Unlike the Judgement Cut End Richard had unleashed in the past, this manifestation dwarfed its predecessors.
When Richard ascended to the same height as Orochimaru, the Sannin experienced an ominous premonition. As Richard brandished Masamune, Orochimaru's unease peaked.
Before he could react, Orochimaru felt a sensation entirely foreign to his experience—as if space itself had suddenly distorted around him.
Space-Time Ninjutsu?
He knows Space-Time Ninjutsu?
Orochimaru's assessment made perfect sense. In the Naruto universe, only Space-Time Ninjutsu produced comparable effects.
Just as surprise registered on Orochimaru's face, the Judgment Cut End fully materialized.
To ensure complete coverage of Orochimaru's transformed state, Richard had generated a Judgment Cut End of unprecedented scale. Previously, his technique typically measured only a few meters in diameter—now, it expanded to an astonishing one to two hundred meters across, completely enveloping Orochimaru's Yamata no Orochi form.
As the Judgment Cut End took shape, Orochimaru found himself immediately immobilized by overwhelming gravitational force. Though he could still manipulate the massive serpentine necks and tails, he couldn't relocate from his position.
Upon this realization, Orochimaru's expression transformed to one of absolute horror.
Yet this represented merely the beginning.
After securing Orochimaru in place, dozens of enormous crescent-shaped spatial distortions formed instantaneously, converging upon him with lightning speed from every conceivable angle.
Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice! Slice!
Compared to ordinary creatures, Orochimaru's Yamata no Orochi transformation indeed possessed extraordinary durability. Conventional attacks couldn't even penetrate its scales.
Unfortunately, the Judgment Cut End transcended conventional offensive techniques.
Without a defense specifically imbued with spatial attributes, nothing could withstand a Dimensional Slash. Neither flesh nor blood nor even true steel could resist its severing power.
Orochimaru had anticipated potential defeat.
He hadn't, however, expected to be overwhelmed so effortlessly.
Not only had his ultimate trump card—the Eight Branches Technique—failed to provide any opportunity to challenge Richard, it had effectively transformed him into an even larger target.
Who is he?
Orochimaru stared at Richard with undisguised disbelief.
Under the Judgment Cut End assault, every head and tail of the Yamata no Orochi was systematically severed—including the central serpent head containing Orochimaru himself.
Upon witnessing his mountain-sized manifestation reduced to hundreds of fragments with a single technique, the survival-focused Orochimaru responded in a manner entirely consistent with his character.
Without hesitation, he began dispelling the Eight Branches Technique.
Before the giant snake head containing him crashed to the ground, Orochimaru completed his reversion to human form. The moment before impact, he leapt clear without a backward glance.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The dismembered portions of the Yamata no Orochi's body impacted the earth like meteorites, one after another.
Orochimaru stood on the grass several hundred meters away, regarding Richard—still hovering mid-air—with undisguised resignation.
Though uncertain what technique Richard had just employed, Orochimaru had concluded one definitive truth: he could not defeat this adversary.
The Eight Branches Technique represented his ultimate trump card!
If even the Yamata no Orochi transformation proved ineffective against Richard, Orochimaru's remaining techniques would fare even worse.
Moreover, Orochimaru remained uncertain whether Richard had actually exhibited his full capabilities.
After regarding Richard with frustrated contemplation for more than ten seconds, Orochimaru sighed helplessly.
Under Richard's watchful gaze, Orochimaru approached the "mountain of flesh" formed by his technique's remains. Raising his arms, four or five white snakes—each as thick as an adult's forearm—emerged from both sleeves.
Each serpent targeted a specific fragment, lunging forward as if pursuing prey. Upon contact, these white snakes began absorbing the debris through some unusual method.
Though the Eight Branches Technique had proven ineffective against Richard, the Yamata no Orochi's remains still held immense value to Orochimaru. These fragments represented "perfect bodies" he had painstakingly cultivated over countless years.
Though this perfect form had failed to achieve its intended effect—instead being dismembered within seconds by Richard's technique—these remains still embodied Orochimaru's considerable effort.
As Orochimaru salvaged the Yamata no Orochi's remains, Richard descended to the grass and returned Masamune to his system space.
"I will provide the chakra information you requested upon returning," Orochimaru stated preemptively, before Richard could speak.
Though reluctant, Orochimaru recognized his position. Circumstances superseded preference—he could only acquiesce to Richard's demands.
"Excellent," Richard replied immediately.
Within minutes, Orochimaru completed his recovery of the Yamata no Orochi's remnants. Were it not for bloodstains and impact traces marring the grassland, the entire confrontation might have seemed entirely imaginary.
Hidden Sound Village
Reception Room, Underground Base
After retrieving the Yamata no Orochi fragments, Orochimaru escorted Richard back to the underground complex.
"Wait here momentarily. I'll have someone deliver the information," Orochimaru instructed.
Richard nodded silently and settled casually onto the sofa.
Noting Richard's relaxed demeanor, Orochimaru departed without further comment.
Shortly thereafter, Kimimaro arrived at the reception room accompanied by several Sound shinobi. Apart from Kimimaro, each ninja carried books and scrolls.
After directing these subordinates to place the materials on the central table, Kimimaro addressed Richard: "These contain the information you requested. Lord Orochimaru also asked me to inform you that should you wish to remain in Otogakure temporarily, he can arrange accommodations."
Hearing Kimimaro's message, Richard responded calmly: "In that case, I'll accept his hospitality."
With that statement, he ignored Kimimaro and selected a scroll, opening it and scanning its contents rapidly.
Observing Richard begin his examination of the materials, Kimimaro and the other Sound ninja departed without hesitation.
Orochimaru had provided extensive chakra documentation, yet Richard didn't require significant time to review everything. Though his Superboy-Prime template fusion remained below 20%, it still granted him "super intelligence."
This enhancement enabled not only perfect photographic memory but also extraordinary information processing speed.
After examining all materials on the table, Richard immediately attempted to simulate chakra using his magical abilities.
Most shinobi possessed only cursory knowledge regarding chakra. They understood it as the product of perfectly merged physical and spiritual energies, manifesting in five primary nature transformations: Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, and Earth.
Though seven distinct chakra natures existed, relatively few shinobi recognized the additional Yin and Yang properties.
Furthermore, most ninjas lacked detailed understanding of physical and spiritual energies themselves.
For most practitioners, deeply investigating these energies represented wasted effort. Rather than dedicating time to theoretical understanding, they preferred practical application through training and mission completion.
Orochimaru, however, differed fundamentally from typical shinobi.
As a scientist driven by curiosity and methodical investigation, Orochimaru had thoroughly studied both physical and spiritual energies, developing numerous techniques based on experimental findings.
Though he hadn't fully deciphered why cells generated these distinct energies, Orochimaru's understanding surpassed other shinobi by considerable margins.
At minimum, Orochimaru had determined that spiritual and physical energies directly correlated with cellular activity.
Native inhabitants of the Naruto world possessed approximately 130 trillion cells—130,000,000,000,000 individual cells.
Richard, not indigenous to this universe, contained significantly fewer, only 40-60 trillion cells.
Despite this numerical disadvantage, Richard possessed compensating factors that natives lacked.
First, he controlled three templates: Sephiroth, Vergil, and Superboy-Prime.
Second, he commanded magical power.
As his magical energy circulated, Richard's body emitted a subtle blue-white luminescence.
Time passed incrementally.
Richard's initial attempt to simulate chakra using magic predictably failed.
Though he had thoroughly reviewed all available documentation, using fundamentally different magical energy to mimic chakra presented significant challenges.
After this initial failure, Richard mentally analyzed his approach.
Rising from his seated position, he exited the reception room.
Immediately upon entering the corridor, he encountered Kimimaro waiting in the shadows.
"Where is Orochimaru?" Richard inquired.
"If you have additional requirements, communicate them directly to me. There's no need to disturb Lord Orochimaru," Kimimaro responded promptly.
Though Kimimaro's expression betrayed obvious wariness, Richard paid it no attention. "I require several living shinobi," he stated nonchalantly. "Rank and ability levels are irrelevant—only that they remain alive."
Living shinobi?
Hearing Richard's request, Kimimaro's suspicion intensified visibly.
"What purpose would they serve?" he asked, brow furrowing.
"I needn't provide extensive explanations. Simply deliver the requested personnel," Richard stated evenly. "Additionally, provide a laboratory with comprehensive experimental equipment."
After several seconds of silent consideration, Kimimaro replied: "Follow me. I'll escort you to a laboratory."
Without waiting for acknowledgment, Kimimaro turned and departed.
Shortly thereafter, Kimimaro brought Richard to a laboratory spanning hundreds of square meters.
"The shinobi you requested will arrive shortly," Kimimaro stated concisely.
Richard acknowledged with a silent nod.
After Kimimaro's departure, Richard examined the laboratory's equipment.
He then decided to employ the most straightforward methodology for his subsequent experiment.
Plunder!
He intended to utilize his Plunder ability to determine whether he could directly take chakra from captured shinobi.
Regarding the ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu these shinobi had mastered, Richard harbored no expectations.
Ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu represented acquired skills achieved through dedicated learning—comparable to singing, painting, swimming, and other learned abilities.
Though Richard's Plunder constituted an Omega-level superpower, it could only confiscate supernatural abilities from beings he eliminated.
Simply put, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu weren't innate supernatural powers susceptible to Plunder. Despite appearances suggesting otherwise, they remained fundamentally acquired skills.
Chakra itself presented a more suitable target.
Nevertheless, Richard maintained modest expectations regarding plundering chakra from shinobi. Though natives of this world possessed chakra from birth, they still required incremental strengthening through training.
Richard increasingly believed the only plunderable supernatural power would be the cellular capacity to generate physical and spiritual energies.
If one categorized this world's inhabitants as mutants, then their cells' ability to produce spiritual and physical energies represented their innate superpower. Essentially, the specialized cells within Naruto-universe natives functioned analogously to the X-gene in Marvel mutants.
Shortly afterward, Kimimaro returned with three shinobi, their hands bound behind their backs.
Judging by their forehead protectors, these captives originated from three distinct minor villages:
The Hidden Waterfall Village, Hidden Grass Village, and Hidden Hot Springs Village!
These three hidden villages existed in relatively close proximity to Otogakure, surviving within the power gaps between the Five Great Shinobi Nations.
"You may leave," Richard instructed Kimimaro.
Though Kimimaro's presence wouldn't necessarily reveal anything extraordinary, Richard preferred conducting his experiment without observers.
Kimimaro wordlessly exited the laboratory.
Once alone with the captives, Richard approached the three bound shinobi.
Aeroga!
Wind Blade!
Without hesitation, Richard generated three translucent, razor-sharp wind blades that simultaneously decapitated the three shinobi.
Instantly, he activated his Omega-level Plunder ability.
[New abilities acquired: Ninja Cells, Ninja Physique]
[Matching ability types detected, initiating ability fusion!]
[Ninja Cells and Ninja Physique strengthened!]
Observing the system notifications, Richard's expression transformed to one of satisfaction.
Though he hadn't plundered any ninjutsu or taijutsu as expected, he had successfully acquired the fundamental superpowers he sought.
[Ninja Cells: Specialized cellular structures possessed by humans in the Naruto universe, capable of generating physical energy and spiritual energy which combine to form "stamina"]
[Ninja Physique: Specialized physiological framework possessed by humans in the Naruto universe, capable of converting "stamina" (the combination of physical energy and spiritual energy) into chakra]
Richard examined the system's descriptions of his newly acquired abilities.
These explanations paralleled information he had previously encountered in reference texts.
According to established knowledge, physical energy and spiritual energy generated by cells combined to form stamina—the foundation for executing physical techniques.
Chakra, meanwhile, represented converted stamina.
After extracting chakra, shinobi could perform ninjutsu and genjutsu through hand seals.
The fundamental distinction between stamina and chakra involved the uniformity of physical and spiritual energy integration. Simple combination produced stamina, while perfect, balanced fusion created chakra.