CHAPTER 36

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As they started planning, Hiruzen, who had perched himself on a tree branch nearby, listened intently to their discussion.

He was proud of their teamwork, but he also knew how difficult it would be for them to succeed in this exercise.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he muttered to himself, "A well-planned tactic. Sakumo is a natural leader, guiding the team with clear precision. Orochimaru, however, is a bit too extreme for his intelligence—overconfidence will be his downfall if he's not careful."

Below, Sakumo stood with his arms crossed, eyes scanning his teammates as they discussed their individual abilities.

His tone was calm but carried a weight of authority as he spoke, taking charge as a seasoned leader would.

"Tell me your skills," he instructed, his voice firm and measured.

"We need to know what everyone can bring to the table, so we can plan the perfect strategy to get the bell. Mine is kenjutsu, and I've mastered a number of Lightning Release techniques."

There was a momentary pause as the group processed the order.

Tsunade, always confident, was the first to respond. "I have an abundance of chakra," she stated plainly, her hands resting on her hips.

"Not to mention precise chakra control, and I've got basic proficiency in Water and Earth Release techniques. Plus, taijutsu is my strong suit, especially when it comes to raw strength."

Her tone was laced with a touch of pride, but it was well-deserved. Even at this stage, Tsunade's strength was legendary.

Orochimaru was next, his voice slithering through the air with a hint of arrogance.

"I've mastered the four basic jutsu, and my chakra control is quite good," he said, his golden eyes gleaming in the fading light.

"I'm also skilled in taijutsu and kenjutsu, though I prefer strategy over brute force."

Finally, Jiraiya chimed in, puffing out his chest with pride. "Basic jutsu, sure, but taijutsu is my real specialty!" His broad grin stretched across his face as if he had already won the match.

Sakumo nodded, his mind already at work, formulating a plan. He was thoughtful and methodical, quickly assessing their combined strengths and weaknesses.

"All right," he began, "based on our skills, I think we can form a pincer attack with me and Jiraiya leading from the front. Tsunade, you can focus on keeping sensei distracted with your taijutsu while also staying defensive with your chakra control."

"Orochimaru, you'll provide support from the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike when Hiruzen's guard is down. If we play this right, we'll catch him off guard."

High above, hidden among the thick canopy, Hiruzen continued to observe them, nodding in approval as Sakumo finalized the plan.

"They're sharp," he thought, his gaze focused on their determined faces. "But now that I know their plan, it won't work. Still, let's see how well they adapt in battle." 

With the plan in place, the group steeled themselves and headed for the open field where Hiruzen's clone stood waiting.

The orange hues of the setting sun painted the sky, casting long shadows over the grassy training ground.

Hiruzen's clone stood calmly with his hands clasped behind his back, the two silver bells tied securely to his waist, glinting in the dimming light. His expression was unreadable as he addressed them.

"So, are you all ready? Who will pass the test, and who will return to the academy?" he asked, his voice cool, but there was a subtle challenge in his tone.

None of them answered with words. Instead, they all lunged forward in unison, fists, swords, and kunai drawn, with fierce determination to claim the bells.

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at their silent resolve, impressed by their quick decision-making.

"Oh, so it's like that, huh? Already treating your sensei like an enemy?" he teased, a grin spreading across his face. "Very well, I suppose a thrashing is in order."

With a sudden burst of speed, Hiruzen met their attacks head-on. Sakumo's blade clashed with Hiruzen's kunai, sparks flying as metal met metal.

Tsunade, using her enhanced strength, aimed a powerful punch at his side, but Hiruzen sidestepped, letting the force of her blow shatter the ground beneath them.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya took turns trying to catch him off guard, but Hiruzen deflected each of their strikes with ease, his movements fluid and precise.

The battle raged on, each clash of steel echoing across the field. Despite their best efforts, Hiruzen seemed untouchable, parrying their attacks with minimal effort.

But as the minutes ticked by, Hiruzen realized something—he was being lured.

"They're smarter than I gave them credit for," he thought, feeling the subtle shift in their attacks.

They weren't just fighting blindly; they were pushing him toward a trap they had set earlier. Intrigued, Hiruzen allowed himself to be drawn in, curious to see their plan unfold.

After several exchanges, Hiruzen found himself standing at the center of their trap. The four of them grinned, thinking they had him cornered.

Orochimaru, who had been hiding underground, suddenly sprang up from beneath the earth, reaching for the bells. But Hiruzen, with lightning-fast reflexes, flicked Orochimaru's hand away.

At that moment, Sakumo appeared beside him with his Body Flicker Jutsu, lunging for the bells, but Hiruzen deflected him just as swiftly.

Tsunade tried to overpower him with her taijutsu, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks, but Hiruzen dodged her every move.

Jiraiya, thinking Hiruzen was distracted, attacked from behind, but a swift strike from Hiruzen knocked him back into the bushes.

With a powerful kick, Hiruzen sent Tsunade sliding across the ground, clutching her abdomen in pain.

She skidded to a halt several feet away, her hands wrapped protectively around her stomach. Despite the pain, she was already pushing herself back up, refusing to stay down.

Hiruzen, now free from the trap, continued to thrash them with increasing force. His punches and kicks came harder and faster, leaving them bruised and bloodied, but they didn't give up.

Even as Orochimaru and Tsunade backed away, realizing they couldn't match Hiruzen's strength, Jiraiya remained standing, stubbornly blocking Hiruzen's strikes despite the pain.

His face was swollen, blood trickled from his nose, and yet he continued to stand.

Sakumo, seeing his comrade's persistence, sprang back into action to protect Jiraiya. "Don't be a fool, Jiraiya! You'll get yourself killed!"

Tsunade and Orochimaru, though exhausted, cursed under their breath and rushed forward to defend him.

"This idiot," Orochimaru muttered, "He doesn't know when to quit."

For nearly an hour, they endured Hiruzen's relentless attacks, their bodies battered and their chakra reserves nearly depleted.

As the sun set and the sky darkened, they lay on the ground, panting and utterly spent.

Hiruzen finally called the session to an end, approaching them with a stern expression.

"You all failed," he said, his voice cold but not without a hint of disappointment.

"You have one more hour to prove yourselves and take the bells, or you'll all return to the academy."

He reached into his storage pouch and pulled out a small scroll, which he unrolled in front of them.

"There are three bento boxes here—one for Sakumo, one for Tsunade, and one for Orochimaru. Eat them, regain your strength, but remember this: if any of you shares your food with Jiraiya, you will all fail."

With that, he left them to their fate.

Jiraiya, who had been hoping for food, was left flabbergasted. His stomach growled audibly, and he scratched the back of his head awkwardly, trying to keep up his cheerful facade.

"It's fine, really," he said, laughing foolishly. "You guys eat up and get your strength back. I'll manage somehow."

The three of them looked at him in silence. Orochimaru was the first to move, opening his bento and eating without hesitation.

Tsunade followed suit, though her eyes occasionally flickered toward Jiraiya, who sat cross-legged, pretending not to care.

Sakumo, after taking a few bites, left more than half of his food and walked over to Jiraiya.

"Here," he said, offering the half-eaten bento. "Eat this. You need to regain your strength, or you won't even be able to walk."

Jiraiya shook his head. "No way! Sensei said—"

"Don't worry," Sakumo interrupted, his tone gentle. "I'll keep watch for sensei. He won't know."

Jiraiya hesitated, but before he could refuse again, Orochimaru and Tsunade also offered their food.

"You idiot," Orochimaru said, handing over his lunch. "Just take it before we change our minds."

Tsunade grinned, pushing her bento toward him. "Yeah, we'll all get in trouble

 if you don't eat."

Tears welled up in Jiraiya's eyes as he accepted the food, overwhelmed by their kindness. "Thank you," he choked out, his voice trembling. "I'll never forget this."

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