"Ding-a-ling—"
With the sounding of the Ninja Academy's dismissal bell, the children, busy all day, rushed out.
The "Orochimaru" clone, however, remained calmly seated.
Jiraiya asked doubtfully, "Orochimaru, aren't you leaving?"
"You go ahead, I'm waiting for someone," "Orochimaru" replied with a slight smile. He was waiting for the "prey" he had long designated.
Jiraiya looked utterly puzzled, but he waved a casual goodbye, slid the wooden door open with a "ch-ch—," and left.
The entire classroom instantly fell silent.
The setting sun cast its dim, yellow glow through the window, spilling into the classroom. "Orochimaru" sat back in his seat with his arms crossed, his dark-golden snake eyes unfocused, twinkling with an indescribable light.
"Step, step, step—"
A subtle set of footsteps in the hallway reached "Orochimaru's" ears.
"Orochimaru's" pupils constricted, bursting with intense light. He's finally here!
The footsteps stopped right outside "Orochimaru's" classroom door. The person walked in, and just as "Orochimaru" expected, it was Hatake Sakumo!
The proud boy with the silver-white hair looked sharply at "Orochimaru," who was sitting alone in the classroom. An undisguised fighting spirit radiated brazenly from his entire body!
The corner of "Orochimaru's" mouth curled into a wicked smile. He knew that simple kunai throwing wouldn't subdue Hatake Sakumo. For a child like this, who had been regarded as a genius since he was small, only an overwhelming victory in combat could truly leave a lasting impression and ensure the boy would be sincerely convinced in the future!
Therefore, "Orochimaru" had created an opportunity for Sakumo! He waited for Sakumo in the classroom. Sure enough, the unwilling boy came!
"Orochimaru" chuckled, saying, "Since you're here, let's go."
He stood up. His moon-white Japanese casual clothes, paired with the pale-golden belt, made him look like a noble king slowly emerging from the setting sun. From the elongated shadow he cast, Sakumo seemed to vaguely sense the powerful, wicked, and dominating soul hidden inside that young body—a soul that made him incredibly fearful! This contradictory feeling weighed on Sakumo's heart like a boulder, creating immense pressure.
The two tacitly walked toward the training grounds.
They positioned themselves, one on the left, one on the right.
At this moment, "Orochimaru" still looked calm and composed. The faint smile on his lips suggested he had everything under his complete control!
Sakumo looked at the boy facing him, who was only one year older, and the unease and pressure in his heart intensified.
"Hoo—" Sakumo took a deep breath, managing to suppress all anxiety, unease, and other negative emotions. His eyes were fixed on "Orochimaru." The nascent but definite fighting spirit returned to his body, blatantly bearing its fangs at Orochimaru!
"Orochimaru" felt the weak fighting spirit. He licked his lips, his smile widening. "You first."
Sakumo was momentarily stunned. A feeling of humiliation at being underestimated instantly surged into his heart. He pushed off with his feet, kicking up a cloud of dust. With a powerful burst of force, combined with his inherited family training methods, Sakumo aggressively lunged toward "Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru" remained standing still, his hands hanging loosely at his sides. He maintained the same tranquil and composed look!
Seeing this, Sakumo's anger grew even hotter. His brow furrowed, and he could no longer maintain his composure. He let out a childish yell: "Yaaah!" His stance was solid. His fists punched forward with fierce wind, carrying a menacing momentum, aiming a heavy, powerful blow at "Orochimaru's" face.
"Orochimaru" did not move his feet. The speed of the punch was snail-slow under the sensitivity of his powerful soul. He tilted his head slightly, and the punch "whooshed—" past his ear, lifting a strand of hair, but not even grazing his skin.
"Orochimaru's" dark-golden snake eyes met Sakumo's black eyes, which were filled with surprise.
To Sakumo, the eyes of the demonic young boy were utterly placid. He felt like a mere ant, unable to stir the slightest emotional fluctuation in the youth before him!
Sakumo executed his perfectly honed family taijutsu one move after another. Driven by anger and humiliation, he displayed even greater strength than usual. When his intended punch missed, Sakumo immediately changed his move, turning his right fist into an open hand and slicing forward horizontally. The move was incredibly sharp, strong enough to cut through a piece of wood. "Orochimaru" lowered his head at the precise moment. Sakumo's right palm again scraped past "Orochimaru's" hair, creating nothing but a gust of wind, achieving nothing.
His right palm having missed, Sakumo immediately capitalized on the opening created by "Orochimaru's" lowered head. He curved his five fingers, cupped his palm, and thrust up heavily from below, like a bulldozer, aiming for "Orochimaru's" head.
"Orochimaru" smiled faintly. His right hand shot out like lightning. With a "thwack—," it firmly blocked Sakumo's heavy thrust, stopping it three millimeters in front of his face, preventing any further movement.
Sakumo decisively pressed his left hand toward the ground to support his body. His legs swung into the air, and he sharply side-kicked toward "Orochimaru."
The twin kicks were clearly the result of deep training. The powerful kicking force caused his trouser legs to stick tightly to his skin from air resistance. The two black blurs slashed through the air, fiercely assaulting "Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru" frowned. Seeing the unnecessarily flashy move with its obvious flaws, he lost interest in playing around. His left forearm was held steady at his side, and with a "thump, thump—," he easily blocked both of Sakumo's determined side kicks.
He quickly curled and cupped his left hand, transforming it into a claw that firmly gripped one of Sakumo's legs, immobilizing him. His right foot then shot out like lightning, kicking Sakumo in his completely exposed chest.
"Thump-thud—"
A powerful force hit Sakumo. He suddenly felt a surging, overwhelming power in his chest, as if he'd been hit by a charging bull. His left hand could no longer support his weight, and he flew backward.
He tumbled several times on the ground, kicking up dust, before stopping in a desperate heap. Lying on the ground, a fierce pain shot through his chest, making him instantly break out in a cold sweat. He curled up, coughing incessantly, making suppressed cries of pain: "Cough, cough, cough, ugh ah—"
"Orochimaru" watched coldly. He keenly noticed Sakumo on the ground subtly forming hand signs, but he didn't care. He said calmly, "You're too lacking in power and speed, not to mention chakra and jutsu!"
Sakumo's body on the ground flinched. Having his intention exposed, he endured the pain in his chest, scrambled up, and roared, "How can you know if I don't try, Yaaah!"
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu! A fireball the size of a millstone, trailing a streak of red flame, shot out from Sakumo's mouth!
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu! "Orochimaru" initiated his jutsu later but delivered it first. His fireball, the size of a hydrogen balloon, aggressively swallowed Sakumo's fireball, and, carrying a heat that warped the air, continued toward Sakumo at undiminished speed!
Sakumo, astonished and fearful, stood frozen, his silver-white hair lifted by the approaching hot air blast. His entire face was flushed red by the high temperature, and he seemed to have forgotten how to dodge.
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