Genin Test

The genin test was also known as a wilderness survival exercise.

The other classes did not seem to have anything this complicated, but Orochimaru had simply copied the test passed down from the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

When the three arrived at the clearing by the river where Satoru often practiced taijutsu, they saw Orochimaru standing beside a newly erected wooden post.

"You're quite early... Being punctual is an excellent quality that every ninja must uphold."

Orochimaru spoke solemnly, then took out an alarm clock and two bells.

"It's seven thirty in the morning. You have half an hour to discuss your tactics..."

"The test officially begins at eight and lasts until noon."

"Your objective is to take these two bells from me..."

"Those who fail to get a bell will not have lunch, and they'll be tied to the post to watch me eat my bento."

"Getting a bell means you pass. If you fail to get one..."

Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Guess the consequences yourselves."

"Now, you may begin discussing your tactics—any method is acceptable. Unless you come at me with the resolve to kill me, you won't be able to do it."

"Gulp..."

Satoru stared speechlessly at Nawaki as he nervously swallowed.

That foolish kid definitely thought failing to get a bell meant failing the test.

Mikoto also drew in a nervous breath. This was an important opportunity to become a ninja. If she could not succeed, what right would she have to pursue...

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

"Relax, Mikoto. Don't overthink it yet. The key is to show the solid qualities needed to serve as genin during the process."

Seeing Orochimaru walk some distance away and sit down, Satoru quietly reminded his two classmates.

"Nawaki, Mikoto, just do your best to restrain Teacher Orochimaru's movements. Don't be afraid of failure."

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

Orochimaru watched the three little ones whispering among themselves and smiled as he shook his head.

"This test should still be difficult for them, shouldn't it?"

"But that brat Satoru apparently knows more than just a few novel techniques. He's quite quick-witted, hmm..."

"I always thought that stiff old Advisor Mitokado could not possibly have come up with so many fresh ideas. Now it seems this boy was heavily involved."

"If I think about it some more, perhaps..."

At eight o'clock, Orochimaru gave the order, and Satoru's group vanished from where they stood.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!

Eight shuriken flew at Orochimaru from two directions, followed by two kunai thrown by Mikoto!

"The Uchiha Clan's weapon throwing techniques... To have trained to this level at her age, Mikoto truly is exceptionally gifted."

Orochimaru nodded lightly, dodging the approaching shuriken as he reached for the kunai behind them.

Bang!

Nawaki's figure suddenly replaced one of the kunai, and he grabbed the other before fiercely stabbing it toward Orochimaru!

"Oh!"

Nawaki's use of the Substitution Technique earned a cry of admiration from Orochimaru. His hand signs shifted in an instant as he reached for Nawaki's wrists.

Jingle, jingle...

The sound of the bells made Orochimaru lower his gaze slightly. Satoru had silently appeared at his waist!

Satoru's hand was about to touch the bells!

Bang!

Satoru grabbed a wooden post instead. Orochimaru had used the Substitution Technique as well!

"Whoa!"

Nawaki saw the kunai in his hand about to stab Satoru. Satoru stomped hard on the ground, twisted at the waist, and reached out to seize Nawaki by both ankles, spinning around and hurling him away!

And he threw him directly toward Orochimaru!

Mage Eye!

Orochimaru had not deliberately concealed himself, so Satoru had already spotted where his Substitution Technique had placed him!

Whoosh!

While airborne, Nawaki hurled the kunai in his hand at Orochimaru while rapidly forming hand seals.

Water Style: Water Bullet Technique!

A thin sheet of water sprayed from his mouth, striking Orochimaru's location across a wide area!

"At this level of power... it's useless."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. At the same time, Mikoto, who had moved into position, had finished preparing her technique.

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!

Whoosh—

Fire and water collided. The deliberately weakened Water Bullet Technique met Mikoto's full-power Great Fireball Technique, creating a thick cloud of steam that completely enveloped the area around Orochimaru!

"I see... This is meant to block my vision? It must have been Satoru's idea."

Even Orochimaru could not ignore steam and mist of this density, especially with the heat involved.

"Still, the Uchiha truly have overlooked Mikoto, this genius. She can already use a Great Fireball Technique of this caliber before graduating. Even among the Uchiha, that's rare."

Orochimaru rapidly formed hand seals. Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

Boom!

The wind had only just risen and had not yet dispersed the steam when an enormous fireball at least a meter wide appeared behind Orochimaru!

"What!"

The timing of the Pyroblast was extremely tricky. Orochimaru had no choice but to interrupt his hand seals and dodge.

"Hm? It can chase people?"

In that split second, Orochimaru noticed the fireball seemed to turn as he evaded it. He immediately threw out a kunai and deliberately detonated the fireball.

Boom—

After unleashing the powerful Pyroblast, Satoru activated Flame Shield, pushed off the ground, and charged toward Orochimaru, who had been swallowed by flames, with Scorching Swiftness.

A damaged scroll fell behind him. The reason he could cast Blink repeatedly and move such a great distance was because he had chained together spells sealed within the scroll!

Covered by Magic Suppression and Flame Shield, Satoru had no fear of the Pyroblast's scorching explosion. He viciously kicked Orochimaru, who had been blasted forward by the Pyroblast, sending him flying!

Bang!

As expected, it was another Substitution Technique. The Orochimaru who had been kicked away turned into a wooden post.

Orochimaru's Wind Release had been interrupted by the Pyroblast, and the steam and mist remained dense. He used that to his advantage and hid himself.

The bells rang intermittently from within the mist. Orochimaru seemed to still be changing positions!

Wide-Area Impact Wave!

Satoru made a snap decision. Since he could not see, he would use the spell's knockback effect to detect them!

"Got it!"

Of the three knockback effects, two were clearly Nawaki and Mikoto. The faint one was Orochimaru!

Orochimaru, within the mist, felt a powerful force accompanied by scorching heat. He understood that this was one of Satoru's techniques from before, meant to locate targets.

"Impressive..."

Before his words had even faded, Orochimaru turned, reached out, and pressed down in one fluid motion—Nawaki's head was pinned beneath his hand.

Nawaki grinned.

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

Orochimaru froze. Tsunade and Jiraiya? What had she said about him?

Jingle, jingle...

While Orochimaru was distracted, the bells at his waist rang!

"Damn..."

Bang!

Just as Orochimaru was about to shove Nawaki backward to force away the sneak attacker, Nawaki beneath his hand gave an eerie smile and dissolved into wisps of smoke!

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

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

The one who had used Blink, the Clone Technique, and the Transformation Technique to seize the bells was Satoru's real body!

The steam and mist finally dispersed. Nawaki and Mikoto, who had been knocked away to the outskirts by the Impact Wave, let out sighs of relief.

Orochimaru helplessly pressed a hand against the grinning Satoru's head, while in Satoru's hand...

Were the two bells!