Chapter 20 - Orochimaru’s Test

Chapter 20 - Orochimaru's Test

"Hokage-sama, am I truly ready?"

Namikaze Minato's voice carried a rare hint of hesitation as he stood before Sarutobi Hiruzen. The words his Hokage had just spoken weighed heavily on him. Though he had always known he was progressing rapidly as a shinobi, hearing that Hiruzen intended for him to inherit the mantle of Hokage was something else entirely.

He was still just a jōnin, a warrior serving the village. The idea of shouldering the responsibilities of its leader left him momentarily at a loss.

"Not yet," Hiruzen replied calmly, exhaling a slow stream of smoke from his pipe. "Your reputation, while outstanding, is not yet strong enough to command the great clans of Konoha. But Minato, I believe the future belongs to you. You have the talent, the intelligence, and, most importantly, the heart for it."

He paused, studying the younger man's expression. "If you continue contributing to Konoha and proving yourself, with Jiraiya and my support, the position of Hokage will eventually be yours. However, to reach that point, I will have to impose stricter requirements on you from now on. Can you accept that?"

Minato took a deep breath. He had always understood that power and responsibility went hand in hand, but hearing it stated so plainly solidified the reality of his path. He wasn't just fighting for himself anymore. He was fighting for Konoha's future.

Meeting the Hokage's steady gaze, Minato straightened his posture and nodded firmly.

"Hokage-sama, rest assured. I will prove myself to everyone."

A warm smile crossed Hiruzen's lips. This was the answer he had expected, and it reassured him.

Compared to Minato, Orochimaru's attitude toward leadership was entirely different. While the snake-like shinobi was undeniably brilliant, there was an unsettling ambition in him—one that Hiruzen feared could lead Konoha down an uncertain path.

Orochimaru was his most talented disciple, but that very genius made him difficult to control. His growing closeness to Danzo only deepened Hiruzen's concerns. He knew that if Orochimaru ever took the Hokage seat, his ideals and methodologies could reshape the village in ways beyond his influence.

Minato, on the other hand, was different. He had no political ties to any of the village's major clans. His origins were humble, and despite being Jiraiya's student, he carried no heavy baggage of power struggles. If Minato became Hokage, Hiruzen was confident that Konoha would remain stable—under his guidance, at least for a little longer.

As Minato turned to leave, a renewed sense of determination in his step, Hiruzen watched him from his window, taking another long pull from his pipe. The sun was beginning to set over Konoha, bathing the rooftops in warm hues of orange and gold.

"Now that I've settled these two," he muttered under his breath, "it's time to start thinking about Asuma's future. He's still just a child."

Turning back toward the hidden Anbu stationed in the shadows, he waved his hand.

"Summon Yūhi Shinku."

The Anbu hesitated for a split second before nodding and vanishing into thin air. He had overheard more than he likely should have today. A quiet thought crossed his mind—just how much information was too much to know?

---

Time passed swiftly, and the graduation exams approached. The shinobi world, however, was far from peaceful.

Major events had unfolded in the village, each casting a subtle but undeniable shift in its atmosphere.

Danzo had left Konoha, heading toward the Mist Village's borders on a mission authorized by the Hokage. His absence had caused a noticeable drop in Root's presence within the village, giving an eerie sense of calm—one that felt more like the silence before a storm.

At the same time, Konoha's active-duty shinobi had thinned. Many had been deployed to various fronts, reinforcing borders or carrying out sensitive missions. It left the village with fewer defenders than usual, a fact that did not go unnoticed by those attuned to its political undercurrents.

Within the Ninja Academy, notable events had taken place as well.

One of the most significant was Uchiha Makoto's request for early graduation. The young prodigy had displayed exceptional skill during his assessment, effortlessly defeating a fully trained genin in a public match. Impressed by his performance, the Uchiha clan had immediately arranged for his induction into the Konoha Military Police Force—a position of both honor and expectation.

Elsewhere, however, not all news was good.

Asuma Sarutobi, son of the Hokage, had suffered an unfortunate accident. While on his way to visit Yūhi Kurenai's home, he had been struck by a passing carriage. The injuries, though not life-threatening, were severe enough to hospitalize him, making him unable to participate in the upcoming graduation exams.

The timing of the incident had raised some eyebrows. Accidents in Konoha were rare, especially for someone as naturally perceptive as Asuma. While most dismissed it as mere misfortune, others quietly speculated whether unseen forces were at play...

---

Afternoon – A Small Forest Behind the Academy

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sound of repeated impacts echoed through the secluded part of the forest as Kazane swung his wooden sword against an iron target. Each strike sent shockwaves through the air, the force of his attacks strong enough to rattle the surrounding trees. His arms, wrapped in a dark aura, tensed with each swing as he relentlessly continued his training.

A few days ago, he had already reached a point where slicing through boulders with his wooden sword was effortless. The resistance of solid stone had become nothing more than an afterthought to him. But steel—steel was different. No matter how much force he applied, he had yet to find a way to cleave through metal.

His training had reached an impasse. Physically, his body had hit a bottleneck. No matter how much he pushed himself, no matter how many extra weights he added, his muscles refused to grow stronger. He was at the limits of what his current physique could handle, and further breakthroughs would require time—natural growth that couldn't be rushed.

With no other choice, he continued his strikes, hoping that sheer perseverance would sharpen his swordsmanship further.

Then, suddenly, his hand froze mid-swing.

A chilling sensation crawled down his spine. Over the past few days, he had been focusing on refining his Observation Haki—his ability to sense the presence and intent of those around him. And right now, that very ability was screaming at him.

Someone was watching.

His eyes narrowed as he turned toward a darkened section of the forest.

"Who's there? Come out."

The words left his lips sharply, his voice calm but filled with warning.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The response came not in words, but in steel. Several shuriken shot out from the shadows, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Behind them, a figure emerged—swift, deliberate, predatory.

Orochimaru.

Kazane's expression darkened.

The Sannin hadn't expected to be detected so quickly. He hadn't gone to great lengths to conceal himself, but even so, the boy's awareness was exceptional. Most trained sensory ninja wouldn't have been able to pinpoint him so precisely.

'Interesting."

Orochimaru had come here not out of idle curiosity, but to test Kazane himself. He would soon be the boy's instructor, after all, and he wanted to gauge his strength firsthand.

But Kazane had no intention of playing along.

He knew better than to underestimate this man. Orochimaru was a scientist before he was a shinobi, a man who had defied natural law in his pursuit of immortality. There were no moral lines he wouldn't cross, no experiment too inhumane.

And Kazane had far too many secrets to risk falling into his hands.

If Orochimaru ever discovered the nature of his body—the power he carried from another world—he wouldn't hesitate to dissect him.

Among Kage-level shinobi, Orochimaru was not the strongest in direct combat. But in terms of survivability, few could compare. Kazane wasn't confident that he could kill him, much less escape unscathed.

And judging by the faint, amused glint in Orochimaru's golden eyes, a fight was inevitable.

"Tch."

With a swift motion, Kazane deflected the incoming shuriken, his wooden blade striking them out of the air with pinpoint precision. In the same breath, he countered—three rapid slashes aimed directly at Orochimaru.

The Sannin met the attack head-on, blocking the strikes with a kunai. Their weapons clashed in a rapid exchange, the sharp ring of steel against wood filling the clearing.

Orochimaru's expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of intrigue in his eyes. He hadn't expected the boy's raw strength to be this impressive. Their blades met again and again, neither giving an inch. In sheer physical power, Kazane was holding his own.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."

Without hesitation, Orochimaru weaved a seal with one hand. From the sleeve of his cloak, several venomous snakes shot forth, their fangs gleaming with lethal intent as they lunged at Kazane.

Kazane reacted instantly.

"Three-Sword Style: Tornado."

His body spun like a whirlwind, his sword carving through the incoming serpents before they could reach him. The severed snakes thrashed on the ground, their movements jerking violently before going still.

But Orochimaru was already on the move, closing the distance between them.

Kazane clicked his tongue. He could feel it—an overwhelming sense of danger. This wasn't just a simple spar.

Fine.

"Third Gate—Gate of Life, open."

"Fourth Gate—Gate of Pain, open!"

A surge of blue chakra erupted from his body, sending shockwaves through the air. The ground beneath him cracked under the sheer pressure.

Orochimaru's lips curled into a pleased smirk.

'So the boy had access to the Eight Gates. This was getting more interesting by the second."

"Three-Sword Style: Bull Needle!"

Kazane's muscles tensed as he shot forward, his speed doubling in an instant. His sword, now an extension of his will, lashed out with devastating force.

Orochimaru didn't retreat. Instead, his fingers blurred into a rapid sequence of seals.

"Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion – Death Mirage Jutsu."

"Ninjutsu: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu."

In an instant, the battlefield changed. Shadows twisted unnaturally, the trees bending into grotesque, writhing figures. A thick, oppressive aura swallowed Kazane's vision, drowning him in a nightmarish haze.

Simultaneously, countless shuriken rained down from above, their edges glinting with lethal sharpness.

It was a flawless combination. The genjutsu would disorient Kazane, rendering him vulnerable, while the barrage of weapons would finish the job. Even if the projectiles didn't kill him, they would at least leave him incapacitated.

But then—

Ding!

"Virus detected. Cleared!"

Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly.

Kazane wasn't affected at all.

He moved as if nothing had changed, his mind completely untouched by the illusion. With a flick of his sword, he deflected the incoming shuriken with ease.

Then, without hesitation, he countered.

"Three-Sword Style: Ghost Slash!"

A dark, spiraling wave of energy surged from his blade, slicing through the air toward Orochimaro!

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100 power stones= 10 chapters

Anyway, 10 power stones = 1 chapter

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