Uchiha Jun vs. Orochimaru, Stern Father Appears

Training Ground 175 was located in a dense forest to the southeast of Konoha Village.

The terrain here was complex, featuring dense woods, open meadows, and a small river running through the center.

Uchiha Jun arrived early and happened to run into Uchiha Shisui at the entrance.

"Jun-kun?" Uchiha Shisui looked a bit surprised. "Why are you here so early?"

"The early bird catches the worm." Uchiha Jun smiled. "Are you here to watch the match as well, Shisui-senpai?"

"Yes." Uchiha Shisui nodded. "The clan head asked me to come and observe your performance."

"Clan Head Fugaku is coming too?" Uchiha Jun raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, the clan head said your talent is worth noting, so he will be watching in person."

Uchiha Shisui paused, then added, "I heard that the Third Hokage will also be paying attention to this assessment."

Uchiha Jun's heart skipped a beat.

What? Sarutobi Hiruzen is involved too?

Doesn't that mean if I accidentally perform too well, I might end up being targeted?

But if I don't perform well, then the S-rank ninja fragments will be gone.

This was a problem.

"Forget it, I'll just take it one step at a time." Uchiha Jun shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it.

The two walked into the training ground together.

Uchiha Jun looked around and suddenly thought of a question.

"Shisui-senpai, do you have a spare ninja sword?"

"A ninja sword?" Uchiha Shisui was taken aback.

"Most of my swordsmanship is performed with a ninja sword. I can use a kunai, but the power would be compromised," Uchiha Jun explained.

Uchiha Shisui thought for a moment, then took the ninja sword from his back and handed it to Uchiha Jun.

"You can borrow this blade."

"Many thanks!"

Uchiha Jun took the ninja sword and weighed it in his hand.

The blade was about sixty centimeters long, sharp, and the hilt was wrapped in non-slip cord; it felt good in his hand.

Under the [Tobirama Senju (Youth)] template, a massive amount of swordsmanship memories flooded into Uchiha Jun's mind.

Senju-style Swordsmanship!

Uchiha Jun flicked his wrist, and the ninja sword traced a cold arc in the air, spinning with a sharp "hum."

"Good blade!" Uchiha Jun praised.

Uchiha Shisui watched Uchiha Jun's movements, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

"Jun-kun, this swordsmanship of yours..."

"Just something I practiced on my own, nothing professional, nothing professional." Uchiha Jun spouted nonsense.

He laughed it off without further explanation.

The two walked around the training ground, and Uchiha Jun chose an open area near the small river as his battlefield.

Water Release was most powerful near water.

Uchiha Shisui jumped onto a large tree and sat on a branch, preparing to watch the battle.

The agreed time was nine o'clock in the morning.

Uchiha Jun stood by the small river, eyes closed, waiting patiently.

At 8:30, a steady and heavy chakra appeared within his sensory range.

Uchiha Fugaku had arrived.

At 8:45, a sense of being watched descended from above.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had arrived as well.

But Orochimaru's chakra was nowhere to be found.

"Where is he?" Uchiha Jun frowned.

Time ticked by, second by second.

At nine o'clock sharp, Orochimaru still hadn't appeared.

At 9:05, he still hadn't come.

At 9:10...

"What the hell? Are you lost at the crossroads of life, too?" Uchiha Jun asked, looking somewhat puzzled.

Just as he prepared to retort, a sudden change occurred!

"BOOM!"

The ground beneath Uchiha Jun's feet suddenly cracked open, and a gaping, blood-red maw lunged from the depths, snapping toward him!

"Holy crap!"

Uchiha Jun's pupils constricted, his body reacting on pure instinct.

Under the [Tobirama Senju (Youth)] template, his sensory abilities captured the subterranean chakra fluctuations in an instant.

That giant python had been lurking underground for at least ten minutes!

"Body Flicker Technique!"

Uchiha Jun didn't hesitate; his figure transformed into a flash of water, vanishing from the spot in an instant.

"BANG!"

The giant python bit into empty air, leaving a massive crater in the ground.

Uchiha Jun reappeared on the surface of the river ten meters away, standing on the water as he stared at the giant python that had burst from the earth.

Good grief, this python was at least a dozen meters long, its body thicker than a water barrel, covered in dark brown scales, with golden, slit-pupiled eyes that emitted a cold, chilling light.

"Orochimaru's snake!"

Uchiha Jun narrowed his eyes.

However, before he could even catch his breath, the surrounding ground cracked open again!

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

One giant python after another erupted from the ground, surrounding Uchiha Jun completely.

Uchiha Jun swept his gaze across them; there were at least a dozen!

Each one possessed the strength of a Chunin!

"Is this supposed to be a Genin exam?!"

"Does this damn Konoha have any humanity left?!"

"You deserve to have your defeat CG triggered by a single ultimate move from yours truly!"

Uchiha Jun's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath.

But now was not the time for complaints.

The giant pythons opened their massive, blood-red maws and lunged at Uchiha Jun!

"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"

Uchiha Jun formed hand seals, and a violent torrent of water surged from the river, transforming into a water tornado that sent the nearest pythons flying.

But there were too many of them!

No sooner had the Water Severing Wave finished than several other pythons lunged from the sides.

Uchiha Jun drew his ninja blade, unleashing Senju-style Swordsmanship.

"CLANG!"

The blade struck the python's scales, sending a shower of sparks flying.

The scales were actually harder than steel!

"You've got to be kidding me?"

Uchiha Jun's expression shifted, and he hurriedly dodged.

But just then, a giant python struck from behind, opening its massive mouth as its sharp, venomous fangs snapped toward Uchiha Jun's neck!

"Body Flicker Technique!"

"BANG!"

Uchiha Jun reappeared in the distance, his face grim.

This won't work.

The next moment, Uchiha Jun used Tobirama Senju's sensory abilities to search for Orochimaru's location with everything he had.

But strangely, within several hundred meters, aside from Uchiha Fugaku and Sarutobi Hiruzen, he couldn't find a trace of Orochimaru anywhere!

How is this possible? Is Orochimaru not here?

Uchiha Jun thought rapidly while dodging the pythons' attacks.

No, Orochimaru had to be here.

These pythons were controlled by him; he couldn't possibly be far away.

If he couldn't sense him, it meant Orochimaru was using some kind of method to hide his chakra.

"What do I do now?"

After fighting for so long without even catching a glimpse of Orochimaru's shadow, how was he supposed to pass this assessment?

Watching the number of giant snakes continue to multiply, Uchiha Jun felt a spark of irritation ignite within him.

"I had intended to get along with you all as an ordinary person, but all I received in return was exclusion..."

Uchiha Jun took a deep breath, his gaze turning sharp and piercing.

"No more pretending, the cards are on the table!"

[Second Pillar (Shippuden), equipped!]

"Orochimaru, since you've shown no mercy, don't blame me for using your own 'strict father' against you!"