With Choza's command, Ryoma immediately pulled Asuma and Kurenai, taking cover in the nearby woods to strategize.
Watching Ryoma drag the two away by force, Choza couldn't help but suspect that this kid might be planning to eliminate Asuma and Kurenai first to remove the competition before coming to snatch the bells himself.
"If that's really the case, I absolutely won't allow a child like that to become a ninja, at least definitely not in my squad!" Choza silently resolved.
In the grass, the three of them huddled in a circle, whispering secretly.
Asuma wore a look of vigilance, sharing the same thought as Choza, "This big brother wouldn't be thinking of eliminating me internally first, then teaming up with Kurenai to get the bells so they can fly off together as a pair, would he?"
"I absolutely won't let such a thing happen!"
Looking at Asuma's constipated expression, Ryoma could tell at a glance what he was thinking.
He went up and gave Asuma a smack on the head.
"Alright, Asuma, your big brother isn't that kind of person. I pulled you over here to make it easier to discuss strategy. Don't tell me you're confident you can snatch two bells from an elite Jonin all by yourself."
Asuma rubbed his head and asked puzzledly, "But there are only two bells. Even if we snatch them, how do the three of us split them?"
Ryoma helplessly massaged his own forehead—this really was the Hokage's foolish son.
Even if Asuma didn't get one, Ryoma truly didn't believe Choza would dare to send Asuma back to the Ninja Academy. Wouldn't the Third lose face?
Unless, of course, the Third specifically ordered it.
Ryoma patiently explained to Asuma, "Asuma, what we need to consider first isn't how to split the bells after snatching them. The first thing we should consider is how to snatch two bells from an elite Jonin!"
"If we fight alone, in the end, it's highly likely none of us will get one, and then all three of us will be sent back to the Ninja Academy together!"
The use of "highly likely" here was quite clever.
Naturally, it was because Ryoma himself had some confidence in snatching a bell.
It wasn't about defeating Choza, just snatching two bells.
Under Orochimaru's "guidance," Ryoma had not only learned quite a few strange jutsu but had also made rapid progress in developing the masks.
The Ninja Corps - Shadow Soldiers, the Night Bat Corps - Flying Shadows, and the newly developed Troll Corps - Giant Shadows and the Blade Corps - Claw Shadows, thanks to Orochimaru's snakes!
The coordinated efforts of these four types of Shadow Corps soldiers, plus the top-tier combat power of General Niga.
Ryoma truly didn't believe that with this lineup, he still couldn't manage to snatch a couple of bells?!
Of course, doing so might expose General Niga's existence.
As his trump card, like the underwear he wore, it was best not to reveal it unless absolutely necessary.
You need to have a trump card (underwear), but you shouldn't go around telling everyone you have it.
However, after training with Orochimaru for about half a year, Ryoma found that he seemed to have developed an immunity to snakes, or perhaps he had genuinely become numb.
Day after day of me swallowing snakes, snakes swallowing me, snakes swallowing snakes—it had gotten to the point where Ryoma really wasn't afraid of snakes at all anymore.
Naturally, his progress wasn't as obvious as before.
Of the nine generals, he could still only summon General Niga.
However, Ryoma once again felt the same sensation he had before summoning General Niga, this time with the Night Bat Mask (Flying Shadow) and the Troll Mask (Giant Shadow).
All he needed was a trigger.
...
Kurenai agreed with Ryoma's suggestion. As a genjutsu-type ninja, facing a far stronger opponent alone naturally put her at the greatest disadvantage.
Cooperation was Kurenai's only way out in this test.
Seeing the girl he liked agree to Ryoma's proposal, Asuma naturally had no objections.
Ryoma said to the two of them, "Later, we'll do this..."
...
Choza, watching Asuma swagger up to him, felt a wave of confusion.
"Is he fighting alone, or is this a decoy?"
Then he saw Asuma arrogantly shout at him, "Teacher Choza, come on! I alone am enough to snatch the bells!"
After saying that, he drew his chakra blades and charged forward menacingly.
Choza fended off Asuma's attacks while keeping an eye on his surroundings.
Asuma was soon at a disadvantage and was kicked flying by Choza.
While in mid-air, Asuma quickly formed hand signs, "Wind Release: Dust Cloud Technique."
A cloud of dust shot from Asuma's mouth toward Choza.
Unfazed, Choza shouted, "Partial Multi-Size Technique!"
Choza's right hand instantly enlarged, passing through the dust cloud to grab at Asuma.
Unable to dodge in mid-air, Asuma was about to be caught.
Just then, three or four enormous shadow soldiers burst from the nearby grass—Giant Shadows summoned by Ryoma!
They strode forward with powerful steps to meet Choza's right hand.
Boom!
A tremendous sound rang out.
The four Giant Shadow soldiers jointly blocked Choza's right hand, while Asuma was carried to safety by two Flying Shadows.
Looking at the Giant Shadows straining to resist his strength, Choza's eyes showed surprise.
"So this is Ryoma's shadow Kekkei Genkai. What a powerful ability!"
Asuma, also excited, shouted, "Well done, Brother Ryoma!"
Choza smiled slightly, "If you think you can stop me with just this, it's not quite enough!"
With that, he continued to exert force. The Giant Shadow soldiers clearly struggled, being pushed by Choza's large hand, forced to retreat closer to Asuma, leaving deep tracks in the ground.
Seeing this, Asuma quickly formed hand signs, wanting to help Ryoma's Giant Shadows.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!" Asuma roared, unleashing an extremely fierce stream of flames toward Choza.
At the same time, a group of Flying Shadows in the sky gathered palm waves, attacking Choza's face together.
Several Claw Shadows, hidden on the ground for some time, also emerged around Choza, brandishing their claws to strike at his vital points.
Feeling his current predicament, Choza stopped underestimating them. After all, it wouldn't be glorious for a Jonin instructor to get injured by students during the first assessment.
Choza instantly exerted force, breaking free from the Giant Shadows' restraint.
He then leaped into the air, shouting, "Multi-Size Technique!"
A puff of smoke drifted by, and a PLUS-sized Choza appeared on the field, swatting away the Flying Shadows in the sky with one slap.
The Claw Shadows' attacks only left a few superficial scratches on Choza's body.
Asuma's Dragon Flame Technique was also easily blocked by Choza.
Just as Choza was about to continue attacking Asuma, he suddenly felt a hindrance to his movement.
Following the chakra, he saw Ryoma using the Shadow Imitation Technique not far away.
He nodded in satisfaction, thinking to himself, "Good tactics and coordination, but this level isn't enough yet."
As if hearing Choza's thoughts, Ryoma responded with a bright smile.
Immediately, dense swarms of Shadow Soldiers crawled up Choza's enormous body along the shadows.
Ryoma had known all along that with Choza's strength, trying to control him with the Shadow Imitation Technique was unrealistic. What he wanted was to establish a bridge between himself and Choza.
The Multi-Size Technique had top-tier offense and defense, but its biggest weakness was that the target became too large.
This allowed Ryoma's jutsu to hit easily, and Kurenai's as well.
Choza felt as if countless Shadow Soldiers were fearlessly climbing up his body, attacking him as they went.
At the same time, the Flying Shadows reappeared in the sky, continuously firing palm wave rays at the gigantic Choza.
Choza was getting somewhat irritated.
It felt like ants crawling all over his body!
He couldn't stand it!
Instantly, he released a powerful burst of chakra energy from his entire body, blowing away the Shadow Soldiers climbing on him.
He also grabbed a few Flying Shadows from the air and hurled them at the other Flying Shadow soldiers.
At that moment, Choza didn't notice a few small snakes stealthily approaching him not far from his feet.
The shadows beneath the snakes were connected to Ryoma behind them.
The small snakes wobbled as they crawled up Choza's pant leg.
From the snakes' shadows, a group of Giant Shadow soldiers instantly charged out.
Without hesitation, they rushed toward Choza's left leg.
Seizing the opportunity, Ryoma shouted, "Ninja Art: Hidden Shadow Giant Snake Limb!"
A giant python burst from the ground, its maw gaping wide, coiling around Choza's left leg and suddenly exerting force.
Caught off guard, Choza lost his balance and was thrown to the ground.
Even as he fell, Choza felt a bit dazed, thinking, "Are these two kids fresh out of the Ninja Academy already this fierce?"
Then, he saw the adorable Kurenai where he was about to fall, and her sweet voice reached his ears, "Genjutsu: Triple Blossoming Sakura!"
...
Although Choza quickly broke Kurenai's genjutsu, he was still disoriented for a moment by the surprise attack.
The disrupted chakra also caused his Multi-Size Technique to be dispelled.
Then, Choza saw the three of them walking toward him together.
On the way, Ryoma flamboyantly caught two bells dropped by a Flying Shadow soldier from the air.
A satisfied and appreciative smile appeared on Choza's face.
Ryoma raised the bells in his hand and said with a smile, "Teacher Choza, it seems we've won!"
***