Battle Against Orochimaru (Part Two)

To dodge the Shadow Shuriken, several Shadowkhan clung to Orochimaru's arms. He flicked his sleeves, sending more than a dozen slender snakes darting out. They sank their fangs into the Shadowkhan, coiled around them, and crushed them into wisps of black smoke.

Orochimaru remained completely at ease. With Taijutsu alone, he neutralized wave after wave of attacks from the Shadowkhan. If the Shadow Shuriken hadn't caught him by surprise, the Shadowkhan filling the field might not have touched so much as his sleeve.

But that was enough for Tsukimi. While the Shadowkhan occupied Orochimaru's attention, he surged forward. Just before reaching him, Tsukimi used Flash Step. His body became a string of afterimages as he slipped through the gaps in the Shadowkhan and closed in.

Dense Chakra wrapped around his fist, bolstered by the Crab Shadow Squad's armor-piercing Chakra. He drove a punch toward Orochimaru's chest and abdomen. Orochimaru raised his left arm to block without much concern, only to be struck by a tremendous force that sent him stumbling back several steps.

"Something like Tsunade's monstrous-strength punch?"

Though forced back, Orochimaru showed no frustration. He extended his long, narrow tongue and licked his lips.

"Tsukimi, you never fail to surprise me!"

Ugh. Seeing that in person, it really is disgusting!

Tsukimi advanced again. This time, Orochimaru stopped simply dodging and engaged him at close range.

Tsukimi alternated between armor-piercing punches and turning shadows into blades for Swordsmanship. Orochimaru's movements were subtle and tricky. Rather than meet Tsukimi's strength head-on, he sought openings whenever Tsukimi committed to a strike, evading his thrusts while using deft movements to dissipate the force of his punches.

Orochimaru turned his wrist and struck Tsukimi's wrist joint with a precise knife-hand blow. Numbness shot through Tsukimi's wrist, halting his attack. With no time to adjust, he drove his right knee forward to force Orochimaru back. But Orochimaru shifted his footing, circled to Tsukimi's side, and swept his right leg into Tsukimi's chest with a heavy kick.

Thud! The kick hurled Tsukimi several meters. He staggered back another two steps after landing, his chest tight.

The tide of battle shifted in an instant. Though Tsukimi had been kicked away, the Shadowkhan still harried Orochimaru, leaving an opening at the front. Asuma, supporting them from the perimeter, spotted it at once.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A scorching fireball burst from Asuma's mouth and roared straight toward Orochimaru at the center of the encirclement, trailing flames and waves of heat.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Before Tsukimi and the others could make out Orochimaru's Hand Seals, a column of water surged up. It collided with the fireball, and great clouds of steam rose to blanket the training ground. Everything within grew hazy.

The steam obscured their vision. At the side, a Shadowkhan suddenly accelerated, then vanished in a puff of smoke. Asuma charged out of it with Flying Swallow in hand, its blade aimed straight at the bells on Orochimaru's waist.

"Transformation Technique and a Shadow Clone? You did it the instant the shadows blocked my view at the start? Nice coordination!"

The blade flashed toward his waist, but Orochimaru's movements never slowed despite his impaired vision. He caught Asuma's attack, twisted aside, and let Flying Swallow slide past the two jingling bells. Then he raised his right leg and lashed it into Asuma's chest and abdomen. With a pop, Asuma dissolved into another cloud of white smoke.

Orochimaru had barely dealt with Asuma's Shadow Clone when a Shadowkhan that had long lain in wait behind him formed Hand Seals.

"Shadow Imitation Technique!"

Shadows shot across the ground and became four pitch-black chains. They joined with the shadow beneath Orochimaru's feet, then wound upward, briefly binding him in place.

It lasted only an instant, but that was enough. Kurenai Yuhi burst from the ground beside Orochimaru and shot out her arm, closing her hand around both bells at his waist. With one hard pull, she tore them free. They landed safely in her palm.

"Got them!"

The Shadowkhan vanished in a puff of white smoke, and the chains binding Orochimaru silently faded. The Shadowkhan melted back into the shadows. Asuma and Tsukimi steadied themselves and walked over to Kurenai.

Orochimaru glanced at his empty waist. A faint smile touched his impassive face, and his gaze returned to Tsukimi, the curiosity in his snake-like eyes growing sharper.

"You used an endless stream of shadows to block my view and draw my attention, giving your teammate a chance to hide underground. A fine attack!"

"You all passed today's test. Meet at the Hokage Building at nine tomorrow morning. It's time for a mission!"

With that, Orochimaru said no more. He flickered out of sight, leaving only a faint medicinal scent behind. Quiet returned to the training ground.

Asuma let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his brow. His tense body finally relaxed.

"Whew... So that's the strength of the Sannin? For a second there, I thought my Shadow Clone had him."

As he spoke, Asuma threw an arm around Tsukimi's shoulders. "Good thing you're so meticulous!"

You're the one who's tiny. Your whole family's tiny!

Tsukimi quietly rolled his eyes.

Kurenai gripped the bells in her hand. A smile brightened her face, and even her voice grew lighter. "We worked together really well today. Lord Orochimaru didn't make things hard for us, either."

Tsukimi slipped back into his usual laid-back manner, hands in his pockets. "It was only a test. Didn't you notice? Apart from one Water Release technique, Orochimaru never used any other Ninjutsu or Genjutsu."

The two froze. During the test, they had been wholly absorbed in the fight, and afterward, in the joy of passing. Only when Tsukimi pointed it out did they realize.

"So that's one of the legendary Sannin? He's incredible! One day I'm going to be that strong too, and surpass the old man!"

Still the rebellious son, as ever!

"I want to become a kunoichi like Lady Tsunade someday."

"Then you'll have to work hard. Become Konoha's master of Genjutsu as soon as you can."

Tsukimi casually patted Kurenai's head. Being five-foot-seven had its advantages; everyone his age was still a little shrimp.

Kurenai blushed. Asuma squeezed in beside them. "What about me? What would you call me? Konoha's master of Fire Release? Master of Wind Release? Or the man who surpassed the Third? Which title sounds best?"

Tsukimi looked him up and down, delivered his verdict with a straight face, then turned to leave.

"Konoha's master of facial hair!"

Even at his young age, Asuma already showed signs of the bushy beard he would have someday. At Tsukimi's words, he felt his face and scowled, then hurried after him, muttering.

"That's called being manly! What would a pretty boy like you know?"

Kurenai hurried after them, and the three left the training ground together.

"Oh? Then why aren't you a pretty boy? Just don't want to be one, Asuma, you fool?"

Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi studied the crystal ball, its image frozen at the instant Kurenai seized the bells. He exhaled a cloud of smoke, a pleased smile on his face.

"Excellent tactics and teamwork. Tsukimi has a remarkable grasp of the bigger picture."

Mitokado Homura nodded slightly. "Indeed. To pass a test against Orochimaru, this team has far more potential than any previous class of new graduates."

Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put away the crystal ball and looked out the window, considering what mission to assign them tomorrow.

What mission should I give this team?