Orochimaru, having risen to the position of Konoha's No. 2 figure at such a young age, was undoubtedly proud.
In this situation, if Orochimaru handed over the wine to Leo, it would be like surrendering.
With Orochimaru's pride...
"Don't do something foolish, Orochimaru!"
Jiraiya's face was filled with anxiety.
"Hey, I have something to say, the big deal is that I won't call you a snake bastard anymore! Just put down the wine!"
Leo's gaze never left Orochimaru as he stood there, uncertain, holding the bottle of wine. He suddenly became anxious.
What if the wine got ruined?
Even if he were cut to pieces, it would be useless if the wine was damaged!
Hearing Leo's words, the corner of Orochimaru's mouth twitched, his face darkening.
Leo wasn't holding back with his insults, but then again... Orochimaru realized, Leo had just given him an opening.
What was the truth between them and a drunkard?
"Resolve that slash, and I'll give you the wine," Orochimaru said, standing up and holding out the bottle.
"Oh?"
Leo's eyes lit up. At least this snake-faced bastard seemed to understand.
Clash!
The violent slash that had broken through the Triple Rashomon met Leo's power without resistance.
The slash, nearly a hundred meters long, turned into a dazzling black-purple light, soaring into the sky, breaking the clouds and the air around it.
"Boom!!!"
The sky cleared, and the roaring wind fell silent.
In the midst of the sudden calm, Orochimaru's eyes twitched.
He hadn't expected that after breaking through the Triple Rashomon, the slash would still be this terrifying. But in front of Leo, it seemed like a mere toy, something that could be easily controlled.
This caused a bitter feeling of frustration to settle deep within Orochimaru.
"Here."
Orochimaru's voice was hoarse as he handed over the wine to Leo.
"Haha, snake bastard, you're good," Leo grinned, sheathing his sword, taking the wine bottle, and patting Orochimaru on the shoulder with a playful expression.
"..."
Orochimaru's face turned dark, the tension from earlier now replaced with confusion. Leo had just promised not to insult him, but now, after getting the wine, Leo was acting like nothing mattered.
Orochimaru's thoughts were interrupted as Leo opened the bottle and began drinking.
Gulp—gulp—gulp—ahhh!
Leo drank deeply, exhaling in satisfaction under Orochimaru's irritated gaze.
Ding! "The system recognizes that the owner's mood has reached a level of joy and withdraws from the violent state of intoxication."
Ding! "The owner has reached satisfaction. The system eagerly cancels the blessing."
Leo's eyes, once bloodshot, quickly returned to normal. As the violent alcohol-induced state lifted, a mist of alcohol escaped from his pores, carrying the strong scent of liquor.
Hmm?
Leo blinked, turning to face the embarrassed Orochimaru.
He was now sober.
Leo scratched his cheek, his mind racing with thoughts. He suddenly realized something.
The memory of his drunken state came flooding back.
Wait... did he almost chop Orochimaru in that state?
What was he supposed to do now? Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, might have been watching the situation through the crystal ball.
What if the old man decided not to give him any more wine because of this?
Leo's plans might be ruined, and that would be a lot of wasted effort.
He glanced at Orochimaru's dark expression and rolled his eyes, uncertain of what the next step might be.
Ding! "The owner has shocked several important individuals while in a drunken state.
Reward: Observation Haki has reached the proficient level!."
Leo blinked again, unsure whether to be pleased or disturbed.
"Hey, isn't this the legendary 'Sannin,' Lord Orochimaru? Long time no see!"
Leo looked at Orochimaru with "surprise," grabbed his hands, and shook them vigorously.
"..."
There was a heavy silence.
Orochimaru's mouth twitched. Looking at Leo's insincere expression, he felt an urge to end him right then and there.
He was just defeated by this little brat?
"Well, don't complain to the old man, okay? What if I tell him you lied about my wine?"
Seeing Orochimaru's face still dark, Leo suddenly grew anxious and tried to calm him down.
Meanwhile, In the Hokage's Office
"Leo, you brat!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was also clouded with irritation.
What mess had Leo caused? It was almost out of control!
Yet this brat kept thinking only about getting his wine.
Sarutobi's hand was pressed against his chest, feeling a slight discomfort.
"Huh... well, at least it turned out okay."
Jiraiya sighed with relief, his eyes still wide with fear. That violent slash had been only a second away from hitting Orochimaru!
He couldn't help but feel grateful. If the old man hadn't asked Orochimaru to bring the wine, who knew what Leo would have done next?
Back with Leo and Orochimaru
"Enough! Am I going to complain?"
Listening to Leo's endless chatter, Orochimaru finally couldn't take it and roared loudly.
"What does this brat think of me?"
"Hahaha, snake bast—oh, no, Lord Orochimaru, let me handle the guys over there first, and then we can reminisce about the past."
Leo had almost slipped and called him a "snake bastard" again, but seeing Orochimaru's darker expression, he quickly changed his words.
This guy says he's not that kind of person, but who knows? After all, later on, he did get "whitewashed." Now, Orochimaru was just a funny character!
What if Orochimaru went to complain?
"Reminisce about the past?"
Orochimaru was completely lost.
What could he possibly talk about with Leo? Did he want to discuss how his life almost ended at the hands of this kid?
Clang!
"Cowards, take this to your grave!"
Leo shook his neck and glanced at the ninjas from the other village in the distance. He drew Shusui from its sheath.
"The monster is sober!"
"What do we do? The little red flower is useless now!"
"Damn it! I don't want to die!"
The ninjas from the other village had already put little red flowers on their foreheads, relieved when they saw the monster finally stop rampaging .
However, they had forgotten one important thing.
Leo had been drunk, unable to distinguish friend from foe. But now, he was sober. The little red flower on their foreheads had no effect anymore.
"Damn it!"
The Kisame eyes were filled with bloodshot anger. His face, which was already frightening enough to make children cry, now sported a bright red flower stuck to his forehead.
He had agonized over whether to put it on, but now it seemed useless.
The monster was sober?
The little flower had no use?
He had stuck it on and now was about to die in humiliation?
Kisame bloodshot eyes glowed with fury.
"Wait!"
Just as Leo was about to strike with his black blade, Orochimaru quickly grabbed his hand.
"Huh? What's the matter, snake b—oh, Lord Orochimaru?"
Leo frowned, feeling a little annoyed.
He was ready to take care of everything with one strike, then go back and enjoy his wine.
Before he could speak, he suddenly thought about Orochimaru's temper. If he provoked him again, it might escalate, especially with Sarutobi watching.
Better to coax him for now and enjoy the wine later.
"It's over."
Orochimaru listened to Leo's insincere change of attitude. His eye twitched. This kid never thought things through!
"Over?"
Leo blinked.
"Yes, it's over. The time has come!"
Orochimaru looked at Leo's expression and wasn't angry.
Why was it over? Didn't Leo know?
Looking at the surrounding environment—what used to be a serene Death Forest—it was now almost flattened by Leo!
The ninjas from the other village were so terrified that they couldn't even think of resisting.
Why stop now? Should he let Leo kill them all?
Clang!
"Alright, since you said so, I'll give you face."
Leo sheathed his sword, Shusui, and patted Orochimaru's right arm. The gesture made Orochimaru feel the urge to smack him.
But considering that terrifying slash from earlier, Orochimaru decided to endure it.
"Hmph—"
With nothing further happening, Leo hummed a little tune as he carried his sword and walked toward the central tower.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
Seeing Leo leave, the ninjas from the participating village collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. A chill ran through them as a breeze swept by.
Their clothes were drenched in cold sweat.
" Leo..."
The Kisame stared at Leo's retreating figure and angrily threw the little red flower from his forehead to the ground.
"Why does this kid feel weaker?"
Orochimaru furrowed his brow as he observed Leo walking away.
The sense of death Leo used to bring him had disappeared. Even compared to when Leo had unleashed that shocking slash, his aura was much weaker now.
" Leo, really an interesting guy."
Seeing Leo happily humming with a cheerful expression, Orochimaru smiled slightly.
He felt Leo wasn't interested in anything except wine and swordsmanship.
This kind of pure person, though his mouth was a bit foul, wasn't so bothersome to Orochimaru.
And what an amazing genius!
The Central Tower
"What?! I failed the exam?!"
After everyone arrived at the central tower, Leo stared at the two guards at the door.
"U-um, you didn't collect two scrolls. According to the rules, you failed the exam."
The two guards were sweating profusely. If Leo had been an ordinary candidate, they might have ignored it, but they recognized him from the surveillance feed.
The Death Forest was nearly destroyed, and it was all his doing!
"Hey, Orochimaru, help me out here!"
Leo suddenly became anxious. He had been so focused on fighting that he forgot to collect the scrolls.
What if he failed the exam? What would Sarutobi say?
Orochimaru twitched his mouth. How could he have thought Leo was a great genius? What blind judgment!
"You can handle it yourself."
Orochimaru's face darkened. Earlier he called him snake bastard, but now Leo wanted him to fix this? Dream on!
Turning around, he walked toward the central tower.
As Leo shouted "Snake bastard!" and "Cross the river and demolish the bridge" from behind, Orochimaru couldn't help but smirk.
"Brat! You deserve it!"
"Damn that snake-playing bastard! I should have just killed him directly!"
Leo looked at Orochimaru's disappearing back with some anger.
Leo wasn't stupid. He couldn't force Orochimaru directly.
If he did, Sarutobi would surely go mad, and his wine would be ruined.
"Anyway, none of the other participating village members passed the exam, so I guess the mission is complete, right?"