Teacher

Chiyu used Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash—Sixfold Strike for his final exchange with Orochimaru.

Orochimaru evaded the first quick-draw slash.

Chiyu planted his feet against a tree trunk, using the terrain to alter his direction of advance before slashing at Orochimaru again.

Orochimaru's eyes glinted faintly. "Oh? So you've made up for Thunderclap and Flash's weakness of becoming nearly powerless once its nature and trajectory are seen through? What a genius!"

Orochimaru did not think this was a technique Chiyu had been hiding.

Because it still fell within the scope of Thunderclap and Flash.

Though it appeared to merely use the terrain to change the direction of his charge, Orochimaru could see just how difficult it was.

Chiyu pursued the ultimate speed.

The faster the speed, the greater the power.

By using the terrain to alter his direction of advance, Chiyu subjected his own body to the force generated by that speed.

Just as when Chiyu had changed direction by kicking off the tree trunk earlier, the force generated by his speed had acted upon his legs.

Just looking at the footprint that had nearly punched through the trunk showed how immense that force was.

One mistake, and injured legs would be the least of it. There was also the backlash from Lightning Release Chakra, which could cause immeasurable damage.

Yet Chiyu's handling of it just now was enough to prove that his Chakra control had reached an exceptionally refined level. His foundation was extremely solid.

"Let me see where your limit lies!"

Orochimaru formed hand seals with both hands.

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

Orochimaru released a violent gale from his hand, one capable of slicing through an enemy's flesh and bones in an instant, and sent it cutting toward Chiyu.

Chiyu kicked off a protruding rock, changed direction, and evaded the gale cutting toward him.

Then, using a nearby tree to change direction once more, he continued charging toward Orochimaru.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

An earthen wall rose directly in Chiyu's path.

Chiyu cut through the earthen wall with a single slash.

But after cutting through it, Orochimaru had already shifted positions with the Body Flicker Technique.

His Sharingan pinpointed Orochimaru's location. Chiyu changed direction again and continued his assault.

Watching Chiyu streak toward him amid flashes of lightning, Orochimaru said, "Though you've made up for Thunderclap and Flash's weakness of becoming nearly powerless once its nature and trajectory are seen through, you still travel in a straight line when making a charging attack.

"Your speed is indeed fast, but it has not reached the point where I cannot react. That makes it very easy for me to predict your trajectory. If this is all you have, no matter how many times you try, you will achieve nothing."

As he spoke, Orochimaru evaded another of Chiyu's Thunderclap and Flash quick-draw slashes.

Orochimaru continued, "You said it was Sixfold Strike, correct? Going by the name, you can only endure changing your direction of advance six times using the surrounding terrain. You have already changed direction five times, which means that, unless I am mistaken, you have only one final chance left."

Orochimaru was right, and so was his analysis.

Chiyu's legs were throbbing with pain. Sixfold Strike was already his limit.

But if Orochimaru thought this was the end, then he was looking down on him too much.

Orochimaru could react to his Thunderclap and Flash. Even if Chiyu used Sixfold Strike, Eightfold Strike, or Eighteenfold Strike, it would be useless.

Chiyu was not an idiot. Why would he stubbornly keep charging straight at him and let Orochimaru toy with him like a monkey?

This sixth strike was Chiyu's killing blow!

Chiyu kicked off one last tree and changed the direction of his charge.

Gritting his teeth and enduring the stabbing pain in his legs, Chiyu charged at Orochimaru again.

"Hmm?"

Orochimaru's brow furrowed slightly.

When Chiyu kicked off the tree, Orochimaru had seen his left hand move.

Chiyu had not made any such unnecessary movements before.

The next instant, Orochimaru understood why Chiyu had made that motion.

The moment Chiyu launched off the tree, rustling sounds rose all around Orochimaru.

In an instant, Orochimaru was bound in place.

Orochimaru glanced around. Under the illumination of the lightning surrounding Chiyu, the things binding him came into view.

Steel wire!

Orochimaru immediately deduced Chiyu's tactic.

Chiyu knew that Thunderclap and Flash—Sixfold Strike could not threaten him, because he could react in time and use the Body Flicker Technique to evade in advance.

So how could Chiyu make his attack land?

Naturally, by pinning him in place and making him unable to evade.

Each time Chiyu had kicked off a tree while using Thunderclap and Flash—Sixfold Strike, he had wrapped steel wire around the tree he stepped on.

Steel wire was conductive and would not be melted through by the high temperatures of lightning. Moreover, it was nighttime, and the wire was exceptionally well concealed on the ground, making it difficult to spot.

That hand movement Chiyu had made earlier was to wind the prepared steel wire around his hand. Then, using the speed of Thunderclap and Flash to pull the wires, he had bound Orochimaru in an instant.

Orochimaru found himself appreciating Chiyu more and more.

To come up with this tactic in such a short time and successfully carry it out, Chiyu's combat intelligence and execution were both outstanding.

Then a flash of lightning streaked past, and Chiyu beheaded Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's head fell to the ground.

Chiyu, meanwhile, could no longer bear the burden on his legs and collapsed to the ground.

Chiyu did not even dare imagine that he could kill Orochimaru.

Everyone knew Orochimaru was an old hand in the shinobi world, with endless life-saving methods.

Orochimaru's headless corpse began to writhe. Then, Orochimaru, covered in slime, crawled out from within the body.

Orochimaru's signature ninjutsu, the Great Snake Flow Body Replacement Technique.

It required no hand seals. He used the outer body as a substitute and transferred out his true body.

Orochimaru strolled over to Chiyu and looked down at him. "Your strength has pleasantly surprised me. I take back what I said about your lack of adaptability in battle. To think of a method so quickly and put it into action—your decision-making and execution are exceptionally good."

Chiyu endured the soreness in his legs and forced himself to stand, his legs trembling as he looked at Orochimaru hopefully. "Lord Orochimaru, then I..."

Orochimaru placed a hand on Chiyu's shoulder. "After the Graduation Exam ends four days from now, I will come find you. You may call me Teacher now."

Chiyu immediately forgot even the soreness in his legs and stood straight. "Yes! Teacher Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru removed his hand from Chiyu's shoulder, passed by him, and left the Training Ground.

After his battle with Orochimaru, Chiyu was certain that he could grow stronger by Orochimaru's side.

From the bottom of his heart, Chiyu thanked Hiruzen Sarutobi for the assist. All those years of playing the obedient grandson in Konoha had not been in vain.