The bell-stealing test was a tradition of unknown origin, and the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Hokage had all stolen bells in their time.
Orochimaru had also once joined Jiraiya and Tsunade in trying to steal Hiruzen Sarutobi's bells.
As for whether Hiruzen Sarutobi had stolen bells from the Second or First Hokage, Orochimaru had no idea.
To be honest, Orochimaru could already sense a strand of specialized perceptive chakra.
If nothing went wrong, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi checking on his son's performance through the Crystal Ball.
Fortunately, he probably hadn't caught the part earlier where Asuma was strung upside down in a tree with a snake.
"It's ten in the morning now, and I'll give you two hours to plan your tactics."
Orochimaru left after saying that, not caring much if Asuma and the others produced any standout tactical results.
Still, it would be even better if they could bring him some surprises.
He planned to check on Kakashi's performance.
Kakashi had fallen into self-doubt after Sakumo's death.
Were comrades more important, or was the mission?
Orochimaru had told him that as long as he was strong enough-stronger than his father the White Fang, stronger even than him, the Cold Lord Orochimaru-he wouldn't have to agonize over it.
A true adult wanted everything, and only children made choices.
With Orochimaru as his foster father to shield him from the wind and rain, and the companionship of a partner like Guy, Kakashi had stopped falling into confusion.
His mind was entirely consumed with growing stronger; any thoughts of women were merely obstacles on his path to power!
Though still young, Kakashi already possessed strength that surpassed many veteran Chunin, and had even forced a holding-back Minato Namikaze to nearly capsize in the gutter.
Orochimaru figured that anyone who used the Flying Thunder God to steal bells was a scumbag, and he certainly wouldn't do such a thing himself.
He was quite satisfied with Kakashi's performance. The boy's strength had grown considerably, and his awareness of teamwork was gradually emerging.
What was even rarer was that the combat awareness and tactical competence instilled in him by two powerhouses-Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru-were finally beginning to play a role.
His command was proper, his grasp of tactical windows was relatively precise, and with the three of them teaming up, even an ordinary, weaker Special Jōnin might not stand a chance against them.
Orochimaru nodded toward Minato, who was watching from afar, and departed.
It was about time to see how his own three Little Radish Heads had arranged things.
"Orochimaru-sensei, we've been waiting for you forever!"
Anko Mitarashi waved and shouted from ahead.
Orochimaru looked on with amused interest, seeing through the illusion at a single glance.
This kind of genjutsu had some finesse to it; it must have been taught to Kurenai by Yūhi Shinku.
Since the figure ahead was an illusion, it undoubtedly concealed a trap.
He lifted his foot slightly, stepping forward, only to pull it back amidst the expectant gazes of the three hidden in the shadows.
A thin wire was strung tautly across the middle of the brush, fastened tight.
A trap of this level would only fool fresh academy graduates.
"Orochimaru-sensei, the trap I set isn't that simple, you know~"
Hiding in the bush, Anko mimited Orochimaru by sticking out her tongue to lick the corner of her mouth, then severed a cord beside her with a kunai.
A log fixed at both ends by ropes to trees swung in from Orochimaru's side.
Clearly, they had factored his evasion route into the equation.
If Orochimaru dodged, there was a high probability he would be tripped by the wire at his feet, triggering a chain of subsequent traps.
"Interesting."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. If he used ninjutsu on them first, he would feel ashamed of himself.
Stepping back with his left foot and turning his torso sideways, he pushed off the ground and threw a punch that followed the rotation of his waist.
Wood chips flew in all directions. When it came to taijutsu in the entire Konohagakure right now, probably only Might Duy surpassed him, and even Hiruzen might not be stronger.
"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Kurenai and Asuma burst from the brush, unleashing two jutsu back-to-back.
Their tactical configuration was quite reasonable: Kurenai's genjutsu for crowd control, and Asuma's fire release for the main assault.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Orochimaru merely released a water release jutsu to block Asuma's fireball.
As for Kurenai's genjutsu, it still lacked the potency to affect Orochimaru, who had mastered Observation Haki and possessed formidable spiritual energy.
Taking cover behind her teammate's jutsu, Anko leaped high from a tree, rushing forward with a miniature version of the tachi used by Shikun Mitarashi.
"Leaf Style Swordsmanship!"
Orochimaru did not draw a sword to parry.
One of his Kusanagi Swords had been given to the White Fang, who was now known as Snake Shadow.
Snake Shadow's swordsmanship now lacked a little something compared to before, but it remained formidable. Combined with blinding speed and Kage-level lightning release, he could hold his own even against ordinary Kage-level fighters.
Yet he still possessed another Kusanagi Sword, known as the Sky Sword.
Pulling that thing out would be a bit like bullying children.
Orochimaru merely tilted his body slightly, dodging the slash.
After roughly assessing the power of Anko's swordsmanship, he extended two fingers and pinched the blade of her second incoming strike.
In a direct frontal fight, even with Orochimaru holding back, it was virtually impossible for them to last more than a few moves against him.
Fortunately, Kurenai and Asuma had rushed over by then, breaking the deadlock for Anko.
Orochimaru's counter-strategy was quite mocking.
Supporting his chin with his left hand and discussing what to have for dinner, he fought them using only his right hand.
Slightly shifting his stance, his right hand dodged Kurenai's incoming punch, evaded Anko's slash, and ducked Kurenai's second punch before smoothly seizing Kurenai's arm.
Twisting his waist, he directly redirected the trajectory of Kurenai's punch so that it slammed right into the face of Asuma, who had been planning a sneak attack from behind.
"Asuma!"
"Kurenai! I'm fine!"
With another flash of steel, Anko's sweeping slash was also redirected by Orochimaru, slicing down between Asuma's legs with only a hair's breadth to spare from little Asuma!
"Anko Mitarashi!"
"Didn't you say you were fine?!"
"I meant it was fine if it was Kurenai, not you."
Simpering like a simp, Asuma uttered his double standard.
"This won't do, Asuma. Orochimaru-sensei is too strong. Even with him holding back, there's no way we can win against him."
"We aren't trying to win! We just need to steal a bell."
Orochimaru carried only a single bell-the one he had snatched from Hiruzen Sarutobi back in the day.
Therefore, they only needed to grab that one.
"We aren't trying to defeat Orochimaru-sensei; our only target is the bell!"
Asuma panted heavily.
The three of them now stood in a line, staring at Orochimaru, who had his hands crossed behind his head and was stretching lazily.
"Kurenai, you use genjutsu for interference, I'll provide cover with ninjutsu, and Anko, you look for an opening! Disperse!"
The three of them leaped apart in unison, reforming a formation that encircled Orochimaru.
"Ninja Art: Fox Heart Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Orochimaru felt that he was still holding back a bit too much; at this rate, the three of them would never stand a chance.
He decided to throw the match slightly, using a Water Fang Bullet to neutralize the fireball before pretending to be paralyzed by the genjutsu for a split second.
"Got them!"
A smile bloomed on Anko's face.
A smile also appeared on Orochimaru's face, though throwing the match didn't mean he was going to let the three of them pass quite that easily.
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