"This killing intent… it's nowhere near Naruto's, but it's close."
"Yeah, well, this isn't the time to be comparing! Do we run—or try to save those Mist nin?"
"That guy's no Genin. No way. His chakra, his presence… it's off the charts. He's someone dangerous who slipped into the exam. We have to alert the proctors!"
"If only Naruto were here…"
Sakura and Ino crouched behind a broken tree trunk, whispering as they struggled to come up with a plan.
Choji stood in front of them, his body tense, his eyes locked on the Grass ninja. If things went south, he'd make sure those two got out alive—even if he didn't.
"The Genin from Konoha," the Grass ninja drawled, his lips curling into a snake-like grin, "you've all gotten stronger."
He took a step toward Suigetsu, his killing intent pressing down like a physical weight.
Sakura's group moved in unison, their training kicking in despite the fear clawing at their chests.
"Do we help them?" Ino asked.
Sakura clenched her fists. "They're guests from another village. We can't just watch them die."
"Then let's go!"
The Grass ninja tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes gleaming with interest. He flicked a kunai to the side—casual, almost lazy.
By the time he looked back, Sakura's team was already charging straight for him.
"Expansion Jutsu!"
Choji's arm ballooned outward, transforming into a massive hand that crashed toward the enemy like a boulder.
BOOM!
The earth split under the force.
But the Grass ninja was already airborne, moving with unnatural speed.
Sakura appeared above him mid-jump, her fist slamming down with the full force of her chakra control.
"Oh? Such precision in chakra focus," the Grass ninja murmured, blocking with a single arm. The impact sent him spiraling backward through the air, but he was still smiling.
"Binding Technique!"
Ino's chakra threads shot out like twin serpents, coiling around his ankles.
CRASH!
With a yank, she slammed him into a tree so hard the trunk splintered.
"Super Expansion — Dual Slam!"
Choji roared, his massive hands growing again as he brought them down in a storm of blows.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The ground quaked. The tree shattered. The enemy disappeared beneath the avalanche of strikes.
Dust and debris filled the air.
"Did we… get him?" Ino asked, breathing heavily.
"I don't know," Choji muttered, shrinking back to normal. Sweat poured down his face; that technique drained almost all his chakra.
Before they could move, a low chuckle echoed behind them.
"My, my… the Akimichi clan's power at such a young age. Impressive. The future really is full of surprises."
Sakura spun around—and froze.
The Grass ninja stood there completely unharmed, not a single scratch on him.
"How—"
"Oh, don't look so shocked," he said softly. "I just can't let you little brats interrupt my fun."
His grin widened. "Let's play a bit longer."
"Ninja Art—Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."
His arm swelled grotesquely. From beneath his sleeve, a swarm of snakes exploded outward, hissing and lunging toward them.
"Gross! Why so many snakes?!" Ino screamed.
Sakura's eyes widened. "Wait—those snakes—this jutsu…" Her voice dropped to a trembling whisper. "He's no Grass ninja. That's Orochimaru—one of the Legendary Sannin!"
The color drained from all their faces.
They fought desperately, dodging and slashing at the serpents, but the endless tide was overwhelming.
Choji positioned himself behind them, blocking what he could, his fists crushing snakes mid-strike.
But Orochimaru didn't even glance at them. His attention was fixed on the Mist ninja.
"Tch… being saved by Konoha kids? Pathetic," Suigetsu growled through clenched teeth. His rage burned away his fear, his body liquefying as he regained control.
Chojuro and Toyichiro followed suigetsu, shaking off the paralysis of killing intent.
Anger drowned out terror.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Orochimaru bit his thumb and slammed his hand down.
BOOM!
A massive snake burst from the ground, shaking the forest as Orochimaru leapt atop its head.
"Let's make this quick."
The serpent lunged, tearing through the trees toward the Mist team.
They scattered just in time, but the beast turned sharply, trapping Chojuro and Toyichiro between its coils.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru dropped from above, closing in on Suigetsu.
"Water Style: Hydro Arm!"
"Water Style: Water Bullet!"
"Water Style: Ice Mist!"
Suigetsu unleashed a barrage, the air exploding with water and frost.
Orochimaru's laughter cut through the chaos. "Pointless. Stop resisting, little fish."
He weaved through every strike effortlessly, closing the distance in an instant.
Suigetsu smirked. "Think I can't escape?"
His body rippled—turning entirely to water.
"Hydration Technique. You can't touch me," he taunted, reforming several meters away.
Orochimaru's smirk widened. "Is that so?"
The voice came from behind him.
"What—?!"
Before Suigetsu could react, Orochimaru's hand pressed against his shoulder, five dark seals flaring across his skin.
"Ninja Art—Five Elements Seal."
Symbols crawled across Suigetsu's body, paralyzing him instantly.
"Lesson learned, boy," Orochimaru whispered. "Even water can be bound. Sealing jutsu—your clan's perfect counter."
"Suigetsu!" Chojuro shouted.
"Damn you!" Toyichiro roared.
Fueled by desperation, the two launched a reckless assault, tearing through the giant serpent Orochimaru had summoned.
They stumbled toward their captured teammate, covered in blood and dirt, but their eyes burned with fury.
"Such loyalty," Orochimaru said coldly. "It's almost… touching."
He turned to leave, dragging Suigetsu's limp body with him.
"That won't happen!"
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Three kunai sliced through the air, their speed far beyond anything a Genin could produce.
Orochimaru twisted aside, barely dodging. His eyes narrowed.
A figure landed between him and the students, her coat whipping in the wind.
"Mitarashi Anko."
"Orochimaru!" she shouted, eyes blazing with emotion. "As the proctor of this exam, I won't let you harm a single candidate!"
Her voice trembled between rage and pain — the voice of a former student confronting her master.
Her hand tightened around her kunai.
If it came to it… she was ready to die here.
"For my duty… and to settle our score—"
Her chakra flared violently, shaking the clearing.
"…I'll take you with me if I have to!"
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