Here's chapter three. I also wrote this one on a plane. This tradition will probably have to end as I am now in the US. Overall, I'm surprised at the generally positive response for something that I thought up on a whim. I'm a little scared of how this chapter may change that, but I feel like that every time I post a new chapter. However, I feel like this fear is founded, since I really hate how I ended this chapter, mainly because it wasn't a swear word (spoiler). Anyways, enough rambling, since no one really reads this anyways. Enjoy chapter 3, and please review! Also, I've decided to name the chapters. 40 meme points to whoever figures out where I got the names from.

"So, little boy, just what," she paused glancing down at my notes. "Do you think you were doing?"

What to say? What to say?

"Um," was my intelligent response. "Well, you see, I'm kind of studying some fuinjutsu myself and just got a little bit interested when I saw all these notes on this paper. When Tsunade, told me they were yours, I got even more interested and excited to see the notes of a Master and just..."

I trailed off, gesturing to not own notes. I instinctively flinched when she held her hand out.

"Don't worry. I won't bite. Much," she grinned. "Just let me see those notes of yours."

I stepped out of the way, allowing her to hunch over my own notes.

"These are... off," she began. She paused, glanced over at me, then lifted the paper closer to her scrutinizing gaze.

"Wait a minute. This is quite good actually. Though, I have some questions."

"Please, ask away," I said, nearly bouncing on my feet at the chance of getting critique from a bonafide Uzumaki Seal Master. She hummed as she placed my incomplete seal next to yours.

"At the most basic level, our seals both accomplish the same thing: the storage of foreign chakra. However, there is one fundamental difference."

She grabbed a pen and looked over at me, waving the tip of the pen between the two papers.

"Do you mind?"

I could only nod, not trusting my voice.

"The mains difference between yours and mine is..."

She paused to circle the center most kanji of each spiral.

"Mine filters through any harmful or malevolent effects of chakra. Yours, however, focuses on the actual components of the chakra. Why is that?"

So hers was I expected, then.

"Well, I was able to get the gist of your filter based on the blocks around the 'evil' sigil. However - and I mean no offense in saying this - the idea of chakra being evil is a bit preposterous to be honest, and I have been told bedtime stories of the great demons made of chakra, the biju."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her stiffen slightly.

"While these biju have caused widespread destruction and killed many humans, there is one main factor that makes them so dangerous, and it's not their chakra."

She sat down, gesturing for me to sit down opposite of her. I took the seat opposite to her, pulling out another sheet of paper from the seals in my robes. I held my hand out.

"May I?" I said, nodding in silent thanks when she gave me the pen.

"From what I've learned in my experimentations with chakra, is that it, as a basic source of energy, is entirely guided by the will of those with sentience."

I drew a basic diagram of the human body with a circulatory system and digestive system depicted.

"You see, I believe chakra itself is merely a tool. In one of my experiments, I sent heavy flows of chakra through my digestive track."

I thickened the lines representing the digestive system.

"As you can guess, the efficiency of the organ system was multiplied at least tenfold, allowing my body to sort through and store nutrients at a frighteningly rapid pace."

Mito simply nodded, her interest evident in the twinkling of her eyes.

"On the flip side, I lessened the chakra flow to and from my heart, solely with the intention of slowing my heart."

I drew an "X" over the heart before continuing, my instincts from my past life as a teacher urging me to include consistent visual references.

"To my amazement, this was also a success. My heart slowed to the point that my body was forced to enter a state of pseudo-hibernation. Why is that? Why would my own chakra, a source of life-energy, hinder my most essential bodily function? It wasn't chakra exhaustion, or chakra arrhythmia. The amount molded was too small, and objectively, my control is too precise for the flow to be anything but what I wanted it to be. So, I ask again, why?"

"Intent," she responded, understanding dawning on her face.

"Yes. Intent. Like you said, both of our seals were made to store foreign chakra. However, the goal of mine was to convert the 'foreign' chakra into something that can be used by any certain Shinobi. I wanted neutralize, or at least minimize, the negative affects of introducing what is essentially an unknown substance to the human body. However, based on your focus on the sealing of evil, there is some sentience behind whatever chakra you are theoretically working with. And, that's where I was stumped. My knowledge on fuinjutsu itself is nowhere enough to separate the chakra from the sentience of another organism. I know at least some level of this is possible because of the existence of chakra suppressing seals, which essentially blocks a person's intent from reaching the chakra in their body, but with the knowledge I have now, I can only produce an unfinished seal like this," I said, gesturing to my own notes. I looked up at her and almost squealed in joy at what I saw.

She was looking at me contemplatively. There was a glint of something positive in her eyes. Hope, maybe. Was she seriously considering –?

Please, take the bait. Take the bait.

After what felt like decades, she broke eye contact with me, looking back down at the various papers on the table.

"You know, I'm probably breaking years of tradition by saying this," she began.

Please. Do it. Fuck tradition anyways, right?

"But, this is chance that's just too good to pass up. A mindset like yours can do wonders for the field of fuinjutsu, but its overall effectiveness will only be hindered by anything but the best."

I actually smiled at her, unable to hold back my excitement.

"Luckily for you, I am the best," she continued, looking up from our notes. "Tell me, teammate of my granddaughter, what is your name?"

"Orochimaru, no clan name," I stuttered.

"Well then, Orochimaru-kun, how would you like to learn the amazing art of Sealing, far beyond anything you can learn from anyone else?"

Please. Yes. Yes. Yes.

"How would you like to learn fuinjutsu from Uzumaki Mito?" she concluded, looking at me with knowing eyes.

My throat suddenly felt very dry. Why? This was exactly what I wanted. All had to do was say -

"Yes. Um, I mean, of course. I would be honored," I finally said with a slight bow.

Then, she started to laugh.

"Oh, you're so cute, trying to be all prim and proper when you're still so young. Just like my Tsunade-chan."

Much to my annoyance, she reached over and ruffled my hair.

"Well, it's settled then. I'll arrange something with Hiruzen-kun," she said, walking towards the same door that the other three, who I had somehow forgot about until now, had gone through. "Now, let's catch up with your teammates and Sage knows what my idiot of a husband is doing with them."

Without another word, she grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room.

God dammit woman! Do you have no idea how infuriating to be treated like a child? Also, I was fucking Orochimaru. There's no way that I'm anywhere near cute with serpentine face like this anyways. This lady is freaking delusional.

Oh well. Powerful ninja really were the craziest ones, I swear.

After about five minutes of fruitless struggles, I was met with a very strange sight. Both Tsunade and Jiraiya were running up and down a massive tree with countless branches shooting from various points of the trunk. The Shodaime stood at the base of the tree laughing and jeering at the two. He turned and waved at Mito and me. Wait. What were those marking on his face? Seriously? The man would use the coveted sage mode so carelessly!

"Ah! Mito-chan, Orochi-kun! You're just in time for a game of Tree Tag!"

I could feel the annoyance radiating from Mito. Then, it completely disappeared as she ran towards her husband. He smiled at her, holding his arms out.

His smile was quickly extinguished as Mito's fist plowed into his face. Before he got a chance to do anything else, chains wrapped around his body as he drooped over like a wilting flower, making his sage mode disappear.

He sprung up immediately, and started to whine of all things.

"Mito-chaaaaaan! Why? I just wanted to play with the kids."

"You are a grown man, Senju Hashirama. You should be more responsible Do not abuse your powers like that," she replied curtly.

"But Mito-chan! I was just training them, you see. I was being super responsible. Honest!"

The links of the chain screeched against each other as they tightened.

"Neh, Mito-chan, you're squeezing a bit too hard there."

"Hashirama, if you continue to act like a child, I will treat you like one. You are now in-"

His eyes widened.

"Wait, please! No! I'll be good; I swear!"

"TIME OUT!"

The three of us cringed as the two of them left us alone in the clearing. Truly, legends of the Shinobi world are a sight to behold.

"Sorry about that, guys," Tsunade apologized. "When my parents are out on missions, I'm usually just left alone with them. I mean, my grandma is alright, but grandpa is just... well, you saw what just happened."

"It's fine," I replied. "I'm rather glad I stayed behind, really."

"What were you doing anyways?" Jiraiya asked. "Mito-sama seemed pretty scary, to be honest. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, we just talked a bit, really."

"About what? The seals? She didn't erase your mind or anything?" Tsunade added on. Geez, what was this? 20 questions?

"Yeah. There was no mind-wiping... as far as I can remember."

I shuddered internally. The idea that someone could literally alter memories using seals is pretty scary. What ever, more reason to learn.

"And on top of that, she offered to tutor me too."

I tried to say this as casually as possible, so I wouldn't startle the other two too much. Unfortunately, I failed miserably at accomplishing anything near what I intended.

"WHAT?!" they both cried out simultaneously. I swear these two were probably the inspiration for all of Orochimaru's sound-based ninjutsu.

"Yeah, I'm being tutored in seals. Who knows, maybe I'll become a seals specialist."

I decided not to mention anything about becoming a Master because that was a given with teacher like Mito.

The two just stared at me, Tsunade still looking shocked while Jiraiya adopted a more ponderous stance. Then, he sprung up.

"I've figured it out!" He cried out, beaming with pride. "I know out team positions. Tsunade can be medic and our frontline fighter with that freakishly monstrous strength of hers. Orochi-kun is our strategist and overall nerd based on his planning during that test and his thing with Mito-sama."

I looked over at Tsunade, who was visibly shaking. Oh no. I had to do something, quickly.

"And what about Jiraiya? What's your role?"

I glanced over at the female on our team again, and sighed when I saw that her angry shaking had lessened significantly due to her curiousity.

Nailed it. Now, all Jiraiya had to do was defuse this bomb.

"Ha! That's easy, I'll be team leader and the public face of our team, of course!"

God dammit, Jiraiya.

"I'LL SHOW YOU FREAKISH STRENGTH!"

Even from several feet away, I could feel the chakra radiating off of her arm as she sent Jiraiya literally flying through the clearing and straight through several trees.

Holy crap.

This team really was full of geniuses. Only a couple hours after Sarutobi's suggestion and Tsunade's already made this much progress on her soon-to-be legendary super strength technique.

I winced slightly when I saw her glare flicker over to me.

"Got something to say too, kid?"

"Errr. No, not in the same fashion as Jiraiya anyways."

"Oh?"

"Do you think you can perform that technique again, but without punching anything?"

"What do you mean? The punch is the technique," she replied, slightly confused.

"The thing you do, with your chakra, right before you punch."

She just nodded uncertainly and pulled her arm back. I stared at her, ignoring the blush on her face, as chakra poured out of her core and towards her arm. Then her arm began to tremble.

"Orochimaru, I'm not sure if this is safe," she said, her voice wavering slightly.

I waved off her concerns, as they were ultimately unnecessary. I knew she could do this technique; it was an inevitability.

"It'll be fine, Tsunade-hime. Now, I want you to slowly punch downward."

Once again, she complied. I stepped closer to get a better feel of the chakra as her arm descended and plowed through the ground.

Holy shit. This technique of hers was amazing, to say the least. Fuck anyone who ever discounted Tsunade as either a Sannin or a Hokage. The girl, at the age of eight, was already able to control her chakra precisely enough to send it in intervals of waves along the different muscle groups of her arm as they contracted and expanded. That alone took insane levels of control and timing to even perform to any acceptable degree. And the future Tsunade was able to do this pretty much subconsciously and even more precisely to send through each muscle group down to the very tips of her fingers?

Holy fuck this woman is broken. By physical strength alone, she would be worth at least a hundred Gai's.

I was once again jolted from my awed rumination by a hand on my shoulder.

"Orochimaru, are you ok?" Tsunade asked. "The look on your face was... worrying."

"Oh, right. Yes. I'm fine. Wonderful? Even."

"That's good. So, what do you think of my technique?"

"Your technique is, to say the least, incredible."

She perked up at this.

"The sheer amounts of control and timing required for the flow of chakra is amazing, and your ability to perform it makes all the more impressive."

Her smile widened.

"Tsunade, have you ever tried applying that technique to different parts of your body? Say a leg or even a finger?"

Images of an older Tsunade demolishing the ground with a single stomp and flicking Naruto through buildings with a finger flashed through my head.

"I can't say I have. Right now, my arm is the easiest. I just have the best feel of it compared to any other parts of my body. Why, Mr. Chakra Expert, have any tips or ideas?" she teased.

Now that left me in a position I really didn't want to be in. Would any harm come from helping Tsunade along and accelerating her growth just a little bit? Would that change too much in the future? I mean there was all that butterfly effect stuff after all. And, I didn't want her outshining Jiraiya or anything. But then again, I can just help him out too.

Eh. Screw it. It's more fun this way.

I looked back up at her expectant gaze.

"I guess the main thing you can do is familiarizing yourself with you body. Not in some creepy, coming-of-age kind of way, but on a more anatomical, medical kind of way. Get to know your muscle structure down to the exact functions and actions of the various muscle groups of your body. You'll have to pretty much master this information if you really do want to be a notable ninja medic anyways, so this'll be doubly good for you."

To my surprise, she actually took out a small notepad and began jotting down some notes.

Huh. This Tsunade was really different from the gambling drunk Hokage in the manga. Not bad. Now, I've just got to keep her this way.

"Anything else?"

"Can I see your arm?"

Without a word, she held it out to me. I gave her bicep and forearm experimental squeezes. They were lightly toned, as any ninja-in-training's should be. However, it was a bit soft. Nowhere near sturdy enough to handle the chakra she'd be pumping through it on a semi-regular basis.

I vocalized my thoughts to her, which she took in stride, jotting down more notes before putting the notepad to who knows where.

She slung her arm over my shoulder.

"Y'know something, Orochimaru? You're not so bad."

I just smiled sheepishly at her. Not bothering to attempt the futile task of trying to escape her firm grip.

"Ha! Not bad at all, Orochi-kun!" Jiraiya, who had returned from his involuntary trip through the woods, looking overall unharmed. Seriously, how strong were these guys already? Screw what anyone else says; the older generation is the best. Honestly, godlike strength and control for Tsunade, incredible reserves and endurance for Jiraiya, and chakra hypersensitivity and otherworldly knowledge - does that really count? - for me. The Sannin were really destined for greatness. We had no choice at this point.

I sagged in relief when the weight was released from my shoulder and immediately sprung into action when I saw Tsunade's temper, and chakra, bubbling up again.

I quickly jumped in between the two, wincing when I felt the chakra released from Tsunade's halted fist.

I glanced over at Jiraiya, who was giving me a tearful thumbs-up, then over at Tsunade, who had crossed her arms with an annoyed expression.

"Let's not test the limits of Jiraiya's natural endurance."

The shaggy haired boy nodded emphatically at this. I smirked.

"We can do that another time. During training, preferably."

He collapsed with a sorrowful moan as Tsunade cracked her knuckles with a grin. I pulled Jiraiya back to his feet before clapping my hands once and smiling.

"Now, I believe we were supposed to be bonding today, right? How does dinner sound? Any suggestions?"

"Oh I have the perfect idea! We can go get ramen!" Jiraiya exclaimed. "I want extra narutomaki in mine!"

I guess that explains a lot about why Naruto was Naruto. Man, everyone has some kind of addiction or obsession in this world. For once, I feel like I'm the only normal one this time, and that worries me.

I watched as my two teammates ran off into the village proper. Well, Jiraiya was running with an annoyed Tsunade chasing after him.

This was it. The birth of a team. The birth of a legend.

Team Hiruzen would be the greatest team ever, without any fancy bloodline jutsu or reincarnation bullshit. I'll make sure of it.

Believe it.