Ino was seventy to eighty percent sure that the guy with Team 7 was Orochimaru. Before the Chunin Exams, she had a feeling she would encounter Orochimaru, but she didn't expect it to be so soon.
Shikamaru connected many things from the powerful Wind Release Ninjutsu, and all of them were unfavorable to Konoha Ninja.
Among the Genin in this year's class, Ino was actually the best at using Wind Release in Konoha. Now that she said her Wind Release was not as strong as the mysterious person's, how could Team 7 be doing well?
Ino pondered for a few seconds. She couldn't leave her companions with the impression that she was indifferent to fellow Village Ninja. In the current era, and even in the eras when Kakashi and Naruto become Hokage, the will of fire is something that must be promoted. She could slack off in actual actions, but she had to show importance verbally.
She nodded to Shikamaru: "Let's go now. I'm also a little worried about Sakura, that Wide Forehead."
They called Choji. Although he was a bit reluctant to part with the roasted bear paw, Choji would not object to anything they decided and happily followed along.
Seeing Karin still trying to follow, Ino added, "Don't follow us. It might be very dangerous later. You're such a weak little chicken, it's better to stay far away."
Three kilometers wasn't far. When Team 10 arrived, they saw Naruto unconscious, hanging from a tree by a Kunai, while Sasuke charged with a full-power Chidori, only to have his wrist easily caught by the enemy and thrown back.
"What are you doing here? Run! Hurry, take those two idiots over there and run!" Sasuke, still in mid-air, saw Team 10. He roared loudly, his expression fierce.
Orochimaru, disguised in a Grass Hidden Village vest, glanced over from a distance, but said nothing, seemingly completely uninterested in Team 10.
Shikamaru stopped. For Sasuke of Team 7 to even think of only running away, how strong must this enemy be?
If saving Team 7 meant sacrificing Team 10, he wouldn't forgive himself. At this moment, he was weighing the risks.
As they hesitated slightly, Team 7 encountered a catastrophe.
Sasuke, still in mid-air, was targeted by Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's neck suddenly stretched out, flying over ten meters, his fangs gleaming coldly, as he bit towards Sasuke's neck.
Ino couldn't sit still. Sasuke was involved in the Indra Chakra issue, and at this stage, she didn't want any unforeseen circumstances to happen to Sasuke, good or bad. She was just worried that these changes would affect her.
She had to go, even if she didn't want to.
She jumped out, forming hand seals quickly: "Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A silver water line quickly swept past. Orochimaru's neck had a strange resilience, slippery and rubbery, not taking much force. The Water Severing Wave felt a considerable delay, but it still cut off his neck, and a head with half a neck flew into the sky.
The severed neck transformed into a large number of white snakes, connecting up and down, countless white snakes tightly intertwined, twisting twice, and the neck, which had been cut off, returned to its original state.
Orochimaru's golden pupils looked at Ino. He even stuck out his tongue and licked his lips, his eyes exuding a bone-chilling killing intent.
Ino was slightly uncomfortable with this, but she was used to the underworld and her own spiritual energy was very strong, far from the point where Naruto and Sasuke needed self-harm to break free from spiritual Intimidation.
"Hurry, retreat! This guy is too strong!" She motioned for Shikamaru and Choji to take Team 7 and leave first.
Sasuke, however, had no intention of fighting to the death. Sakura helped him, and the two retreated first. Naruto was unconscious, so Choji carried him and ran.
Ino glanced discreetly. She had anticipated Naruto's situation, but she didn't have time to deal with it now.
She quickly formed hand seals.
First, create a big commotion; surely the Village wouldn't just sit by and do nothing, right?
She took a deep breath into her chest and abdomen, then exhaled Water Release Chakra at Orochimaru, who had a mocking smile on his lips.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" In the forest, a large amount of water was created out of thin air. The surging water pushed down the surrounding trees, the soil churned, and numerous insects fled for their lives. For a time, the flood raged like a natural disaster.
Orochimaru didn't expect Ino to use such a fierce technique right away. He himself was not known for having a large amount of Chakra. In fact, he had the least Chakra among the Sannin. Plus, he didn't want to reveal his identity before the main course, so many Ninjutsu couldn't be used, leaving him a bit caught off guard.
The surging water changed the terrain. Shikamaru took the injured and exhausted Sasuke from Sakura's hands, Choji carried Naruto, and Karin, who had been following from a distance, looked left and right. To show she was useful, she helped Sakura up and joined the group.
Sakura was confused, 'Who are you?'
"You little brats, don't think you can run!" Orochimaru was a bit annoyed.
Having been famous for many years, he was suddenly attacked today, and the duck he thought he had in his hands had flown away. How could he tolerate this?
He quickly formed hand seals, preparing to use a Ninjutsu to deal with these Genin.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a Fat Ino. This thing had a strange expression, was light and airy, seemed capable of flight, and most importantly, was extremely fast.
With a leap, it charged towards him.
Even Orochimaru, with all his experience, was filled with doubt at this moment.
When the Second Mizukage died, the Third Hokage had just taken office. At that time, Orochimaru was still a child. He had only heard of Steam Impurities Explosion, but had never actually seen it. He also didn't expect a Genin from Konoha Village to be able to use the Second Mizukage's ultimate technique.
He instinctively felt danger, great danger! This chubby, seemingly foolish thing could cause him immense harm.
He wouldn't die. No one could kill him now, but his current body would likely be damaged.
Orochimaru made a decisive move, biting the thumbs of both hands, then, after forming hand seals, slammed them onto the ground.
"Triple Rashomon!"
Huge gates rose from the ground, and the giant human-like faces on the front of the gates opened their mouths, seemingly ready to swallow all physical attacks.
Fat Ino's speed was constantly increasing, and the water-transformed Chakra within its body was continuously being heated.
Steam Impurities Explosion is a Ninjutsu based on a water clone. The water clone possesses the intelligence of the original body, it's not a straightforward Tailed Beast Ball.
Seeing the three giant gates appear, Fat Ino was first stunned, then felt its intelligence insulted by the enemy.
'You think I'm stupid? Why would I ram directly into the gates?'
Ino stared intently at Orochimaru. When the increasingly exaggerated Fat Ino made a turn in mid-air, and then collided with Orochimaru, she pressed the last hand seal.
"Crack!"
A violent explosion echoed far away. A large number of trees were snapped in half by the shockwave from the explosion, then hot oil carrying high temperatures flew everywhere, steam shot into the sky, and dark clouds rapidly gathered towards this area.
Such a powerful explosion could be heard not only by the Genin in the death training grounds but even within Konoha Village.
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