell of blood and blood, and the sound of water dripping down the mossy stone wall could be heard.
Rough, cold stone walls, rusted iron bars, and a long, dark corridor outside the cells—
The familiar scenes before his eyes caused Orochimaru's pupils to shrink slightly.
He easily recognized where he was.
The dungeon of Rain Hidden Village.
Before his defection, this place held many living subjects for his experiments.
He had entered and exited this dungeon countless times, so he naturally knew its layout like the back of his hand.
It seems I've been captured by Itachi Uchiha and taken back to the Akatsuki organization.
Orochimaru stretched his stiff neck and felt an indescribable soreness all over his body.
"Looks like I've been particularly drawn to dungeons lately!"
Orochimaru gave a bitter laugh and a self-deprecating remark, his hoarse voice echoing in the empty cell.
From being captured and imprisoned in Konoha to now being a prisoner, his recent days have been filled with misfortunes.
Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin, is now experiencing the bitter taste of imprisonment, which is truly a great irony.
Just then, a soft footstep sound came from not far away.
It seemed someone had heard the commotion inside the cell and was walking this way.
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's gaze turned icy, and he slowly turned to look at the prison gate.
"Tap, tap, tap—" Footsteps approaching from afar stopped in front of the prison door.
In the dim light, the newcomer was tall and slender, appearing to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, shrouded in a black Akatsuki robe with red clouds.
Orochimaru looked up and met a young face that was both unfamiliar and familiar.
He was a handsome young man with short, fiery red hair, pale skin that was almost sickly, and delicate features that made him look like a porcelain doll. He was beautiful but exuded a sinister and eerie aura.
His eyes were an eerie dark green as he stared indifferently at Orochimaru in the cage in the darkness.
Their eyes met, and neither of them spoke.
"Heh—Orochimaru, you're up pretty early!"
A playful smile curved the corners of the red-haired boy's lips, and his voice, tinged with lazy mockery, drifted leisurely from outside the cell door.
Orochimaru looked up at the newcomer through the iron bars, a signature sinister smile immediately appearing on his face: "Long time no see."
scorpion."
His words revealed no trace of the embarrassment of being a prisoner, as if he were simply greeting an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.
Back then, Orochimaru and Kikunojo had a partnership in Akatsuki, but they didn't get along very well.
I don't know why Jie came to see him this time.
Jie narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing Orochimaru up and down, a hint of schadenfreude in his smile: "Even the mighty Orochimaru has met his end?"
Orochimaru, instead of being annoyed by the opponent's attack, chuckled and shrugged, saying, "Heh, yeah! It's been a long time since I've been back to Akatsuki. It's no harm to come back and visit occasionally."
He remained calm and composed, as if the cold prison cell before him were merely a hotel where he could rest.
Sasori paused for a moment upon hearing this, then burst into laughter: "Hahaha! As expected of Orochimaru, your face is as thick as ever!"
"By the way, I've already read Kisame's mission report. You actually got captured alive by that brat Itachi Uchiha?"
Upon hearing Itachi's name, Orochimaru's previously nonchalant expression suddenly darkened, and he frowned unhappily: "Hmph, what's it to you?"
Seeing this, Jie laughed and said without any mercy, "Orochimaru, you idiot!"
"Back then, you tried to ambush Uchiha Itachi, but that brat cut off one of your arms and you slunk away from Akatsuki."
"I can't believe that after all these years, you haven't improved at all? How could you lose so easily and so completely this time?"
Orochimaru's face was ashen, and a dangerous glint flashed in his golden snake eyes.
He suppressed the surging anger within him, his voice icy: "Did you come here just to spout this nonsense?"
He shrugged, strode forward, and stared at Orochimaru through the iron bars, a thick, mocking smile playing on his lips: "That's right, I came here specifically to see you make a fool of yourself!"
"Pfft, Orochimaru, admit it—this incident fully proves that your research is nothing but worthless garbage!"
"Completely incomparable to me! My art is the true path to immortality."
Orochimaru's face turned ashen, his snake-like eyes fixed on the red-haired youth before him.
This guy is nothing but a pile of rotting human flesh, how dare he mock his research?!
"The facts are right before your eyes, aren't they?" Sasori felt a surge of satisfaction upon seeing Orochimaru's anger, his smile widening. "Uchiha Itachi does have some skill, but even if he's stronger than you, his strength is limited. The reason you lost so easily this time is probably because of your 'immortality technique,' isn't it?"
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's pupils widened suddenly, and his expression changed drastically!
He sat bolt upright, his voice sharp: "You—?!"
Seeing this, Scorpion laughed heartily and said smugly, "What, I guessed right?"
He shook his head slightly and sighed, "Looks like I was right after all. Ah, how pathetic!"
Scorpion grinned maliciously, stretching out his arms exaggeratedly in front of him. "With your immature, half-baked existence, you dare to claim immortality?"
"Orochimaru, your laughable research is utterly meaningless! My art is true immortality. If it were me, even if Itachi Uchiha's genjutsu were incredibly powerful... Hmph!" Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's face twisted slightly, and he let out a cold laugh: "Hmph—genjutsu is of course useless against the dead."
Upon hearing this, Scorpion's expression froze.
Orochimaru slowly curled his lips into a mocking smile: "Back then, in order to make your body immortal, you transformed yourself into this inhuman, ghost-like form. You even discarded most of your heart and flesh. In the end, what difference is there between you and a real dead person?"
"You—!" Jie's face darkened instantly at the sarcastic remark, and his previously nonchalant smile vanished without a trace.
A flash of annoyance crossed his sinister eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, letting out a disdainful sneer. He crossed his arms and coldly looked down at Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, don't worry, you'll soon no longer have to fear genjutsu!"
"After the organization executes you, I will turn your corpse into the strongest puppet!"
"You will become my most prized possession, living forever in my collection!"
"Hahaha—"
Akasuna laughed loudly and turned to leave. His unrestrained laughter gradually faded into the distance and eventually disappeared at the end of the corridor.
The dark cell fell silent again, with only Orochimaru trapped inside the small diagram.
He slowly loosened his clenched fists, sat down against the wall expressionlessly, his snake-like eyes so dark they seemed to drip venom.
At this moment, Orochimaru's anger had gradually subsided, replaced by a deep chill and solemnity.
He knew very well that what Scorpion had just said was not a bluff—once Payne decided to execute him, Scorpion would be eager to turn his corpse into a puppet.
To make matters worse, this is Amegakure!
No one can escape easily from Payne's watchful eye!