Chapter 76:
The Third Hokage's expression turned slightly more serious.
Although they wouldn't be punished for what they had done, there was no way he could praise them either. If he did, they might pull something even more reckless in the future. As Hokage, it was his responsibility to fully understand the situation.
Hearing Hiruzen's question, Orochimaru responded calmly, "There wasn't any grand reason. I just wanted to test our limits."
"Limits?" Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. "Haha, I see. So, how was your test?"
"The opponents were too weak to push us to our limits," Orochimaru replied matter-of-factly, without a hint of arrogance just pure truth.
Indeed, among this generation of Genin, apart from Hatake Sakumo, no one was truly on the level to be considered a threat to Orochimaru and his team. Not Inuzuka's squad, nor the Nara clan's. Even the members of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans weren't enough to challenge them.
This wasn't pride speaking just cold, hard facts.
Maybe Orochimaru could face the Uchiha and Hyuga combined without even needing the Sharingan. At most, it would be troublesome, but the gap in chakra, strength, speed, and overall ability was too wide. Even with their special abilities, they wouldn't be able to make up for it.
After all, not every Genin from a prestigious clan could become one of Konoha's elite shinobi.