Naruto: Choosing from Birth - Chapter 41

Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!

Boom!

The massive fireball, accelerated by the wind, slammed fiercely into the rising earthen wall. Yet the wall was astonishingly thick.

Then, under the Shadow Clones' continuous Chakra consumption and sustained Wind- and Fire-Style ninjutsu—

The earthen wall gradually turned red before completely exploding apart with a roar.

Yet Orochimaru still stood motionless behind the wall!

A winding trail of disturbed mud appeared across the ground. A massive snake head suddenly burst from the earth, swiftly biting apart one Shadow Clone before exploding in an instant before the other could react.

Evil Serpent Arm Detonation! The giant snake summoned by this ninjutsu could not only devour enemies, but also be detonated with Chakra, dealing a second wave of damage.

One technique eliminated two Shadow Clones. Every Shadow Clone on the field had been wiped out.

The sound of countless Chidori chirping rang out amid the swirling dust. Accompanied by a flash of lightning, Uchiha Cheng raised his thunder-wreathed right hand and drove it viciously into Orochimaru's chest.

Orochimaru's icy expression gradually crumbled away, turning into a puddle of mud.

Earth Release: Earth Clone!

Only then did the dust kicked up by the explosion begin to settle.

But a chorus of hissing rose around Uchiha Cheng. A vast swarm of densely packed venomous snakes gradually closed in on him.

Like a multicolored flood, the snakes gradually covered the marks on the ground, letting out chilling, scalp-numbing hisses.

Summoning Technique: Manda Luo Formation!

Having revealed himself at the edge of the training ground, Orochimaru was continuously summoning venomous snakes.

"Damn, that's disgusting. If I became your disciple and had to learn a move where I spat venomous snakes from my mouth, I probably wouldn't be able to eat for a month."

Uchiha Cheng shouted, and lightning immediately covered his entire body. Denser birdsong rang out—Chidori Stream!

The smaller venomous snakes were charred black and killed on the spot before they could even approach.

The larger snakes were each pinned to the ground by Chidori Senbon.

"My move is called: Chidori Pecking Myriad Snakes!"

Orochimaru staggered, nearly choking on the venomous snakes pouring from his own mouth.

Damn Uchiha. Let's see if you can still shout like that in a moment.

At this point, Orochimaru had no choice but to acknowledge Uchiha Cheng's strength. He began taking this young Uchiha seriously, treating him as a genuine opponent.

Strange. These venomous snakes clearly can't do anything for the moment, so why isn't Orochimaru stopping?

Is he trying to wear down my Chakra? Taking advantage of my age? Or does this Summoning Technique itself not consume much Chakra?

I can't wait any longer!

Uchiha Cheng swiftly drew two Fuma Shuriken from the Sealing Scroll and hurled them viciously at Orochimaru!

At the same time, he formed hand seals. As Orochimaru dodged the shuriken, he expelled an enormous sea of flames from his throat that nearly engulfed the entire field.

Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

Watching the sea of fire sweep toward him, Orochimaru's hands moved like lightning before he slammed them against the ground.

"Summoning Technique: Rashomon!"

Boom!!!

The raging flames crashed violently against the gate of Asura summoned from hell.

Thunderous roars erupted one after another, but the Rashomon remained firmly standing in place.

"Looks like your attacks still aren't powerful enough!"

Orochimaru smiled.

"Is that so?"

Uchiha Cheng's voice came from behind him.

Orochimaru's vertical pupils shrank slightly. He only barely had time to turn halfway around.

What entered his sight was a huge sphere of energy.

Boom!!!

Most of his body was smashed viciously into the ground. The earth around him instantly shattered and collapsed...

A Big Ball Rasengan right to the face! How could he lose?*

The enormous Rashomon that had been summoned still stood perfectly intact on the ground, but the person it had protected behind it had already been driven underground, their fate unknown.

This... was a little ridiculous.

Fortunately, not long after, the Rashomon rose in a puff of smoke and disappeared. The giant demon face on its gate seemed to blush faintly?

Fine, it had been scorched by the flames...

"This kid's mind is really quick. He actually used the Transformation Technique to turn himself into a Fuma Shuriken and catch Orochimaru off guard."

"Sigh, looking at it now, Orochimaru really doesn't need to teach him..."

Just as he said that, Orochimaru suddenly burst out of the ground beside Uchiha Cheng's Shadow Clone, the one that had just used Fire Dragon Flame Bullet. With Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, he extinguished the Shadow Clone, which had already run out of Chakra.

Orochimaru's body was covered in a faint layer of slime, like a giant snake that had just shed its skin.

Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique! It used an outer body as a substitute and required no hand seals. It was the most perfect Substitution Technique, capable of even avoiding Amaterasu.

Meanwhile, the Orochimaru body before Uchiha Cheng gradually shriveled up.

"I have to admit, I really did underestimate you earlier. This time, I'll have to show my true skill!"

His hoarse voice carried a hint of anger.

"Then I'll have to get more serious too!"

Uchiha Cheng replied without the slightest fear. Intense lightning suddenly surged from his right hand, carrying terrifying peals of thunder as it gradually took shape in his palm.

Lightning Blade!

Even from more than ten meters away, one could feel an intense threat from the center of the field.

Danger!

Orochimaru felt every hair on his body stand on end in alarm.

Without another moment of hesitation, he opened his mouth and bit hard into his finger. Just as he was about to press his hand to the ground and use a larger-scale Summoning Technique—

Then...

"Alright, the assessment can end here. There's no need to fight to the death!"

The Third Hokage's voice carried clearly from outside the field.

Orochimaru staggered and nearly fell to the ground.

"Why the hell didn't you say that sooner?!"

Looking at the thumb he had just bitten open, Orochimaru turned with deep resentment to glare at the Third Hokage outside the field. Memories surfaced in his cold eyes of the harsh education he had received under the "Professor" Third Hokage in his youth.

"He definitely did that on purpose!"

Uchiha Cheng withdrew his Lightning Blade and formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Orochimaru. Then they walked over to the Third Hokage.

"Your strength truly is impressive. You've already set foot on your own path, so you indeed have no need to take a master."

"How about this? We'll skip you over Chunin today and make an exception by promoting you directly to Jonin. From now on, you can lead a team yourself."

Jonin were a village's elite, possessing rights different from Chunin and Genin. They also represented extraordinary honor and were proof of one's strength.

When walking down the street, they would receive looks of reverence and envy from others.

Of course, the more authority one possessed, the more responsibility and obligation one had to shoulder.

With such talent, perhaps he could lead a few Ninja Academy students and help them grow quickly. The ninja world was in turmoil now, and manpower was gradually becoming insufficient. Talent was needed everywhere. But could this brat guide others?

Perhaps he would immediately send him out to carry out missions gathering intelligence in enemy nations. Such combat strength could not be wasted! The Third Hokage's eyes were sharp as blades.

"No, Lord Third Hokage. I actually used my full strength just now, while Lord Orochimaru was clearly still at ease."

"Also, during the battle, I used talk-no-jutsu and distracted Lord Orochimaru a little. Please don't take offense, Lord Orochimaru. After all, I had to bring out 120% of my strength just to exchange a few moves with you."

"Actually, the reason I don't want to become Orochimaru's disciple is because I have long admired Lord White Fang's swordsmanship. I hope Lord White Fang can guide me in the way of the blade."

Uchiha Cheng spoke with a sincere expression, his eyes fixed firmly on the Konoha White Fang standing beside the Third Hokage.

Talk-no-jutsu? Was there such a ninjutsu? Was he trying to become White Fang's disciple?

The Third Hokage and White Fang exchanged looks.

Besides secretly serving as the Anbu captain and overseeing Anbu affairs, White Fang was publicly one of Konoha's powerful team-leading ninja.

On future battlefields, he would serve as the commander-in-chief, facing the front lines directly. That would be far more dangerous than Orochimaru's situation.