Wakaho had yet to find any mice to purify. However, he encountered a real Rock Village ninja team—three members, all wearing Rock Village forehead protectors. They ambushed him in the forest as soon as they met.
"Just a little Konoha brat—take him down!"
"Move quickly! There might be Konoha ninjas behind him. We need to finish this quickly!"
"Leave this brat to me. I like dealing with these tender little guys..."
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Scatter!!!"
With only a fraction of the usual chakra consumption, Wakaho's fireball was twice as powerful. After spewing out a sea of flames, his three-tomoe Sharingan locked onto the three decisive Rock Village ninjas who had retreated, and he formed more hand seals.
"Fire Style: Fire Wave!"
From the sea of flames emerged three blazing shockwaves, accelerating toward the three Rock Village ninjas!
"Ahhh!!!!!!"
Two of the Rock Village genin were caught off guard and hit by the fire waves. The intense heat and powerful impact smashed them into trees and the ground. After a series of pained cries, they fell silent.
The remaining Rock Village ninja was also a genin. In a three-man squad without a jounin leader, it was unusual to encounter a team consisting entirely of genin. This was a battlefield—having all genin in a team was almost like sending them to their deaths.
But the Rock Village operated differently...
The Rock Village favored overwhelming numbers in their approach.
"Doton: Earth Wall!"
The remaining Rock Village genin manipulated the earth beneath him, erecting a dirt wall to block the impact of the flames.
Just as he was about to check on his teammates, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back. Looking down, he saw a kunai, still warm with blood, piercing through his chest...
"Your progress surprises me, Wakaho-kun."
Orochimaru withdrew the kunai, flicking the blood off as he complimented Wakaho from a short distance.
"You can now launch a secondary technique using the flames, huh?"
This wasn't their first encounter. The danger of this mission had clearly exceeded the B-rank rating assigned to it. Orochimaru aimed to acclimate Wakaho to the pace of battle.
Wakaho's abilities and imagination were continually expanding Orochimaru's understanding. Using the Great Fireball as a base and then launching a secondary fire technique—this was more typical of water-style users.
"I've been considering how to release multiple techniques at once, Sensei."
Wakaho efficiently searched the bodies for spoils while responding, "When using special Fire Style techniques, the strain on my eyes is significant."
"If I can't quickly resolve the enemies, the situation will soon become unfavorable for me."
"My rival is Fugaku, the clan leader. With the added advantage of the Will of Fire from both the jounin and clan leader, he will surely notice this weakness. I need to find a way to overcome it."
"…"
Orochimaru actually wanted to tell Wakaho: Child, the Will of Fire is something only you can have.
Though your clan leader is a jounin, he doesn't have any special advantage from the so-called Will of Fire... he's just an ordinary person.
However, Wakaho's concern wasn't entirely unfounded. Challenging a clan leader at such a young age certainly involved many disadvantages.
"Your approach is correct. However, I suggest that after completing this mission, you seek advice from the Third Hokage."
"The Third Hokage is known as the 'Professor of Ninjutsu.' He should be able to provide you with better advice on combining techniques."
Orochimaru smiled as he handed Wakaho the last ninja tool pouch.
"Thank you, Sensei."
Wakaho accepted it, stored it in his space scroll, and then took out the mission scroll.