I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 354 Wood Release without a Gundam is soulless!

Nara Rinka's right leg lashed out through the air like a steel whip, the force so powerful that it even left two faint, shimmering white ripples.

The air itself could not withstand the tearing force of this strange power, and it emitted a sharp, explosive sound.

Orochimaru's eyelids twitched violently, and his relaxed and carefree posture vanished instantly. Without thinking, he gathered chakra in his legs and activated the "Body Flicker Technique" at top speed, flashing into the nearby woods.

Less than half a second after Orochimaru dodged, Nara Rinka's right leg struck the ground where Orochimaru had just been standing.

Boom—Crack!

It was accompanied by a deafening roar.

A deep ravine, tens of meters long, stretches from the "landing point" of the Nara Cassia Grove into the dense forest. The earth is broken and rippled, and the trees tremble and break, as if a natural disaster has struck.

Sensing the arrival of Nara Rinka and the departure of the bloody scent, Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief, slowly opened her eyes, and then saw that reassuring figure.

"Is my arrival...just in time?"

Nara Rinka turned around and gave Tsunade a bright smile.

Tsunade wanted to glare at Nara Ranke to remind him to focus on the battle, but she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The fear that had erupted within her at the sight of blood vanished instantly.

Nara Rinka and Tsunade were chatting and laughing together here.

Orochimaru, who had dodged to the side, felt heavy-hearted.

Looking at the horrific destruction caused by the Nara Rai, Orochimaru secretly made a comparison in his mind.

Nara Ranka's mastery of the Steel Fist Fluid Technique is probably no less than that of Tsunade in her prime!

I really don't know how this young man cultivated; it's even more outrageous than Minato's...

Orochimaru forcibly suppressed the distracting thoughts and faint feelings of jealousy in his mind, and took the initiative to join the conversation.

"Nara-kun, it's been a long time."

Orochimaru calmly and composedly watched Tsunade and Nara Rinka, the two duo.

For some reason, he felt that the scene in front of him seemed familiar.

I vaguely remember that sometime before, Nara Rinka was also following behind a blonde female ninja, fighting him in the dense forest outside Kikyo Castle...

But no matter how you look at it.

Orochimaru doesn't want to fight.

If it were just Tsunade alone, Orochimaru could still put up a fight, since he knew her fatal weakness.

But is it Nara's laurel wreath?

Orochimaru still hasn't found a good way to deal with this guy.

Based on the intelligence he has gathered so far, even excluding those insignificant "minor abilities," Nara Rinka also possesses techniques such as "flight," "Flying Thunder God Technique," "Tailed Beast Ball attack," and "Thunderous Calamity attack."

How so?

He's somewhat like an enhanced version of Minato Namikaze.

Even Orochimaru wasn't very confident of defeating this type of ninja.

Not to mention that he had previously suffered several defeats at the hands of Nara Rinka.

Even Nara Rangsei is this difficult to deal with.

Add Tsunade to the mix...

Even if Tsunade doesn't participate in the battle, she's still a top-notch medical ninja!

The duo of Nara Rinka and Tsunade...

Orochimaru felt a chill run down his spine just thinking about it.

"It seems I'll have to find another opportunity to collect Tsunade's cell tissue later..."

"Lord Orochimaru, it's been a long time."

Nara Rinka responded with a friendly smile, then turned to Tsunade in front of Orochimaru and asked her a question.

"What kind of battle do you want to see? Wood Release? Or Steel Fist Fluid Technique?"

Tsunade really wanted to say, "Nara, you are far too arrogant!"

But then I thought, this is my own teammate!

My own man!

Having teammates like this is truly reassuring.

Tsunade wanted to remind Nara Rinka not to be careless, but the words just came out before she could finish.

"Then... Wood Release?"

Orochimaru, who had been watching the entire conversation between Nara Rinka and Tsunade, was immediately speechless.

Are you two playing house or a game here?

If we're going to fight, let's have a proper showdown!

Wood Release?

If you, Nara Rinka, could use Wood Release, I'd give this entire forest to you—

"Wood Release: Thorn Killing Technique!"

Nara Rinka performed the hand seals with exceptional skill, effortlessly executing a C-rank Wood Release ninjutsu.

Vines-like wood grew from the earth and coiled around Orochimaru, a scene almost identical to when Tsunade used the "Silent Kill Binding Technique" earlier.

"No, no way..."

Orochimaru's heart skipped a beat; he could hardly believe what his eyes were seeing.

"An illusion? This must be an illusion!"

Orochimaru bit his tongue hard.

There are many ways to break illusions.

Breaking illusions through intense pain is the most common method, especially in one-on-one battles.

But the sharp pain on his tongue, and the familiar feeling of being bound by wooden strips, made Orochimaru instantly realize—

Nara Rinka actually used Wood Release!

How could he?!

The wooden strips formed by the [Thorn Killing Technique] bound the stunned Orochimaru to the spot.

Nara Rinka didn't care why Orochimaru was standing there dumbfounded. He wasn't interested in probing Orochimaru's mental state at the moment, so he just continued forming hand seals.

In less than a few seconds, Nara Rinka completed the hand seals for another A-rank Wood Release ninjutsu.

[Wood Release: All Cloth Bag Technique]!

The Wood Release chakra poured into the ground activated the dormant plant seeds, causing them to grow into an enormous wooden hand that grasped at Orochimaru, who was being held in place by the Thorn Killing Technique.

Nara's purpose in taking this action was to sever Orochimaru's connection with the ground.

But Orochimaru still had a few seconds to react in time.

Regardless of how Nara Ranke came to possess the Wood Release bloodline limit.

top priority.

The first thing to do is escape from the opponent's attack!

Orochimaru shook his body forcefully, but he couldn't break the vine cage formed by the [Thorn Killing Technique] in a short time.

The attack of 【All Cloth Bag Technique】 is about to arrive.

Orochimaru didn't have enough time to use the Kusanagi Sword to "cut grass".

Fortunately, he has some unique research on the technique of "escape".

Orochimaru opened his mouth, and two pale arms emerged from his throat, grabbing his gums one above the other and prying them apart.

Like a snake shedding its skin, a sticky Orochimaru emerged from the original Orochimaru's throat, successfully dodging the combined attacks of the [Thorn Killing Technique] and the [All-Purpose Bag Technique].

Orochi-style Substitution Technique!

While using the "Orochimaru Substitution Technique," Orochimaru was multitasking, manipulating the Kusanagi sword that was floating in the air beside him, and slashing towards Nara Rinka and Tsunade.

I do not seek to harm anyone.

The only goal is to disrupt the opponent's offensive rhythm.

A gleaming sword hurtled through the air.

Nara Rinkazu's eyes narrowed, and he decisively resonated with the chakra in the [Chakra Crystal], expanding the total amount of [Wood Release] chakra he was currently using by more than half.

"Lord Orochimaru, the true god of ninjas, fights like this!"

The moment Nara Rinkaku finished speaking, a wooden Gundam figure burst from the ground.

Standing tall and upright, arrogant and invincible.

[Wood Release: Wood Human Technique]!

(End of this chapter)