Watching the short sword transform, Tatsuma's mind drifted back a year to his and Minato's graduation exam. Orochimaru had been the proctor, and if he recalled correctly, the man had used this exact technique then.
That memory was etched deep in his mind. He had used the Wild Lion's Mane Technique taught by Jiraiya, reinforcing his hair with chakra until it was as tough as steel wire. Yet Orochimaru, wielding the Gale Blade, had sliced through it like it was nothing. It was the first time Tatsuma had felt the utter powerlessness that comes with a vast disparity in strength.
Technically, he had "fought" Hatake Sakumo, who was arguably stronger than the current Orochimaru, and Tatsuma had been even weaker back then. The gap should have felt larger. But Sakumo's presence... it was too reserved. He hadn't radiated that cold, predatory sense of danger that Orochimaru did.
Knowing he now had the chance to learn this jutsu made Tatsuma's heart race. With his high sensory talent, he could feel how little chakra was actually leaking from the blade.
This meant the Gale Blade, whether in its activation or maintenance, required very little chakra. It was the perfect fit for Tatsuma's current limitations. In terms of pure destructive power, the Rasengan he'd been practicing in secret was superior, but its cost was astronomical and it couldn't be maintained for long. It was a siege weapon; the Gale Blade was a soldier's sidearm.
Furthermore, unlike Fire, Earth, or Water Style—which relied heavily on the caster's chakra volume to determine power—Wind Style was less demanding on quantity and more focused on control. It was about compressing air to create that razor-sharp nature transformation. Of the four elements he had dabbled in, Wind Style was easily his favorite.
Seeing the sparkle in Tatsuma's eyes, Orochimaru let out a faint smile. "Can you see through it? This jutsu?"
Tatsuma didn't answer immediately. He focused his senses on the humming blade in Orochimaru's hand. After a long moment, he spoke. "Sealing Arts?"
"Precisely." A flash of genuine approval crossed Orochimaru's eyes. "Many people think Sealing Arts are entirely separate from elemental Ninjutsu. But having studied under Lady Mito for so long, you should understand the truth by now."
"Elemental Ninjutsu and Sealing Arts complement and elevate one another. For instance, the Four Violet Flames Formation borrows heavily from Fire Style principles. Conversely, the Hidden Mist's Water Prison Technique draws on the restrictive properties of Sealing Arts."
Orochimaru adjusted his grip. "Most ninjutsu require a constant, heavy flow of chakra to maintain their form—everything from the five basic elements to your Chakra Scalpel. But once a seal is formed, it requires almost nothing to stay active. Think of the Gale Blade as a porous, solidified lattice of chakra. By arranging those 'pores' into a sealing formula, the blade maintains its shape indefinitely with minimal input."
He gave the blade a light swing, and it bit into the wooden desk. However, it didn't slice through cleanly; it got stuck.
"Because of the seal," Orochimaru continued, "while it possesses the inherent sharpness of Wind Style, it lacks the aggressive cutting power of a raw Wind Style jutsu."
"But that day..." Tatsuma started to mention how easily Orochimaru had sliced his hair, but he cut himself off as the realization hit him.
Orochimaru nodded, pleased by the boy's quick wit. "The porous structure allows you to channel flowing Wind Style chakra through it at will. Like this."
Shing—!
The blade instantly glided through the rest of the desk, leaving a deep, cauterized-looking cut in the wood. "The fixed lattice structure means you don't have to worry about the direction of your chakra output. You can achieve maximum cutting efficiency in the shortest time with the least amount of chakra. That is the true value of this technique."
"A porous lattice... that doesn't sound like a traditional, ancient jutsu," Tatsuma noted, looking at him.
Orochimaru offered a rare, humble smile. "I made a few minor modifications. The standard Gale Blade is a B-rank jutsu, but my version... well, that depends on which one you want to learn."
"Lord Orochimaru, after you spent so much breath explaining a new and improved jutsu, how could I possibly refuse?"
Orochimaru's approval of the boy deepened. He was in such a good mood that he even attempted a joke. "In that case, you had better prepare yourself for the possibility of never reaching the front lines."
Is he saying if I can't learn it, I'm grounded? His sense of humor is as scary as his face...
Tatsuma kept the thought to himself and offered a polite, dutiful smile. Orochimaru reached into his flak jacket, pulled out a scroll, and handed it over.
"You now have two mission scrolls and one ninjutsu scroll. The choice is yours."
"I understand. Thank you for your time, Lord Orochimaru."
Tatsuma took the scroll. Both missions were set to begin the day after tomorrow. If he could master Orochimaru's improved Gale Blade within the next two days, he could join the Combat Team. If he failed... he'd be stuck doing construction work for the Decoy Team.
Wait! Construction?
Tatsuma, who was halfway to the door, stopped and turned back. "Lord Orochimaru, if you were in my shoes—if you hadn't designed the jutsu yourself and were seeing this scroll for the first time—how long would it take you to master it?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, calculating. "No more than three days."
He spoke with absolute confidence. He was already a master of the base Gale Blade, his Wind Style nature transformation was top-tier, and while he wasn't a grandmaster like Uzumaki Mito, his proficiency in Sealing Arts was excellent. He had all the prerequisites. Three days was a generous estimate for himself.
Tatsuma pursed his lips. "If a genius like you needs three days, and I only have two to make the cut for the Combat Team... Lord Orochimaru, let's make a bet."
"I bet I can master this jutsu within thirty-six hours. If I win, you can't use any more excuses to keep me from the front lines. Deal?"
"An intriguing proposal. I accept," Orochimaru replied. "I'll bet you need at least thirty-six hours to even grasp the concept. However... you've said what you get if you win. What do I get if I win?"
"Er... if you're right, I'll admit you're awesome!"
Tatsuma saw Orochimaru's lip twitch visibly. Finally, the Sannin sighed. "You really are a product of both Jiraiya and Tsunade's teaching."
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