As Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade approached slowly, Kagura looked down in confusion at the note in her hand indicating the meeting place.
"What are you doing here?"
Both sides asked simultaneously without any prior arrangement.
Actually, their reaction was completely understandable.
It had been an established rule since Konoha's founding that the three of them would form a team.
Last night, upon learning they had been grouped together just like in the original story, none of them bothered asking about each other's meeting locations.
After all, everyone instinctively assumed they had been assigned to different teams.
"Hehe, your meeting location is indeed correct.
Due to student number issues this year, Kagura has been specially added to our Team 7."
While everyone was still puzzled, a voice suddenly came from above them.
Everyone followed the sound and looked up, seeing a figure standing on a tree branch looking down at them.
"Sarutobi-sensei?"
The four exclaimed together.
"Hehe."
With a slight smile, Hiruzen Sarutobi jumped down from the tree and continued:
"Therefore, this year's Team 7 will have four members, including Kagura.
And I am your squad leader."
"But Teacher, aren't you about to assume the Hokage position?
Will you still be able to lead us on missions?"
Tsunade asked doubtfully.
Scratching his head, Sarutobi explained:
"Well, I haven't officially taken the position yet. I must finish my current work first.
My present duty is to lead Team 7. If I do become Hokage later, another Jonin will surely take over and become your teacher."
"Alright then."
After clapping his hands together, he took out three bells from his belt and continued smiling:
"Back to business. Every new Genin must undergo a test.
See these three bells in my hand?
No matter what method you use, if you can take a bell from me, you pass.
If none of you manage to get a bell, I will rank you based on performance.
The one with the worst result will be tied to a wooden post as punishment."
Having said that, he closed his fist and the bells vanished from sight.
He pulled out an incense stick, lit it, and stuck it into the post, announcing to those before him:
"The test begins now. You've got about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
Right after his words, their gazes turned sharp. In an instant, all four of them vanished into the trees.
Observing their reactions, Sarutobi folded one arm across his chest, rested his chin on his hand, and chuckled softly:
"Come on then. The game has truly begun."
Before the echo of his voice faded, his own figure had already vanished from the spot.
Jiraiya was crouching on a tree branch, his eyes locked firmly onto Hiruzen Sarutobi not far ahead.
Sarutobi's right hand was resting on his brow, scanning around as if searching for them.
Jiraiya's gaze was drawn toward the bells hanging from his waist, a smirk forming across his face.
"Hehe, Teacher, you really are too careless."
Taking advantage of Sarutobi turning his back fully toward him,
"Here we go!"
Jiraiya suddenly sprang from the tree, dashing straight at Sarutobi's back.
"Hahaha!"
"This bell belongs to me!"
"Ahhh~~~~~~~!"
Before he could finish speaking, a rope suddenly ensnared his foot.
In an instant, he was yanked upside-down into the air, hanging there with his head dangling downward.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had now turned his body completely around. As he walked toward him, he chuckled and said:
"Kid, you've got two problems.
First, if you're trying to ambush someone,
don't talk loudly when you charge in.
Otherwise your ambush becomes meaningless."
"Second, when you try to ambush someone,
use that pig brain of yours to determine whether there might be traps.
Don't fall for such a simple trap."
With that, he had already reached Jiraiya and gave him a quick poke on the forehead with his finger.
"I won't accept this! Let me down!"
Hanging mid-air, Jiraiya struggled fiercely while continuously shouting.
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to speak again, suddenly a shuriken flew out from deep within the woods directly at him.
He jumped backward effortlessly to dodge the sneak attack.
Yet no sooner had he landed than multiple other shurikens emerged from the trees, aimed precisely at his landing spot.
Still unflustered, Sarutobi drew a kunai from his waist, preparing to bat away the incoming attacks.
Right when the shurikens reached him, a voice called out from deep within the forest.
[Shadow Shuriken]
With that voice, those several shurikens suddenly split into dozens of black shadows rushing toward him.
Sarutobi's expression froze momentarily before revealing a satisfied smile.
He still didn't make any excessive movements, only his right hand suddenly transforming into a blur of afterimages, single-handedly knocking down all those shurikens.
At that moment, a figure appeared mid-air.
[Heavenly Foot!]
The attacker was none other than Tsunade.
But having already sensed her arrival, Sarutobi pushed off the ground powerfully, disappearing instantly from his original spot.
Tsunade descended ferociously from the sky with unstoppable momentum.
Bang!
With a tremendous noise, the ground beneath her right foot cracked outward like a spiderweb.
"What incredible strength... This truly is 'the Girl of Monster Strength'..."
Witnessing this scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but think to himself.
As soon as she landed, Tsunade charged forward again, gathering chakra in both hands and launching another assault.
This time, instead of retreating, Sarutobi rushed straight toward Tsunade as well.
Just as their figures crossed each other, he barely sidestepped, perfectly dodging Tsunade's direct punch.
He still had time to step in close and added with a grin,
"Nice strength, but it only matters if you can actually hit your enemy."
Before Tsunade could reveal a surprised expression, her arm had already been grabbed by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Suddenly stopping short, Tsunade spun twice in place like a toy held tightly by Sarutobi before being hurled forcefully toward a large tree.
Another loud noise followed, and Tsunade crashed directly into the huge tree, which snapped clean in half. She tumbled to the ground, raising a thick cloud of dust.
"There's an opening!"
Without waiting for the dust to settle, Orochimaru, who had been hiding within the trees all along, finally made his move.
While Hiruzen Sarutobi had just thrown Tsunade forward, Orochimaru rushed out from behind him.
Clutching a kunai tightly in his hand, he resolutely flung it toward that retreating back.
A black shadow flashed by, and the kunai accurately plunged into the person's back.
"It worked!"
"Puff~~~"
Before Orochimaru could even register his hit, the figure burst into smoke—and turned into a wooden log!
Oh no! It's the Substitution Jutsu!
Just as this thought flickered through his mind, a voice rang out from behind him:
"Hey hey~~
Didn't I just say earlier? When ambushing an enemy, you should consider whether there might be traps."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Hiruzen delivered a powerful knife-hand strike.
With a muffled grunt, Orochimaru crumbled to the ground.
At this point, barely two minutes had passed since the battle began.
Thus, the "Sannin" were completely defeated.
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