"Your talent is no less than your brother's."
Orochimaru, disguised as a Grass shinobi, stood atop a massive serpent, his golden eyes fixed on Sasuke.
That snake had possessed the strength of a Chūnin, yet Sasuke had dispatched it in an instant. The boy's potential was undeniable. Orochimaru estimated Sasuke's power to already be at the level of a jōnin—a revelation that left even him surprised.
Though Sasuke was still a step behind Itachi, Orochimaru was certain he could draw out the boy's true potential.
Sasuke frowned. This Grass Ninja… he knows me?
"Don't mention that man!"
With a flash of killing intent, Sasuke's three-tomoe Sharingan spun to life. He launched forward.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A roaring dragon of flame surged from his mouth, the surrounding air shimmering from the heat.
The sheer size and power of the jutsu revealed how much Sasuke's chakra reserves had grown. Even Orochimaru's expression flickered with intrigue as Sasuke closed in.
"As expected of two brothers," Orochimaru said with a thin smile, forming hand seals.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A massive barrier of stone rose to block the flames.
But Sasuke was already moving, darting through the branches. He unleashed a flurry of kunai and shuriken. Orochimaru barely glanced at them—until he noticed the crackle of electricity dancing along their edges.
"Lightning Release? Interesting."
The weapons tore through the earth wall with ease.
Orochimaru spat out the Kusanagi blade, flicking it to deflect the incoming projectiles.
Sasuke realized petty tricks wouldn't work. He charged directly, his speed blurring. Taijutsu strikes came one after another, relentless, while Orochimaru calmly tested his limits.
Nearby, Naruto concealed his chakra, observing the fight with narrowed eyes. Sakura, however, stood frozen, paralyzed by Orochimaru's killing intent.
"Tch." Naruto quickly moved to her side, pulling her out of the combat zone.
Elsewhere in the forest, Anko Mitarashi raced toward the scene. She had already sensed Orochimaru's arrival. She didn't yet know his purpose for appearing in the Chūnin Exams, but she did know one thing—this was a score she had to settle.
Back at the battlefield, Sasuke fought with growing ferocity. Orochimaru's speed left afterimages, but Sasuke's Sharingan tracked every subtle movement. The three tomoe rotated steadily, granting him perfect clarity.
With his innate skill, Sasuke's base strength rivaled a standard jōnin. But with the Sharingan active, his combat ability had risen to the level of an elite jōnin.
Sasuke whipped out steel wires, entangling Orochimaru against a tree. He inhaled deeply—
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Flames roared along the wires, engulfing Orochimaru.
The Sannin's face twisted grotesquely under the burn—before his body burst through the smoke as if unharmed.
Bang!
Sasuke was slammed backward, crashing against a tree. He clutched his wrist, lightning chakra gathering in his palm.
The sound of a thousand birds echoed through the forest.
"Chidori!"
The crackling light forced even Orochimaru's eyes to narrow. This level of power exceeded his expectations—perhaps even slipping beyond his control.
Sasuke dashed forward, tearing up the earth with his speed. The Chidori struck home, piercing through Orochimaru's abdomen—
Only for the body to crumble into dirt.
"An Earth Clone…" Sasuke muttered, but his lips curved into the faintest of smirks.
Finally, he could unleash himself without restraint.
Fire and lightning jutsu poured out one after another, scorching the battlefield. His taijutsu strikes carried deadly precision. The trees around them collapsed, the air warped with heat, smoke, and dust.
Orochimaru, at last, revealed a flicker of true surprise. The boy's strength was still climbing.
Each clash sent shockwaves through the forest.
At this rate—even Hatake Kakashi, strengthened beyond his past self with the Hatake sword techniques, mastery of the first three Gates, and the Unbreakable Golden Body—would need every trump card to bring Sasuke down.
If not for his weak stamina, Kakashi would likely have already stepped into the realm of the Five Kage.
But even now, there was no doubt—Kakashi possessed the ability to wound a Kage-level opponent.
Naruto watched the fierce battle unfold. The chaos would no doubt draw Konoha shinobi soon. Still, Naruto was confident. Unless a true Kage-level ninja appeared, his mastery of genjutsu would ensure nothing went out of control.
Orochimaru, however, was shaken. Sasuke's strength, revealed in full, felt as though it had slipped beyond his grasp.
Impossible… By my earlier estimates, his level should have been no more than an elite Chūnin.
His expression twisted, anger surfacing as the forest around them was torn apart. He could not afford to drag this on.
A surge of killing intent poured from him. Sasuke stiffened, as if a venomous serpent had set its fangs on him. A cold chill gripped his body.
But this was Uchiha Sasuke—battle-hardened, already stained with blood, and armed with power. Mere killing intent would not cow him.
"Enough games," Orochimaru hissed.
Three giant snakes erupted around Sasuke, striking from three angles. At the same time, Orochimaru's hands blurred through seals—
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A colossal earthen dragon surged forward, its jaws snapping. Orochimaru chained seals again, weaving a follow-up—
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The combined assault rushed toward Sasuke from all directions.
But Sasuke only smirked. He slipped a coin from his pocket, lightning chakra already gathering.
"Try this."
"Lightning Release: Railgun!"
The world lit up.
A blinding streak of electricity erupted, almost instant, carrying a force that shattered the air itself. The ground split into a deep trench beneath its pressure, sand on the surface fusing into glassy shards under the searing heat.
The Earth Dragon was obliterated in a heartbeat. One of the great serpents was torn open, its abdomen hollowed in an instant. Orochimaru barely had time to register the attack before the crackling lance struck him head-on.
The speed was beyond imagination.
Sasuke dropped to one knee, panting. That jutsu—his trump card—was his most destructive technique yet, and its drain on his chakra was immense.
Still, a faint grin tugged at his lips. He hadn't expected it to be this powerful. If Orochimaru had underestimated him, that mistake had cost him his life.
Through the clearing smoke, the figure of Orochimaru appeared—charred, twisted, motionless.
Sasuke exhaled slowly, relief flickering in his eyes.
He must be dead…
For nearly a minute, Orochimaru did not stir. Sasuke's heartbeat steadied, his guard lowering at last.
...
TN:
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