Chapter 95: Manda!
"It's a trap!"
A piercing warning echoed from the dense forest ahead, then abruptly stopped.
All the Konoha squads instinctively halted.
Whoosh, whoosh!
Amidst the continuous whistling of the wind.
Countless transparent threads, like a spider's web, suddenly appeared everywhere, sealing off a large area of the space they occupied.
They had fallen into a trap.
Fortunately, these dozens of teams were mostly led by Special Jonin and Jonin, so no one was easily caught and sliced by the threads.
A layer of green mist began to spread and surround them.
Clearly, something 'extra' was mixed in.
The most famous techniques of the Sand Ninja are not Wind Release, but puppetry and poison, so using this method was quite normal.
"Take the antidote in advance, then use Fire Release to destroy the threads and plants!"
Orochimaru commanded while forming hand seals.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
A terrifying pillar of fire spewed out, incinerating the fan-shaped area ahead.
Although he didn't like using Fire Release, it didn't mean he couldn't. With his Kage-level chakra, he elevated the power of this B-rank Fire Release to another level.
With one strike, he cleared a large charred area, and even the poisonous mist was evaporated by the flames.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
...
Various Fire Release techniques were also used by others.
After all, they were all elites; how could they not know some ninjutsu?
With the Konoha ninja's Fire Release sweeping the area, the surrounding plants were all burned away, leaving a large charred open space.
In complex environments, the Sand Ninja, who excelled in poison and puppetry, had a significant advantage.
Now, with the battle space widened many times over, although it allowed Wind Release to perform better, it also restricted the opponent's most dangerous methods, making it a double-edged sword.
"Summoning Technique!"
After casting the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, Orochimaru didn't stop and continued to perform the Summoning Technique.
Bang! A massive white smoke dispersed.
A gigantic snake with purple-black stripes and a horned crown on its head appeared on the battlefield.
Huge!
That was undoubtedly everyone's first impression upon seeing it.
Even a train seemed 'slender and small' in front of it.
The identity of the creature wasn't hard to guess.
Manda!
It hailed from Ryuchi Cave, one of the three great summoning sanctuaries.
It was also a trump card in Orochimaru's hand.
The fame of the Sannin on the battlefield was also related to their summoning beasts.
No matter how efficient humans were at killing, they couldn't compare to these massive summoning beasts, whose every attack equaled the destructive power of high-level ninjutsu.
Not to mention, these large summoning beasts had tough skin and were not afraid of ordinary attacks.
Perfect for clearing the field!
In one-on-one battles of the same level, summoning beasts might not have much effect.
But on the battlefield, these large summoning beasts were a nightmare for ordinary ninjas.
"Orochimaru, this time I want a hundred sacrifices as payment, or I'll swallow you!"
Manda began negotiating terms as soon as it was summoned, appearing unruly.
The relationship between Orochimaru and it was more of a transaction than a contract.
One side provided effort, the other offered compensation.
"There are plenty of sacrifices, as long as you can eat them!"
Orochimaru replied with a cold smile.
He never summoned Manda usually because of this.
To make it exert effort, it wouldn't move without benefits, so he typically only summoned it on the battlefield.
And on the battlefield, there were plenty of sacrifices.
Hearing Orochimaru's response, Manda raised its upper body, its massive, skyscraper-like form exuding overwhelming pressure.
"Summoning Technique!"
Seeing this, Uchiha Takashi in the back also used this jutsu.
When the main commander summons a summoning beast, what's the point of holding back?
Chapter 95: Manda!
Bang! A massive dark-golden crow spread its wings and soared into the sky. Caw caw!
The piercing cries drew countless gazes.
"Is that..."
"No way, it's so huge!"
"It's almost as big as Lord Manda, growing so fast!"
...
The Konoha ninjas couldn't believe what they were witnessing.
They could understand Manda's immense power, given that it hailed from Ryuchi Cave, one of the three great sanctuaries.
But Uchiha Takashi's summoned beast made them green with envy.
Yes, Taiichi had grown again.
Before the sacred tree was planted, it stood several meters tall with a wingspan of over ten meters.
During this time, it stayed on the sacred tree, almost enveloped in natural energy, growing at an astonishing rate, its size nearly doubling.
A colossal creature with a wingspan exceeding twenty meters!
Though not quite on par with Manda, it could barely be considered in the same league.
The light in the sky seemed to dim a bit with Taiichi's appearance.
Even Manda couldn't help but raise its head to scrutinize the circling Taiichi, showing a measure of respect.
Only those on the same level would earn its attention; ordinary summoned beasts would be ignored entirely.
Hiss! Manda launched the first attack.
Boom!
The terrifying serpentine body, like a tunnel, plowed a deep trench into the ground as it advanced at high speed.
Faced with such a cataclysmic beast, what could the Sand Ninjas do? They were desperate! Throwing ninja tools, using jutsu, poison... none of it worked on Manda. They could only choose to avoid a direct confrontation.
As a result, their formation was scattered.
Large summoned beasts have such a domineering presence on the battlefield; if the opponent lacks countermeasures, they can easily disrupt formations.
"Ah!"
"Help!"
...
Occasionally, a Sand Ninja would be swallowed by Manda.
No matter how agile a ninja was, Manda was no ordinary creature.
Don't be fooled by its massive size into thinking it's slow; in reality, its speed is astonishing. If you don't evade in advance, escaping its attack is nearly impossible.
At this moment, within the Sand Ninja formation.
"Scorch Release!"
A female voice suddenly rang out.
Boom!! An explosion erupted into the sky.
The area where Manda was located was engulfed in explosions and flames.
Even if the situation inside was unclear, everyone knew a Sand Ninja powerhouse had appeared.
Pakura!
Her Scorch Release was too distinctive to be mistaken.
Standing atop a charred tree, Orochimaru didn't immediately step forward to assist Manda.
Letting it probe and wear down the enemy wasn't a bad thing, was it?
After all, Orochimaru wouldn't concern himself with Manda's safety, just as Manda wouldn't forgo demanding compensation from him.
When the smoke cleared, Manda lay dead on the ground.
The morale of the Konoha ninjas took a severe hit.
Because in their minds, Manda was an invincible presence, now taken down in one move, how could they not be affected?
"What do you think?"
Uchiha Takashi turned and quietly asked Hyuga Aotsuki beside him.
"It's a snake skin, the real body is underground!"
Hyuga Aotsuki, with her Byakugan activated, naturally saw everything clearly.
Just as expected!
Hearing this, Uchiha Takashi nodded silently.
He remembered Manda having such a cunning technique, and it seemed he hadn't remembered wrong.
Due to the ninja's secrecy, not many knew of Manda's trick, or even if they did, they might subconsciously overlook it in the face of such a 'realistic corpse.'
Pakura fell for it at this moment.
Bang! Before she could move forward to inspect the snake corpse, the ground behind her suddenly cracked open, and a massive snake tail whipped towards her like lightning.
In the nick of time, the fireballs surrounding Pakura exploded in front of her.
Boom! The massive explosion and flames devoured everything around them.
(End of Chapter)