CHAPTER 43

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As Tsunade stepped back to catch her breath, Orochimaru slowly moved forward, his golden eyes gleaming with anticipation.

The wind rustled through the trees, making the leaves dance as if signaling the beginning of something important.

His movements were as quiet as the shadows he often slipped through.

Hiruzen's gaze fell upon him, knowing that this would be a more complex test.

Orochimaru, unlike Jiraiya or Tsunade, fought with a sharp, calculating precision, always probing for weaknesses, always testing boundaries.

"Orochimaru," Hiruzen said, his tone slightly more cautious. "Your intellect and resourcefulness have always been your strongest traits. Show me how you've sharpened those skills."

Orochimaru's lips curled into a sly smile as he stepped into the center of the training ground. "Of course, Sensei. I've been waiting for this opportunity."

Without wasting a second, Orochimaru formed several quick hand seals.

His movements were almost too fast to follow. Soon the seal completed, and he launched his attack on Hiruzen. "Fire Style: Fire Stream"

As Orochiamru lunged at Hiruzen, however, was prepared.

With a flick of his wrist, he performed a series of hand seals just as swiftly as Orochimaru. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!"

A towering wall of earth erupted from the ground between Hiruzen and Orochimaru, blocking his strike. Orochimaru attacks sank into the wall, but Hiruzen was already moving.

With a fluid motion, he leapt to the side, avoiding the Fiery rocks as they crashed against the ground with a thunderous thud.

"You're relying too much on your ninjutsu," Hiruzen commented as he observed Orochimaru from the corner of his eye. "Let's see how you fare without them."

Orochimaru's smile widened, clearly enjoying the challenge. "Very well, Sensei."

Orochimaru's movements became more serpentine as he shifted into close combat. He darted toward Hiruzen with incredible speed, striking with precise, snake-like strikes, his fingers aiming for vital points.

Hiruzen dodged and parried each attack with graceful ease. Despite Orochimaru's quick reflexes and deadly aim, Hiruzen's years of experience allowed him to stay one step ahead.

Their movements became a blur as they exchanged blows, each attack more calculated than the last.

"You've become faster, Orochimaru," Hiruzen remarked, his voice calm even as he deflected another strike aimed at his throat. "But you're still predictable in your patterns."

Orochimaru's eyes flashed with a dangerous gleam. "Is that so, Sensei?"

Suddenly, his body twisted unnaturally, and in a movement so quick it was almost imperceptible, he struck at Hiruzen from an unexpected angle, his fingers extending into snake-like tendrils, aiming for Hiruzen's blind spot.

Hiruzen, however, was ready. With a single hand seal, he created a shadow clone, the duplicate intercepting the attack just as the real Hiruzen vanished in a blur of movement, reappearing behind Orochimaru.

"Nice try," Hiruzen said, his voice now behind Orochimaru, who spun around with a grin.

The clone dissolved into smoke, and Hiruzen stood calmly, having already anticipated the feint. Orochimaru's smile faltered for a moment, but then he bowed his head slightly, acknowledging his teacher's skill.

"Impressive, as always, Sensei," Orochimaru said. "I still have much to learn."

"You do," Hiruzen replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "But your progress is remarkable. Keep honing your instincts."

With Orochimaru stepping back, it was finally Sakumo's turn. The quietest of the group, Sakumo Hatake, also known as the future "White Fang of Konoha," approached Hiruzen with a calm and measured pace.

Unlike his more flamboyant teammates, Sakumo exuded a quiet confidence, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Sakumo," Hiruzen said, studying his student. "I've always admired your discipline. You approach every challenge with precision and care."

Sakumo nodded, his sharp, gray eyes focused on Hiruzen. "Thank you, Sensei. I'll do my best."

Without any further exchange of words, Sakumo drew his blade in a fluid motion, the steel gleaming in the late afternoon sun.

The sound of the blade cutting through the air was sharp, almost musical. He moved with a grace that spoke of years of rigorous training, his swordplay a deadly dance of precision.

Hiruzen watched carefully, his hands poised to defend. Sakumo's speed was impressive, and his swordsmanship was near flawless.

With each strike, he aimed for weak points, targeting Hiruzen's defenses with the efficiency of a seasoned warrior.

Unlike the others, Sakumo didn't rely on flashy jutsu or overwhelming force. His strength lay in his restraint, in the subtlety of his movements.

The clashing of Sakumo's blade against Hiruzen's kunai echoed through the training ground. Sparks flew as metal met metal, and both fighters moved with such speed that it seemed almost choreographed. Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a deep respect for Sakumo's skill.

"Your swordsmanship is exceptional, Sakumo," Hiruzen praised, blocking another strike. "You've honed your technique well. But let's see how you handle ninjutsu."

With that, Hiruzen formed several quick hand seals and unleashed a burst of wind chakra. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

A powerful gust of wind surged toward Sakumo, threatening to knock him off balance.

But Sakumo was prepared. He planted his feet firmly on the ground and, with a swift motion, used his sword to slice through the wind, dispersing the attack with remarkable precision.

Hiruzen's eyes widened in surprise. "Impressive," he muttered under his breath.

Sakumo didn't stop there. He sheathed his sword momentarily and formed a series of hand seals.

"Lightning Style: Thunderclap!" A crackling bolt of lightning shot from his hands, arcing toward Hiruzen with deadly accuracy.

Hiruzen countered with an earth jutsu, summoning a wall of stone to absorb the lightning's impact. The clash of elements was intense, and for a moment, the ground shook beneath their feet.

After several more exchanges, Hiruzen called for a halt. "Enough, Sakumo. You've shown me everything I needed to see."

Sakumo nodded respectfully, sheathing his sword. "Thank you, Sensei."

Hiruzen stepped back and addressed all four of his students, his voice carrying a tone of pride.

"You've all grown tremendously since we first started doing missions together. Each of you has your own strengths, but remember, there is always room for improvement."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Now that I've seen what you can do individually, it's time for the real test."

The group looked at him with renewed focus.

"In the next session, all five of you will fight me together," Hiruzen announced, his expression serious. "Let's see how well you can work as a team."

The air grew thick with anticipation as the students prepared themselves for what would undoubtedly be the greatest challenge of their young careers.

Hiruzen, standing in the center of the training ground, exuded a calm confidence that hinted at the battle to come.

But none of them could have predicted just how intense that battle would be.

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