Chapter 48: Winner

Orochimaru felt very disgusted with Kato Dan at the moment, but in reality, they had no grudges against each other. They just had a friendly fight, and Orochimaru didn't mind losing honestly.

"This little bastard!" Danzo's face turned as dark as a pot bottom. Why did he target my students so much? He must have been taught by Sarutobi.

Danzo probably knew Orochimaru's strength. Hatake Sakumo lost, and although Kato Dan was strong, he didn't have much chance. However, Danzo didn't expect Kato Dan to lose so badly.

The semi-finals had been decided, and they could finally take a break. They would compete again in the afternoon.

"I didn't expect Kato Dan to be that strong." Tsunade seemed disappointed as she ate her food.

"That's right, don't underestimate your opponent!" Orochimaru proudly pretended to be humble.

"Tsk~~" Tsunade looked disgusted. "But even though Hyuga Kazuki is strong, he probably doesn't have much fighting power, and his comrades from the Hyuga clan aren't strong either." Tsunade suddenly had a fierce look on her face.

"Orochimaru, you are the one who might hinder me from winning the Chunin Exam!"

Originally, although Tsunade was strong, Uchiha and Hyuga's enemies were focused on others, temporarily ignoring Orochimaru, but now...

"...What are you planning?!"

Orochimaru felt something was off!

"Sometimes the result of the match can be decided outside the arena~!" Tsunade looked at Orochimaru with increasingly dangerous eyes.

"Excuse me, I need to go. Farewell!" Orochimaru left the table swiftly, making a quick escape!

"Hey, coward!" Tsunade said disdainfully. "But I really want to win!" Tsunade propped her head up, her big watery eyes gazing out the window, towards the direction of Hokage Monument Rock.

...........

"The semi-final begins!"

"DUANG~~!" The ninja rang an ancient bronze bell, said to be an antique from the Warring States Period.

"It's over, I'm going to be eliminated!" The chubby Akimichi Chou looked melancholic.

"Don't be so down. Cheer up!" Yamanaka Inosuke tried to uplift him with some encouraging words.

"According to the probability, your winning rate is lower than 16.65%." Nara Yasuo stated blankly.

"What nonsense are you talking about..."

"The first match, Senju Tsunade vs. Akimichi Chou!"

"Roar——!" The audience erupted in excitement.

"Sorry, your winning rate is zero." Nara Yasuo gave a wry smile.

"Wow!!!"

Tsunade: "...So, it turns out you are that fat guy!"

"Let the match begin!" Tsunade's blond hair shimmered, and her aura was unparalleled, like a lioness stepping out of its den.

"Secret technique! Multi-Size Technique!"

Although Akimichi Chou had relied on luck until now, who wouldn't want to win? Looking at the elegant Tsunade, he used ninjutsu to power up!

"Human Bullet Tank!" Everyone's moves were understood, so there was no need to hold back. Akimichi Chou exerted all his strength and rolled towards Tsunade!

Seeing Akimichi Chou rolling towards her, Tsunade didn't show any fear. Instead, she seemed excited. Chakra condensed on her feet, and she kicked with all her strength!

"My God! Is Tsunade crazy?!"

"This is too foolish!"

Amidst the horrified gasps of the audience, Tsunade kicked Akimichi Chou in the belly, leaving a large indentation.

Even long after the match, the image of that stunning and formidable kick remained vivid and unforgettable!

Tsunade's strange power was unlike the dazzling lightning or the fiery brilliance of ninjutsu. Her slender, beautiful legs didn't even seem to reveal prominent muscles, but when she struck Akimichi Chou, a terrifying sonic boom resonated through the air, as if the sound of a heavy hammer hitting a thick hide was amplified a thousand times!

A strong gust of wind swept through the stands, and amidst the immense exclamations of the audience, Tsunade was slammed back to the ground. Her leg was visibly red and swollen, and she fell to the ground with a painful expression on her face. Meanwhile, Akimichi Chou, who was like a ball deformed by the kick, was sent flying at a terrifying speed!

"Hssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!"

Tsunade, the queen of kicks, was incredibly terrifying!!

The gasps of breath from the audience made many people look at Tsunade with newfound respect!

"Ah~~!" Akimichi Chou's colleague, flying through the air, let out a miserable howl. His body rapidly shrunk, and he crashed into the stands as if he had deflated.

At that moment, a figure appeared in his flight path at an unseen speed, catching him before he hit the ground. It was Tsushima, the Anbu known as Tsunade's "nanny" from the previous match.

Tsushima was obviously affected by the tremendous impact, and his expression changed. "The little princess's (Tsunade) kicks have improved again!" He then disappeared at the same speed, reappearing outside the field.

"Tsunade wins!"

The audience erupted in excitement, and Akimichi Chou regained consciousness. While he had a large bruise on his belly, he was lucky to escape any serious injury. However, he looked at Tsunade with fear in his eyes.

At this moment, a Senju clan's ninja from the Medical Corps rushed into the venue and took Tsunade away without hesitation.

"Let go of me, what are you doing?!"

"Child, you need treatment!"

The medical ninjas surrounded Tsunade and worked diligently to treat her injured leg. Three doctors even used a mystical palm technique "developed" by Tsunade, though no one noticed it.

The referee glanced at them and continued to announce: "The next match, Orochimaru... um..."

A ninja whispered a few words in the referee's ear, and he continued: "Hyuga Kazuki injury has not healed, and Elder Hyuga announced his abstention."

The audience sighed, as they wouldn't get to witness the mighty Hyuga Kazuki's match due to his injury.

Orochimaru's raised foot froze mid-air. So, he won by default? What a pity!

"Orochimaru wins. Next—"

"Hey!" Senju clan's ninja appeared ghostly behind the referee, whispered a few words, and disappeared again.

"..." The referee's expression was complicated, as if he had constipation.

"I announce that due to the significance of the finals and to allow each player to showcase their full strength and style, the finals will be postponed by one hour!"

"Oh~~~~~~!"

The audience buzzed with excitement, as waiting an extra hour was nothing compared to witnessing the final showdown.

Meanwhile, two ninjas cried and fainted in the restroom. Orochimaru stroked his face with his hand and sighed: "Konoha, have you fallen so low..."

One hour later.

On the field, Tsunade and Orochimaru stood opposite each other.

Tsunade's thigh, which had been caressed by countless medical ninjas, was now crystal clear, as if it hadn't been injured.

Senju Tobirama in the stands was beaming with pride, and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire next to him was also praised repeatedly. As expected of the Senju clan, the only clan to make it to the finals.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was even more smug, as regardless of who wins, the victor would be his disciple!

Of course, the faces of the other clans were less pleasant.

"Orochimaru, I won't hold back!" Tsunade roared, trying to muster her courage, even though she knew she was fierce.

"Let's get this started." Orochimaru grinned wickedly. "But I have a suggestion. How about we don't use ninjutsu?"

"...Okay!" Tsunade accepted the proposal in order to win.

"Bring it on!"

As soon as the two started, it was a clash of fists and flesh, with continuous roars echoing throughout the field, sounding like cannons firing.

"It's scary! No matter how strong Tsunade is, Orochimaru's Taijutsu is truly remarkable!"

The audience and the ninja were in shock. Tsunade's punches and kicks were heavy and powerful, but Orochimaru seemed to anticipate her every move. His body twisted into weird arcs, evading her attacks in unimaginable ways. Even in a direct confrontation, he was only pushed back slightly. There was a gleaming white brilliance on his fists, like hard jade or metal, as he continued to fight.

"Is Orochimaru already this powerful? He has no obvious weaknesses. Within ten years at most, he will definitely reach a level comparable to the legendary shinobi of past!" Tobirama gave a high evaluation. "Tsushima, are you confident?"

"Of course." The composed Tsushima snorted. "That kid is not my match yet, but he seems to be holding back. I heard his mental power is very strong."

"Haha." Tobirama chuckled. "It's more than just holding back. I suspect he might be intentionally losing. This kid has many tricks up his sleeve!"

"Crack!" Orochimaru's arm extended instantly, whipping Tsunade's arm like a leather whip, leaving a red mark on her fair skin.

"You...!" Tsunade's eyes seemed to fill with mist of grievance. Orochimaru, who had always looked out for her, was now attacking her. Though she knew it was a competition, it was still difficult to accept.

"Your attacks are too straightforward and lack necessary variations." Orochimaru stated calmly.

"You don't need to teach me!" Tsunade kicked at Orochimaru, who didn't dodge this time, but put his hands in front of his chest to take the hit.

"Bang!" Orochimaru flexed his arms slightly, stepping back repeatedly and leaving seven deep footprints as he defused the blow.

"Come again!" Tsunade kept attacking, but Orochimaru's water-tight defense and strategic footwork allowed him to both defend and advance.

After awakening his bloodline and absorbing the power of the Kaguya clan's bloodline limit, Orochimaru had become a true martial arts genius. He caused substantial damage with every move.

"Hu-hu-" Tsunade began gasping for breath, and though she managed to relieve some pressure, Orochimaru remained unfazed, but he was a little tired.

"Keep it up, Tsunade! Don't hold back!"

"Come on, Orochimaru, fight back with ninjutsu."

The audience cheered them on.

"I think I have to give my all now!" Tsunade roared. The diamond-shaped mark on her forehead began releasing chakra, and her offense became even more fierce.

In the original novel, Tsunade probably learned the Yin seal taught to her by Uzumaki Mito in seven or eight years, but in this world, Tsunade learned it earlier than Sakura, and her strength was greater.

Orochimaru sustained minor injuries from Tsunade's immense power, so he didn't dare to clash directly with her.

Tsunade's strength surpassed that of most Chunin but Orochimaru had already surpassed Chunin, in both strength and chakra level. So her attacks didn't trouble him much.

"Hu-hu-!" Tsunade gasped more urgently, her chakra from the Yin seal was already depleted.

In order to win, the only option left was to resort to trickery!

Tsunade glanced at Orochimaru, wondering if he would mind.

"Heaven's Feet!"

Tsunade released a cloud of smoke, and Orochimaru indeed jumped away to avoid a direct hit.

"Look at my fist!" Tsunade rushed out of the smoke, as if she intended to fight Orochimaru to the death.

"Have you finally decided to win?" Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Actually, I've been prepared for this."

Orochimaru also rushed toward Tsunade, as if he was going to punch her.

"Bang!" Something unexpected happened to the audience. Tsunade turned into smoke, and the real Tsunade rushed out from within the smoke. She kicked Orochimaru in the waist with both feet at the same time, sending him flying.

The match between the two who never used ninjutsu was decided by a small shadow clone.

"I'm sorry, I used ninjutsu." Tsunade murmured in a low voice, watching Orochimaru fly out of the field, her eyes filled with worry.

Orochimaru easily adjusted his body mid-air and landed steadily on the sidelines.

"Out, Tsunade wins!" The referee looked at Orochimaru with a strange expression and announced the result loudly.

"Roar—! Tsunade—!"

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, their cheers echoing in the sky, while the other ninja were left speechless.

"Tsunade, you fooled me!" Orochimaru called out, wearing a relaxed and happy smile on his face.

"...Sorry!" Tsunade was overjoyed to see Orochimaru's sincere smile, but she still felt guilty inside. "I'm sorry, Orochimaru, I used ninjutsu!"

"It's alright~" Orochimaru smiled lightly.

"Of course, I forgive you~!"

*****

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