This move... it couldn't possibly go wrong. Kakashi Hatake had used this maneuver countless times in the war. He could guarantee that under such a high-speed assault, there was no way he could harm Anko Mitarashi.
However, a strange scene occurred.
The Storm Release: Chidori Turbulent Flow not only did not harm the hostage, Anko, but it also did not harm the kidnapper masquerading as Orochimaru.
"Storm Release?" the kidnapper's movements were astonishingly fast. The kunai at Anko's neck was instantly withdrawn as his figure vanished. He opened his mouth, blew a gust of wind at the kunai, and a new jutsu was born. "Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
This man, impersonating Orochimaru, raised the newly formed Vacuum Blade and, in a flash, sliced through the chaotic arcs of lightning.
For him, it seemed effortless. Lightning Release chakra was, after all, often countered by Wind Release. The Chidori Stream's wild arcs were neatly cut apart, scattering harmlessly around him. Utterly useless.
"How is that possible!" Kakashi's pupils widened. He'd never imagined a technique he'd mastered so thoroughly could fail so spectacularly. The opponent's method of breaking it was so simple, so elegant, that he couldn't possibly have anticipated it.
Dust and smoke billowed as the shattered lightning hit the ground and exploded. A sudden gust of wind swept it all away in an instant.
"The world is indeed full of fraud and lies," a voice drifted through the clearing. "I thought our agreement had taken effect. I didn't expect you to choose to deceive me, secretly gathering chakra to launch an attack." The voice paused, dripping with mock disappointment. "That's right. I should have thought of it long ago."
Kakashi couldn't help but fall silent.
Wait... is this guy seriously mocking me for lying?
Could anyone actually believe such a ridiculous promise?
Even his eternally optimistic friend, Might Guy, wasn't naive enough to fall for a "you take the hostage and go, I definitely won't chase you" line.
"Your Storm Release isn't bad," 'Orochimaru' said, raising the Vacuum Blade again. A gleam flashed in his vertical pupils, ready for another round.
"But it's no match for Your Excellency's Wind Release," Kakashi admitted, taking a deep breath. The opponent was tricky. As much of a rude, ill-mannered pain as Anko was, she was still a Konoha comrade. He couldn't just leave her.
"Leave now," Kakashi stated, his resolve hardening, "and I can act as if today's events never happened. I've already left a signal for ANBU support. They'll be here soon."
"The Konoha ANBU will not be coming," the kidnapper replied, his gaze turning cold. "And even if they did, it would be of no use. You can also choose to leave now, and I can act as if you never appeared."
He knew Black Zetsu would clean up his mess, taking care of any pesky support signals. "You're not giving up? Do you really think you can stop me?" His gaze fell on Kakashi's silver-white hair, as if recalling the name Anko had called out. "Hatake... Kakashi..."
He guessed it, as expected, White Zetsu sighed from its hiding spot underground.
This was bound to be guessed, Black Zetsu thought, unimpressed.
In Konoha, possessing the Storm Release kekkei genkai, and looking so much like Sakumo Hatake... he had to be the child of an old acquaintance.
Above ground, Kakashi drew his kunai. "No matter what," he said, his posture looking utterly unmotivated, yet his words held no sign of retreat, "I can't just watch a comrade from the village fall into Your Excellency's hands."
'Orochimaru's' eyes narrowed, but the Vacuum Blade in his hand was held tight. A sharp, wind-natured chakra began to gather around him. At this point, the Orochimaru disguise was utterly useless, and both of them knew it.
"Is he going to fight with Wind Release?" White Zetsu whispered from below.
"Kakashi is good with Lightning Release," Black Zetsu explained. "Wei Yuan has already seen through it. Wind Release is the best counter, and Wei Yuan has swordsmanship honed from the ancient era. Hmph, back then, he relied on that swordsmanship to defeat Indra!"
The next moment, a fierce wind rose. Kakashi's Sharingan tracked the opponent's charge as his kunai moved to block the slashing Vacuum Blade.
Clang!
The kunai was instantly severed. The opponent flicked the broken blade up, spat another gust of wind at it, and sent it flying back at Kakashi.
"Are you kidding me!" Kakashi stared in disbelief. The speed was terrifying. In the blink of an eye, his own weapon had been turned against him. "Wind Release: Shuriken?" he muttered, retreating rapidly. This enemy was more skilled than he'd ever imagined.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" Kakashi slammed his palm on the ground.
A wall erupted, adorned with his signature, comically cute dog head. But it was too fragile. The spinning shuriken sliced through it, forcing Kakashi back again. He managed to deflect it with another shuriken of his own, barely avoiding being cut in half.
He drew another kunai and charged, this time ignoring the Vacuum Blade and focusing on the kunai at its core.
"You are not my opponent," 'Orochimaru' said, forcing him back, clearly dissatisfied. "I have no intention of killing you. It's enough to stop here."
Kakashi's Sharingan flashed, its dynamic vision pushed to the limit just to keep up with the opponent's blindingly fast slashes. He was on the defensive, unable to even speak, knowing a single mistake would be his last.
"Go, Kakashi! Go!" Anko cheered from the sidelines.
"Hurry up and run!" he shot back a helpless look, hoping she'd take the chance to escape. But she couldn't. At some point, an Earth Release jutsu had trapped her legs in mud.
"I don't like killing," 'Orochimaru' said with a flash of dissatisfaction, taking advantage of a gap to kick Kakashi squarely in the chest.
"That's for the best, I don't like it either," Kakashi grunted, getting back up and charging again, completely disregarding his own life. The next moment, he was facing a storm of countless sharp blades, the opponent's powerful Wind Release and swordsmanship beating him down relentlessly.
"Lightning Release: Kunai Raikiri!" Kakashi retreated, channeling lightning into his kunai and throwing it. The weapon shot forward with astonishing speed, but the enemy was faster.
The Vacuum Blade met the Kunai Raikiri, and with a twist, the kidnapper stabbed into the handle's hole and sent Kakashi's own jutsu flying back at him.
It pierced through Kakashi's shoulder, pinning him to a large tree.
Poof!
The body dissipated into smoke. A Shadow Clone.
The real Kakashi erupted from the ground. "Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
His hand shot out, grabbing 'Orochimaru's' ankle, intending to drag him under. But he had no chance. The opponent slammed a palm on the ground, and the earth instantly hardened to stone, sealing Kakashi in his own trap.
All he could do was watch helplessly as the kidnapper picked up the equally trapped Anko and swaggered away, leaving Konoha behind.