Uchiha Gen's Great Fireball Technique, boosted by the skill proficiency card he had obtained back then, was the strongest jutsu currently in his arsenal.
With the special lamp oil Sarutobi Enjun had brought, its power became downright terrifying striking like a falling meteor.
The two giant snakes lunging at Uchiha Gen couldn't dodge in time and were blasted straight back to Ryūchi Cave, their fates unknown.
This Great Fireball's power… it's off. Nature Transformation? No… it doesn't feel quite right, and the raw force is lower.
Uchiha Yashiro stared at the fireball Gen had launched, shock written across his face.
Orochimaru looked far calmer, though a flicker of surprise showed as he glanced toward Sarutobi Enjun.
"It is not Nature Transformation; it is the oil. This is more like a combined Water and Fire Style jutsu, though it is still related to Nature Transformation. Using oil to boost Fire Style both Lord Sandaime and Jiraiya excel at it. They do not gulp oil mid-fight, however; instead, they perform Water Style, converting the water's nature into oil and merging it directly with their Fire Style. That not only skyrockets the technique's power but, thanks to the oil's properties, makes the flames far harder to extinguish."
After Orochimaru's explanation, Uchiha Yashiro understood. So it was just lamp oil, not a fundamental change in the Fire Style's nature no wonder he hadn't spotted it.
"Even so, the boy's mastery of the Great Fireball Technique is already outstanding. A true genius of the clan no wonder you are testing him like this, Jonin Orochimaru."
Sarutobi Enjun scratched his cheek under Orochimaru's gaze. Both had strengthened their Fire Style with oil, yet Uchiha Gen's output clearly dwarfed Enjun's.
"Uh… Gen's Fire Style really is stronger than mine."
"We can see that, Enjun. Tell us something we don't know."
Uzuki Ruri wrapped a bandage around Sarutobi Enjun's shoulder and rolled her eyes. He gave a sheepish laugh.
"Well, I'm the one who gave him the oil."
"We had already guessed, but you did well. Channeling surplus resources toward the more capable creates greater value. It is sound squad-level allocation and the basic logic of human society exactly how power comes to exist," Orochimaru said coolly, his eyes reflecting Gen's every move.
By now, he had largely gauged Gen's overall combat ability. His battle sense and tactical thinking were solid for his age bold yet careful, with outstanding ninjutsu talent. In Orochimaru's eyes, there were still flaws, but they were all fixable.
Given a firm foundation and a sharp mind, a first-rate mentor could accelerate his growth dramatically; the boy might even reach Jonin-level strength by thirteen or fourteen, just as Orochimaru himself had. Even now, apart from his lack of experience, Gen's overall power had already surpassed the typical Genin tier.
Shifting the perspective back to Uchiha Gen.
The two standard-issue kunai provided by his system had long since chipped and been tossed aside. Sweat mingled with snake blood as Gen spun, hurling two shuriken to pin a python against a scorched trunk, then snatching the last kunai from his pouch and flinging them outward for quick battlefield pickup.
That way, even when they dulled or snapped, he could simply yank fresh ones from the surroundings instead of digging into his pouch.
Too bad I haven't learned Uchiha Style Swordsmanship this would be a lot easier.
The thought flashed through his mind. Sensing something behind him, he sprang aside as a serpent shot past, his hands flashing through seals.
Again, the Great Fireball Technique.
The oil was gone, but the blast still hurled an oncoming snake back to Ryūchi Cave. Chakra focused in his soles, he sprinted upside-down along a trunk, slashing smaller snakes away.
His chakra reserves dropped another notch. From here on, large-scale ninjutsu was out; his small frame couldn't handle these giants without it. Yet he had no choice without that jutsu, the second serpent would have cornered him. Now, with his chakra nearly spent, Gen had no idea what card he could still play.
But moments later, the snakes simply halted their assault.
"Time is up. Well done."
Orochimaru stood before him, calm and unruffled. An emerald python slid from his sleeve, opened its mouth a hundred and eighty degrees, and disgorged a scroll slick with saliva.
"This jutsu is yours."
Under the envious stares of Sarutobi Enjun and Uzuki Ruri, Orochimaru tossed the scroll to Uchiha Gen.
"The First Hokage once passed it down. In present-day Konoha, only I can draw out most of its might. Training is dangerous, so stock plenty of medicine, and do not advance through the stages until you meet my requirements."
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei!"
Gen's eyes lit up. All that suffering had paid off this technique sounded incredible!
"So you are Uchiha Gen, the new prodigy of the clan?"
A young but weathered-looking Uchiha stepped up, studying Gen.
"Cousin… Yashiro?"
Gen recognized him. They had rarely crossed paths; the last time had been at the annual ancestor rites in Naka Shrine. Back then, Yashiro a newly promoted Jonin with a triple-tomoe Sharingan had offered incense to the ancestor Indra.
Uchiha Yashiro said, "Your Fire Style is solid; you live up to the Uchiha genius name. I hope to see you soon at the Clan Meeting."
The Clan Meeting differed from the yearly Naka Shrine ceremony. The latter was open in theory to every Uchiha, commoners included, for it marked the birth of ancestor Indra an internal clan holiday.
The Clan Meeting, however, was restricted to those who had awakened the Sharingan. Held monthly and summonable at need, it addressed major clan affairs and carried real political weight.