Teacher
Using Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash - Sixfold, Chiyu launched his final assault against Orochimaru.
Orochimaru swiftly dodged the initial unsheathing blade strike.
Chiyu planted both feet firmly on a tree trunk, leveraging the terrain to pivot his attack direction, and slashed at Orochimaru again.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with interest.
"Oh? So you've compensated for the glaring weakness of Thunderclap and Flash—how it becomes predictable and nearly useless once the trajectory and timing are analyzed? You truly are a prodigy."
He didn't mistake this maneuver for some new hidden technique; it was still firmly within the Thunderclap and Flash framework.
But don't underestimate the complexity here. Orochimaru recognized the sheer difficulty in altering the attack's direction by using the environment.
Chiyu was chasing pure speed—the faster he moved, the greater the impact.
By shifting his attack direction off the tree trunk, the kinetic force translated through his legs.
The deep, penetrating imprint left on the bark was proof of immense power.
Had he miscalculated, minor leg injuries might have been overshadowed by the backlash of lightning-natured chakra coursing unpredictably through his muscles.
Chiyu's precise chakra control revealed a meticulously honed foundation.
"Let's see how far you can push this."
Orochimaru formed hand seals.
"Wind Style: Wind Scythe Technique!"
A slicing gale erupted from Orochimaru's hand, capable of cutting through flesh and bone instantly, rushing toward Chiyu.
Chiyu vaulted onto a nearby rock, changed direction to evade the deadly wind, then used an adjacent tree to pivot again, closing in on Orochimaru.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!" Orochimaru commanded.
A towering earthen wall erupted between them.
Chiyu's blade sliced clean through the barrier.
But Orochimaru had already vanished—Body Flicker Technique employed flawlessly.
Chiyu's Sharingan tracked the ninja's new position, and he pivoted once more to continue his assault.
Watching the streak of lightning-imbued strikes, Orochimaru smirked.
"Though you've compensated for Thunderclap and Flash's predictability, you still attack in a linear path.
Your speed is impressive, but it's not yet beyond my perception—your trajectory remains easy to anticipate.
No matter how many attempts you make, this alone won't secure victory."
He dodged another strike.
"Sixfold, you said? By definition, you can only alter your attack's direction using the terrain six times.
You've changed course five times already, meaning you have only one chance left."
Orochimaru's analysis was precise.
Chiyu's legs throbbed with pain—Sixfold was his absolute limit.
But Orochimaru underestimated Chiyu's strategic mind.
If he thought this was the end, he was dead wrong.
Orochimaru could predict Thunderclap and Flash easily, no matter if it was Sixfold, Eightfold, or even Eighteenfold.
Chiyu wasn't about to rush in blindly and let Orochimaru toy with him.
This Sixfold was Chiyu's finishing gambit.
Steeling his resolve against the searing pain, Chiyu pressed off the tree again, pivoting toward Orochimaru with renewed ferocity.
Orochimaru's brow furrowed.
He noticed a subtle shake of Chiyu's left hand—an unfamiliar gesture.
Suddenly, a rustling noise enveloped Orochimaru.
Before he could react, he found himself ensnared—restrained in place.
Under the crackling lightning glow from Chiyu's body, Orochimaru's eyes caught the glint of wires binding him.
Wires.
His tactical mind pieced it together swiftly.
Chiyu knew Thunderclap and Flash - Sixfold alone wouldn't catch him; Orochimaru's Body Flicker rendered it useless.
So how to land the blow?
By anchoring Orochimaru in place.
Each time Chiyu changed direction, he wrapped conductive, heat-resistant wire around the trees he used.
At night, these wires blended seamlessly into the environment.
The hand-shake motion Chiyu made was to fasten the wires to his hands, then he used the velocity of Thunderclap and Flash to tighten the snares, restraining Orochimaru instantly.
Orochimaru's respect for Chiyu surged.
To conceive and execute this in real time was a testament to Chiyu's combat intellect and precision.
Then—a flash of lightning—and Chiyu's blade severed Orochimaru's head.
The head clattered to the ground.
But Chiyu's legs gave out; the pain overwhelmed him, and he collapsed.
No one in the ninja world underestimated Orochimaru's tenacity.
His severed body writhed; from the viscous slime, his true form emerged.
Orochimaru's signature: Snake Body Replacement Technique.
Without hand seals, he transferred his consciousness to a substitute body.
Approaching Chiyu calmly, Orochimaru placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Your strength is impressive. I retract my earlier criticism of your adaptability.
To devise and execute a strategy this swiftly speaks volumes of your decision-making and resolve."
Chiyu, still trembling from leg pain, looked up hopefully.
"Orochimaru-sama, then I…"
Orochimaru interrupted gently, "After the graduation exam in four days, I will come to you. You may now change your address—and call me teacher."
Ignoring the ache, Chiyu straightened up proudly.
"Yes! Orochimaru-sensei!"
Orochimaru released his grip and left the training ground.
Through this battle, Chiyu was certain: following Orochimaru's path would make him stronger.
He silently thanked Hiruzen Sarutobi for facilitating this opportunity.
Years of enduring Konoha's trials had not been in vain.