Ino was about 70-80% certain that the person with Team 7 was Orochimaru. Before the Chunin Exams, she had a feeling she might encounter Orochimaru, but she didn't expect it to happen so soon.
"Team 7 might be facing a powerful enemy. We should go and check it out," Shikamaru said, his thoughts racing as he connected the powerful Wind Release Ninjutsu to various scenarios, all of which were unfavorable for the Konoha Ninja.
Among the current Genin, Ino was actually the best at Wind Release in Konoha. Now that she admitted the mysterious person's Wind Release was stronger than hers, how could Team 7 fare well? Ino pondered for a few seconds. She couldn't leave her comrades with the impression that she was indifferent to fellow Konoha Ninja. In the current era, and even in the future when Kakashi or Naruto became Hokage, the Will of Fire was something that had to be upheld. She could slack off in action, but she had to show concern in words.
She nodded at Shikamaru. "Let's go now. I'm also a bit worried about Sakura and her big forehead."
They called Choji to join them. Although he was reluctant to leave the roasted bear paw behind, Choji never opposed decisions made by the two of them and happily followed along.
Seeing that Karin was about to follow, Ino added, "Don't come with us. It might get very dangerous later. Someone as weak as you should stay far away."
Three kilometers wasn't far. When Team 10 arrived, they saw Naruto unconscious, pinned to a tree by a kunai, while Sasuke charged forward with Chidori, only to have his wrist easily caught by the enemy and thrown backward.
"What are you doing here? Run! Hurry, take those two idiots and run!" Sasuke, mid-air, spotted Team 10 and roared fiercely, his expression savage.
Orochimaru, wearing a Grass Village vest, glanced at them from a distance but said nothing, seemingly uninterested in Team 10.
Shikamaru paused. If even Sasuke from Team 7 felt they could only run, how strong was this enemy? If rescuing Team 7 meant sacrificing Team 10, he would never forgive himself. He was now weighing the risks.
Their slight hesitation led to a disaster for Team 7.
Sasuke, still in mid-air, became Orochimaru's target.
Orochimaru's neck suddenly elongated, flying over ten meters, his fangs glinting coldly as he aimed to bite Sasuke's neck.
Ino couldn't sit still. Sasuke was tied to the issue of Indra Chakra, and at this stage, she didn't want any changes—good or bad—to happen to him, fearing they might affect her.
She had to act, even if she didn't want to.
She leaped out, her hands quickly forming hand seals. "Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A silver line of water shot forward. Orochimaru's neck had a strange elasticity, slippery and rubber-like, making it hard to cut. The Water Severing Wave felt significant resistance but still managed to sever his neck. A head with half a neck flew into the air.
The severed neck transformed into numerous white snakes, reconnecting the upper and lower parts. Countless white snakes tightly coiled together, twisting a couple of times, and the previously severed neck was restored.
Orochimaru's golden eyes turned to Ino. He even licked his lips, his gaze radiating bone-chilling killing intent.
Ino felt slightly uncomfortable with the situation, but she was used to such eerie environments, and her own spiritual energy was strong. She was far from the point where she needed to self-harm to break free from mental pressure like Naruto and Sasuke.
"Hurry, retreat! This guy is too strong!" She signaled Shikamaru and Choji to take Team 7 and leave first.
Sasuke had no intention of fighting to the death. Sakura supported him as they retreated first. Naruto was unconscious, and Choji carried him on his back as they ran.
Ino glanced subtly at the situation. She had anticipated Naruto's condition, but there was no time to deal with it now.
She quickly formed hand seals.
First, she would create a commotion. Surely the village wouldn't just sit back and do nothing, right?
She took a deep breath, her chest and abdomen expanding, and then exhaled water attribute Chakra towards Orochimaru, who wore a mocking smile. "Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" In the forest, a massive surge of water appeared out of nowhere, the torrential flow knocking down surrounding trees, churning the soil, and sending insects fleeing in all directions. For a moment, it was as if a natural disaster had struck.
Orochimaru hadn't expected Ino to come at him with such a fierce technique right from the start. He wasn't known for having a large amount of Chakra—in fact, among the Three Legendary Sannin, he had the least. Combined with his reluctance to reveal his identity before the main event, many of his ninja techniques were unusable, leaving him momentarily flustered.
The surging water altered the terrain. Shikamaru took the injured and exhausted Sasuke from Sakura, while Choji carried Naruto on his back. Karin, who had been following from a distance, looked around and, wanting to prove her usefulness, supported Sakura and joined the group.
Sakura was confused. Who are you? "You little brats, don't think you can escape!" Orochimaru was furious.
Having been famous for years, he had been suddenly ambushed today, and now the prey he had almost caught was slipping away. How could he tolerate this?
He quickly formed hand seals, preparing to use a ninja technique to deal with these Genin.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a chubby Ino. This thing had an eerie expression, seemed to float, and was incredibly fast.
In a flash, it charged straight at him.
Even Orochimaru, with all his experience, was puzzled.
When the Second Mizukage died, the Third Hokage had just taken office. At that time, Orochimaru was still a child. He had only heard of the Vapor Explosion technique but had never actually seen it. He never expected a Genin from the Hidden Leaf Village to be able to use the Second Mizukage's ultimate skill.
His intuition screamed danger—great danger! This chubby, seemingly foolish thing could cause him significant harm.
He wouldn't die—no one could kill him now—but his current body might be damaged.
Orochimaru made a quick decision. He bit his thumbs on both hands, formed hand seals, and slapped the ground.
"Triple Rashomon!"
Massive gates rose from the earth, the humanoid faces on the doors opening their mouths as if to devour any physical attack.
The chubby Ino's speed continued to increase, the Hydrification Chakra within her body being continuously heated.
Vapor Explosion was a ninja technique based on Water Clones, which possessed the intelligence of the original body, not the mindless Tailed Beast Bomb.
Seeing the three giant gates appear, the chubby Ino was momentarily stunned, then felt her intelligence was being insulted by the enemy.
Do you think I'm stupid? Why would I charge straight into the gates?
Ino stared intently at Orochimaru. As the increasingly exaggeratedly plump Ino made a mid-air turn and collided with Orochimaru in an instant, she completed the final hand seal.
"Crack!"
The intense explosion echoed far and wide. The shockwave from the blast snapped numerous trees in half, while hot oil, carrying high temperatures, splattered in all directions. Steam surged into the sky, and dark clouds quickly gathered overhead.
Such a powerful explosion was not only heard by the Genin within the death training ground but also reached the Hidden Leaf Village.