Kairen instantly realized—it was Orochimaru's Curse Mark.
At this point in time, Jūgo had basically been born. Orochimaru-sama had already begun studying the energy of Sage Techniques. Since he couldn't find Ryūchi Cave, he could only set his sights on Jūgo.
He eventually developed a simplified version of Sage Mode—the Curse Mark. It was probably after the end of the Third Great Ninja War that he defected and implanted one on Anko.
By utilizing the enzymes of Jūgo's body, combined with Orochimaru's chakra and cells, the Curse Mark was created and then implanted onto a ninja, granting them access to the power of Senjutsu through this seal.
Orochimaru-sama implanted the Curse Mark on Kairen's neck, forming three black tomoe-shaped markings.
In an instant, the Curse Mark invaded Kairen's body, while simultaneously suppressing the outbreak of the toxins within him.
Kairen felt waves of maddening pain radiating from his neck, yet with his nerves long dulled to pain, he didn't even furrow his brows—he simply stood there quietly, feeling the transformation coursing through his body.
The Curse Mark Orochimaru had given him wasn't just any ordinary one—it was the Heaven Curse Mark, one with only a ten percent survival rate.
This particular Curse Mark was special. It contained Orochimaru's cells and unique chakra—one could even consider it a miniature Orochimaru. So long as there were sufficient cells and Senjutsu chakra, Orochimaru could be resurrected from within it.
It also served as a prerequisite for Living Corpse Reincarnation.
The Heaven Curse Mark continued to invade Kairen's body. Black markings spread out from his neck like flowing ink, creeping across half his face.
He now resembled Sasuke—one who had awakened the power of the Curse Mark transformation.
Chaotic natural energy from the earth poured through the Curse Mark and into Kairen's body. His chakra surged rapidly, reaching the level of a Jōnin.
However, the negative side effects of the Curse Mark transformation arrived as well. While the Curse Mark granted the power of a Sage, it was not without cost—it constantly corroded the body.
If one absorbed too much natural energy without control, they would turn into a toad. That was the characteristic of Mount Myōboku's Sage Technique.
The Curse Mark functioned similarly. In essence, it was a switch for manipulating natural energy, though compared to true Sage Mode, its efficiency was extremely low. Moreover, the natural energy it absorbed was violent and chaotic.
If absorbed excessively, one would lose their sense of self and become nothing but a mindless demon of slaughter.
Through the eyes of a white snake, Orochimaru-sama silently observed the changes taking place within Kairen's body. Seeing Kairen endure the agony of the Heaven Curse Mark and successfully assimilate it,
Orochimaru-sama flicked his serpentine tongue in approval. He knew—Kairen's qualities as a ninja were far beyond those of ordinary men.
Kairen stood up and grabbed the white snake by its head.
Orochimaru-sama's voice hissed through:
"Moku Kairen, follow me from now on. I'll get you out of here—and cure your poison!"
"Creeping Serpent!"
Kairen spoke coldly. Then, gathering monstrous strength in his hand, he clenched tightly, crushing the white snake in an instant.
At the other end of the jutsu's link,
Orochimaru-sama let out a cold snort.
"Insolent kid!"
...
Kairen stood up, feeling the natural chakra flowing from his neck, chaotic energy seeping into his mind, trying to assimilate his will.
But Kairen shook his head. Having died countless times before... his will was unshakable. How could mere wild energy erode that?
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…"
The sound of wind echoed. Eight figures surrounded Kairen.
At their head stood Shimura Naoto, his arm blown off, his body wrapped in bandages, eyes full of hatred.
"Damn brat, you made Root suffer such heavy losses! I'll kill you myself!"
"No… I'll torture everyone around you—your friends, your little lover!"
Kairen's cold gaze locked onto Shimura Naoto.
"Crawling worm… the only time you'll ever bark is now."
Shimura Naoto formed hand seals, and the other Root Jōnin followed suit.
"Shadow Possession Technique!"
A dark shadow snaked from the ground, stretching toward Kairen.
Kairen flipped backward, twisting midair.
Aburame Tatsuma swung his hand, and a buzzing swarm of insects lunged at Kairen.
Kairen's gourd spewed liquor, which instantly ignited—flames engulfed Aburame Tatsuma's insects, their screeches fading as they burned.
The Lightning Release ninja beside Shimura Naoto clasped his hands together.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Net!"
A blue web of lightning spread through the air, crackling menacingly.
As the net descended, Kairen formed a seal.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
From his mouth burst a massive dragon-shaped blaze that clashed with the descending lightning.
The Earth Release ninja slammed his palms into the ground.
"Earth Release: Pillar Spear Assault!"
Spearlike earthen spikes erupted upward, shooting into the sky.
Kairen opened the first four of the Eight Gates, his speed skyrocketing as a green blur darted past the earthen spears.
"Wind Release: Multiple Vacuum Bullets!"
Shimura Naoto continuously spat Vacuum Bullets, pelting Kairen like bullets.
Kairen gathered water chakra around himself to shield his body.
"Partial Expansion Jutsu!"
Akimichi's massive arm came crashing down, aiming to squash Kairen flat.
"Ha!"
Kairen roared, stomping hard and shattering the earth beneath him before darting away from the giant hand.
He landed on the trunk of a nearby tree, gasping for air.
Even with the Curse Mark active, his chakra was only at Jōnin level. The Senju Clan Sage Body cells inside him were suppressing the toxin, making his recovery painfully slow.
"Secret Technique: Insect Jade!"
Aburame Tatsuma didn't give him any time to rest. With a wave of his hand, waves of parasitic insects surged toward Kairen.
"Fire Release: Multiple Fire Guns!"
Kairen opened his mouth—over twenty fiery orbs shot out, exploding one after another all around him.
"Boom, boom, boom…"
Explosions erupted, clouds of dust and smoke blanketing the battlefield, obscuring the Root Jōnin's sight.
"Byakugan—activate!"
Kairen activated his Byakugan, and in the same moment, used Body Flicker to approach the Fire Release ninja.
White smoke flashed around his hand, transforming into a massive blade, infused with his monstrous strength.
"You—"
The Fire Release ninja's eyes widened in shock. How could Kairen still detect him through the smoke?
"Die!"
With one clean swing, Kairen's blade cut through him like slicing a stalk of green onion—splitting the man cleanly in half.
After cutting down one Root Jōnin, Kairen turned his Byakugan toward Shimura Naoto's chakra signature.
"Boom!"
Kairen stomped down, leaving a deep crater before vanishing in a blur toward that direction.
His unsealed Body Flicker technique gave him more reaction time—a low-grade version of Flying Thunder God, leaving his enemies no chance to respond.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…"
His blade cleaved through the air with an oppressive force, slicing the atmosphere itself with a sharp gust.
Kairen swung coldly, his Byakugan catching the terror flashing across Shimura Naoto's face.
But suddenly—"poof!"—a cloud of white smoke appeared. Kairen instantly realized—it was a Shadow Clone.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Blade!"
A ninja blade charged with electricity struck from behind, while parasitic insects erupted from the ground, biting Kairen's legs, locking him in place.
The blade crackled with arcs of blue lightning—it was the Lightning Release ninja from Root.
"Liquor Release Technique!"
From his gourd, Kairen sprayed torrents of flaming liquor, wrapping around the Lightning Blade.
Shimura Naoto rapidly formed hand seals.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!"
Kairen's body was immobilized, taking the full brunt of Shimura Naoto's Vacuum Bullet. Fortunately, it wasn't a vital hit.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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