LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 2: Chapter:2
As the examiner announced the pairing, murmurs rippled through the crowd of students. Among them, a boy with short white hair and red markings under his eyes grinned mischievously.
"Hey, Tsunade, who do you think will win?" he asked casually, his tone playful.
The girl with a single golden ponytail, who was leaning against a tree with a dissatisfied look, scoffed. "Hmph, I don't care who wins—I'm going to beat both of them anyway!"
The boy, Jiraiya, blinked in surprise at her blunt response before grinning. "Well, Tsunade, you've never actually taken first place. But if you could beat those two, you'd be unstoppable! Lord Jiraiya would stand unmatched alongside you!"
"Huh? You're calling me out, you idiot?"
"Well, you're the one always acting high and mighty for someone who's—" he hesitated, but the mischief in his eyes made it clear he was about to cross the line, "—flat as a board."
"You little pervert, say that again!" Tsunade growled, her fist tightening.
"Yeah? What's wrong with a little honesty,Flat board?"
The argument devolved into chaos as they lunged at each other, a flurry of insults and threats filling the air. Despite the commotion, neither Renji nor Orochimaru, the two names at the center of attention, seemed to notice. Their focus was entirely on the other, both of their gazes unwavering.
---
The examiner's voice cut through the noise. "Begin!"
"Please give me your guidance!" Renji and Orochimaru said in unison, their tones steady and respectful.
The instant the signal was given, the two moved simultaneously. A volley of shuriken clashed mid-air with a sharp metallic clang before falling to the ground. Neither hesitated as they closed the distance, kunai held in reverse grips. Their movements mirrored each other perfectly, and as they stepped into striking range, their blades collided with a flash of sparks.
While their speeds were evenly matched, Orochimaru's strength fell slightly behind. The impact jarred the kunai from his grip, sending it spinning to the ground. Renji seized the opportunity, flipping his kunai into a standard grip and aiming for Orochimaru's chest. At the same moment, Renji used his left foot to hook Orochimaru's ankle, throwing him off balance.
---
Orochimaru, however, remained composed. Catching Renji's wrist mid-strike, he reached into his ninja pouch with his free hand. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of Renji's mouth. Not so fast.
Renji's right fist connected with Orochimaru's face with a resounding thud, sending him staggering backward. The force of the blow made Orochimaru's ears ring, and combined with the trip to his ankle, he stumbled. Yet, despite the clear disadvantage, Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with exhilaration.
---
Recovering quickly, Orochimaru used the moment of imbalance to retrieve a smoke bomb, slamming it into the ground. A cloud of smoke billowed between them, obscuring Renji's vision. By the time the smoke cleared, Orochimaru had already created distance, his hands weaving through seals at remarkable speed.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Orochimaru roared, his chest swelling as a massive fireball erupted toward Renji.
Unfazed, Renji's hands moved just as quickly, forming his own seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The two fireballs collided in the center of the field with a deafening explosion, the heatwave sending a shockwave through the arena. The smoke and dust churned in the air, reducing visibility to nearly zero.
---
Renji crouched into a defensive stance, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of Orochimaru. He was genuinely impressed. Orochimaru's proficiency with the Great Fireball Jutsu was exceptional for a student who hadn't yet graduated.
But Orochimaru was nowhere to be seen.
Renji frowned, his instincts kicking in. Orochimaru's earlier speed meant he wouldn't be behind him. If anything, he was likely above or below. Quickly glancing upward, Renji missed the pale hand emerging from the earth until it latched onto his ankle.
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!" Orochimaru's voice echoed with pride as Renji was dragged into the ground up to his shoulders. Orochimaru emerged, his smug smile betraying his confidence. Even an Uchiha wasn't prepared for this.
---
Orochimaru's moment of victory was short-lived. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a fireball hurtling toward him. Another Uchiha technique? He quickly formed seals.
"Earth Release: Mud Wall!"
A sturdy wall of earth erupted between him and the oncoming fireball, shielding him from the attack. Yet, the moment the fireball dispersed, Renji was already on the offensive. Several shuriken spun in wide arcs, forcing Orochimaru to leap back.
It wasn't until the last second that Orochimaru noticed the thin wires attached to the shuriken, now coiling tightly around him. The wires dug into his neck and limbs, cutting shallow lines into his pale skin.
---
Renji smirked. "Checkmate." With a flick of his wrist, the wires tightened further, prepared to deliver the finishing blow. But Orochimaru's form shimmered before dissipating into a cloud of smoke.
"A Shadow Clone?" Renji muttered, frustration flickering across his face.
From above, the real Orochimaru descended, kunai in hand, aiming directly for Renji's blind spot. Renji spun just in time, his own kunai clashing with Orochimaru's blade. The force pushed Renji back, forcing him to reassess his strategy.
---
The battle continued, both combatants exchanging blows at lightning speed. Their chakra reserves were impressive, far exceeding those of their peers. On the sidelines, the watching students were stunned. Even Jiraiya and Tsunade, who had been bickering moments before, now stared in awe.
"They're incredible," Jiraiya muttered, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with genuine admiration.
Tsunade crossed her arms, her expression serious. "They're more than incredible. This isn't a fight between students. It's a battle between shinobi."
The examiner's eyes gleamed as he observed the match. Both Renji and Orochimaru displayed not only exceptional skill but also tactical brilliance. Their creativity in battle, from Orochimaru's use of elemental techniques to Renji's mastery of the Uchiha clan's traditional shuriken techniques, set them apart from the rest.
End of the Chapter.