I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 87, The Tortoise and the Hare, teaches us that when you're in the lead, you can rest, but you can't lie down.

"Ding~ [Patience +10], [Spirit +5], pick up?"

In the early hours of the morning, Tatsuma looked at the chakra dagger in his hand, which had been lengthened by wind-style chakra, and listened to the broadcast in his mind. A smile appeared on his tired face.

Over the years, Tatsuma felt that he had indeed become a very competitive person. He liked to use the sense of urgency brought by the game to push himself to improve.

"Ring ring ring~"

Just as he was immersed in joy, the alarm clock rang not far away. The difference was only a few minutes. Chenma came back to his senses and turned off the alarm clock. He was almost defeated.

But if he told me about such a timely success, probably no one would believe it.

"Clap clap clap~"

Just then, a thin figure emerged from the woods. It was Orochimaru. Orochimaru clapped his hands and said, "I really didn't expect that you could learn it in such a short time."

Moreover, the way you learn is very interesting; it's not like learning ninjutsu, but like building a house, stacking the bricks one by one.

Tatsuma waved his hand, and the wind blade that had gathered on the chakra dagger in his hand dissipated. He smiled and said, "Most ninjutsu cannot escape chakra control, nature transformation, and form transformation. As long as you master these three, it is not difficult to learn them."

As for learning methods, I lack natural talent, so I can only use some clever tricks to learn faster.

Orochimaru chuckled wryly when Tatsuma said his talent was lacking, then quickly shook his head and said:

"I've heard Tsunade mention chakra control, and I've heard Jiraiya mention nature transformation, but your form transformation far surpasses the level of your current ninjutsu."

Upon hearing Orochimaru's words, Tatsuma froze. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to have observed things so meticulously, even though it was just learning a ninjutsu. Tatsuma only needed to say:

"I'm developing a technique that requires a high level of skill in chakra transformation, so I've been practicing it a lot."

"Oh"

Orochimaru drawled out his words, his golden eyes scrutinizing Tatsuma in the night, his mind racing with speculation. He had witnessed Tatsuma's thirty-six hours of training and knew of Tatsuma's mastery of form transformation.

Normal ninjas wouldn't train their chakra forms to the level of Tatsuma. Even medical ninjas, even those known for their demanding chakra control and form transformations, wouldn't need such a high level of skill.

Not only medical ninjutsu, but even sealing techniques, as far as Orochimaru knew, there weren't many sealing techniques that required this level of chakra transformation.

Moreover, most elemental ninjutsu require the same level of skill in both form and nature transformation, but Tatsuma's mastery of form transformation clearly far surpasses his mastery of nature transformation.

If Tatsuma wasn't lying, then the technique he developed wasn't some conventional ninjutsu or escape technique. Orochimaru frowned as he sized up Tatsuma.

A thought just flashed through his mind: Could it be that Tatsuma is using a composite ninjutsu like his teacher, which achieves the bloodline limit effect through attribute combination?

Orochimaru quickly had another thought: the people he knew seemed to have improved a bit too much lately.

Tsunade learned the techniques personally taught by Lady Mito, Jiraiya found the technique called Sage Mode, the same one used by the First Hokage, and even younger generations like Tatsuma are developing remarkable techniques.

Was he just being lazy? Or was it simply that the people around him were different from ordinary people?

Tatsuma looked at Orochimaru, who had once again fallen into a daze, and was somewhat puzzled. This was different from the Orochimaru he remembered, although his impression of him had always been a stereotype.

Orochimaru quickly noticed Tatsuma's gaze, waved his hand, and said, "Go back and rest. We're leaving tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

Tatsuma nodded, and was about to say goodbye and leave when he noticed Orochimaru had turned into smoke and disappeared.

Inside a makeshift tent, Orochimaru, who was fast asleep, suddenly opened his eyes, sat up in bed, and frowned as he pondered something.

Tatsuma slept soundly; exhaustion is the best cure for insomnia. He didn't open his eyes and get out of bed until he was woken up by the ninja in the same tent.

The temporary camp didn't have much usable water. Although they were in the Land of Rivers with many small rivers and streams, they couldn't use the water at will, since the leader of the Sand Village team was a master of poison.

The water in the tents was collected first and allowed to be used only after Tsunade's series of inspections, but each person was allocated a small amount.

Therefore, after brushing his teeth, Chenma didn't even have time to wash his face, and he had to rub off the eye boogers with his fingers. Fortunately, it's only early spring and the weather isn't too hot, otherwise life would be a huge problem.

After washing up, I returned to my tent and streamlined my backpack, leaving most of the ninja tool sealing scrolls and medical device sealing scrolls at the camp.

Tatsuma ultimately chose only two sets of throwing ninja tools, two medical kits, and a number of explosive tags, smoke bombs, and ration pills. He put his backpack back on, put on his chakra dagger, and headed towards the rendezvous point.

Upon arriving at the meeting point, Tatsuma checked the mission scroll and found his own line. He exchanged a few words with the people around him in the line, and Orochimaru also arrived at the meeting point.

One advantage of Orochimaru as a leader is that he doesn't talk too much nonsense. After scanning the nearly one thousand ninjas gathered at the assembly point and exchanging a few words with a few Jonin, the group began to move forward.

"Tatsuma, when we encounter enemies later, remember to stand back. We'll protect you."

On the way to the battlefield, a young Jonin riding a large dog suddenly smiled at Tatsuma and said something. Tatsuma smiled helplessly. He understood that these "seniors" around him were trying to take care of him, but he had really decided to go to the battlefield.

"Inuzuka Shin-senpai, you don't need to worry about me too much."

Tatsuma couldn't refuse other people's kindness, so he could only politely decline. When Inuzuka heard Tatsuma's words, he just smiled and didn't reply.

As the group moved forward, Inuzuka Makoto and his ninja dog stopped at the same time. Tatsuma also frowned, and the two said almost in unison, "There are ninjas lying in ambush 500 meters ahead."

"Um?!"

Inuzuka looked at Tatsuma with great surprise. Tatsuma smiled and said, "I am also a sensory ninja."

Inuzuka Shin suddenly realized, then looked at the front of the group where Orochimaru was leading the way, and whispered, "Lord Orochimaru at the front must have already noticed, so don't give yourself away."

At this moment, Tatsuma followed Inuzuka Makoto's gaze and looked at Orochimaru. Orochimaru, unlike his usual cautious self, charged straight ahead like a reckless youth. Tatsuma couldn't help but remark:

"Orochimaru-sama's acting skills are pretty average."

"Bang bang~"

Just then, Orochimaru stepped into the ambush formation of ninjas. After a series of explosions, Orochimaru's voice came from within the smoke: "Keep advancing!"

Tatsuma and Inuzuka exchanged a glance, then followed the group. However, as the group moved forward, Tatsuma's brows furrowed more and more, because they had already passed several Sunagakure ambush sites.

Orochimaru stopped "provoking" the Sand Ninja, but as a result, the Konoha team gradually found themselves surrounded.

"It's about time for war to break out."

Inuzuka Shin jumped off the back of the ninja dog, a kunai appearing in his hand, and warily looked around.

"Couldn't you hold back anymore?"

Orochimaru, standing in front, also grinned, revealing an "elegant" smile.

"Tsunade, isn't she coming?"

Suddenly, a faint light appeared in the jungle, and a rather weathered female voice echoed through the woods.

"Watch out! Watch out, it's poisonous!"

Inuzuka shouted loudly, and countless kunai and many fleeting shadows appeared in the forest, heading towards the Konoha team. Inuzuka glanced at Tatsuma with concern, only to find that Tatsuma was already holding a ninja sword and ready.

"That was a pretty good ambush. Even though you're the enemy, you're not bad!"

To Inuzuka Makoto's bewildered gaze, Tatsuma actually exclaimed in praise, knocked away the kunai that was thrust at him, and then pounced into the forest. Just as Inuzuka Makoto was about to give chase, a scream came from the forest.

"Ah!!! Why has your... gotten longer?"

"That's how it is in the morning, isn't it? Is it really impossible for an old man like you to manage in the morning?"

(End of this chapter)