"Brother, it looks like I outlasted you!"
Uzumaki Raiden smiled as he flicked the blood off the Totsuka Blade, glancing at Orochimaru, who was panting heavily in the distance. The Kusanagi Sword in Orochimaru's hand had dimmed significantly, a clear sign of chakra depletion. In stark contrast, the chakra coursing through the Totsuka Blade in Raiden's hand had only grown more vibrant.
When it came to chakra reserves, Orochimaru was no match for Uzumaki Raiden. Orochimaru, clearly realizing this, had retreated to create distance, avoiding further close combat. Both were masters of chakra manipulation, proficient in nature transformation and shape manipulation. However, sustaining chakra-infused weapon attacks required immense reserves, something only a few ninja could manage consistently.
"Such enormous chakra at your age… as expected of the Uzumaki clan," Orochimaru remarked, licking his lips as he held the Kusanagi Sword. Without forming seals, several serpents slithered from his sleeves, darting toward Raiden across the ground. Orochimaru simultaneously began weaving hand signs with precision.
"Brother, wasn't this supposed to be a taijutsu duel? Why resort to these cheap tricks?" Raiden teased, though his Kagura's Mind Eye had locked onto Orochimaru's chakra. While the fight was being observed by the Third Hokage, Raiden was eager to push himself and measure his current limits against Orochimaru.
Judging by the hand signs, Raiden identified the incoming jutsu as a Wind Style technique.
"Wind Style to counter my Lightning Style… clever. But at this level, it won't affect me," Raiden thought as the serpents neared.
He flicked his wrist, releasing a barrage of lightning needles that struck the snakes' heads, pinning them to the ground. However, something unexpected happened—the wounds on the snakes began emitting thick purple smoke.
"Wind Style: Breakthrough!"
Orochimaru completed his seals, unleashing a powerful gust of wind that swept the purple smoke directly toward Raiden.
"What the…? What is this?" Raiden exclaimed, realizing Orochimaru's true strategy. The wind carried the smoke at a speed too fast to evade completely, forcing Raiden to retreat rapidly.
Despite his quick reaction, some of the noxious wind grazed him. While Raiden held his breath to avoid inhaling the toxins, his skin still absorbed trace amounts, and soon a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him. Stumbling slightly, he crouched, struggling to maintain balance.
"What kind of poison is this? It's so potent!" Raiden muttered, feeling his mind clouding.
The venomous wind didn't just affect Raiden. Several guards nearby, unable to dodge in time, were enveloped in the purple smoke. They collapsed to the ground, visibly worse off than Raiden. Meanwhile, the Hokage, Tsunade, and Jiraiya had moved to a safe vantage point, observing the battle intently.
Seeing Raiden faltering, the Third Hokage immediately intervened.
"Enough! This duel ends here," he commanded sternly. "Orochimaru, detoxify the affected ninjas at once!"
Tsunade appeared at Raiden's side in an instant, supporting him as she assessed his condition. Her chakra flowed into Raiden, scanning for any critical issues.
"Oh, you're still holding up. Not bad," Orochimaru commented as he approached Raiden, his tone tinged with amusement. Despite the numerous sword wounds on his body, Orochimaru seemed more intrigued than annoyed.
Raiden, on the other hand, looked visibly better off. Most of his injuries from their earlier exchanges had already healed, thanks to his Uzumaki lineage. Even the deeper cuts had closed significantly, leaving behind faint scars.
"Brother, hurry up and detoxify me. This isn't pleasant," Raiden grumbled, the dizziness intensifying.
"You'll be fine. This poison is primarily an anesthetic. With your physique, you'll recover shortly," Orochimaru replied nonchalantly before turning his attention to the other poisoned ninjas, leaving Raiden to endure the effects on his own.
"Seriously? Is he mad at me?" Raiden thought, frustrated, as he watched Orochimaru walk away.
Tsunade, still by Raiden's side, reassured him. "Orochimaru's right. The poison is mostly anesthetic and won't cause lasting harm. With your constitution, an antidote isn't even necessary—it might complicate things."
Accepting her explanation, Raiden closed his eyes, focusing on steadying himself against the disorienting dizziness.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru moved from one poisoned ninja to another, administering the antidote with practiced efficiency. The Third Hokage followed closely, offering apologies to the affected guards.
"Orochimaru, the scope of your techniques is excessive. You must control the intensity next time," Hiruzen warned, his tone stern.
"Teacher, it's not my fault," Orochimaru replied hoarsely, glancing at Raiden. "Raiden is simply too strong. Without using techniques of this caliber, I couldn't hope to pressure him."
The Third Hokage nodded thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Raiden, who was now seated at the edge of the training field.
"Uzumaki Raiden's growth is astonishing," Orochimaru added, his voice tinged with admiration. "It feels like a waste to keep him in the guard unit."
Hiruzen silently agreed. A few years ago, Raiden was merely a promising talent. Now, at just thirteen, he had displayed Jonin-level strength, standing toe-to-toe with Orochimaru, one of Konoha's strongest. And yet, Raiden's potential was far from fully realized.
After a moment of reflection, the Hokage spoke loudly for all to hear.
"I hereby announce that Uzumaki Raiden, having demonstrated exceptional ability in his battle with Orochimaru, will be appointed as the captain of the Anbu. He will be transferred from the guard squad and assigned to Uchiha Shinki's unit."
(End of this chapter)