"What... what is that?!"
"He's... changed! Is that... a dragon?"
"What a terrifying presence!"
The spectators in the stands erupted in an uproar. Countless eyes focused on Orochimaru, filled with shock and horror.
Even though they weren't ninja, they could clearly feel an indescribable pressure emanating from that young Konoha shinobi.
Atop the tower, Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki shot to his feet. His short frame trembled slightly with excitement.
"That form... Could it be... the legendary Sage Mode?!"
He stared fixedly at Orochimaru and exclaimed in disbelief.
Beside him, Third Raikage A's expression was just as grave.
He could clearly sense that the energy surging within Orochimaru was, in some ways, remarkably similar to the Lightning Style Chakra Mode secretly passed down in Kumogakure!
Third Kazekage and Third Mizukage didn't know exactly what it was, but there was no denying that Orochimaru's presence had visibly grown stronger.
For a moment, all four Kage turned their eyes toward Hiruzen Sarutobi. Their expressions differed, but each wore a trace of unmistakable shock.
That old fox!
He'd been hiding a trump card like this! Konoha's younger generation was just... terrifying!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was just as astounded, but he maintained a calm expression on the surface.
After all, as the Third Hokage, he couldn't afford to lose face...
In the middle of the arena, Orochimaru felt the surging power within him. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he looked at Jiraiya.
"That should... be about enough, right?"
Orochimaru spoke, estimating that Jiraiya should have had enough time to enter Sage Mode.
On Gamabunta's head, Jiraiya grinned. Red, mask-like markings appeared on both sides of his face.
"Yeah! I've been waiting long enough!"
He shouted back, his voice brimming with fighting spirit.
Unlike Orochimaru's nearly perfect Sage transformation, Jiraiya had only begun to master the art of gathering Natural Energy. He could enter Sage Mode, but maintaining it for long was extremely difficult.
After all, keeping Natural Energy, spiritual energy, and physical energy in perfect balance at all times was still too much for him.
But Mount Myoboku had its own way of dealing with that!
"Heh heh heh... That Orochimaru boy really is something!"
"Indeed, indeed. If only little Jiraiya could make things this easy for us..."
Just then, two voices—slightly aged but full of vigor—sounded abruptly from Jiraiya's shoulders.
Everyone turned toward them and saw two toads, each about the size of a palm and dressed in strange clothing, perched on either side of Jiraiya.
They were none other than the two renowned Toad Sages of Mount Myoboku—Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima!
The two Toad Sages looked at Orochimaru, whose aura had changed dramatically as he entered Sage Mode. Their cloudy eyes were full of wonder.
They knew better than anyone how difficult it was to master Sage Mode.
Especially in a place like Ryūchi Cave!
If learning Senjutsu at Mount Myoboku was a difficulty of one, then at Ryūchi Cave it was at least five—if not more!
The great snakes of Ryūchi Cave weren't "kind and gentle" like them. They didn't care whether humans lived or died.
The slightest mistake could let Natural Energy consume you, turning you to stone—or worse.
And this boy called Orochimaru had made it this far through his own research!
No wonder the Great Toad Sage had prophesied that this child would bring great change to the Ninja World...
"Heh heh, you two, I'm counting on you!"
Jiraiya scratched his head and spoke a little sheepishly.
Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima exchanged a glance, then nodded.
The next moment, Manda and Gamabunta, still locked in a fierce struggle, seemed to receive some kind of signal. Their enormous forms abruptly dissolved into two clouds of white smoke and vanished with a poof.
Only Orochimaru, in Sage Mode, and Jiraiya, likewise maintaining Sage Mode with the two Toad Sages' help, remained in the arena.
They faced each other from a distance, suffocating tension filling the air!
The battle was about to begin!
Without any needless probing, they moved almost simultaneously!
Boom!
Their Taijutsu clash in Sage Mode pushed both speed and strength to their limits!
Every punch and kick collided with a muffled boom, unleashing powerful gusts of air!
They were even faster than Might Duy had been before opening the first two of the Eight Inner Gates...
The spectators could barely follow their movements. All they could hear were thunderous booms and see the terrifying sight of the arena cracking apart!
"Th-they're so fast!"
"Is this what a battle between ninja looks like?!"
The dignitaries from various countries were so shaken they couldn't speak. Their faces were filled with disbelief.
The young ninja who had also entered the Chunin Exams, meanwhile, looked utterly pale.
They had all made it to the third round, so naturally they were the elite of their respective villages.
But against those two, they couldn't see even the slightest chance of winning.
Were they... really ninja of the same rank?
Those two were like they had cheats enabled!
Tsunade stood at the edge of the arena, her expression changing several times as her hands clenched involuntarily.
She had devoted most of her energy lately to studying Medical Ninjutsu. Though she had made considerable progress, seeing the terrifying strength Orochimaru and Jiraiya displayed still filled her with an intense sense of disappointment.
Those two idiots... had they really left her this far behind?
Atop the tower, the five Kage looked increasingly grave.
"Senjutsu..."
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki murmured to himself, his eyes full of wariness.
Those two brats might not pose much of a threat yet, but how old were they?
In a few more years, they might...
"Konoha... really is blessed with every advantage..."
Third Raikage A's expression was complicated, too.
The other Kage understood what he meant. Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had only been dead for a short while, and now two more monster-level ninja were about to emerge.
While everyone was still reeling, the battle on the field escalated once again!
"Sage Art: Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Sage Art: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Orochimaru and Jiraiya formed Hand Seals at the same time. The immense Natural Energy infused their techniques, instantly boosting the already formidable jutsu several levels higher!
A roaring fire dragon and a savage hurricane clashed fiercely in the middle of the arena, unleashing an even more terrifying blast of energy!
In their hands, the Five Elements displayed a level of spectacle and destructive power far beyond what ordinary ninja could comprehend!
The spectators were already cheering, their blood boiling with excitement!
But it wasn't over yet!
The next moment, beneath countless stunned gazes, dazzling blue light burst from both Orochimaru and Jiraiya!
Each of them formed a rapidly spinning sphere of Chakra that continued to swell in their hands!
The terrifying energy fluctuations made everyone present shudder!
"Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan!"
"Sage Art: Big Ball Rasengan!"
Two enormous Rasengan, each several meters across, crashed into each other with the force to destroy everything!
RUMBLE—!!!
The deafening boom seemed ready to tear the entire arena apart!
Blinding white light swallowed everything as a violent shock wave blasted outward in every direction!
Dust billowed, obscuring everyone's view.
After a long while, the dust slowly settled.
A massive circular crater had appeared in the once-flat arena, a shocking sight!
Jiraiya lay sprawled in the center of the crater, his clothes torn, but a hearty laugh tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Hahaha... I lost!"
His voice was weak, but full of relief.
Orochimaru slowly walked down from the edge of the crater. He had a few scrapes, but his breathing was steady.
"Heh, not bad..."
He reached out and pulled Jiraiya to his feet.
Jiraiya waved at the chief proctor, a jōnin who had been staring in stunned silence.
"The winner—Orochimaru of Konohagakure!"
At Jiraiya's signal, the jōnin finally snapped out of it. He drew a deep breath and announced the result at the top of his lungs.
Several more rounds of matches followed that earth-shaking battle.
But neither their intensity nor their spectacle came close to matching the clash of Senjutsu between Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
The spectators' enthusiasm had also noticeably waned.
And so, the first Joint Chunin Exams between the Five Great Ninja Villages slowly came to a close amid the attention of the crowd.
What Orochimaru hadn't expected was that he and Jiraiya became famous overnight after that battle.
The streets and alleys of Konoha were filled with talk of their astonishing battle against the two giant summoned beasts and their earth-shattering Senjutsu clash.
On top of that, quite a few magazines came looking for them, hoping to interview them.
High-rank missions also began specifically requesting Orochimaru or Jiraiya by name.
The results of these Chunin Exams far exceeded his expectations.
Orochimaru's lips curled slightly.
It seemed it was time... to have a proper talk with the Hokage Assistant.
Before you continue