The So-Called Old Man Plays with a Child

"First match, Second Pillar vs. Akado Yoroi!"

The monitor on the wall flashed their names, and Hayate Gekko announced.

"Will both contestants please step forward, and everyone else return to the waiting area."

The crowd began to move. Shinmoku was positioned to the front-left of Sasuke, and as they brushed past each other, he heard him say:

"A pity it isn't you."

This was the first thing they had said to each other. It sounded like a lover's whisper, but based on Shinmoku's understanding of him, he simply wanted to challenge the strong.

Damn that Yugito; one sentence had made him the target of every ambitious ninja.

However...

"It's not a pity. In your current state, if you can even touch the hem of my clothes, I'll count it as your win."

Hearing this, Sasuke clicked his tongue, recalling what Sakura had told him. The man beside him had protected him all night; he must have known about the Cursed Seal on his neck.

"Don't go down here~" Shinmoku walked away with a carefree air.

At this moment, Kakashi Hatake walked over and whispered a reminder:

"Do not use the Sharingan, and do not overexert your chakra."

"So you know. Did Shinmoku tell you?"

"No."

"Then how did Shinmoku know?"

"Someone from the village had a direct confrontation with Orochimaru, and he was there."

"I see."

"In any case," Kakashi said, reading Make-Out Paradise, "don't let the Cursed Seal erupt. You will die."

"I figured as much," Sasuke said with a faint smile.

The waiting area was on the second floor, similar to an observation deck, accessible via the stairs to the side.

On the Konoha side, aside from the remnants of Kabuto's team, the other squads were gathered with their respective captains. Only Shinna stood alone, watching the stairs as if waiting.

Yet, when Shinmoku actually appeared, she shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Shinmoku walked toward her, and several captains followed.

"Is there something you need?" Shinmoku asked curiously.

"Things were a bit rushed last time," Kurenai Yuhi said. "Could you share some intelligence regarding Orochimaru?"

"I thought you already knew."

"Indeed, Anko and the Anbu have provided descriptions, but since you were a participant, I would prefer to hear your analysis."

It was difficult to extract useful information from the accounts of bystanders; as someone who had fought him head-on, Shinmoku clearly had more authority on the matter.

"Fine."

Shinmoku pondered for a moment.

"First, he definitely wasn't using his full strength.

"He only unleashed two and a half offensive ninjutsu: Summoning, Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, and Many Serpent Formation. You should know the first two. Many Serpent Formation is an area-of-effect ninjutsu; to put it simply, the person spits out snakes, and the snakes spit out swords. It is very fast.

"He is more adept at defense and recovery than offense. He likely possesses some form of snake-based Clone or substitution technique that allows him to effectively dodge fatal wounds, and it is very difficult to detect.

"During the battle, my Clone, covered in Explosive Tags, blew him up, but he only sustained minor injuries. Therefore, I personally judge his recovery ability to be quite high.

"His mental fortitude is relatively weak, as both Shinna and I managed to control him with genjutsu... and he himself is not skilled in genjutsu.

"That is about all."

To be honest, that battle felt more like an old man playing with a child.

Orochimaru—ninja world scientist, ambassador of forbidden jutsu, legendary survivor—it would be strange if he were easy to deal with.

"The genjutsu you mentioned... was it a dōjutsu?" Kurenai asked.

"Yes."

"..." The Konoha genjutsu jōnin smiled helplessly. "You might as well just say his weakness is the Sharingan."

"Are you skilled in genjutsu?" Guy asked Kakashi from the side.

"Sharingan genjutsu? No."

The area suddenly fell silent.

At this moment, the battle on the field reached a fever pitch. Sasuke unleashed the Shadow Leaf Dance, and due to the excessive use of power, the Cursed Seal on his neck began to spread.

Suppressing it with sheer willpower, he executed his self-created taijutsu—Lion Combo.

Both of them collapsed to the ground, but Sasuke forced himself to stand back up.

"Winner, Second Pillar!"

Hearing his own name, Sasuke's final reserves of strength were spent, and his footsteps began to falter.

Just as he was about to collapse, Kakashi appeared and took him away to seal the Cursed Seal.

"Next match..."

The list on the monitor flickered, drawing everyone's attention.

"Uchiha Shinmoku vs. Tenten!"

Oh?

I've hit the jackpot.

Shinmoku looked toward Tenten, and she looked back, her eyes burning with intense fighting spirit.

Operating under the assumption that she would face the Uchiha siblings and that they were both skilled in genjutsu, Tenten had undergone special training for some time—avoiding eye contact and relying solely on observing limbs and listening for movement.

"I will defeat you!"

She declared to Shinmoku as he walked over.

Shinmoku didn't respond, walking straight down the stairs.

Tenten took her position, and Hayate Gekko coughed once:

"Begin!"

The moment she heard the command, Tenten lowered her gaze and threw shuriken simultaneously.

"Clang~"

Weapon throwing was a vital component of ninja combat, but unfortunately, this was the first of the Uchiha's "three-hit combo."

Even though her aim was precise, Shinmoku could easily predict their trajectories without even needing to activate his Sharingan.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang~"

Shinmoku deflected the shuriken one by one and asked:

"Do you have any other tricks?"

"Then try this."

After speaking, Tenten calculated the distance. Once she reached the optimal position, she crouched down and pulled out two scrolls.

"Twin Rising Dragons!"

The scrolls were tossed into the air, and Tenten jumped up as well. The scrolls unfurled to about five or six meters, revealing a massive store of ninja tools.

She spun in the air, hurling the weapons at Shinmoku with incredible speed.

Shinmoku began to "swim" through the sea of ninja tools, deflecting those he couldn't dodge with his blade.

The entire process lasted ten seconds. By the time the tools were exhausted, Tenten landed, but she jumped up again the next moment.

"It's not over yet!"

She twitched her ten fingers, which were connected to wires attached to the tools she had just thrown.

The tools were yanked back into the air, and Shinmoku took the opportunity to retreat to the wall.

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

This jutsu had been taught to him by Shinna. Under his control, the Water Formation Wall was kept at two meters high and three meters wide, creating a safe zone by utilizing the wall already behind him.

The confrontation ended, and the water wall dissipated.

Lightning Release: Spider Web!

After forming the hand seals, Shinmoku slammed his hand onto the floor. Utilizing the water that hadn't fully receded, the Lightning Release spread out like a spider web.

"Zzzzt—"

Tenten landed right on top of Shinmoku's jutsu, her body instantly stiffening.

This was a standard control-type jutsu; those with strong enough physical constitutions could ignore it, and it could be broken through by using chakra, but Tenten clearly lacked that ability.

Shinmoku walked slowly to her front.

"Do you surrender?"

"No!" She was still struggling to mobilize her chakra.

"If you don't surrender, I'm going to use the Taijutsu Secret Technique: One Thousand Years of Death, you know?"

"Do whatever you want!"

"Alright."

Shinmoku formed the hand seal and walked behind her, whispering:

"Are you sure? The so-called One Thousand Years of Death is..."

"I surrender!"