"Kong Chen?"
Lao Zi searched his mind but found no powerful figure in the ninja world named like that.
Of course, if he hadn't left Iwagakure early and lost some intelligence sources from major ninja powers, he might have heard from Iwa's intelligence system about his suppression of Chiyo on the Sand battlefield alongside Tsunade and Uchiha Fugaku.
"Hmph!"
Lao Zi re-mobilized the chakra within his body, completely repairing the lava armor outside his body, and looked at Orochimaru with ill intent.
"A rogue ninja I've never even heard of, yet you know my identity and dare to covet my lava release."
"The youngsters of the ninja world are truly getting worse with each generation!"
As soon as the boastful words were spoken, Lao Zi quickly formed several hand seals. His chest heaved, and a large amount of scorching lava surged out.
"Lava Release: Scorching River Stone Technique!"
"Rumble!"
The temperature of the lava was so high that the rocks in front of Lao Zi instantly melted into a flowing torrent of destruction, rushing towards Orochimaru.
At the same time, large, spherical stones wrapped in lava spontaneously appeared in front of Lao Zi, smashing towards Orochimaru along with the flowing lava on the ground.
Facing the fierce lava release attack, Orochimaru chuckled. He raised one hand in front of him, his index and middle fingers together. Powerful Sage Mode chakra immediately covered his entire body.
"Sage Art: Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
He spat it out, and a surging tidal wave imbued with terrifying natural energy violently crashed down upon the incoming lava rocks and lava river.
"Sizzle..."
The lava, capable of melting metal and stone, instantly produced large plumes of dense steam under the onslaught of the water flow, amplified by Sage Mode. The lava-scorched boulders were washed away by the water, losing their momentum, their flames extinguished, and they fell to the ground with thuds.
The liquefied ground simultaneously cooled into a groove of obsidian shimmering with colorful hues.
After easily extinguishing the lava release, the Great Waterfall Technique continued its momentum, crashing towards the somewhat shocked Lao Zi.
Seeing that the ninja named Kong Chen had dispelled his Scorching River Stone Technique with a casual water release, Lao Zi no longer dared to meet the attack head-on.
He stomped his legs hard on the ground, and his body shot backward a considerable distance.
"Lava Release: Granite!"
After regaining his balance, Lao Zi slammed his hands onto the ground in front of him, and a wide lava stone wall, five meters in diameter, erupted from the earth, shielding him securely.
"Boom..."
A thunderous roar, like waves crashing against a dike, echoed out. Orochimaru's Great Waterfall Technique was finally blocked by Lao Zi.
Orochimaru smirked nonchalantly, raising his right hand. The Empty Fang Sword instantly extended from his sleeve.
"Clang!"
A clear sword cry rang out. Lao Zi, hiding behind the dark rock, felt a tremor in his heart and instinctively dodged to the side.
The next instant, the sharp tip of the sword pierced through the rock, hitting the exact spot where Lao Zi had been standing, extending a considerable length.
"So strong!"
Lao Zi secretly wiped a cold sweat, thinking how close it was.
"Son, lend me your power!"
"This guy..."
"I might not be able to defeat him alone..."
Facing the request of a companion of decades, the Four-Tails hesitated for the first time.
"But..."
"He is Kurama's friend..."
Lao Zi's heart flared with anger, and he clenched his fists tightly.
"Son!"
"I'll say it again, give me your power!"
The Four-Tails sighed inwardly and silently injected its lava release chakra into Lao Zi's body.
A familiar and powerful sensation surged from his heart again. Lao Zi snorted coldly, channeling the Four-Tails' chakra throughout his body. A crimson tail emerged from behind his waist.
"Hah!"
Lao Zi roared, and his fist, encased in the Tailed Beast Cloak, swung out, sending the rock in front of him hurtling towards Orochimaru.
"Screech!"
The giant rock, following the trajectory of the Empty Fang Sword, scraped out a shower of sparks. Empowered by the Four-Tails' immense strength, it flew like a cannonball, directly towards Orochimaru, who held the sword.
A flicker of surprise flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. He hadn't expected the Four-Tails to grant such power to a Jinchuriki.
However, this level was not enough to make Orochimaru wary.
With a slight shift of his mind, the Empty Fang Sword was instantly retracted into his sleeve.
"Sage Art: Earth Release: Opening Earth Rising Mound!"
Rich Sage Mode energy surged from beneath Orochimaru's feet into the earth. The magma deep within the earth, which had been greatly agitated by Lao Zi's lava release, became even more volatile.
The ground trembled violently, and a small volcano, ten meters in diameter, instantly rose in front of Orochimaru.
"Rumble!"
The fast-approaching giant rock crashed into the volcano with a thunderous roar. After a rumbling sound, it was scorched red by the lava erupting from the volcano and was then blasted into the air with a bang.
"Crack!"
"Clatter!"
Reaching its apex, the scorched red rock instantly shattered, breaking into a sky full of fire meteorites that rained down upon the ground.
Neither of the combatants were ordinary ninjas, and they ignored the fire rain falling from above.
Lao Zi looked at the seemingly relaxed Orochimaru with a grim expression, his vigilance raised to the utmost.
"Besides the water release that can instantly extinguish lava, there's also the earth release that forcefully communicates with the magma deep within the earth."
"A strong individual of this caliber, why have I never heard of him before..."
As large fire meteorites rained down, they created numerous pits near the area of their battle. Further away, the toxic fog affected by the fire rain churned violently, emitting a foul stench from the high temperatures.
"Son, it seems the power of one tail is not enough to defeat this guy."
"Give me more!"
After a quick exchange in his mind with the Four-Tails, Lao Zi's body was filled with surging lava release chakra. Tails began to sprout from behind him, and he entered a semi-Tailed Beast form.
At this moment, without compromising his consciousness, Lao Zi pushed all the power the Four-Tails could grant to its limit.
"Lava Release: Flower Fruit Mountain!"
Lao Zi roared and slammed his fists onto the ground. A crimson chakra, as condensed as flesh and blood, surged into the earth.
A tremor even more intense than when Orochimaru had released the Earth Release: Opening Earth Rising Mound originated from beneath their feet. Starting from where Lao Zi stood and centering on Orochimaru's location, the earth instantly cracked, and magma spewed forth.
In an instant, the battlefield between the two was transformed into a lava inferno under the Four-Tails' immense lava release power.
Orochimaru's lips curved into a cold sneer, and his figure vanished instantly.
"Attempting to change the terrain to make the battlefield your home ground?"
"What a naive thought!"
A cold voice sounded behind the semi-Tailed Beast Lao Zi. The Empty Fang Sword in Orochimaru's hand was enveloped in a faint Yin-Yang Release chakra and stabbed towards Lao Zi's back.
Lao Zi, though surprised, remained calm. Four phantom crimson tails behind him lashed out, attempting to fend off the divine sword Orochimaru thrust at him.
A hint of mockery flashed in Orochimaru's eyes.
"Heh!"
"Using the Four-Tails' Tailed Beast Cloak to block the Kusanagi Sword and Yin-Yang Release..."
"It seems your years of wandering haven't increased your knowledge much!"