Orochimaru's Test, Explosion Release: Hunting

Uchiha Jun's heart tightened.

Orochimaru had recognized the Senju-style Swordsmanship from the [Senju Tobirama (Young)] template?

That shouldn't be possible!

Not to mention anything else, the swordsmanship of the young Senju Tobirama from the Warring States Period was genuinely ancient. Even if it had been passed down, it should have long since been altered beyond recognition.

Besides, publicly, the Senju Clan only had Tsunade left, a brute who threw punches. Could Konoha possibly still have Senju Clan ninja skilled in Senju-style blade techniques?

"You're joking, Lord Orochimaru. I learned all this from Xia Jiba's training. Clan Head Fugaku even said he'd teach me Uchiha-style Swordsmanship after this mission ends."

Uchiha Jun smoothly made up an excuse without batting an eye.

Orochimaru did not pursue the matter. He merely gave him a meaningful look before turning away.

"Let's continue. The border outpost is still half a day away."

Uchiha Jun silently followed, his vigilance toward Orochimaru rising several more levels.

His instincts told him that Orochimaru had already taken an interest in him.

And that kind of interest was hardly good news for Uchiha Jun at his current stage.

The two continued on their way.

Half a day later, Orochimaru stopped again.

"Up ahead is the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass. From here on, we may encounter Iwa-nin reconnaissance squads."

Orochimaru turned to Uchiha Jun, a faint smile curling his lips.

"I'll give you ten minutes. Find the general operating range of those reconnaissance squads and plan an avoidance route in advance."

Uchiha Jun's heart tightened.

Was this a test of his sensory abilities?

There was no time to think. Uchiha Jun pushed his sensory abilities to the limit.

Soon, five sources of chakra entered his sensing range.

"Found them! Nine hundred meters ahead, five people, chakra levels..."

Uchiha Jun was about to report when he suddenly sensed an extraordinarily strange chakra source.

This chakra source was hidden underground. It would have been impossible to notice without careful sensing.

Its chakra nature was also extremely strange. It did not feel human. Instead, it felt more like...

A plant?

Any other sensory ninja would probably have dismissed it as some chakra-bearing plant.

This is... White Zetsu?!

A storm churned in Uchiha Jun's heart, but his expression remained unchanged.

"What is it?" Orochimaru noticed the slight anomaly in Uchiha Jun's behavior.

"Nothing, Lord Orochimaru. I sensed a reconnaissance squad. We can go around them."

Suppressing his shock, Uchiha Jun answered without changing expression.

Orochimaru nodded and asked no further questions.

The two bypassed that Iwagakure squad and continued onward.

Uchiha Jun looked calm on the surface, but enormous waves were already crashing through his heart.

What did White Zetsu appearing here mean?

It meant Madara Uchiha was secretly observing this war!

It was even possible that Madara himself was nearby!

Damn it, the Shinobi World at this point in time is even more dangerous than I imagined!

Uchiha Jun cursed inwardly and secretly made up his mind.

From now on, he had to be even more careful!

Whether it was Orochimaru, who wanted to study him, or Madara Uchiha, lurking in the shadows and watching, neither was someone he could deal with right now.

He had to save up enough fragments and grind out [Uchiha Sasuke (Susanoo)] as soon as possible!

Then whoever dared get in his face would get an Amaterasu Arrow!

Night fell, and the two finally arrived at the temporary outpost on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.

It was an underground shelter hidden within dense woods, its surface covered in camouflage branches and leaves.

Orochimaru stopped at the entrance, formed a hand seal, and dispelled the warning barrier.

"Come in."

The two entered the outpost. The interior was dim, and the air was thick with the smell of blood and medicine.

Uchiha Jun looked around. The outpost was not large, only about thirty square meters.

A long table stood in the center, with several maps spread across it.

Several field cots sat in the corner. A man covered head to toe in bandages lay on one of them.

Two other people sat beside the table. Upon seeing Orochimaru enter, they immediately rose and bowed.

"Lord Orochimaru!"

"Mm."

Orochimaru nodded, walked to the long table, and picked up the intelligence scroll to read through it.

"Where is Jonin Yamazaki?"

"I'm here."

A somewhat weak voice came from the corner.

Uchiha Jun turned and only then noticed that in another corner of the outpost, a composed-looking ninja was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed in rest.

His combat uniform was damaged in several places. His left arm was wrapped in bandages, with faint bloodstains seeping through them. A freshly scabbed wound ran from his brow bone to his cheekbone, but his gaze remained sharp.

He was the captain of this reconnaissance squad—Special Jonin Yamazaki Kengo.

Yamazaki Kengo pushed himself upright and gave Orochimaru a slight bow.

"My apologies, Lord Orochimaru, for letting you see me in such a sorry state. Our squad was ambushed by the Explosion Release Unit two days ago and suffered some minor injuries, but it's nothing serious."

Yamazaki Kengo made it sound light, but Uchiha Jun noticed that his right leg was clearly unable to bear much weight when he stood.

"How is the situation?"

Orochimaru did not seem concerned about Yamazaki's injuries and went straight to the point.

"Not optimistic."

Yamazaki Kengo took a bloodstained reconnaissance report from his clothes and handed it to Orochimaru.

"Four days ago, we infiltrated the Land of Grass to scout Iwagakure's troop deployment. Things went smoothly at first, but two days ago, we were ambushed by Iwagakure's Explosion Release ninja unit on our way back."

"The ninja leading them was extremely strong. I was injured in fewer than ten exchanges with him. The vice-captain covered our retreat..."

Yamazaki Kengo's voice paused, and a flicker of pain crossed his eyes.

"He died in battle."

Orochimaru fell silent for a moment, then took the reconnaissance report and unfolded it for a closer look.

"Who was leading the Explosion Release Unit?"

"Judging from his fighting style, it should have been Explosion Release: Hunting."

Yamazaki Kengo's voice was solemn. "One of Iwagakure's top three Elite Jonin. He possesses the Kekkei Genkai, Explosion Release, and can detonate anything he touches at close range."

Uchiha Jun frowned slightly upon hearing that name.

Explosion Release: Hunting.

That name had appeared in the original work.

Though it was not as outrageous as Deidara's clay-based Explosion Release, an Elite Jonin who had made a name for himself during the Third Shinobi World War was definitely no pushover.

His final fate, if Uchiha Jun remembered correctly, had been to get claimed by that girly boy Hiruko using the Chimera Technique.

"Other than Hunting, what is the composition of the Explosion Release Unit?"

"At least three Jonin and six Chunin."

Yamazaki Kengo's tone grew heavier. "In our current condition, we likely have no chance if we meet them head-on."

"There are only three of us left now, and Gekko Kazuichi was severely injured in battle..."

At that point, Yamazaki Kengo turned to look at the field cot in the corner.

Following his gaze, Uchiha Jun saw that the man lying on the cot was pale, and blood was still seeping through the bandages wrapped around his chest.

Judging by his clothing and clan crest, he was the Chunin Gekko Kazuichi.

"How are his injuries?"

"Very serious. His internal organs were damaged by the Explosion Release shockwave, and four ribs are broken. If he isn't sent back to Konoha Hospital in time..."

Yamazaki Kengo did not continue, but the meaning was obvious.

Orochimaru nodded, then said to Uchiha Jun, "Go help Gekko apply medicine. Jonin Kengo and I will discuss our next course of action."

Uchiha Jun froze.

He was still a Genin. What the hell did he know about applying medicine?

The Ninja Academy had not taught that either.

But rank was everything, and Orochimaru's sheer strength far exceeded Uchiha Jun's. Uchiha Jun could only brace himself and walk over to the field cot.

Gekko Kazuichi was a young man with delicate features, but his face was frighteningly pale now. His lips were cracked, and cold sweat covered his forehead.

When he saw Uchiha Jun approach, Gekko Kazuichi barely opened his eyes and gave a weak smile.

"You... are the newcomer Lord Orochimaru brought? You're so young, still a Genin, right? Why would you come to a place like this?"

"Don't talk. I'm changing your dressing."

Uchiha Jun took medical bandages and hemostatic medicine from his ninja tool pouch and began treating Gekko Kazuichi's wounds.

The instant he unwound the old bandages, Uchiha Jun was stunned by what he saw.

A large patch of purplish-red bruising covered Gekko Kazuichi's chest. His flesh had split open, revealing broken ribs beneath.

This injury was no longer something caused by ninjutsu alone. It looked more like he had taken the full force of an Explosion Release shockwave head-on.

"You're pretty lucky to have made it here alive."

Uchiha Jun spoke sincerely.

Gekko Kazuichi gave a bitter smile. Just as he was about to say something—

"Rumble!"