"Time? We can do it now. Find a training ground and conduct a practical combat test directly," Orochimaru said, not having much time to prepare assessment methods. He would simply beat Lin Yu up and call it a day.
This would also serve to improve his mood, perhaps making his experiments go more smoothly.
"As for counter-reconnaissance and decision-making in critical situations, those can be discussed later. Besides strength, intelligence is also crucial for a Jonin, but that can be observed in actual combat. A single battle can reveal many of a person's strengths and weaknesses."
Orochimaru was indeed in a good mood. This was perhaps the longest speech he had ever given.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe, extinguished the bowl, and nodded, "Let's do as you say. I happen to have some free time, so I'll accompany you."
Good heavens! You can't wait to see me get beaten, can you!
But I, Uzumaki Lin Yu, am not so easily beaten. Although I can't use my trump cards, I can still use this opportunity to gauge Orochimaru's strength.
When I beat him up later, I'll know how much force to use, so I don't break him. As for killing him... Snake Auntie might not be the best at other things, but her survival skills are definitely top-notch in the ninja world!
...
Outside the Hidden Leaf Village, Training Ground No. 37.
Two figures stood tens of meters apart, facing each other. They were Lin Yu and Orochimaru.
Considering this was a Jonin assessment, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Anbu to patrol a five-kilometer radius to prevent any accidental intrusions by Hidden Leaf ninjas, thus avoiding damage and disruptions to the assessment.
"Lin Yu-kun, attack! Show me your true strength!"
Orochimaru licked his lips, his golden vertical pupils filled with excitement.
Lin Yu remained silent. He knew that with his current exposed strength, he was almost no match for Orochimaru. Without the Mangekyo Sharingan, his combat power dropped by two tiers.
Although Orochimaru hadn't mastered many forbidden jutsu yet, like Edo Tensei or the Eight-Branches Technique, he was still not to be underestimated, possessing quasi-Kage level strength.
Besides, how many battles had Lin Yu experienced since the system's arrival?
Once to the Land of Rain, once against Shukaku, a cameo in the Three Sannin's famous battle, and once when Kushina was kidnapped. He had only had three, maybe four, actual combat experiences, and those were mostly overwhelming victories, even counting the weakling Uchiha Tenichi.
The fight with Hanzo never happened; that was a "sneak attack from a coward"!
As for the time he fought with the Rinnegan, that didn't count; it was a complete annihilation with no room for experience.
Compared to Orochimaru, who had experienced hundreds of life-and-death battles, Lin Yu was as green as a newborn babe.
Lin Yu slowly exhaled. However, he did have an advantage: he knew that Orochimaru's weakness was genjutsu.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood under a tree, smoking his pipe and exhaling a wisp of smoke. "Uzumaki Lin Yu, let's see what you've got. Are you truly worthy of the title 'Ninja World's Treacherous Healer'?"
Seeing Lin Yu not move, Orochimaru wasn't in a hurry. He wanted to see what tricks Lin Yu had up his sleeve.
"Orochimaru-sensei, how about we start with a taijutsu spar?" Lin Yu took a few steps forward, grinned, and said.
Orochimaru didn't understand what trick Lin Yu was trying to pull, but he was confident he could handle it.
"As you wish."
"Alright then, here I come!"
"Come on! Let me..."
*Swish!* Two golden chakra chains suddenly shot out from behind Lin Yu, directly at Orochimaru's face. Kongō Fūsa required no hand seals, making this "overlord-level" sealing jutsu of the Uzumaki clan impossible to defend against.
Even Orochimaru didn't react in time. Didn't they just agree to a taijutsu spar? What was the meaning of these two chains?
However, the drawback of Kongō Fūsa was also obvious: its speed was not fast. Against a ninja as agile and versatile as Orochimaru, it was completely unable to keep up with his speed.
Orochimaru leaned back, used the ground for leverage with his right foot, and slid backward in a strange posture, perfectly avoiding the surprise attack of Kongō Fūsa.
Chains moving at this speed couldn't bind him!
*Shua shua shua!*
As soon as Orochimaru steadied himself and looked up, a barrage of shuriken flew towards him. Lin Yu's hands became a blur, and wave after wave of shuriken were thrown, as if they were free.
Orochimaru could only think: Can you throw projectiles in a taijutsu match too?!
The thought flashed through his mind, and Orochimaru moved his hands back and forth, weaving through the flying shuriken with nimble grace, not a single thread of his clothing touched. This was Orochimaru's exclusive "scientific running style"!
Other ninjas ran with their arms trailing behind, but Orochimaru was already decades ahead of them!
Orochimaru's figure grew closer to Lin Yu. It seemed he was adhering to Lin Yu's request and not using any ninjutsu besides taijutsu.
"I've got you! Lin Yu-kun!"
Orochimaru grinned sinisterly, extending an arm to grab Lin Yu. He slightly ducked his head to avoid a chakra chain wrapping around him, his golden vertical pupils full of confidence.
Seeing plan A fail, Lin Yu didn't get discouraged. He raised his hand to block Orochimaru's attacking arm. His eyes turned blood-red, and three black tomoe slowly spun, staring intently at Orochimaru's every move.
As for Kongō Fūsa, he had already retracted it. In close-quarters combat, it was a real burden, unless it could immobilize the enemy.
"Uchiha's Sharingan?"
This was the first time Orochimaru had seen Lin Yu's Sharingan. He wasn't overly surprised. As Lin Yu and Kushina's overseer, he had already learned about Lin Yu's background from Hiruzen Sarutobi, including his family history.
Then let me have a good look.
Orochimaru didn't hold back at all. His punches became blurs, and he attacked vital points like the eyes, neck, chest, and groin. Of course, he was also constantly wary of the Sharingan's genjutsu.
Orochimaru wasn't worried about causing irreversible damage to Lin Yu with these attacks. With the latter's medical skills and the Uzumaki clan's physique, recovery would only be a matter of time. Of course, if his eyes were blinded... that would be a perfect opportunity to test his recently developed transplant surgery.
Lin Yu dodged Orochimaru's dense attacks, cursing inwardly: Why are you only attacking these spots? What if you hurt Kushina and the others!
Lin Yu sidestepped to evade a punch, then kicked out with his right foot, forcing Orochimaru back. He retreated a few steps himself, panting slightly.
In just a short while, he had several fist imprints on his body. Although with his Sage Mode's strength and recovery, these injuries were as good as nonexistent, Lin Yu had experienced the taijutsu of a quasi-Kage level. It was still somewhat strenuous to deal with.
Compared to the seemingly playful matches with Uchiha Tenichi and the Cloud ninja Jonin, this was a completely different feeling.
Pressure!
Lin Yu felt pressure. His combat experience was still too little, and his movements were somewhat hesitant. This was also partly because Orochimaru wasn't skilled in taijutsu. He couldn't imagine what would happen if he sparred with Might Duy, who opened the Eight Gates; he might be sent flying with a single punch.
Damn it! It seems I need to master the Eight Gates as soon as possible.