Battle Against Orochimaru (Part Two)

To dodge the shadow shuriken, Orochimaru let several Shadowkhan latch onto his arms. His sleeves twitched, and more than a dozen thin snakes shot out. They bit into the Shadowkhan and coiled around them, crushing them into wisps of black smoke in an instant.

Orochimaru remained completely at ease. With taijutsu alone, he dealt with the Shadowkhan's relentless attacks. If the shadow shuriken hadn't caught him off guard, the Shadowkhan filling the field might not even have touched his sleeves.

But that was enough for Tsukimi. While the Shadowkhan held Orochimaru's attention, Tsukimi seized the chance to charge. Just as he drew close, he used Flash Step. Afterimages trailed behind him as he slipped through the gaps between the Shadowkhan and closed in on Orochimaru.

Dense Chakra wrapped around his fist, bolstered by the Crab Shadow Squad's armor-piercing Chakra. He drove a punch at Orochimaru's chest and abdomen. Orochimaru paid it little mind and raised his left hand to block, but a tremendous force struck him the next instant, knocking him several steps back.

"A punch like Tsunade's monstrous strength?"

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 him do that in person was even more disgusting!

Tsukimi charged again. This time, Orochimaru stopped simply evading and engaged him at close range.

Tsukimi alternated between armor-piercing punches and blade techniques with shadows shaped into swords. Orochimaru's moves were subtle and vicious. Rather than meet Tsukimi head-on, he sought openings whenever Tsukimi committed to a strike, dodging the 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. Tsukimi's wrist went numb, and his attack faltered. With no time to regain his stance, he drove his right knee forward to force Orochimaru back. But Orochimaru shifted around to his side and swept out his right leg, slamming a heavy kick into Tsukimi's chest.

Thud! The kick sent Tsukimi flying several meters. He staggered two steps after landing, his chest tight.

The situation changed in an instant. Though Tsukimi had been kicked away, the Shadowkhan still occupied Orochimaru and left an opening at the front. Asuma, supporting from the perimeter, spotted it at once.

"Fire Release: Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

A blazing fireball burst from Asuma's mouth and hurtled toward Orochimaru at the center of the encirclement.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Before Tsukimi and the others could make out the hand signs, a column of water erupted. Water and fire collided, sending up clouds of steam that engulfed the entire training ground. Everything on the field grew hazy.

The steam obscured their vision. A Shadowkhan at the side suddenly accelerated, then vanished in a puff of smoke. Asuma burst 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 moment the shadows blocked my view at the start? Nicely coordinated!"

As the blade closed in, Orochimaru showed no hesitation despite the poor visibility. He caught Asuma's movement, twisted his waist, and let the two bells jingle past the side of Flying Swallow. Then he snapped up his right leg and lashed Asuma across the 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 shadow Ninja who had been lying in wait behind him formed hand signs.

"Shadow Imitation Technique!"

Shadows shot across the ground and became four pitch-black chains. They connected to the shadow beneath Orochimaru's feet, then climbed 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 hand. Her fingers closed around both bells at his waist, and with one hard tug, she pulled them into her palm.

"Got them!"

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

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

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

"You've 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. His figure flickered and vanished, leaving only a trace of medicinal scent behind. The training ground fell quiet again.

Asuma let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his brow. The tension drained from his body.

"Whew... So that's the strength of a 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 thorough!"

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

Tsukimi rolled his eyes when Asuma wasn't looking.

Kurenai Yuhi tightened her grip on the bells. A smile reached her eyes, and her voice grew brighter. "Our teamwork went smoothly today. Orochimaru didn't make things hard for us, either."

Tsukimi slipped back into his lazy manner, hands in his pockets. "It was only a test. Didn't you notice? Apart from one Water Release technique, Orochimaru didn't use any Ninjutsu or genjutsu the entire time."

The other two froze. During the test, they had been wholly focused on fighting, and afterward they had been too caught up in the joy of passing. Only now, with Tsukimi's reminder, did it dawn on them.

"So that's one of the legendary Sannin? He's incredible! Someday I'll be that strong too—and surpass the old man!"

Still every bit the rebellious son!

"I want to become a kunoichi like Lady Tsunade someday," Kurenai Yuhi said.

"Then you'd better work hard. Become Konoha's master of genjutsu as soon as you can."

Tsukimi casually patted Kurenai Yuhi on the head. Being 170 centimeters tall had its perks; everyone his age was still so short.

Kurenai Yuhi blushed. Asuma crowded over too. "What about me? What should I be? Konoha's master of Fire Release? Master of Wind Release? Or the man who surpasses the Third Hokage? Which title sounds best?"

Tsukimi looked him up and down for a moment, delivered his verdict with a straight face, then turned and walked away.

"Konoha's master of beards!"

Even at his young age, Asuma already showed signs of the great beard he would grow later. At Tsukimi's words, he felt his face and scowled. He hurried after Tsukimi, muttering as he went.

"It's called looking manly, okay? Like you'd understand, pretty boy!"

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

"Oh yeah? Then why aren't you a pretty boy? Because you don't want to be? You foolish Asuma!"

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the crystal ball. The image had frozen on the moment Kurenai Yuhi seized the bells. He blew out a puff of smoke, a pleased smile on his face.

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

Mitokado Homura nodded slightly. "Indeed. Winning a test against Orochimaru puts this squad's potential well above that of previous years' rookies."

Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put away the crystal ball and gazed out the window, considering the mission he would assign tomorrow.

What mission should I give this squad?