C120 Orochimaru

In the Grass Kage Room, the magnate, Grass Kage, and senior leaders were all assembled. Yang Ming took his place at the center, seated as an equal among them. As he settled in, Takenaka Jun brought his hands together with a joyful exclamation.

"Yuejun, congratulations! From now on, we'll be working side by side!"

"As a Grass Ninja, I pledge to fight tirelessly for our village!"

Yang Ming acknowledged with a nod.

"Yuejun, I must admit, I'm quite intrigued by your power. How formidable would you be if you were to go all out?"

It was then that the Sword God, Chidzuru Koichi, interjected. He had been quiet since the ceremony, simply addressing Yang Ming as Yuejun during the crowning moment and standing vigil by the magnate. Now, with everyone gathered in the Grass Kage Room, he posed his question.

His words drew all eyes to Yang Ming, who faced a room hushed in anticipation.

"Going all out, I could land a punch that an ordinary Shadow Level ninja couldn't withstand."

Yang Ming responded confidently, without evasion.

"Not even a match for an ordinary Shadow Level? I'd relish the chance to spar with you sometime!"

Chidzuru Koichi's excitement was palpable. As the Sword God and an unparalleled master, he was always drawn to the strength of others.

The magnate's expression clouded over for a moment at these words but quickly cleared.

The Grass Kage and the others exchanged looks of disbelief, yet they didn't question the truth of his claim. The memory of Yang Ming's explosive punch at the Daming Mansion was still vivid in their minds. It was a dazzling display, and the idea that Yang Ming could hold his own against a Shadow Level expert was astonishing.

"Alright!"

Yang Ming accepted Chidzuru Koichi's challenge without hesitation. He was indifferent to whether it was a directive from the magnate, a hidden agenda, or a strategic play between the Grass Kage and the magnate.

Chidzuru Koichi was a legend, mentioned in the same breath as Mifune and Hanzou, a true pinnacle of the Ninja World. Now with his high-level Immortal Body, Yang Ming was eager to gauge the extent of his own formidable strength.

Chidzuru Koichi stood before him, undoubtedly an opponent of the highest caliber!

Yang Ming was eager to witness the spectacle of this swordsmanship myth at the height of his samurai prowess.

"Both of you are pillars of our Grass Country. It's crucial that you maintain harmony. Yuejun, let's not rush this. We have an extremely important task at hand, particularly for you, Yuejun. This might be your inaugural mission as a ninja, and it's classified as an A-grade mission!"

The Grass Kage interjected upon seeing the two.

"An A-grade mission?"

Yang Ming turned to the Grass Kage.

Then, the magnate chimed in.

"This mission is quite unique. It's less of a task and more of a test. The Fire Country, as the foremost of the five great nations, has announced that the Mid Level Ninja Test will take place next spring. Your mission is to infiltrate the test disguised as a Junior Ninja, rendezvous with a dignitary, and ensure the mission's success!"

"Rendezvous with a dignitary and ensure the mission's success!"

At those words, Yang Ming felt a jolt, and the image of a ghastly pale face flashed through his mind—Orochimaru, the legendary one of the three ninjas!

"The Mid Level Ninja Test, huh?"

Yang Ming murmured to himself.

"Okay."

He then accepted the mission without a second thought. He had already planned to venture into the Death Forest of the Fire Country to gather medicinal herbs, so taking on this mission seemed fitting.

Besides, Yang Ming was curious to encounter this scientist whose influence permeated the entire legacy of the Hokage.

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