Chapter 19: The First Real Battle of the Eight Gates

What did I ever do to deserve this? Why did I have to run into something like this?

For a moment, that was the only thought left in Reiji’s mind.

He had just traveled through the dangerous Land of Rain without anything happening.

Yet after returning to the Land of Fire, he somehow ran straight into Orochimaru’s defection.

And then Sarutobi Shinnosuke had forcibly dragged him along to intercept Orochimaru.

If the ANBU had fought Orochimaru here directly just now, the situation might actually have been better.

After all, Reiji was only a Genin.

If he hid somewhere nearby, basically no one would pay attention to him.

But unfortunately, Orochimaru had lured all those ANBU and Guy away!

Now he was the only one left here!

"Heh heh heh, what a pitiful child."

Orochimaru slowly drew a kunai, ran his long tongue over the blade, and stared coldly at Reiji.

According to his calculations, the Earth Clone he had left behind should have bought him roughly two or three minutes.

Only a short while had passed since then.

More importantly, his opponent was merely a child. Dealing with him would require practically no effort.

"Let me guess. A child like you appearing here means you probably ran into that fellow Sarutobi Shinnosuke and were forcibly dragged along."

With a quick turn of his mind, Orochimaru immediately figured out what had happened.

"That fellow Shinnosuke must be so desperate to kill me and claim the credit that his eyes have practically turned red, right?"

"He should think about whether someone with his pathetic level of strength could really become Hokage even if he killed me and earned such a great achievement."

He spoke leisurely, completely disregarding Reiji.

"Forget it."

Orochimaru shook his head, killing intent appearing in his eyes.

"A brat like you wouldn’t understand even if I explained it to you."

"I understand."

Reiji’s thoughts raced as he spoke.

"It’s nothing more than him wanting to kill you, Senior, and claim the credit, thereby increasing his prestige and paving the way for his bid for the Hokage position."

"Oh?"

Orochimaru suddenly became interested.

He carefully examined Reiji’s appearance, then suddenly recalled something.

"I remember that about half a year ago, two first-year students from the Uchiha clan graduated early and became Genin. One was Uchiha Reiji, and the other was Uchiha Itachi."

"I wonder which one you are?"

"I’m Uchiha Reiji."

Reiji spoke calmly, doing his best to stall for time.

"I have an interesting piece of information. I think Senior should be interested in hearing it."

"Previously, I went to the Land of Rain on a mission and happened to hear a rumor."

"Someone said that in the Land of Rain, there is a mercenary shinobi organization called the Akatsuki, and its leader possesses the legendary Rinnegan!"

As soon as those words fell, Orochimaru’s pupils contracted.

The Rinnegan?

The legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths?

Did such a thing really exist?

No... This information had come solely from the mouth of the brat in front of him.

And that still wasn’t right...

Why would the boy tell him this?

With Orochimaru’s intelligence, he immediately understood.

"You’re telling me all this to stall for time and let those ANBU return, aren’t you?"

"Hmm. Let me think. It seems your considerations go beyond that."

"You’re worried that if you simply let me leave, or if you flee on your own, Sarutobi Shinnosuke will later shift the blame onto you."

"So you can’t run, and you can’t simply let me go. All you can do is stall for time here."

As he pieced everything together, a hint of admiration appeared in Orochimaru’s eyes.

"What an intelligent child. I’m very interested in you. How about it? Would you like to follow me and defect from the village together?"

Having his thoughts exposed, a thin layer of cold sweat trickled down Reiji’s forehead.

"You’re joking, Senior."

"Is that so? What a pity."

Orochimaru sighed, and his gaze instantly turned sharp.

"There’s only one minute left. In that case, I have no choice but to kill you."

Reiji’s alarm bells immediately went off.

His sense of danger swelled in his mind like a gigantic red exclamation mark!

Without hesitation, he activated the Eight Gates!

First Gate, Opening Gate—open!

Second Gate, Healing Gate—open!

Third Gate, Life Gate—open!

His body immediately flushed red, his chakra surged explosively, and an invisible wave of pressure swept through the surroundings!

"The Eight Gates!"

Orochimaru blurted out in shock.

After Might Duy’s death, any Konoha shinobi with even a little knowledge of the village’s affairs knew about this forbidden technique!

With the strength of a mere Genin, Might Duy had opened all Eight Gates and fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, leaving only three survivors!

"You’ve actually mastered the Eight Gates, and judging from your condition, you should have opened the Third Gate."

A burning light appeared in Orochimaru’s eyes.

"I’ve changed my mind. I’m taking you with me."

A talent like this would be wasted if he remained in Konoha!

If Orochimaru took him away and cultivated him properly, once the forbidden technique, the Living Corpse Reincarnation, was completed, Reiji would be the perfect vessel!

Reiji opened three gates in succession, and his Sharingan opened as well, the twin tomoe spinning within his eyes!

With his current physique, he could probably maintain the Third Gate for a little over a minute.

As long as he held out until Guy and the ANBU returned, he would be safe.

He pressed his index and middle fingers together in front of his mouth, and a massive amount of chakra erupted outward.

A gigantic fire dragon shot directly toward Orochimaru!

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

"So it seems the only technique you can use without hand seals isn’t merely the Great Fireball."

Orochimaru calmly formed his hand seals and used an Earth Release technique to block the fire dragon.

The ferocious fire dragon slammed into the earthen wall.

The wall collapsed, and flames soared into the sky!

"I see. So you’re also planning to use your ninjutsu to give those fools your position, allowing them to come here immediately."

Orochimaru looked at the flames, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Not only was he extraordinarily talented, he was also intelligent, and he could remain calm even when facing a life-or-death crisis.

A genius like this would be a waste if used merely as a vessel for the Living Corpse Reincarnation.

For a moment, Orochimaru even felt a genuine reluctance to let such talent go to waste.

However, knowing that time was running short, Orochimaru stopped delaying.

His body suddenly burst forward, shooting toward Reiji like a cannonball!

So fast!

Reiji’s pupils contracted violently.

Relying on the Sharingan’s ability to predict movements and the speed granted by the Third Gate, he successfully dodged the attack.

And this was Orochimaru after suffering severe injuries?

If Orochimaru had been in perfect condition, that single attack would probably have killed him instantly!

"...A two-tomoe Sharingan, at eight years old."

After passing Reiji at close range, Orochimaru clearly saw the Sharingan in his eyes.

The fiery desire in his gaze nearly overflowed!

Eight years old, with a two-tomoe Sharingan, the ability to use ninjutsu without hand seals, and mastery of the Eight Gates.

A genius like this—

Whether as a sacrifice for the Living Corpse Reincarnation or as a subordinate to cultivate, Orochimaru absolutely had to take him with him!