To be honest, Orochimaru himself wasn't quite sure of his current strength.
After merging with his clone previously, he had considered testing his power. However, lacking a suitable opponent and not wanting the presence of the Nine-Tails to be exposed to too many people, he ultimately abandoned the idea of unleashing his full might.
At this moment, the Monkey King's suggestion perfectly hit Orochimaru's itch.
As for the Nine-Tails, that chatterbox...
"Kurama, don't get involved."
"The battle might cause quite a disturbance. Help me watch these brats and make sure they don't get hurt."
Orochimaru sent the Nine-Tails away and then instructed the eager-faced disciples.
"You all, watch closely!"
"See what methods ninjas of the Kage level use to fight."
The young ones nodded excitedly, their eyes glued to the two figures and the monkey in the arena.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded gently, paying special attention to the phrase "Kage level" that Orochimaru had used.
"Orochimaru, excluding the power of the Nine-Tails, do you have confidence that your strength has reached the level of the Five Kage?"
"If so, then I shall use my full strength!"
"I wonder if these old bones can still probe your depths!"
Orochimaru chuckled noncommittally and slowly formed the Boar hand seal.
"Teacher Sarutobi, shall we begin then!"
"Good!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned serious as he solemnly formed a Boar hand seal, just like Orochimaru, before leaping into the distance.
The Monkey King let out a laugh, his figure flickering as he transformed into a long staff, which slammed into the ground before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's first ninjutsu was a unique technique he had taught the Sannin.
With two shuriken in each hand, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly formed hand seals.
"Ninjutsu – Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
The shuriken that flew from his hands instantly multiplied into a rain of shuriken, covering the sky and pressing down on Orochimaru.
"So... so powerful!"
The young ones had never witnessed such a grand opening ninjutsu. Even ordinary projectile attacks could be performed with such flair. The Third Hokage was truly formidable!
How would their teacher Orochimaru respond?
The next moment, Orochimaru showed his disciples his method of response.
Identical shuriken throws, identical hand seals.
"Ninjutsu – Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
An equal number of shuriken sprang from Orochimaru's hands like rain, crisscrossing and colliding with Hiruzen Sarutobi's attack.
With a clanging sound, the shuriken in the sky, after colliding with each other, dissipated into white smoke, leaving only eight ordinary shuriken to fall powerlessly to the ground.
"Wow!"
This scene reminded the young ones of the combat lessons Hiruzen Sarutobi had given Orochimaru and the others years ago, filling them with awe.
"Heh, it seems you haven't forgotten my teachings from back then."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled at his composed disciple, grabbed the staff in front of him, and with a blur of motion, leaped towards Orochimaru like a nimble monkey.
"The projectile attack has been tested. Next, let me see your taijutsu!"
"Enma's Staff - Sweeping Blow!"
The staff form of Enma slightly bent and then shot forward with great force, bringing with it a fierce gust of wind that swept towards Orochimaru's waist.
"Clang!"
Orochimaru flicked his right hand forward, and the Empty Katana instantly blocked the path of Enma's Staff.
The sword and staff collided with a crisp clang. Orochimaru's stance remained unyielding. After blocking the attack, the Empty Katana in his hand swept upwards.
Enma, in its staff form, let out a cry of pain. The staff trembled violently, taking Hiruzen Sarutobi's body with it as he was pushed back a considerable distance.
"Hiss..."
"Orochimaru, what is the origin of that sword of yours? My Diamond Body was almost broken!"
Enma's shocked words resounded. The young ones watching from afar, regardless of whether they used swords themselves, looked at the long sword in Orochimaru's hand with burning desire.
A sword that could break the Diamond Body? A divine weapon!
Their teacher possessed such a treasure, they wanted it!
Orochimaru's lips curled upward. He swung the divine sword in his hand and leaped towards Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was retreating.
"Just a Kusanagi blade obtained from Ryūchi Cave. Aside from being a bit sharper, it's nothing rare."
"However... Senior Enma, be careful!"
Enma cursed the brat for his shamelessness.
"Hiruzen, that brat has the divine weapon Kusanagi. Why bother with taijutsu?"
"Just teach him a lesson with ninjutsu!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, parrying Orochimaru's attacking divine sword with his staff. He then tapped the sword's spine, using the force to retreat a good distance.
"Enma's Staff - Diamond Cage!"
"Bang, bang..."
A series of explosions echoed as a diamond cage, entirely constructed from Enma's staff shadow clones, materialized around Orochimaru.
"Heh, in that case, we can forgo testing taijutsu!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi firmly planted Enma's Staff back into the ground and quickly formed hand seals.
"Lightning Release – Raiton: Gōrai!"
A massive lightning spear spewed from Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth, striking the all-diamond cage. Orochimaru, who was swinging his sword, trembled from the electric shock.
"Fire Release – Katon: Gōen!"
The Sarutobi clan's powerful inherited fire jutsu appeared. Terrifying high-temperature flames surged from before Hiruzen Sarutobi, crackling as they burned the air, and madly flew towards the stunned Orochimaru.
The onlookers gasped and quickly retreated from the intense heat.
"Why is the fire jutsu released by Uncle Hokage so hot? Why does it feel much stronger than the fire jutsu released by those Uchiha guys?"
Nawaki and Minato shielded the two girls behind them, rubbing their scorching faces, their eyes filled with shock.
At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed his hand to the ground and, using a secret earth style technique, disappeared into the ground.
"Earth Release – Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu!"
As Orochimaru endured the paralyzing effects of the lightning and resisted the burning flames, two large hands suddenly emerged from beneath him and pulled him into the ground.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, having succeeded with his attack, leaped out of the ground with a satisfied smile.
"Good kid!"
"You're quick with the Body Replacement Technique!"
"You almost fooled this old man!"
"Earth Release – Doton: Doryūheki!"
Sensing something amiss behind him, Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed the ground without looking back. At the same time, he lunged forward, narrowly dodging the Empty Katana that sliced through the earth wall.
"Teacher's reaction isn't slow either!"
"He can wield all sorts of elemental ninjutsu with ease, foiling my carefully planned sneak attack."
Orochimaru emerged from the gap in the shattered earth wall, smiling and complimenting Hiruzen Sarutobi from a distance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily, holding his hands vertically in front of him.
"Bang, bang..."
Two shadow clones appeared, standing side-by-side with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Now, I'll unleash my signature techniques!"
"Orochimaru, take this!"
The true body and the two shadow clones simultaneously began forming hand seals. A terrifying chakra fluctuation filled the air, and all three Hiruzen Sarutobis launched their attacks simultaneously.
"Earth Release – Doton: Yomi Numa!"
A swamp with powerful adsorption and swallowing abilities instantly formed beneath Orochimaru's feet. While obstructing Orochimaru's advance, the ninjutsu from the two shadow clones was unleashed with full force.
"Earth Release – Doton: Doryūdan!"
"Fire Release – Katon: Karyūdan!"
"Composite Ninjutsu – Doryū Karyū!"