Sarutobi Atoma didn't reappear until close to noon. It was apparent that, in addition to guiding Kushina back, he had briefed the Hokage on the earlier events.
As Orochimaru cast a scrutinizing gaze at the duo, he dryly remarked, "Looks like your break time is done."
At this point, both individuals had replenished their chakra, yet their physical stamina hadn't fully rebounded. Minato was in relatively better shape, whereas Tatsuma grappled with more noticeable fatigue. Nevertheless, Orochimaru remained resolute, displaying no inclination to grant them the luxury of a nap before resuming the assessment.
The duo rose to their feet, discreetly edging a bit farther away from Orochimaru. While unaware of the specific nature of Orochimaru's assessment, the decision to increase the distance was a strategic move to allow for better reaction time—a prudent choice.
Observing their subtle maneuver, Orochimaru acknowledged their alertness. He lifted his hand, commencing the formation of hand seals. Noticing Orochimaru's deliberate pace, Tatsuma briefly brightened, entertaining the hopeful notion that Orochimaru might be taking it easy on them.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"
However, Tatsuma's optimism proved unfounded. The moment Orochimaru completed the hand seals, Tatsuma's keen eyes detected distortions in the space around Orochimaru. Witnessing this unfold, Tatsuma instinctively unleashed his own chakra outward.
Although he hadn't systematically mastered techniques for utilizing Sensory-type chakra, his innate Sensory talent enabled him to effortlessly discern changes in chakra within his surroundings.
Within Tatsuma's heightened sensory perception, several wind blades assailed them, with Minato, at that moment, maintaining his vigilance, oblivious to the impending danger.
Swiftly forming hand seals, Tatsuma mobilized chakra to his legs, activating the Body Flicker Jutsu instantaneously. Closing the gap, he maneuvered toward Minato, executing and threw him to the ground.
"Bang~"
"Boom boom~"
As the two descended to the ground, the positions they had previously occupied, along with the tree stumps and boulders behind them, all appeared as if they had been sliced through by invisible blades.
"Indeed, I didn't make a mistake. It is indeed a Sensory talent" Orochimaru remarked, observing the unfolding scene. Having witnessed Tatsuma's Sensory prowess in the recent clash with Kushina, the trial now confirmed it.
"Orochimaru-sama, as expected from you." Tatsuma replied with a grim look
Upon seeing the havoc caused by Orochimaru, Sarutobi Atoma became uneasy. However, as he began to speak, Orochimaru fixed his gaze on him, rendering him speechless. A calm expression curved Orochimaru's lips as he coldly uttered:
"Sarutobi Atoma, you are merely a witness. I am the examiner."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama," Sarutobi Atoma reluctantly nodded, casting a concerned glance toward the two students who had narrowly avoided harm, hoping they could persevere.
Minato also grasped the gravity of the situation and whispered, "Thanks, Tatsuma. Are you okay?"
Tatsuma shook his head and replied, "Use chakra to sense changes around you, Wind Release isn't as visually apparent as other jutsu; you need to observe more carefully."
Minato nodded, saying, "I understand."
Although the exchange between the two was brief, it presented Orochimaru with ample opportunities to launch multiple attacks. Surprisingly, he remained motionless, observing the two with keen interest.
As the two students rose from the ground, their vigilance remained heightened, particularly Minato. Following Tatsuma's lead, he began to release his chakra outward.
Orochimaru found this intriguing. Could it be that Minato also possessed Sensory talent? It was worth noting that not everyone had this innate ability, and sensing changes in the surrounding chakra by overflowing one's own chakra was a skill not every ninja possessed.
Eager to test this possibility, Orochimaru leisurely formed hand seals once again, unleashing the Wind Cutter Technique.
Witnessing the sequence of hand seals, the two immediately tensed up. The moment Orochimaru completed the hand seals, Tatsuma and Minato simultaneously activated the Seal of Confrontation. With both of them attuned to each other's actions, there was no need for hand seals in executing the Body Flicker Jutsu.
"Boom boom~"
The two rolled somewhat awkwardly, successfully dodging the slicing wind blades. Orochimaru raised an eyebrow; it seemed Minato also possessed such talent. Truly remarkable.
"Now, let's talk about the conditions for passing the assessment."
Orochimaru's smile reappeared, and as his words were uttered, Tatsuma and Minato suddenly realized that Orochimaru hadn't even explained the content of the assessment or how to pass it.
Observing the reactions of the two, Orochimaru's smile deepened. He relished the sensation of others struggling to decipher him, even though he had, admittedly, forgotten to provide an explanation beforehand.
"Attack me, and as long as either of you touches me, the assessment will be considered passed. It could be with your bodies, your ninjutsu, or your ninja tools – all are acceptable."
Orochimaru spoke slowly, forming hand seals again. However, this seal was unfamiliar to both, but they still readied their legs to run at any moment.
"Earth Release: Earth Shore Return!"
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Just as Tatsuma wondered why Orochimaru had erected an earthen wall in front of him, he found the wall instantly shattering. A powerful gust of wind swept through, turning the broken wall into sharp projectiles that assailed him and Minato.
"Not good, can't escape."
Observing the extensive coverage of this ninjutsu, Tatsuma's eyelids twitched. There seemed to be no way to evade it. In this predicament, Tatsuma looked at Minato, who was sharing the same concern, and they both nodded simultaneously.
"Wild Lion's Mane Jutsu!"
"Ninja Art·Needle Jizo!"
Both of them swiftly formed hand seals. Minato's golden hair immediately grew wild, enveloping the two of them. Tatsuma's blue and white hair, on the other hand, surged behind him and entwined around the tree stumps that Orochimaru's Wind Cutter Technique had severed.
"Thud thud thud~"
Tatsuma suddenly jerked his head forward. As the fragments of earth approached within two meters of the two, several large tree stumps materialized in front of them, serving as shields against the flying debris.
Meanwhile, the hand seals of Tatsuma and Minato were not yet complete. The moment Tatsuma finished his hand seals, he seemingly descended into the ground like a plummet. Simultaneously, when Minato completed his hand seals, a Transformation Jutsu clone manifested in Tatsuma's original position.
As the tree stumps were removed, Orochimaru, observing the two unscathed individuals, suddenly lowered his gaze, then forcefully stomped the ground.
"Bang~"
Tatsuma, who had employed the Double Suicide Decapitation Jutsu to infiltrate the ground, hadn't closed in yet when Orochimaru's formidable force erupted from the ground, shaking him out.
However, Tatsuma didn't yield; his strands of hair launched an assault on Orochimaru.
"Jiraiya's technique, but too slow."
Orochimaru drew a Kunai, condensing Wind Release chakra in his mouth. With a breath towards the Kunai, a Chakra longsword materialized. He swung the Chakra blade, severing all the hair that approached him.
But at that moment, two strands of golden hair burst through the ground, entwining around Orochimaru's legs.
"Continuous mutual protection, truly an impressive tactic."
Looking down at his entangled legs and then at the smiling faces of the two, Orochimaru laughed even more brilliantly than them because, in the next moment,
"Bang!"
Smoke rose, and Orochimaru vanished. Tatsuma and Minato's smiles froze on their faces, not realizing when Orochimaru had employed the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"The Ninjutsu just now blocked my vision and also blocked yours."
At this moment, Orochimaru suddenly emerged from behind Sarutobi Atoma. Clearly, he had utilized the taller and more imposing figure of Sarutobi Atoma to perfectly conceal his own presence.
Seeing this, Tatsuma and Minato wore expressions of resignation. Moreover, to seize this opportunity, they had very little chakra remaining. Orochimaru, observing the two in their desperate situation, smirked sinisterly and said:
"No way out, huh? If there's no way out..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden gust of wind swept through the training ground. The strands of hair that Orochimaru had severed from Tatsuma danced in the wind, and one happened to fall onto Orochimaru's shoulder.
Orochimaru looked at the strand of hair curling up without chakra and shook his head, saying, "It seems it's fate, after all."
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