Orochimaru's Evaluation and Intimidation

This trial was different from the previous ones. Teacher Orochimaru had specifically emphasized the punishment, which made Uchiha Yuan particularly wary.

Aside from Mitaraishi Anko, everyone in Orochimaru Squad was a bloodline ninja.

He himself was even more unusual, having directly fused with the genes of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Uchiha Yuan had no desire for Teacher Orochimaru to use his failure in the trial as an excuse to forcibly collect tissue samples from his body for experiments.

Fortunately, Uchiha Yuan was far more proficient at the tricks of a three-person trial than Hyuga Ryo and Mitaraishi Anko.

Based on his experience from past trials, Uchiha Yuan knew very well that with the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai, Hyuga Ryo was the strongest of the three.

Meanwhile, the reckless Anko attacked fiercely but had average defenses, making her the first to be eliminated more often than not.

This time, Uchiha Yuan once again maneuvered between the two of them using the same method.

Whenever Hyuga Ryo gained the upper hand, he helped Anko defuse her Gentle Fist assaults.

Whenever the two girls joined forces to besiege him, Uchiha Yuan remained calm, deliberately showed weakness, and played them against each other.

At last, half a day later, the trial ended with Uchiha Yuan standing as the last one remaining, panting heavily.

As for the other side, Kurama Shion had long since lost to one of Orochimaru's Shadow Clones.

Orochimaru was not surprised by this result.

"Alright, we'll discuss the punishment after the mission. We'll need to take a ship to reach Sea Country, and during that time, I'll provide you with specialized instruction."

With the trial over, some were happy while others were troubled. Mitaraishi Anko and Hyuga Ryo stared pitifully at Uchiha Yuan's back.

This was already the seventh time they had lost to Uchiha Yuan, yet he still looked completely unruffled, as though he did not understand the gravity of the situation at all.

The two girls clenched their delicate fists and swore inwardly that they would defeat Uchiha Yuan before long, then ruthlessly trample on this Uchiha's pride.

Although Sea Country, like the Land of Water, was a nation composed of many islands, this island nation had no ninja village and lacked ninja capable of carrying out long-term guard duties.

Before the Third Shinobi World War, the daimyo of Sea Country would hire ninja from the nearby Land of Water to consolidate his rule within the country.

However, as the Village of the Bloody Mist's rule over Kirigakure continued, the ninja Sea Country hired were no longer as easy to control as before.

Thus, the daimyo of Sea Country chose to cooperate with the Land of Fire's Konoha Hidden Village, handing some of its missions over to Konoha ninja.

The news of Isobu's reappearance in the world had been brought back to the village by Konoha ninja carrying out missions in Sea Country.

In short, caught between the already hostile Hidden Leaf Village and Hidden Mist Village, Sea Country's situation was far from peaceful as well.

On the rocking ship, Orochimaru took the time to explain Sea Country's situation to the four of them. During the early stages of the Third Shinobi World War, he had infiltrated Sea Country to develop an intelligence network, and it had now achieved modest success.

"So, our intelligence for this mission is no worse than Kirigakure's. Don't underestimate the forces I've cultivated in Sea Country over all these years."

Uchiha Yuan nodded. Orochimaru was not lying; Sea Country alone contained several experimental bases.

"Teacher, weren't you going to give us specialized instruction? And is that treatment only for the winner?"

Mitaraishi Anko raised her hand and asked.

Orochimaru spoke calmly.

"No. So that I can still see my adorable students after the mission, I will provide each of you with specialized guidance as promised."

"But before that, I have already completed an assessment of your strength. Don't you want to hear it?"

"In my view, ninja who do not seek change and improvement are unqualified."

Mitaraishi Anko glanced at Uchiha Yuan, her puffed cheeks showing just how frustrated she was.

He was clearly such an unremarkable Uchiha, yet she had never beaten him.

Hyuga Ryo, meanwhile, looked thoughtfully at Uchiha Yuan, recalling every detail from the trial.

She could not let it go either.

For once, Hyuga Ryo took the initiative to raise her hand. "Teacher, please do not waste your time or ours."

At those words, Mitaraishi Anko and Kurama Shion both stiffened.

Orochimaru clapped his hands and smiled.

"Then let's start with you, Shion. The Kekkei Genkai Genjutsu passed down through the Kurama Clan is indeed powerful. If I had not already been familiar with it, I would have needed a great deal of time to dispel the genjutsu upon first encountering it. During that time, could you kill me while ensuring your own safety?"

Kurama Shion revealed a thoughtful expression.

While telling her that her Kekkei Genkai Genjutsu was powerful, Orochimaru was also warning her about its corresponding weakness.

She relied too heavily on genjutsu and lacked other means of fighting enemies. When carrying out missions as part of a squad, her teammates could compensate for that weakness.

But once she acted alone, that weakness would be magnified without limit.

The worst-case scenario would be facing a ninja like Orochimaru, one who did not fear genjutsu at all.

With no way to respond, Kurama Shion would inevitably face defeat and death.

Seeing that his student had grasped something, Orochimaru continued.

"I do not object to you continuing your studies in the field of genjutsu. Perhaps once you fully develop your Kekkei Genkai, this weakness will become insignificant."

"So before then, Shion, you should strengthen your shuriken techniques and even your taijutsu training."

After evaluating Kurama Shion, Orochimaru turned his head.

"As for Anko and Ryo-kun, I'll address the two of you together."

"In my view, the two of you are the complete extremes of recklessness and steadiness. Ryo-kun, you are too cautious. Because you do not dare take risks, you miss opportunities to secure victory. As for Anko, your taijutsu and ninjutsu are the most proficient among the three. There is no doubt about that. But have you considered why you lost?"

For Hyuga Ryo, Orochimaru directly pointed out the problem. As for Mitaraishi Anko, he wanted to hear his reckless student state her own flaw aloud.

"Teacher, you said my taijutsu and ninjutsu are the strongest. Could it be that I wasted too much chakra during the fight? Otherwise, why would Uchiha Yuan be the last one standing?"

Mitaraishi Anko rubbed her chin and gave Orochimaru an answer he absolutely did not want to hear.

Facepalm count: +1.

"Forget it. Taking a few more losses may not be a bad thing for you. Now, let me evaluate Yuan-kun."

When he looked at Uchiha Yuan, Orochimaru narrowed his long, slender eyes, and his entire aura became sharp and imposing.

This made Uchiha Yuan instinctively vigilant. His teacher was a genuine Kage-level powerhouse.

If he had discovered Uchiha Yuan's ability to fuse cells long ago, or had even secretly followed him since Nine-Tails Night...

Uchiha Yuan felt that if that were the case, he would very likely be lying on an operating table by now!

Just as he was lost in thought over these questions, Orochimaru said admiringly.

"So, you all understand Yuan-kun's ability now, don't you?"

Uchiha Yuan looked to his side and saw Hyuga Ryo staring blankly ahead, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.

Mitaraishi Anko crossed her arms, her eyes filled with intense fear and apprehension.

Even special jonin Kurama Shion was no better off. Her slightly trembling calves betrayed the fear she was trying so hard to resist.

Uchiha Yuan blinked and looked at Orochimaru in confusion.

He knew that this Kage-level powerhouse's killing intent was terrifying, enough to intimidate even jonin-level ninja.

Yet he had not noticed anything at all just now, and he still appeared utterly calm.

Uchiha Yuan could not control the length or sensitivity of his own reaction time, which made things rather awkward.