blogombal Chapter 432 Acquired
Chapter 432 Acquired
The masked man gritted his teeth, cursing inwardly, "Damn Orochimaru! He's been eyeing me from behind all this time, coveting my victory!" He knew that Orochimaru was no ordinary person. This powerful figure who once stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world not only possessed unfathomable strength but also mastered many forbidden techniques that struck fear into the hearts of others.
The masked man frowned, his mind racing. He knew very well that, in his current state, retrieving the Rinnegan from Orochimaru would be no easy task. The fierce battle with Konan had already inflicted considerable injuries on his body, which were not yet fully healed. If he were to force a fight with Orochimaru, he would likely not only fail to regain the Rinnegan but would also worsen his injuries.
However, giving up the Rinnegan was absolutely unacceptable to the masked man. It was a treasure containing immense power, enough to change the entire ninja world's landscape. He was unwilling to simply hand it over to Orochimaru, and secretly plotted his next move.
At this moment, Orochimaru's mind was like a machine running at high speed, constantly thinking about how to successfully take the Rinnegan and safely escape from this place. He knew that now that he had successfully obtained the fruits of victory—the Rinnegan—there was really no need to engage in a fierce battle with the opponent.
Although on the surface, the masked man's displayed strength didn't seem to pose much of a threat, Orochimaru knew perfectly well that defeating him wouldn't be difficult with his own abilities. However, he was also acutely aware that this mysterious masked man was very likely just a pawn, a puppet, pushed to the forefront by the mastermind behind everything. Even if he could defeat him, it would be meaningless, a waste of his precious time, and an overreaction to revealing his true strength. Worse still, if this pointless struggle attracted the mastermind's attention, his meticulously planned operation would be ruined, and all his efforts would be in vain.
The deep-seated apprehension Orochimaru felt towards the mysterious figure hidden behind the scenes was like a heavy mountain pressing down on him, almost suffocating him. He had a vague feeling that this mysterious person was very likely the legendary mastermind behind the ninja world—the Sage of Six Paths! Even a top-tier ninja like Hyuga Kanan, whose true strength and unfathomable level he couldn't accurately assess, was extremely wary of the Sage of Six Paths. Let alone Orochimaru himself; compared to those peerless masters, he knew he was still far inferior.
However, to expect Orochimaru to so easily relinquish the Rinnegan he had already acquired, and the invaluable opportunity that might allow him to comprehend the power of its rules and gain immense power, was virtually impossible. After all, the power contained within the Rinnegan wasn't just a matter of temporary gain; it directly impacted the speed of his future cultivation and the peak he could reach. Therefore, even if the road ahead was fraught with thorns and dangers, requiring him to take enormous risks, Orochimaru would never easily give up such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He firmly believed that if he could successfully control the power of the rules within the Rinnegan, he could achieve a breakthrough in his cultivation and become a true being standing at the pinnacle.
Their eyes met, like two bolts of lightning colliding in mid-air, scattering intense sparks. Their gazes revealed an unwavering resolve, like two towering mountains, showing no sign of wavering or retreat.
The masked man pondered to himself. Although he knew Orochimaru was no ordinary person and an extremely formidable opponent, the Rinnegan was far too important to him. It was crucial to his grand plan, meticulously crafted over many years, like a key linchpin that couldn't be missing. Even though he wasn't at his peak right now, he was determined to do everything in his power to reclaim the Rinnegan.
On the other side, Orochimaru was equally astute. He knew that turning away so easily was practically a pipe dream. He understood that this enemy wouldn't give him even the slightest chance to breathe, let alone escape unscathed. While it wasn't impossible to completely defeat his opponent with his own strength, his greatest worry was that if he lingered here too long and wasted precious time retreating, the consequences would be unimaginable if the mastermind arrived. At that point, forget about successfully obtaining the Rinnegan; even his own life would be in grave danger.
After several seconds of this suffocating stalemate, Orochimaru's cold, narrow eyes narrowed slightly as he silently considered the current situation. He knew that if this endless standoff with his opponent continued, not only would the danger he faced escalate, but the possibility of obtaining the Rinnegan would also become increasingly slim.
At this moment, time was of the essence for Orochimaru. He had to swiftly and decisively defeat the enemy before him, giving those lurking behind the scenes no chance to react, thus ensuring the successful completion of his mission and a rapid retreat. Only by successfully returning to his own training ground could he truly feel that long-lost sense of security.
Thinking of his training grounds, Orochimaru's tense expression relaxed slightly. He had absolute confidence in the powerful defenses there. It's worth noting that Hyuga Kanan had poured his heart and soul, and spent countless hours meticulously setting up the layers of barriers and mysterious formations around his training grounds. And after he himself broke through to the Golden Core stage, he could perceive the terrifying strength contained within the outer formations and barriers with unparalleled clarity from within the training grounds.
Even if his strength were to increase tenfold in the future, it would likely be difficult to shake that impregnable defensive system. Therefore, Orochimaru firmly believed that as long as he could escape back to his training grounds in time, anyone who wanted to harm him would fail miserably.
Moreover, since Hyuga Kanan has made such a meticulous arrangement, it is enough to prove that this training ground definitely has extraordinary defensive capabilities, and is even fully capable of withstanding a fierce attack from a powerful figure like the Sage of Six Paths! You must know that the Sage of Six Paths is a legendary existence with all-powerful abilities, but even so, this training ground is still as stable as Mount Tai and indestructible.
In this way, this mysterious and powerful training ground can rightfully become the ultimate ancestral home of the Hyuga clan. It will bear witness to the glory and dreams of generations of the Hyuga clan, their rise and fall. On this land, the Hyuga clan will continuously cultivate outstanding descendants, inheriting the clan's unique ninjutsu and spirit, ensuring its enduring vitality and longevity. Even as time flows and years change, the Hyuga clan can rely on this fortified stronghold to uphold its beliefs and continue its glorious history.
At that moment, Orochimaru knew that time was of the essence and there was no time to waste. His gaze sharpened, and his slender arm shot out like lightning, reaching straight for Nagato's eye socket. His purpose was obvious—he wanted to be the first to seize the unparalleled and coveted Rinnegan.
Although Nagato's body itself possesses immense research value, it is undoubtedly a highly attractive "treasure" for Orochimaru, who is passionate about exploring the mysteries of ninjutsu and the limits of the human body. However, the current situation clearly does not allow him to calmly and safely evacuate with Nagato's body.
The masked man, who had been closely observing Orochimaru's every move, intervened without hesitation the moment Orochimaru was about to succeed. He knew that if Orochimaru were allowed to succeed, his own plan to obtain the Rinnegan would be severely hampered. So, the masked man flashed forward, appearing before Orochimaru like a ghost, and launched a swift and devastating attack. He was determined not to give Orochimaru even the slightest chance of obtaining the Rinnegan!
Just as the masked man was about to attack, Orochimaru, who had been on guard, was fully prepared. His powerful and chilling aura erupted like a volcanic eruption! At the same time, he swiftly mobilized the dense earth elemental power around him. These earth elements, as if summoned by some mysterious force, converged at an astonishing speed, instantly forming an indestructible earthen wall between himself and the masked man, successfully blocking the masked man's fierce attack.
However, Orochimaru's attack did not stop there. His long, cold hand remained firmly extended toward Nagato's eye socket, as if he would not give up until he achieved his goal.
At this moment, the masked man, facing the suddenly appearing earthen wall, couldn't help but feel a surge of surprise. However, being a seasoned veteran, his reaction was incredibly fast, and he adjusted his state almost instantly. His single Sharingan began to spin rapidly, instantly transforming into a dazzling Mangekyou Sharingan. Immediately afterward, an invisible force of spatial manipulation surged forth from his Mangekyou Sharingan, like a nimble dragon, easily piercing through the seemingly impenetrable earthen wall before him, and then continuing its lightning-fast charge towards Orochimaru, attempting to prevent him from taking further action against the Rinnegan in Nagato's eye socket.
Facing the masked man's rapid attack, Orochimaru did not stop. His fingers remained firmly extended towards Nagato's eye socket, as if he had not discovered that the masked man could pass through the earthen wall blocking him.