Genin Test

The Genin test, also known as the wilderness survival exercise.

Other classes didn't seem to have such a complex setup, but this test, passed down from the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, was simply replicated by Orochimaru.

In the open space by the river where Satoru often practiced Taijutsu, the three of them arrived to find Orochimaru already standing next to a newly appeared wooden post.

"You're quite early... Punctuality is an excellent quality that ninjas must adhere to."

Orochimaru said with a serious expression, then he took out an alarm clock and two bells:

"It's 7:30 AM now, you have half an hour to discuss tactics..."

"The test officially begins at 8:00 AM and will last until 12:00 PM."

"The goal is to snatch these two bells from me..."

"Those who don't get the bells won't get lunch and will be tied to a wooden post to watch me eat my bento."

"Getting the bells means you pass. If you don't..."

Orochimaru smiled slightly: "Guess the consequences yourselves."

"Now, you can start discussing tactics – any means are acceptable. Without the resolve to kill me, it won't be possible."

"Gulp..."

Satoru watched Nawaki nervously swallow with a speechless expression.

This foolish child must think that failing to get the bells means he's unqualified.

Mikoto also took a sharp breath, her heart pounding. This was an important opportunity to become a ninja. If she couldn't succeed, what right would she have to pursue...

"But... if we really don't get the bells..."

"Don't worry, Mikoto-neechan. Don't think too much about it yet. The core of this problem is to demonstrate the solid qualities required of a Genin during the process."

Seeing Orochimaru walk away and sit down, Satoru quietly reminded his two classmates:

"Nawaki, Mikoto-neechan, just try your best to tie down Teacher Orochimaru's actions. Don't be afraid of failure."

"We'll do this, and then this..."

Orochimaru watched the three youngsters whispering amongst themselves, shaking his head with a smile:

"This test should be quite challenging for them, shouldn't it?"

"But that kid Satoru, it seems he doesn't just know a few novel jutsu; his mind is very sharp, hmm..."

"I always thought Advisor Mitokado's rigid thinking wouldn't come up with so many new ideas. Now it seems this kid is heavily involved."

"If they think a bit more, perhaps..."

When it was 8:00 AM, Orochimaru gave the order, and the three, Satoru, Nawaki, and Mikoto, instantly vanished from their spots.

"Swish swish swish!!"

Eight shuriken flew towards Orochimaru from two directions, followed by Mikoto throwing two kunai!

"Ninja tool throwing from the Uchiha clan. To reach this level at this age, Mikoto truly has exceptional talent."

Orochimaru lightly nodded, dodged the shuriken that were already close, and reached out to grab the kunai behind them.

"Bang!"

Nawaki's figure suddenly replaced a shuriken, and then he grabbed the other and fiercely thrust it at Orochimaru!

"Oh!"

Orochimaru praised Nawaki's application of the Substitution Technique, then his hand seals changed instantly as he lunged to grab Nawaki's wrists.

"Jingle jingle..."

The sound of bells made Orochimaru's gaze shift slightly downwards. Satoru had already appeared silently at his waist!

Satoru's hand was about to touch the bells!

"Bang!"

Satoru grabbed onto a wooden post, and Orochimaru also used the Substitution Technique!

"Whoa!"

Nawaki saw the kunai in his hand about to stab Satoru. Satoru stomped hard on the ground, twisted his waist, reached out, grabbed Nawaki's feet, spun around, and threw Nawaki!

And the direction was towards Orochimaru!

"Mage Eye!"

Orochimaru, who hadn't deliberately hidden himself, had his Substitution Technique's appearance location discovered by Satoru!

"Swish!"

While in mid-air, Nawaki threw the kunai in his hand at Orochimaru, and at the same time, he rapidly formed hand seals:

"Water Style: Water Disruption Wave!"

He sprayed a thin curtain of water from his mouth, launching a wide-range attack towards Orochimaru's location!

"This power... it's useless."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, and at the same time, Mikoto, who had already moved, prepared her own jutsu.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Whoosh—"

Fire met water, and the Water Disruption Wave, deliberately adjusted in power by Nawaki, clashed with Mikoto's full-power Great Fireball Technique, creating a thick cloud of steam that completely enveloped Orochimaru's vicinity!

"I see... this is to obscure my vision? It must be Satoru's idea."

Even Orochimaru couldn't ignore steam and mist of this magnitude, let alone the high temperature.

"However, the Uchiha clan truly overlooked Mikoto's genius. She can already perform a Great Fireball of this caliber before graduating, which is rare even among the Uchiha."

Orochimaru quickly formed hand seals: "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Boom!"

The wind had just begun to blow, not yet having a chance to disperse the steam and mist, when a massive fireball, at least a meter in diameter, appeared behind Orochimaru!

"What!"

The Pyroblast arrived at a very tricky moment, forcing Orochimaru to interrupt his hand seals to dodge.

"Hmm? It's tracking me?"

In a flash, Orochimaru noticed the fireball seemed to be turning with his dodges. He decisively threw a kunai, preemptively detonating the fireball.

"Boom—"

With a powerful Pyroblast unleashed, Satoru donned his Flame Shield, pushed off the ground, and charged towards Orochimaru, who was engulfed in flames, using Scorching Swiftness.

A tattered scroll fell behind him. The reason he could consecutively use Blink and move such a distance was because he had connected to spells sealed within the scroll!

Wearing the magic suppressor and Flame Shield, Satoru was completely unfazed by the high temperature of the Pyroblast's explosion. He forcefully kicked Orochimaru, who was leaning forward from the blast, sending him flying!

"Bang!"

Unsurprisingly, it was another Substitution Technique. The Orochimaru who was kicked away turned into a log.

Orochimaru's Wind Release had been interrupted by the Pyroblast, and the steam and mist were still dense. Orochimaru used this to his advantage, hiding himself.

The sound of bells came intermittently from the mist, and Orochimaru seemed to be changing positions!

"Area-of-Effect Shockwave!"

Satoru made a decisive move. Since he couldn't see, he would use a spell to knock them back and sense their positions!

"Got them!"

Three knockback effects. Clearly, two were Nawaki and Mikoto, and the very weak one was Orochimaru!

Orochimaru in the mist felt a strong force accompanied by a scorching sensation, realizing this was a sensing technique Satoru had used before.

"Impressive..."

Before he could finish speaking, Orochimaru turned, reached out, grabbed, and in one fluid motion, he held Nawaki by the head, who was struggling in his grip.

Nawaki grinned and giggled:

"Teacher Orochimaru, my sister went to see Lord Jiraiya last night. She said that about you..."

Orochimaru froze. Tsunade and Jiraiya? What did they say about him?

"Jingle jingle..."

While Orochimaru was stunned, the bell on his waist rang!

"Crap..."

"Bang!"

Just as he was about to push Nawaki behind him to force away the sneak attack, Orochimaru saw the Nawaki in his hands smile strangely and dissipate into smoke!

"How does Nawaki's Clone Technique have a physical body too!"

"No... it's the Clone Technique and the Transformation Technique!"

Blink, Clone Technique, Transformation Technique. The one who took the bells during the opportunity was Satoru's true body!

The steam and mist finally dispersed. Nawaki and Mikoto, who had been blown away by the shockwave on the periphery, breathed a sigh of relief.

Orochimaru, with a helpless expression, pressed down on Satoru's grinning head. In Satoru's hand...

were two bells!