Chapter 23: The Sixfold Flash
Kagenori unleashed his ultimate technique—Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash, Sixfold—in his final confrontation with Orochimaru.
The Sannin effortlessly dodged the initial slash. Planting his feet against a tree trunk, Kagenori altered his trajectory mid-charge, striking again.
Orochimaru's eyes glinted with interest. "Compensating for Thunderclap Flash's weakness once its nature and trajectory are discerned? Brilliant!"
He recognized this wasn't some hidden technique—it remained fundamentally Thunderclap Flash. Yet the execution's difficulty impressed him. Kagenori pursued ultimate velocity, where greater speed meant greater power. Changing directions at such velocities subjected his body to tremendous forces—the deep footprint embedded in the tree trunk testified to the immense stress. Mishandling could cause severe leg injuries or unpredictable lightning-chakra backlash. That Kagenori managed it demonstrated exquisite chakra control and solid foundations.
"Show me your limits!" Orochimaru's hands formed seals. "Wind Style: Wind Cutter Technique!"
A bone-cutting gale shot toward Kagenori. Stepping off a protruding rock, he altered course, evading the wind blade before using another tree to redirect toward Orochimaru again.
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
An earthen barrier rose along Kagenori's path. His blade sheared through it, but Orochimaru had already Body Flickered away.
Tracking Orochimaru with his Sharingan, Kagenori adjusted direction once more.
Observing the lightning-wreathed charge, Orochimaru commented, "Though you've compensated for predictability, your attacks remain linear. Your speed is impressive, but not beyond my reaction capacity. Predicting your trajectory remains simple. Thus, no matter how many attempts, results won't change."
He evaded another lightning-speed slash. "You mentioned 'sixfold,' correct? Literally meaning six directional changes using terrain. You've changed five times—one final opportunity, if I understand correctly."
Orochimaru was right. Kagenori's legs screamed with pain—six repetitions were his absolute limit. But if Orochimaru thought that was all, he underestimated him.
Reacting to Thunderclap Flash meant even eighteen repetitions would prove useless. Kagenori wasn't foolish enough to charge mindlessly like a trained monkey.
This sixth strike was his trump card.
Gritting his teeth against leg agony, he launched his final approach.
"Oh?" Orochimaru's brow furrowed slightly—Kagenori's left hand had twitched while pushing off the tree, an unnecessary movement previously absent.
He soon understood why.
The moment Kagenori left the tree, rustling sounds surrounded Orochimaru. Instantly, he found himself restrained.
Glancing around under the lightning's illumination, he identified the bindings—steel wires!
Immediately analyzing the tactic: Kagenori knew Sixfold Thunderclap Flash posed no threat since Orochimaru could react and Body Flicker away. So how to land a hit? Immobilize the target.
Each tree Kagenori used during Sixfold had been wrapped with steel wire. Conductive and heat-resistant, nearly invisible at night against the ground, the wires' final manipulation—that hand twitch—had completed the trap, using thunderous velocity to ensnare him instantly.
Orochimaru felt growing admiration. To devise and execute such strategy under pressure demonstrated exceptional combat intelligence and execution.
Then lightning flashed—Orochimaru was beheaded.
His head struck the ground.
Kagenori's legs buckled, collapsing him.
He never imagined actually killing Orochimaru—the Sannin was notorious for survival methods.
Orochimaru's headless body writhed before a mucus-covered Orochimaru emerged—his signature substitution technique, requiring no hand seals, using an external body as substitute.
Approaching Kagenori, Orochimaru looked down. "Your strength surprises me. I retract my earlier criticism—your improvisation and execution are excellent."
Trembling, Kagenori stood despite leg pain, hope in his eyes. "Lord Orochimaru, then I—"
Orochimaru placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll visit after your graduation exam in four days. You may call me teacher now."
Ignoring the pain, Kagenori stood straight. "Yes! Orochimaru-sensei!"
Releasing his shoulder, Orochimaru passed by, departing the training grounds.
Through their battle, Kagenori felt convinced—staying near Orochimaru would make him stronger. He felt genuine gratitude toward Sarutobi Hiruzen for this arrangement—all those years playing the obedient grandson in Konoha had proven worthwhile.