"Whew..."
The light from the First Training Room ahead spilled out from the corner a few steps away, faintly illuminating the dim surroundings.
Had I... gone a little too far?
Lightly bracing himself against the cold wall, the trace of scarlet in Hada Ichiba's eyes slowly faded, eventually sinking back into darkness.
At the same time, his breathing became slightly unsteady.
I used nearly half my Chakra at once. My earlier actions have already drawn Jiraiya's attention, so I can't replenish my Chakra now.
Half my Chakra is more than enough to maintain my current condition, but for the coming fight with that substitute, I can only hope it won't be too difficult.
If that substitute is too close to Orochimaru in strength, then for the sake of the plans ahead, I may have no choice but to forfeit the preliminaries.
Tch! But if I hadn't done this, I probably wouldn't have been able to intimidate Orochimaru. Judging by his greed for the Sharingan, he would likely still have made moves in secret.
But after receiving such a shock, would Orochimaru still continue with his plan...
If he doesn't carry out his plan, things will become difficult for me afterward as well.
As his breathing grew uneven, this thought flashed through Hada Ichiba's mind.
Honestly, that massive display just now had cost Hada Ichiba greatly as well. But Orochimaru was one of the Sannin and had witnessed countless dangers. Without such an overwhelming display, Hada Ichiba likely would not have been able to suppress him.
Although this was practically the equivalent of injuring himself for three or four hundred, he had no other choice.
If he could help it, he absolutely would not waste Chakra like this.
I should rest for a while.
With that thought, Hada Ichiba slowly straightened