Orochimaru barely registered Tengen's presence, but the towering Tyrannosaurus Rex trailing him was impossible to ignore.
The beast sensing eyes on it let out a bellow as if proclaiming its might.
Unaware that anyone here could dispatch it with ease, Orochimaru could dissect it for study; the T-Rex's limited intellect spared it such fears.
"Tengen, what's that thing?" Anko's baffled by the dinosaur.
Jurin assumed a combat stance, ready to unleash a ninjutsu on the creature.
"Tengen, that's your summoning beast, isn't it?" Orochimaru said, his mouth twitching.
"Caught it nearby. Pretty cool, right?" Tengen said. "Orochimaru-sensei, I hear you've got a summoning beast. Want to pit them against each other?"
"No need. Put that… summoning beast away." Orochimaru shook his head.
"Alright." Tengen feigning disappointment as he recalled the T-Rex.
The incident left little impression on the team, but it shook Saki, the merchant. His newfound respect for Tengen was palpable; a kid with such a terrifying summoning beast was not to be underestimated.
"Oh, Tengen, where's that Pikachu summoning beast?" Anko notices the T-Rex's absence.
"Pikachu's around." Tengen replied.
"Let it out! I want to cuddle it while I sleep." Anko said eagerly.
Tengen glanced at her. "Go to bed."
"Fine." Anko sighed. Tengen was usually easygoing, but sometimes oddly stubborn.
The night passed quietly, with no enemy attacks.
The next day, Orochimaru led the team toward the Land of Birds.
As they neared the border, several kunai shot from hidden corners, hurtling toward Tengen and the others.
Yet Tengen's group didn't flinch. The kunai struck, embedding in their bodies, even Saki's.
The Missing-nins lurking in the shadows froze, stunned. Konoha ninjas, taken down so easily?
They'd planned their ambush meticulously, expecting a tougher fight.
Poof!
As the Missing-nins smirked, the pierced figures turned to wooden logs, Body Replacement Jutsu.
The Missing-nins' faces fell. "We've been tricked!"
"Not tricked. You're just too weak." A voice said nearby. A Missing-nin spun, a kunai slashing toward the sound.
Clang!
A Konoha headband gleamed as Tengen met the Missing-nin's strike, their kunai clashing evenly.
"How?" The Missing-nin gaped. A kid this young with such skill, was this a Konoha-nin?
Tengen's eyes sharpened. Power surged in his legs, erupting as his right leg whipped out like a gale.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
His leg lashed the Missing-nin like a whip, sending him crashing through several trees before he stopped.
As Tengen charged, the Missing-nin, eyes flashing with reluctance, hurled a kunai. It missed, embedding in the ground before Tengen.
"Damn!" Tengen spotted the burning paper tag, an explosive tag.
Boom!
The blast forced Tengen to halt.
The Missing-nin grinned, hands forming signs for a powerful ninjutsu to finish the Konoha ninja.
But as he completed the final seal, a kunai grazed his throat.
Blood sprayed from the wound. The Missing-nin's eyes widened in disbelief, dimming as he caught a glimpse of Tengen, the same Konoha boy he'd faced.
"Compared to village ninjas, Missing-nins have sharp battle instincts but lack ninjutsu mastery." Tengen glances at the dead genin-level Missing-nin. He vanished from the scene.
The Missing-nin was decent for a genin, but against Tengen, he was utterly outmatched.
Returning, Tengen found Orochimaru and Saki under a tree, the former looking relaxed.
"Quick work, Tengen. Barely took any time." Orochimaru said, a faint smile on his lips.
Orochimaru's approval of Tengen grew. He'd even considered taking him as a true disciple, but the thought was fleeting. Geniuses were hard to control, and Orochimaru preferred puppets.
"Three enemies this time?" Tengen asked.
"Yes, one for each of you." Orochimaru nodded.
"Anko's still a bit weak." Tengen noted.
"I'm aware." Orochimaru smirking. "Which is why your Pikachu is quietly tailing her."
"Orochimaru-sensei." Tengen said, "if one of us can't handle an enemy, will you step in?"
"Of course. I'm your sensei." Orochimaru said, his eyes glinting with a cryptic smile.
Jurin returned next, his calm demeanor suggesting he'd dispatched his foe.
Anko arrived last, disheveled but mostly unharmed.
"Tengen, I could've taken that guy without Pikachu's help." Anko sidling up to him.
"Sure you could." Tengen said, chuckling.
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu chirped nearby.
***
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