"Summoning scroll?" Even Orochimaru paused slightly at that request. A summoning scroll was precious enough, and this was one from one of the Three Great Summoning Sanctuaries.
In most people's eyes, a summoning beast was an important tool to enhance one's strength.
But in the eyes of Kage-level and above, the help a summoning beast could provide in battle was limited.
And the person in front of him didn't look like the kind who would ask him for a summoning scroll just to power up.
"So that's what you want, the summoning scroll? It's not impossible to give it to you, but you should know that sort of thing is very valuable." Orochimaru's subtext was, why should I just hand it over? If you can offer something worth trading for, perhaps he'd consider it.
But if he gave it simply because he was asked, wouldn't that make him look like he had no pride? Even Kage-level powerhouses had their own dignity.
And Orochimaru didn't think his strength was inferior to the other's. This wasn't just confidence; it was pride.
If Meruem hadn't appeared so strangely, and if Orochimaru could have gleaned any hint of his strength, he might already have attacked.
"Damn it, another inexplicable guy. Just a kid, and such nerve—asking Orochimaru for something, and something as precious as a summoning scroll." Anko maintained her previous posture. She had no choice—facing Orochimaru, the Earth Curse Mark's suppression on her was too great.
"Precious? Fine—hand me the scroll and I'll spare your life. Your life is worth more than a scroll, isn't it?" Meruem replied as if stating a fact.
And what he said was indeed true.
Even if the other was the biggest early-game villain in Naruto and the only villain who never died, who was Meruem? The Chimera Ant King—whose body had evolved toward a most perfect state and could keep growing stronger.
Even without his full strength restored, Meruem still had confidence to fight Kaguya and Six Paths Madara.
But that "fact" from his mouth angered Orochimaru. Even Uchiha Itachi and Pain, Akatsuki's current leader, wouldn't dare say something like "I'll spare you."
You're just a teenager—how arrogant.
Cautious as he was, even Orochimaru couldn't help wanting to teach this unknown-strength upstart a lesson—to show him there's always someone above.
Yes, in Naruto's history, there might be someone younger than Naruto but stronger than Kakashi.
But absolutely not someone younger than Naruto and stronger than Orochimaru.
They weren't even on the same tier, okay?
"Spare me? Heh—what a big mouth. Let me see if you have that ability." Beneath Orochimaru's pale face, a cruel smile emerged toward Meruem. "Is this brat insane? Can't he see Orochimaru's strength? He's asking to die. This kid's about to die—damn it, why can't I move yet? This damned curse mark." Anko fumed, still unable to move.
"Really, I'm only speaking the truth—why does no one ever believe me?" Watching Orochimaru's head shoot straight for him, Meruem looked exasperated.
But Orochimaru using that flying-head trick every time—wasn't he afraid of meeting a taijutsu user stronger than Tsunade? Even with Soft Physique Modification letting him nullify most taijutsu and physical attacks, did he not know there were styles that acted directly on the inside and dealt tons of damage throughout the body?
Unfortunately, most taijutsu schools in Naruto were pure physical without penetration. Even the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist was really just point-sealing. If Orochimaru ran into certain traditional external or internal boxing styles, he'd absolutely suffer.
They'd teach you internal shock in minutes, teach you what internal injury means in minutes, teach you what happens when internal power runs rampant in your body in minutes.
Even if you can keep shedding your skin, you can't afford that.
Meruem didn't know those either—but Meruem wasn't from the Naruto world. The Hunter world's taijutsu outclassed Naruto's by no small margin.
Meruem easily grabbed the joint where Orochimaru's neck connected as it flew in, and pressed lightly.
Orochimaru instantly felt the world go black.
Don't you know the neck is very fragile? Unless your neck is a lump of pure flesh—but even flesh has arteries.
It's a neck, not a rubber hose.
Meruem yanked back along Orochimaru's neck, and Orochimaru's body was hauled up with it.
"Damn—what strength. I can't even counter. Is this guy stronger than Tsunade?"
Meruem slammed a fist into Orochimaru's gut, and Orochimaru's body surged skyward like a cannonball.
He crashed into the ground, carving out a massive crater.
"Get up. I didn't hit that hard. I know you're not dead." Meruem didn't even look at Orochimaru the whole time, as if dealing with a piece of trash he could crush at will.
"Pfft… Just taijutsu, and I'm injured. This is 'not hitting hard'? What a terrifying guy." Two hands stretched from Orochimaru's mouth, and a pristine new Orochimaru crawled out—unharmed.
"Hmph. But no matter how strong your taijutsu is, the damage to me with Soft Physique Modification is limited."
"I don't know where your confidence comes from. Let's make you feel some pain." Meruem pinched his neck and hands, bone joints creaking audibly.
"Arrogant. My turn." Orochimaru stared at Meruem solemnly, clearly treating him as a ninja on his own level.
"Who said it's your turn?" To Orochimaru's horror, Meruem's voice suddenly sounded from right beside him.
At some point, the spot where Meruem had been standing was already empty.
That speed—what kind of monster is this?!
Orochimaru's body was struck again and again by something invisible.
Like a sandbag, he was strung up and pummeled—only because Meruem was too fast.
Even a super expert like Orochimaru couldn't keep up—he couldn't even see the movements.
"How is this possible!" Anko stared in disbelief at everything before her. The Orochimaru who looked like a demon-god in her eyes was utterly helpless before the other? Was this April Fools'? How could this be! This was one of the legendary Sannin! The veteran Kage-level Orochimaru, Konoha's S-rank rogue!
At last, Orochimaru's body smashed into the ground again.
"Cough, cough… What terrifying power. If it were someone else, they'd be a puddle of meat by now." Two hands stretched from Orochimaru's mouth once more, and a new Orochimaru appeared yet again.
Unscathed—one of Orochimaru's strongest techniques, Body Shedding.
"What a pity—this kind of taijutsu is ineffective against me."
"Heh, is it really ineffective against you, Orochimaru?" Meruem looked mockingly at Orochimaru, whose surface bore not a single wound.
"Pfft—" A mouthful of blood inexplicably spurted from Orochimaru's lips.
"How…?" Staggering like a drunk for a few steps, Orochimaru still fell to the ground. This time, he didn't even have the strength to stand—more precisely, he no longer had the ability to control his body to stand.
"Heh, nothing in this world is absolute, Orochimaru. You're too conceited. Taijutsu has no ceiling." With one hand, Meruem clamped Orochimaru by the neck and lifted him up.
"Your skills are good—but not enough before me."
Suddenly Meruem glanced at Anko in the distance. Before Orochimaru could speak, he appeared before her and tapped lightly at her neck.
Anko's head tilted, and she fainted to the side.
Orochimaru drooped his head and glanced at Anko with difficulty.
"Don't worry—I didn't kill her. I just don't want others hearing the next part."
"Hehehe, you jest. What do I have to worry about?" Orochimaru's tone carried no emotion, but Meruem knew he was rattled.
"That curse mark on her is one of your backhands, right? Relax—I have no interest in your plans. I have no interest in that Uchiha kid either. My goal is simple—just that summoning scroll. Though now I find your Impure World Reincarnation scroll interesting too. Hand them both over."
"Hehehe, very well." With the matter laid bare in one line, Meruem, who held absolute power, had no desire to waste time on it.
With overwhelming advantage, he had no need to.
This guy seems to know a lot of my intel…
What an inexplicable monster.
The Chimera Ant King? He does have some skill. Orochimaru pondered. He wasn't totally unable to act now—he had backhands—but who knew if the other also had backhands ready? With no conflict of interest, there was no need to take the risk.
"Good. You're sensible. One last warning—Uzumaki Naruto is mine. If you touch him or set your sights on him, I'll kill you." Having obtained the scrolls he wanted, Meruem was finally satisfied. Only at the last moment before leaving did he suddenly speak to Orochimaru. Of course, Uchiha Sasuke belonged to Musashi, and Musashi was one of Meruem's clones—or rather, both of them were "his."
Orochimaru, looks like your wish is going to fall through. Hmph. Indra, Asura—I won't let the two children of destiny slip out of my control.
(End of Chapter)
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