Chapter Fifteen: Introductions

It was bad enough that she and Kakashi stuck out among the graduates, but then they weren't placed in teams, nor were their supervisors present like everyone else. It made them stick out even more.

Yuina tried to find the bright side. If she didn't have a team did that mean she could get personalized training? She should figure that out: whether the jonin were more of a teacher or a supervisor. What happened if she was filling a hole on some team?

Also, what was up with the cryptic messaging? She looked down at the quickly sketched map as she made another turn. It was leading her to a district of town she didn't really go to. Not for any bad reasons. It was just far from home. There wasn't anything to see in that corner of town that she couldn't see elsewhere.

Yuina looked at the buildings and shops as she continued to follow directions. Once she started some jobs and saved up some money she should buy a more suitable outfit and protection. A single forehead protector wasn't going to cut it.

She turned around another corner then stopped outside an unmarked building. She was about the knock when the door opened to reveal a young woman with light brown hair and glasses who dipped her head in acknowledgement before continue to walk out with a box.

"Excuse me," she said as she entered the building. The interior wasn't what she expected. It looked like a 100-year-old outdated lab or doctor's office where things simultaneously seemed to have some organization, but with the precautions, devices, and setup that was reminiscent of the early 20th century. Which is to say there's stuff all over most of the counters and a noticeable lack of personal protective equipment. Still, this was the closest she's been to a lab in years and her fingers itched to touch everything. Did the lab belong to the village? Orochimaru? Someone else?

"Good timing. You must be Yuina." The man had a pale complexion, long straight black hair, and pronounced cheekbones that would inspire any wuxia, xianxia, xuanhuan, or danmei cover.

His tone, however, reminded her too much of her old interview days. Maybe this was an interview?

She bowed. "It's nice to meet you, Orochimaru—" Er, what was she supposed to call him? -san? -sama? "-sensei?"

"Bold of you to assume I've accepted you as a student." His sensei may have hankered that he take on a student, but that didn't mean he had to accept. Yuina didn't overtly react making him believe she didn't catch on to his meaning despite how plainly he spoke or wasn't bothered by the thought of potentially being rejected.

"What's the process for decision-making?"

His stare was ominous, though that may be from the power dynamic. It was always unsettling when someone judged your worth and had their opinion hold meaning to colleagues and society.

"Why not start with introductions?"

An introduction? This really was sounding like an interview. Workplace interviews usually wanted the interviewee to talk about what they brought to the table rather than about their personal life. She didn't feel like sharing personal details anyway. It took her months to even open up to Sato-sensei over academic topics.

"I'm Hatake Yuina. I like to get to the point as to not waste anyone's time. Probably how I came to be one of the youngest graduates in recent memory." That hurt to promote. "I've got decent chakra control and an affinity to lightning." She internally winced at the word 'decent'. That didn't sound like the best pitch. "Which I'm continuous improving. I've been researching the deconstruction of chakra to best understand and make use of its potential. In part to make up for my current shortcomings, and in part due to efficiency, I prefer utilizing stealth when feasible." There actually wasn't much she could say. It wasn't like she had previous experience.

"So Sakumo's trained you well?"

It sounded like a trap. "He's aided in my progression so I may exhibit some of his traits and habits. However, I think you'll find yourself disappointed if you compare us further. We are our own persons and have different experience and goals." It would always be unfair to judge a veteran to a newbie, but it was also best to be upfront. No need for there to be expectations that couldn't be met.

"You'd be a fool if you thought you were on the same level." She knew his words to be true but when had something being foolish ever stopped people for believing anyway before. "But as for your goals, what are they and why do you believe I can help you?"

Who said her goals had anything to do with him? She wanted to be strong to live as long as she could. That didn't warrant any specific person for guidance as long as insight and knowledge could be gained. Also, it wasn't like she got any input as to who her jonin assignment would be.

Wait. Did Orochimaru get any say? Or any of the jonin? Yuina was unaware how jonin-genin pairings were chosen. Maybe it was a requirement that came with the role? It would make sense that the village would want those they deemed the most skilled to pass on their knowledge in order to make the next generation continuously becomes stronger. She had her fair of professors who only taught because it was a requirement of their tenure regardless of how poor of a fit they were for the role of teaching.

He was still waiting for an answer.

Yuina didn't feel comfortable telling the truth. Being weak was seen negatively, nor did she want to give the impression that she would run away at the first sight of danger.

Her dream, that would likely never come be pass, was to leave the village with Sakumo and Kakashi. Maybe by or up in the mountains or by a quiet river bank where they could continue living their simple life. That wasn't exactly something you share in an interview as it wasn't related to the role, and again didn't want the associations of wanting to leave Konoha. There was also the factor that she didn't really know if life outside Konoha was any better. Her dream was more about being removed from the rest of the world more than anything. It wasn't specifically against any place of person.

Her eyes were drawn back to the room. She wondered if he could be her ticket back into chemistry.

"In addition to training, I would like lab experience. If we met here for a reason then it seems there is much I can learn from you in that regard."

"Giving an answer based in truth to hide what's more valuable is a tactic, yes." She felt vulnerable at how easily she was exposed. "Your hesitancy was obvious. Also, if you're prepared to lie then you better be ready to back up your claims."

Orochimaru bombarded her with several questions. She managed to answer them. They started easy and became more difficult with each question, but most questions were in the realm of the life sciences where her niche was in physical sciences. She had taken core science courses and a courses on biological chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry, but those classes made her realize her preference for materials science, and synthetic and catalytic chemistry. While she was put on the spot, she couldn't help but physically relax as her mind whirled an hour a minute.

It was like the good old days. Except she didn't know the names of most of the theories because they were named after different people.

"You can, but it would be horridly inefficient. Twelve to fifteen hours of stirring when the reduction leaves only about five percent of the initial volume isn't what most people aspire to achieve." She just realized this world probably didn't have magnetic stirrers or other equipment to help. It was bad enough watching stirring over long periods of time, but she imagined the cramps from physically stirring.

"It's a pity. If your initial reaction wasn't so poor, it would have been a good lie. Nonetheless, there's no need to tell."

He was looking at something on the table in front of him, but Yuina couldn't see past the rows of vials and beakers.

"I supposed I owe my introduction. My name is Orochimaru and from tomorrow onward you may refer to me as sensei."

Yuina grinned. Forget all her previous grumbles and doubts. This was her well-deserved reward for answering all his questions that in hindsight she probably shouldn't know. It was probably fine. No one questioned her before so why now?

"I used to fight in the frontlines, but these days I've been spending most of my time in a variety of research projects." It didn't sound bad. She would prefer not to engage in direct attacks if necessary but it meant he had the strength, insight, and talent to do so and survive.

Though he didn't share anything else about himself. She was crossed between letting him say what he wanted about himself on his own terms or looking into him on her own.

"We'll meet at training ground four at 6AM tomorrow. You're dismissed."

"Thank you." She bowed once more before leaving.

As she walked home there was a slight spring to her steps.

Right, she was still supposed to tell Sakumo what she wanted.

Yuina looked at the shops more closely on her way back. The jewelry was nice, but she didn't know when or if she would get a chance to wear it. The pottery had lovely intricate designs, but she wasn't sold on it. There were pretty and nice textured cloths. She wanted to get more durable clothes soon though that she wouldn't worry about dirtying. Maybe something for interior design for her room? She would need to think on it some more.

"I'm home." She sits herself across the table from Sakumo who was reading.

"How'd it go?" She was back sooner than expected, though not as early as Kakashi who came home grumbling before summoning Pakkun.

"I think it went well. Speaking of, do you know anything about Orochimaru. He didn't say much about himself."

It was rare that Yuina would see Sakumo with such a shocked expression. He didn't try to suppress emotions like Kakashi but the intensity usually fit within a compressed range. Like a six out of ten. Enough to express himself while somehow never being extreme.

"He assigned you his student then…" He seemed to be thinking about the arrangement.

"Whose student?"

"Hm? Hokage-sama's."

Her brain fried at that. Orochimaru was the Hokage's student? Would that be a good or bad thing for her? Nepotism here was strong and thriving which meant that could open up opportunities, but would people expect too much from her being affiliated him him?

"It might be good for him. He and his team made a name for themselves. You might hear Legendary Sannin thrown around, but it's usually shortened to Sannin these days." Legendary three ninja? What did you have to do to get a name like that? "But Jiraya is often out of the village and Tsunade left this past year. He's been holed up conducting research these past few years so I haven't seen him in a while."

That told her both nothing and everything.

"I don't suppose you know anything else you can tell me?"

As I'm sure most of you know this franchise has a mess of a timeline. Ages and events often don't line up in ways that make sense since Kishimoto cared more about the moments than continuity (which worked for him in the end so I guess good for him). If there's something that you think doesn't quite line up to canon in the future – that's why. Because I've had to 'fix' the timeline to have a coherent story.