“Sensei, isn’t that the Nidaime-sama’s jutsu?”

  “Hmm. You’re overseeing the exam this time. How’s the third stage progressing?”

  Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.

  Watg Kanda Kyoichi use Water Severing Wave, he couldn’t help but feel surprised. This young man had mastered a Water Release teique that no one had been able to replicate since Senju Tobirama.

  It wasn’t unusual for some teiques of the Senju to scatter after their dee, but Kyoichi’s talent in ninjutsu was astonishing. Not only had he mastered Water Severing Wave, but he had also innovated Body Flicker Jutsu.

  Even without the Senju bloodline, Kyoichi was an exceptional talent.

  Orochimaru licked his lips and smirked. “Sehere’s no third stage. I am the third stage. While you gathered others for the exam, the only didate needing this kind of evaluation is him.”

  “From in directly to jōnin... and on top of that, he’s a bat veteran with insuffit merit. But we’re short on skilled personnel, so we have no choice,” Hiruzen sighed.

  During wartime, ninja promotions were often expedited, bypassing exams entirely. However, Kyoichi’s situation was plicated. He had been injured otlefield and, while he had achieved notable merit, it wasn’t quite enough to justify his promotion to jōnin.

  “This time, since you’re overseeing the process, I feel assured. Based on Kyoichi’s abilities, he’s clearly at jōnin level. The key is evaluating his intelligehering and battlefield judgment,” said Hiruzen.

  At the time, Hiruzen had no idea that Orochimaru was secretly researg Hashirama cells. He merely thought Orochimaru was ied in Kyoichi’s talent, which had motivated him to volunteer for the role.

  Admiration fenius was natural, after all.

  However, knowing Orochimaru’s es with Danzo and the Root, Hiruzen added, “Orochimaru, I trust your abilities, but keep your distance from Root.”

  “Sensei, I only borrowed a few of their people to help ahe exam. After all, this promotiohod ensures fairness and respect,” Orochimaru said.

  “You know what I mean,” Hiruzen said, nodding slightly. He didn’t eborate further, but the warning was clear. It to Orochimaru to decide whether to heed it.

  ---

  Forest of Death

  Kyoichi was still pying a game of cat-and-mouse with Orochimaru.

  Orochimaru ersistent, stig to him like glue. Kyoichi avoided direct frontation—partly because it didn’t align with his mission, and partly because he suspected Orochimaru was after his blood for research.

  For now, he had no iion of giving Orochimaru what he wanted.

  However...

  He soon noticed another presence approag ahead of him.

  Hyuga Natsu.

  A member of Root!

  Kyoichi’s eyes fshed with cold determination.

  So, it’s as I thought. Danzo and Orochimaru are w together, likely pnning to injure me aract my blood to further their researto Hashirama cells.

  Pretending not to notice Hyuga Natsu, Kyoichi tinued heading toward Aburame Toji’s location. The Aburame had already acquired two scrolls.

  Soon enough, Hyuga Natsu appeared in front of him, blog his path.

  “Hand it over,” Hyuga Natsu demanded curtly.

  Kyoichi sneered but didn’t respond. Instead—

  Whoosh!

  Using Body Flicker Jutsu, he bypassed Hyuga Natsu in an instant.

  But the Hyuga prodigy wasn’t so easily shaken. Activating his Byakugan, he immediately locked onto Kyoichi’s movements, determio intercept him with precision.

  The pn was solid.

  However...

  As he caught up, Hyuga Natsu suddenly sehat Kyoichi’s chakra was distributed evenly across his body.

  What’s this?

  Earth Spear!

  A yer of Earth Release chakra had hardened Kyoichi’s body, making it nearly impervious to Gentle Fist strikes. Realizing this, Hyuga Natsu quickly adjusted his strategy, unleashing a Trigrams Vacuum Palm.

  Yet...

  Kyoichi reacted with astonishing speed, dodging the attack effortlessly. F hand seals, he summoned a Water Dragon Bullet Teique, sending a r dragon of water hurtling toward Hyuga Natsu.

  That was only the opening move.

  The real attack followed immediately—

  As Hyuga Natsu evaded the water dragon, Kyoichi closed the distah unparalleled speed, appearing directly behind him.

  Shadow of the Dang Leaf.

  A devastating kided squarely on Hyuga Natsu, sending him flying through several trees. The force of the impact was so great that Orochimaru had to use Earth Release to cushion his fall, or he might have flown even farther.

  ...Defeated in a sirike?

  Orochimaru was stunned.

  Hyuga Natsu was ae member of Root, a shinobi of siderable skill. Yet Kyoichi had incapacitated him with a single move. The sheer power of that strike was terrifying!

  It must have been some sort of advaaijutsu.

  Another eique!

  “Kyoichi-kun, you really are full of surprises,” Orochimaru said, his toinged with excitement.

  He almost felt as if he had found a kindred spirit.

  “Lord Orochimaru, I presume?” Kyoichi said.

  “Ynized me and only left behind a shadow e? Kyoichi-kun, I am one of the Sannin, after all.” Orochimaru chuckled.

  Kyoichi had seen Orochimaru otlefield before, and his unique habits—like lig his lips—made him easy to identify.

  “Still, I must admit... you’re quite remarkable.”

  A giant snake slithered into view, carrying the unscious Hyuga Natsu away toward another part of the Forest of Death.

  “Earlier, that taijutsu—could you enlighten me?” Orochimaru asked, his curiosity evident.

  “That wasn’t my creation. It’s called Eight Gates,” Kyoichi replied through his shadow e.

  If Orochimaru didn’t want to fight, Kyoichi saw no reason to press the issue. After all, this was a golden opportunity to showcase Might Duy’s taijutsu teique.

  “Eight Gates? Fasating... I didn’t expect there was a taijutsu genius in Konoha researg such a method. But surely, that’s not all there is to it?” Orochimaru’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

  Despite Kyoichi’s attempt to mask his teique, Orochimaru had deduced that opening just the first gate couldn’t at for such overwhelming power.

  “Gentle Fist, Earth Spear... iing bination,” Orochimaru muttered to himself.

  Pieg together the clues, he surmised that Kyoichi had seamlessly blended multiple teiques, further enhang their effectiveness.

  “Nothing escapes Lord Orochimaru’s sharp eyes,” Kyoichi said.

  “Impressive. Maintainih Spear while usi Gates... your chakra trol is extraordinary,” Orochimaru remarked, genuinely impressed.

  Kyoichi was, without a doubt, the most talented young ninja Orochimaru had entered in years—perhaps even more so than Minato Namikaze.

  “Kyoichi-kuime we meet, let’s have a proper sparring match. For now, I’ll refrain from going all out as your examiner.”

  With that, Orochimaru revealed his true form, deg not to pursue further.

  Moments ter, the shadow e spotted a swarm of bsects in the distance. Clearly, Kyoichi was already engaging Aburame Toji.

  As he passed Kyoichi’s e, Orochimaru whispered, “Kyoichi-kuime, let’s talk properly.”

  Orochimaru had no doubt—Aburame Toji was no match for Kyoichi.

  “Uood,” Kyoichi replied.

  Gcell