Hidden fangs

"Huh?"

"Me?"

Uchiha Satoru looked into Asuma's fixed stare and innocently pointed at his own nose.

"Yes, you. There's no mistake."

"What are you standing around for?"

"Get moving!"

Asuma's voice was full of irritation.

What was the old man playing at, letting a brat this tiny into the examination?

This was ridiculous!

Put him on a real battlefield, and who knew if he'd even last a day.

At those words, Uchiha Satoru puffed out his cheeks, thoroughly disgruntled.

I clearly look so sharp.

Why say I have a stupid grin on my face?

He wiped the smile from his face and walked up to Asuma, his presence taking on a prickly edge.

This aura...?

Asuma sensed the change, and much of the nonchalance vanished from his eyes.

If he could make it into the graduation exam this young, maybe he really did have some skill.

"Open your eyes and take a look at my signature move!" Uchiha Satoru tugged at his blindfold and declared solemnly.

A signature move?

Now that sounded interesting.

Asuma kept both eyes locked on Uchiha Satoru.

Watching from the sidelines, Orochimaru heard his words and turned his gaze toward him with interest.

Could this boy still have some trump card he hadn't revealed?

Uchiha Satoru had no idea what was going through their minds.

His hands flashed through a series of seals, and he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Ninja Art-Roadblock Technique!"

As his shout faded, the surroundings fell so quiet that a pin drop would have been audible.

What kind of... ninjutsu was this?

The people nearby turned their heads, looking all around.

Nothing seemed to have happened.

"What... is this supposed to be?" Asuma's brows knotted together, his face a picture of confusion.

He hadn't felt the slightest sign of any secret technique hitting him.

"The Roadblock Technique." Uchiha Satoru spread his hands and gestured openly. "Aren't I blocking your path right here?"

He was standing right in front of him, and Asuma still couldn't see him.

Could it be... his eyesight was failing?

"Hahaha..." Anko, who had joined the spectators, laughed so hard she clutched her stomach, tears streaming from her eyes.

"Teacher, who is this guy? He's hilarious."

Orochimaru shook his head lightly, his expression unreadable. "A student I've always had high hopes for."

Meanwhile, Asuma's face instantly turned thunderous.

"Damn it!" Someone actually dared to make a fool of him during the exam. Did this brat have no respect for him at all?

Asuma's temper flared, and he charged straight at Uchiha Satoru.

"You little brat, snap out of it!"

"Huh? Why are you so angry?" Uchiha Satoru blinked, asking with an innocent expression.

As Asuma attacked, he calmly pressed one hand against the ground.

"Earth Release: Earth Flowing River!"

Earth Flowing River? Hmph, what trick was he trying to pull now?

Did this little brat think I'd fall for that again?

Rather than retreat even half a step, Asuma twisted forward, swinging his fist straight at the infuriating brat.

Just as his fist was about to brush Satoru's face, the ground beneath him shook violently. With a chorus of sharp cracks, countless chunks of earth and stone erupted from below, nearly sending the charging Asuma tumbling.

"This is still just Earth Release." Asuma wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, looking utterly exasperated. "Can't you even get the name of your ninjutsu right?"

He had nearly come to grief from a moment's carelessness.

"Huh? Really?" Uchiha Satoru blinked. "Don't you think it rolls off the tongue better with a different name?"

Sure enough, ninjutsu still didn't pack quite the same satisfying punch as his innate cursed energy.

"Uchiha Satoru, show me some effort." Asuma was practically steaming with anger.

"Stop acting like you're half asleep."

"I did sleep for a while, but isn't it about time you opened your eyes too?" Uchiha Satoru's voice lowered, taking on a measure of seriousness.

Fine, then. Time to get a little serious.

He slowly raised his head.

The instant he did, the furious Asuma felt his heart lurch and skip a beat.

A chill shot through him, icy enough to seep into his bones.

What was going on?

An elusive flicker of instinct urged him back, and his feet retreated half a step before he could stop them.

Was this presence really coming from that same little brat?

He seemed like an entirely different person.

Watching from a distance, Orochimaru's lips slowly curved into a satisfied smile.

He had long understood that Uchiha Satoru was nothing like the face he usually presented.

All that warmth, friendliness, and innocence were merely a skin he wore.

Hehehe... let me see how many more unexpected surprises you have in store.