Having identified Orochimaru's actual body, Richard deployed his heat vision once more. The high-temperature beams streaked toward a specific dark brown snake exceeding one meter in length—the vessel containing Orochimaru's true form.
Struck by the heat ray, Orochimaru abandoned his subterfuge.
Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique!
The dark brown snake targeted by Richard's heat vision distended its jaws to impossible proportions. A moment later, Orochimaru emerged from the serpent's gullet—a creature not even as thick as his arm.
Though aware of this ability's existence, Richard had to acknowledge that Orochimaru's Body Replacement Technique was genuinely disturbing. Moreover, due to his biological modifications, Orochimaru slithered across the grass with serpentine movements after exiting the brown snake's body.
Richard made no attempt to prevent Orochimaru's escape. From the beginning, he had harbored no genuine intention to kill the Sannin—otherwise, their conversation would have been considerably briefer.
After Orochimaru had slithered several dozen meters away, Richard unhurriedly withdrew Masamune—exceeding two meters in length—from his system space.
"I know that among the three Kusanagi Swords in your possession, one possesses extension capabilities," Richard remarked to Orochimaru, who had regained his bipedal form. "Draw it and face me properly."
In the Naruto universe, "Kusanagi" represented a category of legendary blades rather than a single weapon. Four distinct Kusanagi Swords had appeared throughout the manga, with Orochimaru possessing three of them.
During the Konoha Crush operation against the Third Hokage, Orochimaru had employed his infamous technique—summoning a snake from his mouth, which then disgorged the Kusanagi Sword of the Heavens.
The Kusanagi Sword of the Heavens possessed extraordinary sharpness. Even Enma, with his diamond-hard primate form, experienced pain upon contact with its edge. Beyond its cutting properties, Orochimaru could telekinetically control this Kusanagi through the air without physical contact.
This aerial manipulation wasn't an inherent property of the sword itself, but rather a specialized ninjutsu Orochimaru had developed.
In addition to the Heavenly Kusanagi, when confronting Four-Tailed Naruto, Orochimaru had summoned another Kusanagi variant capable of extending to hundreds of meters—essentially attempting to impale the transformed jinchūriki. Unfortunately, this extendable Kusanagi merely served to emphasize Four-Tailed Naruto's overwhelming power, as the blade proved ineffective.
The third Kusanagi in Orochimaru's collection had been transferred to Sasuke. Though never explicitly confirmed in the manga, deduction made Orochimaru the obvious source of Sasuke's blade. During his intensive training under Orochimaru, Sasuke would have lacked opportunity to independently locate another Kusanagi. Logically, the sword in his possession must have come from Orochimaru himself.
Despite possessing three Kusanagi blades, Orochimaru's collective arsenal still fell short of the Totsuka Blade wielded by Itachi Uchiha's Susanoo.
The Totsuka Blade!
Orochimaru, an avid collector of Kusanagi variants, had learned of the Totsuka's existence through historical records. Though desperately desiring this ultimate Kusanagi, he never located it—because the Totsuka had always remained with Itachi Uchiha.
More precisely, it existed as part of Itachi's Susanoo manifestation.
Unlike Orochimaru's physical Kusanagi blades, the Totsuka existed as an ethereal spiritual weapon formed from chakra. Those pierced by the Totsuka suffered eternal sealing within a genjutsu realm called the "World of Drunken Dreams."
After discovering the Totsuka's connection to Itachi Uchiha, Orochimaru—while executing his Eight Branches Technique—had intended to challenge Itachi in a battle of legendary blades. Before he could act, however, the Totsuka had sealed him away.
Fortunately, the perpetually death-averse Orochimaru had prepared sufficient contingencies. Without these preparations, the Totsuka would have imprisoned him permanently.
Upon hearing Richard's words, Orochimaru didn't immediately draw his Kusanagi. Instead, he regarded Richard with intensified wariness.
Earlier, in the underground base, Richard had casually referenced the Eight Branches Technique—knowledge exclusive to Orochimaru himself. Now, Richard explicitly identified the three Kusanagi blades in Orochimaru's possession.
How did he acquire this information?
Who is he?
Had Richard merely known about Orochimaru possessing a Kusanagi, the Sannin wouldn't have been particularly surprised. After all, Orochimaru had acquired his Kusanagi blades through theft and conquest—information about his possession could conceivably leak.
However, Richard's precise knowledge of Orochimaru owning three Kusanagi swords indicated something far more concerning. Most individuals merely knew Kusanagi-type weapons existed somewhere in the world, with no conception of their quantity or distribution.
Even Orochimaru himself had expended tremendous effort to discover the existence of just four Kusanagi variants.
Though baffled by Richard's comprehensive knowledge, Orochimaru avoided dwelling on the mystery. When Richard had employed super speed to suddenly appear before him, Orochimaru had experienced a premonition of danger he hadn't felt in years.
Though Richard's earlier punch hadn't connected, Orochimaru had trusted his instincts and immediately executed his Snake-Style Substitution. Had he not, Richard's strike would have inflicted catastrophic damage.
Orochimaru's intuition had proven correct. While Richard's punch appeared ordinary, its power vastly exceeded Orochimaru's imagination.
For perspective, among Orochimaru's acquaintances, Tsunade possessed the greatest raw strength. Yet Richard's casual punch—without any magical enhancement, purely physical force—exceeded Tsunade's maximum output by hundreds of times.
And Richard hadn't even used his full strength.
Since awakening the Superboy-Prime template, Richard had never formally tested his strength, speed, or endurance parameters. This wasn't due to lack of interest, but rather the impossibility of obtaining stable measurements.
Even if he commissioned Tony Stark and Reed Richards to construct instruments capable of accurate assessment, such devices would quickly become obsolete.
The Kryptonian physiology granted by the Superboy-Prime template caused Richard's physical attributes to continuously improve with solar exposure. Unless permanently confined away from sunlight, his capabilities would increase at an astonishing rate.
Under these circumstances, measuring his ultimate strength and speed would prove futile—his limits changed daily.
Under Richard's expectant gaze, Orochimaru opened his mouth unnaturally wide. A brown venomous snake emerged from his throat, partially extending before opening its own jaws to disgorge the Kusanagi Sword of the Heavens.
Grasping the hilt, Orochimaru extracted the Kusanagi coated in snake saliva and gastric fluids.
Witnessing this display, Richard frowned slightly.
Can't you develop a more hygienic storage method? Perhaps learn from Sasuke or Tenten—seal the blade in a scroll or specialized containment, then summon it when needed?
Regarding the slime-covered Kusanagi in Orochimaru's grasp, Richard spoke deliberately: "Would you mind cleaning that blade first?"
What?
Orochimaru momentarily froze in confusion.
Then, as if discovering critical intelligence, Orochimaru declared: "You suffer from mysophobia! I've identified your weakness!"
Weakness my ass! This is simply a normal person's reaction!
Internally irritated by Orochimaru's misinterpretation, Richard returned Masamune to his system space.
Though not a blade fanatic who valued swords above all else, Richard had no desire for Masamune to clash with the gastric fluid-coated Kusanagi. Even if he enhanced Masamune with magical protection, the thought remained repulsive.
Phantom Blade!
After withdrawing Masamune, Richard channeled his magical energy to manifest the Phantom Blade—a weapon comprised entirely of magic, radiating ethereal blue light.
Beyond the Phantom Blade, Richard could have summoned the Twilight Sword he'd claimed from the fire giant Surtur. Considering the Naruto universe's context, however, the Phantom Blade seemed more appropriate.
After conjuring the Phantom Blade, Richard executed a flourish.
Then, activating his super speed, he appeared before Orochimaru, the Phantom Blade already descending toward the Sannin's head.
Orochimaru couldn't identify the Phantom Blade Richard had summoned, but one thing was certain—the ethereal weapon was extraordinary.
Though the Phantom Blade consisted of magic rather than chakra, Orochimaru still detected pronounced energy fluctuations emanating from it.
As the preeminent scientist of the Naruto world, Orochimaru had studied countless phenomena. Had someone provided him with a modern textbook on basic physics or chemistry, his intellect would likely produce innovations far beyond his era's capabilities.
From a certain perspective, Orochimaru resembled Tony Stark and Reed Richards—each representing the pinnacle of intellectual achievement in their respective universes.
Witnessing Richard approach at superhuman velocity—no slower than his own Body Flicker Technique—with the Phantom Blade aimed at his head, Orochimaru instinctively raised his Kusanagi.
Though not specialized in taijutsu, Orochimaru's physical combat skills remained formidable. While he couldn't rival dedicated taijutsu masters like Guy, his swordsmanship remained respectable.
Clang!
To properly gauge Orochimaru's swordsmanship, Richard deliberately restrained his speed, allowing Orochimaru adequate reaction time.
Predictably, the azure Phantom Blade collided forcefully with the Kusanagi Sword of the Heavens, producing a crisp metallic ring.
After deflecting Richard's attack, Orochimaru decisively raised his left hand, attempting to employ the C-rank technique "Shadow Snake Hands."
This jutsu concealed venomous snakes within the user's sleeves, allowing for unexpected strikes against opponents. Upon summoning, these serpents would attack by constricting or biting their targets.
Compared to ordinary serpents, the snakes manifested through Shadow Snake Hands demonstrated enhanced strength and intelligence, actively subduing enemies.
An advanced version—Multiple Shadow Snake Hands—improved upon the base technique. This B-rank variant not only increased the quantity of summoned snakes but also allowed for specialized snakes with distinct functions: assault, immobilization, and capture.
Frequently, opponents found themselves restrained by Multiple Shadow Snake Hands before they could react. Additionally, the increased number of serpents enabled simultaneous attacks against multiple targets or coordinated strikes from different angles against a single opponent.
The ninja classification system primarily indicated learning difficulty rather than raw power, but generally, techniques with higher difficulty classifications demonstrated greater combat effectiveness. If a high-difficulty technique offered no advantage over simpler alternatives, ninjas would naturally favor the easier option.
The moment Orochimaru began raising his left hand, Richard anticipated his strategy. Both Shadow Snake Hands and its enhanced variant represented Orochimaru's standard tactical repertoire.
In this situation, Orochimaru's choice surprised no one.
Before Orochimaru could complete his hand movement, Richard rotated his wrist, altering the Phantom Blade's trajectory to intercept Orochimaru's ascending left arm.
While the Phantom Blade's sharpness couldn't match Masamune, this assessment only emerged when comparing against legendary weapons. Measured against conventional metal armaments, the Phantom Blade demonstrated extraordinary cutting power.
Consider Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword of the Heavens: capable of inflicting pain upon Enma in his diamond-hard staff form. The Phantom Blade's sharpness matched or exceeded this legendary katana.
Whoosh!
The Phantom Blade passed through Orochimaru's left arm like azure lightning, completely severing the limb before he could complete his technique.
"Just fight me with swordsmanship," Richard remarked casually. "If you employ other attacks, you'll lose faster."
Richard implied that should Orochimaru abandon swordplay for ninjutsu, he would reciprocate with more devastating techniques.
Orochimaru offered no reply, nor did he acknowledge his severed limb. Without comment, he continued wielding the Kusanagi with his remaining hand.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The Phantom Blade and Kusanagi Sword of the Heavens repeatedly collided, producing a cascade of metallic impacts.
While Orochimaru attacked with his katana, his severed left arm rapidly regenerated. For most shinobi, losing a limb represented catastrophic injury. For Orochimaru, with his biologically modified body, it merely required minimal chakra expenditure to restore.
Essentially, conventional physical attacks posed little threat to him.
Two or three minutes elapsed with neither combatant gaining advantage.
Because Richard deliberately held back, Orochimaru employed every sword technique in his arsenal. Despite this, he couldn't land a single hit on Richard.
Unlike Orochimaru, whose swordsmanship barely surpassed typical jōnin standards, Richard's blade mastery reached extraordinary heights.
In the Naruto world—or more precisely, in Japanese cultural tradition—katana and swords were often considered interchangeable. Richard, however, preferred the Western distinction: single-edged weapons classified as katana, double-edged as swords.
Though he typically favored katana, the fundamental principles remained similar. If any difference existed, swordsmanship encompassed a broader range of techniques, as double-edged weapons offered greater versatility than their single-edged counterparts.
While Orochimaru had recognized the Phantom Blade's special nature, Richard's exceptional swordsmanship exceeded his expectations. During Orochimaru's relentless assault, Richard manipulated his Phantom Blade with fluid precision, effortlessly intercepting every attack without allowing a single opening.
Orochimaru had encountered skilled swordsmen among both ninja and samurai throughout his career. Nevertheless, he conceded that Richard demonstrated the most refined swordsmanship he'd ever witnessed.
After deflecting another swing of the Kusanagi, Richard applied minimal force to push Orochimaru back. The impact—far exceeding Tsunade's legendary strength—sent Orochimaru flying uncontrollably backward for dozens of meters.
As Orochimaru regained his footing, Richard spoke deliberately: "I've observed your swordsmanship sufficiently. Continuing would merely waste time. Employ your prized Eight Branches Technique—let's bring this confrontation to its proper conclusion."
Though Orochimaru possessed numerous additional ninjutsu, Richard felt little interest in either Orochimaru's snake techniques or conventional jutsu.
Only two techniques currently intrigued him: Impure World Reincarnation and the Eight Branches Technique. The remainder seemed inconsequential by comparison.
Hearing Richard's challenge, Orochimaru responded coldly: "If you wish to witness my Eight Branches Technique, you must demonstrate sufficient capability. Based on the abilities you've displayed thus far, you haven't earned that privilege."
Richard had anticipated Orochimaru's response. Though Orochimaru hadn't successfully injured him, Richard hadn't yet demonstrated power that Orochimaru would consider overwhelming.
As Orochimaru finished speaking, Richard dissolved his Phantom Blade and replied calmly: "Since you demand a demonstration, I'll oblige."
With these words, Richard withdrew Masamune from his system space.
Observing the weapon's extraordinary length, Orochimaru's expression grew profoundly serious.
Compared to standard katanas, Masamune's length seemed almost ridiculous. While increased blade length theoretically expanded attack range, excessively long weapons typically introduced significant handling disadvantages.
Had any other shinobi produced a sword exceeding two meters, Orochimaru would have questioned their sanity. Richard, however, had already proven himself no ordinary combatant.
Orochimaru had witnessed Richard's masterful swordsmanship with the Phantom Blade—a weapon of conventional proportions. Based on that display, Orochimaru understood that even Masamune's extreme length wouldn't impair Richard's effectiveness.
After drawing Masamune, Richard executed a casual flourish before instantly materializing before Orochimaru.
Octaslash!
To avoid accidentally killing Orochimaru, Richard deliberately restrained his power. Though Orochimaru's modifications rendered him resistant to conventional physical attacks, Octaslash transcended ordinary offensive techniques.
Even holding back, Richard's Octaslash could reduce Orochimaru to dozens of pieces—regardless of whether he maintained his current flesh-and-blood form or adopted an energy-based manifestation.
While Orochimaru unquestionably embodied villainy, Richard's impression of him wasn't entirely negative. Otherwise, he wouldn't have engaged with Orochimaru for so long.
Though Richard controlled his strength, the Octaslash still evoked an overwhelming sense of mortal danger within Orochimaru.
Without hesitation, Orochimaru attempted the Body Flicker Technique to evade Richard's assault.
His reaction time proved impressive.
Unfortunately, his current opponent was Richard.
Before Orochimaru could complete the Body Flicker, Masamune carved through his form.
To ensure Orochimaru's survival, Richard precisely controlled Masamune's slashing angles. Nevertheless, the eight lightning-fast strikes reduced Orochimaru to a pile of minced flesh—or more accurately, shredded snake corpses, with Orochimaru's true form concealed among them.
This trick again? Rather monotonous, isn't it?
Richard mentally criticized Orochimaru's predictable strategy.
Just as before, Richard employed his x-ray vision to quickly locate Orochimaru's actual body.
"Will you emerge voluntarily, or must I extract you?" Richard inquired.
After hearing this, a brown snake twisted forward several meters before distending its jaws. Under Richard's watchful gaze, Orochimaru once again emerged from the serpent's gullet.
Though uncertain why Richard wanted to witness the Eight Branches Technique, Orochimaru recognized one certainty—Richard currently harbored no desire to kill him.
Throughout their encounter, Orochimaru hadn't detected any genuine killing intent from Richard.
Having reappeared, Orochimaru addressed Richard: "Since you're so determined to witness my Eight Branches Technique, I'll accommodate your curiosity."
Before Richard could respond, Orochimaru initiated the Eight Branches Snake Technique.
Under Richard's observation, Orochimaru's form expanded and transformed dramatically. Within moments, his human appearance gave way to a massive white serpent with eight heads and tails, towering like a small mountain.
For reasons he couldn't entirely articulate, Richard experienced an unexpected reaction upon seeing Orochimaru's transformation—the Eight-Headed Serpent looked oddly... cute.
Though Orochimaru's Eight Branches form possessed a hill-sized body, its white coloration somehow diminished its intimidation factor, instead evoking peculiar endearment.
How to explain this impression?
Upon viewing Orochimaru's Eight-Headed Serpent, Richard's mind conjured associations not with the mythological Yamata no Orochi, but with albino corn snakes kept as exotic pets.
Of course, regular albino corn snakes were vastly smaller than Orochimaru's current manifestation and lacked the multiple heads and tails. Nevertheless, Richard couldn't shake the resemblance between Orochimaru's Eight Branches form and the harmless pet reptile.
Perhaps I could keep this version of Orochimaru as a pet?
The thought surfaced unbidden in Richard's consciousness.
Obviously, Orochimaru wasn't a pet but a sentient human being—moreover, one of the legendary Sannin. Still, keeping Orochimaru's Eight Branches form as a companion animal wasn't technically impossible.
If one destroyed Orochimaru's consciousness while preserving his Yamata no Orochi form permanently, it could theoretically serve as an exotic pet.
This principle could extend beyond Orochimaru to the Tailed Beasts themselves.
After brief consideration, Richard abandoned this bizarre notion. Reducing Orochimaru to a pet would waste his intellectual potential!
Compared to serving as a companion animal, Orochimaru contributed more value as a continuing scientific pioneer within the shinobi world.
Orochimaru, now transformed into the Yamata no Orochi, didn't immediately attack Richard. Instead, he opened the central serpent head's mouth, allowing his human upper body to emerge from within.
"You're the first opponent who has compelled me to employ the Eight Branches Technique," Orochimaru declared from his position within the serpent's jaws. "This will also be the final technique you witness in this lifetime!"
Having assumed the Eight Branches form, Orochimaru's confidence reached its zenith. Though uncertain of Richard's full capabilities, Orochimaru considered himself invincible in this ultimate manifestation.
Richard offered no verbal response. Instead, he ascended with Masamune until he reached Orochimaru's eye level.
"Since you've honored me with the Eight Branches Technique," Richard finally spoke, "I'll reciprocate by showing you a technique you've never witnessed."
With these words, Richard casually swung Masamune with his left hand.
Judgement Cut End!
Without hesitation, Richard executed the devastating technique he hadn't employed in combat for countless encounters.