Chapter 11
Time passed swiftly as Orochimaru continued his relentless training. Before he knew it, midnight had come. Deciding to balance work and rest, Orochimaru packed up and headed home for some well deserved sleep.
--
The next morning, Orochimaru made his way to a local grocery store. Without hesitation, he walked in and approached the counter.
"Five chakra Paper strips."
"That'll be five hundred ryō! Thanks!" the fat shopkeeper replied with a friendly smile.
Orochimaru handed over the banknotes without batting an eye. Five hundred ryō was quite a sum each chakra test strip costing one hundred ryō but in this world, everything related to ninjas was notoriously expensive. Orochimaru was already well aware of this.
For example, an ordinary shuriken cost around three hundred ryō, and a kunai could set you back a thousand ryō.
Given that, a chakra paper strip costing a hundred ryō was still within a reasonable range.
As Orochimaru thought of ninja tools, he couldn't help but recall Tenten from the original timeline. Now that he thought about it, she was truly a wealthy person. She would casually toss around various ninja tools during battle. He couldn't fathom how a genin could afford such a vast arsenal!
But today, Orochimaru's focus wasn't on ninja tools. He had come to buy chakra paper strips for a very specific reason.
Anyone familiar with the world of Naruto would recognize that these strips could be used to test the elemental nature of a ninja's chakra.
Chakra attributes were divided into seven categories: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Water, Earth, Yin, and Yang.
The chakra paper , however, could only measure the first five Fire, Wind, Lightning, Water, and Earth. The Yin and Yang attributes couldn't be detected by these strips.
The process was simple: inject a small amount of chakra into the test strip, and depending on the reaction, the user could determine their chakra nature.
- Fire: The paper will ignite and turn to ash.
- Wind: The paper will split in two.
- Lightning: The paper will wrinkle.
- Water: The paper will become damp.
- Earth: The paper will crumble.
In Orochimaru's inherited memories, aside from the Three Basic Jutsu (Clone Jutsu, Substitution Jutsu, and Transformation Jutsu), he also possessed knowledge of the Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Wind Release: Great Breakthrough technique.
However, he was unsure whether he possessed any other chakra attributes aside from wind. Testing his chakra was the first step to figuring out which elements he could wield, and in turn, plan his training accordingly.
He was fully aware that in the ninja world, the five element ninjutsu wasn't necessarily the most practical in battle.
Most elemental jutsus were medium to long-range techniques that required hand seals to perform. Given the fast pace of ninja combat, it was common for an opponent to counter your ninjutsu before you could complete the seals.
However, elemental ninjutsu were like nuclear weapons in battle. They were not always used, but when your enemy employed them, you needed to be able to respond in kind. Otherwise, you would be at a significant disadvantage.
For now, Orochimaru thought it wise to master the basics of the five element ninjutsu before delving into the more advanced snake related jutsus he would eventually develop.
He found a quiet spot in the village and, with the chakra test strips in hand, prepared to determine his chakra nature.
--
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office of Konoha Village, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was engrossed in handling military affairs. His silver hair and piercing red eyes gave him a formidable presence, and he wore the traditional robes befitting his esteemed position.
Standing respectfully before him were Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, both dressed in their black combat uniforms.
"You two performed admirably on this last mission," the Second Hokage said, his voice stern but approving. "The sniper mission was a success, and the pressure on the border has eased significantly. I expect a period of truce to follow."
Tobirama paused, his expression softening slightly. "You don't need to take on any more missions for now. Stay in the village. The Academy will be holding graduation exams soon, and you'll both serve as mentor jōnin for the new graduates."
"Yes, sensei!" Hiruzen and Danzo replied in unison, bowing slightly.
Despite Danzo's usual manipulative and scheming nature, he had nothing but respect for Tobirama. It wasn't just because Tobirama was their teacher, but also because of his ruthless and iron-blooded methods. The Second Hokage was not a man to be trifled with.
Just as Tobirama was about to continue speaking, the door to the office burst open, and a little girl came skipping inside.
"Uncle! Uncle!! Oh, hey, Teacher Sarutobi, you're here too?" the girl chirped.
The Second Hokage's brow furrowed slightly. "Tsunade? What are you doing here?"
"Hehe, I came to tell you something important!"
"And what's that?"
"After the graduation exam, I want to be on the same team as Orochimaru!" Tsunade declared, her voice full of enthusiasm.
"Orochimaru?" Tobirama repeated, his expression one of mild confusion. "Who's that?"
At this point, Orochimaru had only just begun to show his talents, and Tobirama, as the Hokage, hadn't yet had the opportunity to notice him. He didn't pay much attention to the civilian-born ninjas.
"He's a genius!" Tsunade answered proudly.
"Genius, you say?" Tobirama mused for a moment before responding calmly. "If you think he's a genius, then he must be special."
Tobirama had watched Tsunade grow up, and although she had her shortcomings, he knew she was no fool. Her standards were high, and for her to recognize someone's talent meant that person was indeed remarkable.
"Of course!" Tsunade boasted, her eyes gleaming. "Not only does he have perfect scores in all his basic courses, but just yesterday, he performed a Shadow Clone Jutsu. That alone qualifies him as a top-tier genius, right?"
Tobirama's usually stoic face showed a rare glimmer of surprise. "He can use the Shadow Clone Jutsu? And he hasn't even graduated yet?"
"We witnessed it ourselves yesterday," Hiruzen added, stepping forward. "Orochimaru truly is an exceptional child."
In truth, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already planned to recommend Orochimaru for special training even before Tsunade's request. Now, it just seemed things were happening a little sooner than expected.
Tobirama stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I see… So you've had your eye on him for a while?"
"Yes, sensei," Hiruzen confirmed.
"Interesting…" Tobirama muttered. "It sounds like this boy is something else."
"So, Uncle, does that mean you'll agree to put us on the same team?" Tsunade asked eagerly.
"There's no reason to say no," Tobirama answered with a small smile.
"Yay! Long live Uncle!" Tsunade cheered, jumping up and down in excitement.
Chapter 12
Orochimaru had no idea what was happening in the Hokage's office, and even if he did, he probably wouldn't care. He was confident that, without any intervention, he would inevitably become Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciple. This was a certainty in his mind nothing would change that outcome.
He stared at the chakra testing paper in his hand, lost in thought. After the test, Orochimaru noticed that his current self didn't seem to have all the chakra attributes that he recalled possessing in the future. Wind, Earth, and Water were the only ones that appeared in the test. From this, he speculated that perhaps the reason his future self had all the elemental attributes was because of his later body modifications.
However, Orochimaru wasn't sure, and since he couldn't figure it out at the moment, he decided to stop thinking about it. He had never been the type to dwell on problems without clear answers. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the sky.
"If I want to quickly improve my strength, aside from relying on family bloodline limit, the fastest way would be to become a Jinchūriki," Orochimaru mused. But becoming a Jinchūriki wasn't something he could think about for now; with his current abilities, it was a pointless thought.
As for family bloodline limit? Perhaps that was a direction worth pursuing. In other words, should he start conducting experiments right away? The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the right path to take.
But then, he remembered something else he didn't have enough money.
Based on his calculations, purchasing the scattered equipment necessary for his initial experiments would cost at least several hundred thousand ryo. Hundreds of thousands of ryo were an astronomical amount for someone like him right now.
A Genin like Orochimaru could only take on D-rank missions, and the pay for those missions ranged from 5,000 to 10,000 ryo. The payment would then be split among team members. After getting his share, Orochimaru would only have around two to three thousand ryo for himself. After covering daily expenses, how many months would it take to save up enough for his experiments?
His eyes narrowed slightly. He had never expected that in this world, where strength was the ultimate measure, he would be troubled by something as mundane as money. He had briefly considered selling the enhancement serum he'd received from the system, which could increase chakra by 50%. That would surely fetch a high price.
But after some thought, he realized that selling the serum was far too risky. Not only was he unsure if the liquid actually worked on others, but even if it did, how could he explain where it came from? The ninjas of Konoha were no fools. They would likely interrogate him until they forced the truth out, and how would he handle that? He certainly didn't want to go from being the experimenter to becoming the subject of experiments.
No, it was better to take things one step at a time. For now, his focus should be on passing the graduation exam and using the time afterward to familiarize himself with the experimental process. With this in mind, Orochimaru returned to his residence and began simulating experiments using the knowledge stored in his mind.
School? Who even bothers going to school in person these days? If you don't rely on a Shadow Clone to learn, can you really call yourself a genius?
Throughout the entire Naruto series, only Uchiha Itachi had mastered the art of learning through Shadow Clones. Even Kakashi, who was also considered a genius, still went to school in person. When Kakashi took the graduation exam at the age of five, he could already use the forbidden technique to create multiple clones. But the reason he still went to school in the flesh was because he couldn't control his chakra well enough to maintain a clone for an entire day.
Uchiha Itachi had achieved it, and now, Orochimaru had too.
Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, seven days had gone by. During that time, Orochimaru not only consolidated his abilities but also absorbed the information provided by the system. Now, everything was ready, and all he needed was the right opportunity.
During these seven days, he also discovered something extraordinary: the surveillance flies given to him by the system could record the process of other ninjas casting jutsu through their electronic eyes. The recorded footage could even be played back in slow motion, which made it easier for him to analyze and learn those techniques. It was like having six extra Sharingan at his disposal!
Thanks to these recorded images, combined with his natural talent and the knowledge inherited from his parents, Orochimaru learned a great deal of ninjutsu in just one week. He had already mastered a variety of techniques, including the Water Wave, Earth Clone, Earth Mud Wall, and Wind Blade. Even though he knew that these basic techniques weren't particularly impressive, they were still better than nothing.
Finally, the day of the graduation exam arrived.
The exam involved the Three Basic Techniques Substitution Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Clone Jutsu as well as Shuriken Throwing. The rules were simple enough, and Orochimaru, for once, appeared in person to take the test.
"Alright, today is the graduation exam," announced Chunin Aizawa, holding a list in his hand. "When I call your name, come up to the podium!"
"Hirata!"
"Present!" …
"Kenta!"
"Here!" …
"Kenichi!"
"Present!"
As the names were called, students walked up to the podium one by one. Since everyone in the class was only around six years old, very few were actually expected to graduate.
"Next up, Jiraiya!"
The moment Jiraiya's name was called, he jumped up from his seat like he had been injected with adrenaline. "Orochimaru, watch closely! You're about to witness your future Master Jiraiya graduate with flying colors! Haha!"
With an air of bravado, Jiraiya swaggered up to the podium and effortlessly demonstrated his mastery of the Three Basic Techniques. His proficiency immediately drew gasps of surprise from the students in the audience.
"Wow! Jiraiya's amazing!"
"Who knew he was hiding this much skill?!"
"Mastering the Three Basic Techniques after just one year at the academy? That's some serious talent!"
Even Aizawa couldn't help but nod in approval. Jiraiya was one of the few students who had the potential to pass the exam.
Chapter 13
Yes, Jiraiya had indeed graduated successfully!
Although Jiraiya, like Naruto in his youth, was a bit nervous and excited, he was by no means a failure. The reason Naruto seemed like a "loser" in the original story wasn't due to a lack of talent. Rather, it was because he had the Nine-Tails, the Kyuubi, sealed within him, which disrupted his ability to control his chakra properly.
But Jiraiya was different.
There was no Kyuubi sealed inside him, and his natural talent wasn't bad. While he couldn't compare to geniuses like Orochimaru or Tsunade, Jiraiya was far above the average student in his class. He fell into that category of being better than most, but not quite at the top level. Otherwise, how could he have graduated at the age of six and caught the attention of none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen?
What's that you say? Konoha traditionally pairs the top student with the worst one to balance the teams?
That's nonsense!
That reasoning might apply to other teams, but when it comes to the legendary trio of Sannin? Absolutely not! Even in times of war, anyone who graduates from the Ninja Academy at the age of six is considered an undeniable genius.
The fact that Jiraiya graduated alongside Orochimaru at just six years old spoke volumes about his potential.
But back to the story at hand...
Standing on the podium, after showing off his mastery of ninjutsu, Jiraiya proudly raised his chin toward Orochimaru, his provocation obvious.
And then, it was Orochimaru's turn.
With a series of loud bangs, four shadow clones suddenly appeared in the classroom. Instantly, the entire room fell silent. Jiraiya's smug expression was wiped clean as his eyes widened in confusion and disbelief.
"What… the… hell...?"
Even Aizawa, the teacher, was left momentarily speechless. A civilian-born ninja could summon four shadow clones at the age of six? How was that even possible? Aizawa, who was in his twenties and already a Chunin, felt utterly embarrassed.
However, Orochimaru had shown extraordinary potential since the moment he entered the Academy, so even though Aizawa was shocked, it wasn't entirely outside of his expectations. After all, Orochimaru had always been a genius.
"Amazing..." Aizawa muttered before addressing the two. "Jiraiya, Orochimaru, you two head to the training ground and wait for Lord Hiruzen!"
Jiraiya, still trying to make sense of what just happened, raised his hand. "Teacher, aren't we supposed to be divided into teams?"
After all, apart from him and Orochimaru, there were other students graduating today, including Uchiha Shu and a few others. Normally, the teacher would create three-person teams based on their abilities.
"There's no need for that," Aizawa responded curtly.
"Why not?" Jiraiya persisted, clearly confused.
"You'll understand when you get there," Aizawa said dismissively. Truth be told, he didn't know the specific reason either. This was a directive from higher up, and he was simply following orders.
"Uh… okay…" Jiraiya replied, still puzzled, but as he saw Orochimaru already walking away, he hurried after him.
"Hey, Orochimaru, wait up!" he called, running after him.
--
At the training grounds, Orochimaru stood in silence, a rare look of anticipation on his face. Finally, he thought, he could start taking missions and earn some money! In this world where strength was everything, money was still crucial. Without it, even the strongest ninja couldn't conduct research or fund their ambitions.
As Orochimaru reflected on his next steps, Jiraiya, as usual, was chattering away beside him.
"Hey, Orochimaru, did you notice that girl back there? Do you think she was looking at me?"
"Hey! Are you even listening? C'mon, I'm asking you something!"
"Seriously, man, you're no fun. Well, anyway, I bet she was definitely checking me out. I mean, who wouldn't? I'm Lord Jiraiya! I'm suave, handsome, and adored by all the girls. It'd be weird if she wasn't staring at me!" Jiraiya boasted, clearly more interested in girls than anything else.
Orochimaru, for his part, paid no attention to him. Instead, he pondered how Jiraiya could be such a chatterbox at six years old. And not just a chatterbox a pervert too! What kind of six-year-old walks down the street, ogling women?
One minute, Jiraiya was pointing out a girl's legs, and the next, he was commenting on another's figure. Orochimaru found it baffling. How could someone so young be so obsessed with women? What could he possibly do at this age? Could he even… react?
Orochimaru's thoughts were interrupted when a figure suddenly appeared in front of them Hiruzen Sarutobi, their new teacher.
With a smile, Hiruzen greeted them warmly. "Well, you two have been waiting patiently. My name is Hiruzen Sarutobi, and from today onwards, I'll be your jounin instructor. But before we get started, why don't we introduce ourselves?"
Jiraiya's eyes sparkled with excitement as he immediately jumped at the opportunity to speak first. "My name is Jiraiya, and my dream is..."
Once Jiraiya finished his introduction, Orochimaru casually said his name, offering little else. Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru and nodded approvingly. He was just about to say something when a cheerful voice called out from the distance.
"Sarutobi-sensei!"
It was Tsunade, approaching them with a bright, energetic aura. Upon seeing her, Jiraiya's eyes lit up like a predator spotting its prey.
"This is Tsunade," Hiruzen explained. "She'll be the third member of your team. I'm sure you already know her, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru simply nodded. He wasn't surprised to see Tsunade; whether in his memories or in reality, she was always destined to be on the same team as him.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, didn't know this. The moment he saw Tsunade, his face beamed with excitement. In an instant, he rushed over to her like a cat catching the scent of fish.
"Oh, Tsunade! I'm Jiraiya! It's so great to finally meet you. Please take care of me. And, um, if you have any love letters, feel free to give them to me later!" Jiraiya said with a mischievous grin.
Tsunade, raising an eyebrow, clenched her fist. Before Jiraiya could process what was happening, she swung at him with all her might.
"Don't joke around with me like that!" she shouted.
BANG!
Jiraiya flew through the air, crashing several meters away. That punch was Tsunade's special welcome gift for him.
Orochimaru watched the scene unfold and was quietly impressed by Tsunade's raw strength. He had known from his memories that she possessed monstrous physical power, but seeing it in action at such a young age was still shocking.
Tsunade was only six years old, and yet she had just sent Jiraiya, who was bigger than her, flying with a single punch.
Incredible!
Chapter 14
Jiraiya came back with a swollen face, and Orochimaru shot a quick glance at the two of them.
As expected, I'm an adult now. I can't play these childish games with them anymore, Orochimaru thought. Compared to this lively, chaotic scene, he much preferred being alone. He couldn't quite tell whether this was his original personality or if it was influenced by the original Orochimaru's demeanor.
"Damn it, girl! What kind of monster are you?!" Jiraiya grumbled, rubbing his swollen face, clearly irritated.
"Hmph!" Tsunade responded with a dismissive snort.
"Alright, alright, let's not escalate things any further," Hiruzen interjected, stepping in to settle the matter. "This is your first day getting to know each other, and you'll be working together for a long time, so let's focus on building your friendship!"
Hiruzen's authoritative tone immediately diffused the situation.
--
"We're all meeting for the first time today, and I need to get a sense of your abilities," Hiruzen continued once the dust had settled. He then pulled out two small bells from his pouch.
"These bells are key to your task. You'll need to snatch these two bells from me," he explained, holding them up for everyone to see.
Seeing the bells and hearing the explanation, Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. So, the legendary Sannin were tested with the same bell exercise back then?
"Two bells?" Orochimaru said calmly. "That means…"
"Yes," Hiruzen confirmed, smiling slightly. "Someone will be left without a bell and won't get lunch. Not only that, but they'll be tied to the wooden stakes over there and will have to watch the others eat."
So it was indeed the bell test. Perfect, Orochimaru thought. This will be a good opportunity to test the fruits of my training over the past few days.
Next to him, Jiraiya's mischievous grin returned. He quickly turned to Tsunade, full of excitement. "Hey, Tsunade, how about this? If I grab one of the bells, will you go on a date with me?"
Tsunade didn't even hesitate. "If you don't get a bell, you'd better stay far, far away from me," she replied nonchalantly, knowing full well Jiraiya didn't stand a chance.
Jiraiya's grin widened even more. "Alright, it's a deal!" His confidence was sky-high, not like Naruto or Obito, who had bravado but hid insecurity underneath. Jiraiya was genuinely convinced of his own strength.
Hiruzen, observing Jiraiya's enthusiastic attitude, couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright then. I'll turn around and count to ten. When I'm done, be prepared to fight. The clock starts now!"
With that, Hiruzen tied the bells to his waist and turned around.
--
Whoosh!
In an instant, all three of them vanished from sight.
Orochimaru quickly found a hiding spot, his mind racing. He knew that ever since he transmigrated into this world, everything had changed. He couldn't rely solely on his knowledge of the Naruto storyline because his very presence could create unpredictable butterfly effects. He needed to adapt to the current situation and form his own judgments, rather than blindly relying on memory.
He barely even remembered how Naruto's Team 7 originally passed the bell test, much less how the future Sannin did it. But one thing he did know Hiruzen was incredibly powerful. Ridiculously so. If they wanted to seize the bells, they'd have to outsmart him.
With that in mind, Orochimaru flicked his wrist, sending a small fly-shaped surveillance drone into the air. Soon, Hiruzen's every move appeared in Orochimaru's vision.
"Jiraiya… that idiot," Orochimaru muttered under his breath.
In the middle of the training field, Jiraiya had already fallen for one of Hiruzen's most basic traps. He was hanging upside down from a tree, flailing helplessly. How unreliable, Orochimaru thought. He may have graduated, but he's still hopelessly impulsive. His theoretical knowledge is clearly lacking too. Forget it he's a lost cause.
Shifting his gaze, Orochimaru noticed Tsunade hidden in the grass some distance away. After a brief moment of thought, he gestured towards her.
Tsunade blinked in surprise but quickly nodded in understanding. Even though they hadn't fought together before, Orochimaru's hand signals were simple and clear. He was indicating that he would initiate the first move, and Tsunade should wait for the right moment to strike.
--
Whoosh, whoosh!
Two shurikens sliced through the air, heading straight for Hiruzen.
Orochimaru's initial plan was to discuss a proper strategy with the other two and work together for a coordinated three-versus-one assault on their teacher. But with Jiraiya caught so easily, only two of them were left to execute any plan.
The shurikens Orochimaru threw, however, were effortlessly dodged by Hiruzen. Without even turning around.
"An attack like that won't work on me," Hiruzen teased with a smile.
But just as the words left his mouth
Water Release: Water Wave!
A sudden torrent of water surged toward Hiruzen. Orochimaru had followed up the shuriken attack with a water jutsu.
"Oh? You've already mastered Water Release on your own? Impressive!" Hiruzen praised, deftly evading the wave with a series of nimble somersaults, his movements as fluid and agile as a monkey's. Even as he complimented Orochimaru, he remained one step ahead.
Just as he was about to make another comment, his eyes widened in sudden alarm. He had sensed something.
Whoosh!
A razor-sharp wind blade sliced through the air, striking him dead-on.
In an instant, Hiruzen was cut clean in half.
Jiraiya, still hanging upside down from the tree, was frozen in shock. "S-Sarutobi-sensei… was killed…? Is this… is this a joke?"
Tsunade, who had been crouched in the grass and ready to attack, was equally stunned. She had just watched Orochimaru create a shadow clone, use Water Release as a distraction, and then circle around to flank Hiruzen. The clone had drawn Hiruzen's attention with the shuriken and water jutsu, while Orochimaru's real body took advantage of the opening to unleash Wind Release, a jutsu with powerful cutting force.
Chapter 15
Except for Orochimaru, Tsunade and Jiraiya were just as surprised at first! However, they soon breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The Hiruzen who had been sliced in half gradually lost his original appearance, his body transforming into two lumps of dirt at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Seeing this, Orochimaru's brows furrowed in frustration.
As expected, it was an Earth Clone!
He knew Hiruzen wouldn't be defeated by such a basic ninjutsu, but what puzzled him was when Hiruzen had even cast the clone jutsu.
In memory, Orochimaru had seen many battles where it seemed like the enemy captured was a real person, only for it to turn out to be a clone. However, those battles were part of a story, and such instances were rare in reality. In a real battle, you'd usually notice something wrong if an opponent was a clone.
Did I miss a detail? Orochimaru wondered. Did Hiruzen use the Earth Clone when he first appeared or when he hid his real body somewhere?
"Amazing. You managed to defeat my clone…" Hiruzen's voice came from the nearby woods as he emerged calmly.
Looking at the two Orochimarus his real body and the shadow clone Hiruzen couldn't help but show approval. "Orochimaru, you've really surprised me. Your clones can release ninjutsu too?"
Hiruzen was genuinely impressed. The basic principle of shadow clones was that they equally divided the user's chakra. For an average six-year-old child, having enough chakra to fight and cast jutsu was already impressive let alone having a clone that could cast jutsu without dispelling afterward!
For Orochimaru's clone to release multiple ninjutsu and remain intact was evidence of an unusually high chakra capacity.
"This is nothing," Orochimaru replied with narrowed eyes, "and... it's not over yet!"
Without wasting another moment, Orochimaru dashed forward, channeling wind chakra into his movements. Though wind chakra didn't directly increase a ninja's speed, it could reduce the caster's weight by a special release method, making them faster in a roundabout way.
This was an innate skill Orochimaru had gained, so it wasn't surprising to him. However, given that he was only six years old, the boost in speed wasn't enough to create a lethal threat to Hiruzen neither in terms of speed nor strength.
Fortunately, thanks to the enhancements from the basic genetic serum, Orochimaru's mental fortitude had increased significantly. As he engaged Hiruzen in close combat, his reaction speed was just barely able to keep up with his teacher's swift fists and kicks.
Punch, dodge, kick! Every movement looked precise and skilled.
"Wow… so strong!" Jiraiya, still hanging upside down from the tree, watched in awe. He couldn't even articulate his thoughts properly, his eyes wide as he observed the taijutsu battle between Orochimaru and Hiruzen.
The saying there's no harm in comparison rang true. Watching Orochimaru now, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel embarrassed at his own earlier blunder. He was filled with jealousy, watching Orochimaru's fluid movements, while he himself had been humiliated by such a simple trap.
"He's become much better at taijutsu, hasn't he?" Tsunade, who was hiding in the grass, was also impressed. She had known Orochimaru for a while and could clearly see how much he had improved.
"The strength isn't bad, and the speed isn't slow either!" Hiruzen praised once more as he blocked Orochimaru's punch. "But you can't do it alone"
Before Hiruzen could finish, a loud boom!echoed across the training ground, shaking the air.
Hiruzen quickly parried Orochimaru's attack and did two quick somersaults to dodge the explosion. Before he could react further
"It's now!" a voice whispered from the grass.
Whoosh!
A figure darted out from the grass near Hiruzen, moving swiftly toward him.
Ding, ding!
Two crisp sounds rang out as the bells tied to Hiruzen's waist were snatched away.
"Hehe, Hiruzen-sensei!" Tsunade grinned, standing before him with the two bells in hand.
The battle was over.
"Oh?" Hiruzen was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha! Well done! You two worked together perfectly!"
Although Hiruzen had held back significantly during the fight, the fact that two six-year-olds had managed to cooperate so seamlessly and execute such a successful strategy was proof of their exceptional talent.
Especially Orochimaru…
Thinking of this, Hiruzen turned to Orochimaru. "But tell me, Orochimaru, where did you learn these techniques?"
"Yeah, yeah! How did you come up with the idea of attaching the explosive tag to your clone?" Tsunade chimed in, full of admiration.
Earlier, while Orochimaru and Hiruzen were locked in close combat, it had seemed as if Hiruzen had the upper hand. But just as the fight reached its climax, Orochimaru's shadow clone had rushed in. Tsunade had expected it to be destroyed immediately, but to her surprise, it self-destructed instead, using the explosion to create an opening.
The angle of the explosion was perfect, forcing Hiruzen to dodge away right into her path, allowing her to grab the bells.
The precision and planning behind it were undeniable. Without that perfectly timed explosion, they wouldn't have won.
"I just imagined it," Orochimaru replied nonchalantly, not wanting to explain too much.
Though in truth, he had copied Uchiha Itachi's Clone Explosion technique from his previous life's memory, Itachi wasn't even born yet. Technically, Orochimaru wasn't lying.
"Imagined it, huh? Haha! You're quite the genius!" Hiruzen laughed heartily, clearly impressed. "You've just graduated, and you're already using explosive tags so cleverly. Very good, very good!"
Hiruzen was clearly pleased with Orochimaru's talent.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, wasn't having such a good time. He had been tied to the wooden stake, looking pitiful as Tsunade mocked him mercilessly.
Despite it being their first day together, Jiraiya and Tsunade were already bickering. Jiraiya shouted insults like "flat-chested," "airport," and "washboard," while Tsunade fired back with "pervert" and "loser."
Hiruzen, standing to the side, tried to calm things down. "Alright, alright, that's enough. Tsunade, you and Orochimaru head home for now. I'll have a talk with Jiraiya."
Just as Tsunade and Orochimaru turned to leave, Orochimaru suddenly asked, "Teacher, when can we start taking missions?"
Hiruzen blinked, a bit surprised. "There's no rush for that. Today's test is enough for now. We'll discuss missions tomorrow."
"Alright," Orochimaru replied with a nod, turning to leave. Whether it was one day earlier or later didn't make much difference to him.
As they walked away, Tsunade suddenly stopped in her tracks, curious. "Hey, Orochimaru, you seem really eager to start missions. Why?"
"Money."
Tsunade blinked. "Money? Are you short on cash?"
"Yes."
"Seriously?"
"Yes," Orochimaru said bluntly, leaving Tsunade speechless as they continued walking. All Orochimaru could think about was how missions would bring him money, and how money would enable him to fund his experiments. His priorities were crystal clear.
For him, the path forward was simple: make money, do experiments, and grow stronger.
Chapter 16
As Tsunade walked away, Orochimaru's earlier conversation with her still echoed in his mind.
"I thought it would be a lot," Tsunade had said casually. "It's only 150,000 Ryo. Just wait, I'll go back and get it for you!"
Sure enough, a wealthy family is a wealthy family, Orochimaru mused. For most genin, 150,000 Ryo was an astronomical amount of money. Even chunin had to risk their lives on many dangerous missions to accumulate such a sum. Yet, Tsunade, without batting an eye, offered it to him like it was pocket change.
Even though she emphasized that it was a loan, the fact that a mere child could hand over that much money so casually spoke volumes about the financial strength of the Senju clan.
To be honest, borrowing money had never crossed Orochimaru's mind. He didn't have close family or friends in this world. Besides, Tsunade was just a little girl herself how could he, with his adult mindset, even bring himself to ask for a loan? But once the conversation had naturally veered toward money, and Tsunade had offered to lend it, he didn't hesitate to accept. After all, this would save him nearly two months of time, and Tsunade could be considered someone under his care now. It was a win-win situation, with neither side losing out.
--
Half an hour later, true to her word, Tsunade returned with a thick stack of banknotes and threw them in front of Orochimaru. One-thousand-ryo bills, stacked up to a total of 150,000.
"Well, here's 150,000 ryo!"
At that moment, Orochimaru felt a strange sensation almost as if he were being pampered like some kept boy. The absurdity of it all wasn't lost on him, but he still had to express his gratitude.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," Tsunade replied nonchalantly, waving it off. "With your talent, it won't take long for you to make that kind of money yourself."
Orochimaru nodded, not disagreeing. It was true although making money as a genin was slow, advancing to chunin would open the doors to higher-paying missions. And with his current abilities, advancing to chunin was only a matter of time.
After parting ways with Tsunade, Orochimaru set off to purchase the necessary experimental equipment. His home wasn't too small, and now that he lived alone, he had already cleared out space to use as a laboratory three days earlier. There was no concern about not having enough room for the equipment he was about to buy.
Typically, setting up an ordinary laboratory would require many large machines, and the average private home wouldn't suffice for such large-scale experiments. But for the first experiment creating the basic genetic enhancement serum the process was relatively simple. The main challenge lay in obtaining rare ingredients, while large, complex equipment wasn't needed. So, for now, Orochimaru's home would suffice.
--
By the time Orochimaru had bought all the necessary materials, it was already evening. The streets were busy with people coming and going, but he remained focused, carrying bags of supplies and equipment back to his home. Despite the lateness of the hour, sleep was the last thing on his mind. He had gone over the experimental steps countless times in his head and couldn't wait to begin.
After meticulously setting up all the equipment, Orochimaru finally began the first real experiment of his life creating the basic gene enhancement serum. He followed the steps that were engraved in his mind, moving with precision.
At first, he thought his strong theoretical knowledge would make the process simple. But reality soon proved otherwise.
"Alright, first, heat this herb slightly…"
"Wait, why is it turning mushy?"
"Let's try again…"
"This fire seems too weak now?"
"Okay, this time should be fine wait, too much material again?!"
The harsh truth of scientific research was dawning on Orochimaru successful experiments required countless trials and errors. Every step had to be precise. Every failure contributed to a deeper understanding of the process.
Still, Orochimaru wasn't one to give up easily. He had almost memorized all the theoretical aspects, so there was no reason he couldn't figure it out with enough practice. And so, his long journey of trial-and-error scientific research began in earnest.
--
Day by day, time passed.
Orochimaru gradually grew more accustomed to life in Konoha Village. The day after his graduation, Hiruzen Sarutobi officially gave him, Tsunade, and Jiraiya their Konoha forehead protectors. At the age of six, they were now officially genin.
During the day, Orochimaru followed Sarutobi on D-rank and C-rank missions, learning various combat techniques and honing his skills. At night, he devoted himself to his experiments. He balanced his schedule with strict discipline, ensuring he went to bed at midnight and woke up at 7 a.m. sharp. Now that he had become Orochimaru, he had no intention of slacking off like an idle otaku.
Finally, half a year later, late one night, Orochimaru stood in his dimly lit lab, holding up a test tube filled with light green liquid. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
"It should be successful this time! System, check if the serum is qualified!"
["Ding! Beginning analysis… Testing complete."]
["Basic gene enhancement serum, purity: 92%, exceeding the 90% standard."]
["Final verdict: The basic gene enhancement serum has been successfully produced! Next technology available: Gene Extraction. Would you like to unlock it?"]
"Unlock it," Orochimaru said without hesitation.
The effectiveness of the gene enhancement solution was determined by its purity. Only serum with a purity of 90% or higher could fully exert their effects. Though Orochimaru wasn't aiming for perfection 100% purity he knew that the benefits wouldn't significantly increase past 90%, so this result was more than satisfactory.
["Ding! Gene extraction technology successfully unlocked!"]
["Congratulations, host, you've acquired…"]
Another set of experimental equipment appeared in his storage, though this time there wasn't as much as during the first experiment. The new tools were small and specialized.
Orochimaru checked the new scientific data. The next area of research was gene fusion.
--
Gene Fusion: The process of combining two or more genes to enhance an existing species or create a new one.
Chapter 17
Gene fusion? Fusing two or more genes together?
As Orochimaru pondered over the concept, his eyes narrowed slightly. This ability sounds impressive, he thought, but without diving deeper into the specifics, he couldn't yet assess its true usefulness. He spent the next two hours skimming through the information related to the gene extraction technique.
Well, this ability is quite interesting as well, he noted. It contained detailed methods for extracting various genes from living things.
Orochimaru nodded to himself, satisfied. "Exchange for the genetic detector."
"The exchange is successful. 1,000 technology points have been consumed."
In a flash, a palm-sized gadget appeared in Orochimaru's storage. It resembled a small wireless camera compact and easily concealable. Orochimaru glanced at his attribute panel, noticing a few changes.
--
Host: Orochimaru
Mastered Technology: Basic Gene Enhancement Serum
Current Stage Technology: Gene Extraction Technique
- Plant Specimens (0/100)
- Animal Specimens (0/100)
Next Stage: Gene Fusion
Remaining Technology Points: 4000
Equipments: Gene Detector: Capable of analyzing the genetic information of any species.
--
"So, I need to extract the genes from a hundred kinds of plants and a hundred types of animals to complete this phase of the technology?" Orochimaru muttered to himself. "This shouldn't be too hard."
A hundred types of living organisms? Between the snakes, insects, rats, ants, birds, and other wildlife in the area, it wouldn't be difficult to gather the samples. As for the plants, there were easily over a hundred types of weeds and flowers scattered throughout the village.
However, it was already late in the day, and Orochimaru wasn't particularly in the mood to start gathering samples just yet.
--
The next morning, Orochimaru arrived at the training ground as usual. However, his mind continued to wander, reflecting on the hardships he'd faced during the past six months while conducting his experiments.
The raw materials for the basic genetic enhancement serum had been numerous and complex. Many of them had required careful decomposition, purification, and sometimes fusion. A slight miscalculation in the formula, even by a fraction, often led to failure. Each time he failed, he had to start all over again. At times, even a basic purification experiment would take over ten days to complete.
It was, without a doubt, a difficult journey for someone who had only just begun his foray into scientific research.
Still, there were always more solutions than problems in this world. To avoid wasting precious raw materials, Orochimaru had chosen to practice his skills using common plants and food until he became proficient. Once he felt confident, he moved on to using the proper ingredients. Along the way, he'd also frequented Konoha's library, purchasing and reading numerous books related to his work.
It had taken him half a year to finally complete what was considered a "simple" experiment. But simplicity was only in comparison to veteran scientists people with decades of experience. For a beginner like Orochimaru, it had been anything but easy.
As he strolled along the road to the training ground, Orochimaru's eyes drifted to the weeds growing along the roadside. An idea sparked in his mind. The genetic detector he had exchanged for was tucked away on the inside of his arm, concealed under the sleeve of his robe. Pulling out a small test tube, he plucked a random weed and began the analysis.
"Ding, a mountain weed specimen has been detected. However, the specimen is too low-level to provide any energy for fusion."
As expected, collecting random weeds works toward completing the task, Orochimaru thought.
"Ding, plantain specimen detected. This specimen is too low-level to provide any energy for fusion."
"Ding, analyzing…"
He continued picking up various plants as he walked, testing them with the gene detector. After collecting samples from more than ten species, he had already gathered several plant genes.
Of course, the genetic detector repeatedly informed him that these plants weren't powerful enough to provide energy after fusion, which piqued his curiosity.
"System, can these plants still be fused, despite their low energy potential?" he asked.
"Yes, host."
"How does the fusion process work?"
"Please unlock the next technology."
The next technology… Orochimaru glanced at the label on his interface that read "Gene Fusion." I see.
Gene extraction involved collecting samples from animals and plants, then extracting their genes through various methods such as decomposition, heating, or burning. But gene fusion this would allow him to combine the extracted genes, creating something new.
A sudden thought crossed his mind. If I can fuse animal and plant genes, shouldn't human genes also be capable of fusion? His eyes gleamed with excitement at the idea.
The cells of the First Hokage…
Orochimaru's mind raced. If he could obtain the cells of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, who had the legendary Wood Release, gene fusion could open up unprecedented possibilities. His hands clenched at the thought.
--
"Hey, Orochimaru! Good morning!" a voice called out.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Orochimaru looked up and saw Tsunade waving at him from a distance. He had arrived at the training ground without even realizing it.
Tsunade had become a familiar presence in his life over the past half year. After being assigned to the same team, they had spent a considerable amount of time training together. Orochimaru's indifferent demeanor had faded slightly over time, and he now regarded her with a certain familiarity.
"Morning," Orochimaru replied with a nod, acknowledging her greeting.
"You seem to be in a good mood today!" Tsunade said with a smile, noticing his relaxed expression. She walked closer to him and added, "By the way, I've noticed that every time we finish training, you rush off somewhere. Do you have something important to do?"
"I'll explain later," Orochimaru replied calmly, not offering much in the way of details. These advanced technologies were powerful, and given his current age, it wasn't the right time to reveal them. He preferred to keep his work a secret for now.
Tsunade blinked, slightly taken aback by his nonchalant response. A faint blush crept up her cheeks. "It seems like you're really in a good mood today!"
To be honest, Orochimaru was quite handsome, especially now in his youth. His fair skin and long, flowing hair made him more attractive than many girls their age. Whenever he walked through the village, he often drew attention from other girls, leaving them blushing after a mere glance in his direction.
Because of this, Tsunade had begun to develop a subtle admiration for him. In the original timeline, if Orochimaru hadn't been so reclusive and uninterested in women, Kato Dan might never have entered Tsunade's life. Perhaps Orochimaru and Tsunade would have had the opportunity to grow closer.
Suddenly, Orochimaru's voice broke through her thoughts. "Can you give me a strand of your hair?"
"Huh?" Tsunade blinked, caught off guard. Why would he want that?
Chapter 18
Orochimaru's request was both confusing and unexpected. Asking for her hair in the middle of a casual conversation? Tsunade couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and embarrassment.
"Wh-why do you want someone else's hair?" she stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Could it be…? Tsunade's thoughts started running wild. Does he want to keep it as some kind of keepsake? A token of love, maybe?
She already had a growing crush on Orochimaru, and in her mind, hair was something personal, even intimate. Given how shy she already felt around him, it was only natural that her imagination ran wild with possibilities.
"If it's inconvenient, forget it," Orochimaru replied nonchalantly, his calm demeanor showing no sign of ulterior motives.
"You…!" Tsunade, who had been shy moments ago, was now irritated by his total lack of awareness. How could he be so casual about asking for something like that?! "You're so arrogant, asking someone for something so personal!"
Nevertheless, Tsunade reluctantly plucked a strand of her hair and handed it to him. "Here!"
Had it been anyone else, she probably would've been furious, but since it was Orochimaru she begrudgingly complied. This guy is such a straight-laced fool, she thought.
Orochimaru took the hair calmly, his expression still as unreadable as ever. "Thank you," he said, his voice even and polite.
"Uh… No… You're welcome…" Tsunade stuttered, surprised by his sudden politeness. She wasn't used to Orochimaru being so formal with her.
Without saying another word, Orochimaru slipped the strand of hair into the sleeve of his robe, where his genetic detector was hidden.
[Ding, human hair specimen detected. Quality: medium. Slight life energy can be extracted upon fusion.]
"Huh… Tsunade's gene quality is only medium?" Orochimaru murmured to himself. "Just a little life energy? I was hoping for more, perhaps the legendary vitality of the Senju."
After months of experimentation, Orochimaru had come to understand a lot more about how the gene extraction process worked. While hair could offer some genetic material, it wasn't as accurate or potent as samples taken from flesh and blood. But even with the limitations of hair, the results here were still valid.
The realization struck him that Tsunade's genetic potential wasn't as high as he had initially assumed. Tsunade's genes really are… just average?
It made sense when he thought about it. The Senju clan had indeed been powerful, but there were only a few standout figures known throughout history. In Tsunade's generation, even her parents didn't achieve any particular fame. In fact, Tsunade's own chakra reserves weren't all that impressive unless she used the Yin Seal. Without that technique, her chakra capacity was arguably lower than even Jiraiya's an average civilian-born ninja.
With that in mind, the system's analysis seemed accurate.
Only a little life energy, huh…Orochimaru pondered. After a moment of thought, he decided he would save these genes for later, once he unlocked gene fusion. He could then choose the best genes for fusion, aiming to maximize his benefits.
"Hey! Why are you two still standing around here?" a loud voice called from a distance.
Orochimaru and Tsunade turned their heads simultaneously.
"Jiraiya, what do you want?" Tsunade asked.
"Hiruzen-sensei's busy today," Jiraiya said with a grin, "so he told me to let you know we're disbanded for the day."
"What?!"
--
Orochimaru was lucky, and not just because of his status. Being one of the future legendary Sannin meant he had a bright future ahead. But from the moment he transmigrated into this world, his position had been unique.
In the harsh world of ninja villages, ordinary civilian-born ninjas were often looked down upon or bullied. But neither Orochimaru nor Jiraiya had to deal with that. Why? Because they had a teacher, and their teacher Hiruzen was a disciple of the Second Hokage.
Thanks to this connection, no one dared bully them, not even the Uchiha clan members who usually held themselves in high regard. After all, who would risk offending the Hokage's disciple?
Taking advantage of this rare free time, Orochimaru said his goodbyes to Jiraiya and Tsunade. He had more important matters to attend to specifically, gathering plant and animal specimens for his experiments.
Tsunade and Jiraiya, accustomed to Orochimaru's solitary habits, didn't think much of it as he wandered off.
"He's always doing his own thing," Tsunade remarked.
"Yeah, but hey, I've got something to show you!" Jiraiya grinned, an air of excitement in his voice.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Something to show me? What is it?"
Jiraiya's confidence radiated as he pulled out a kunai, nicked his finger, and quickly began forming hand seals.
"Watch this!"
Summoning Jutsu!
With a loud slap on the ground, black runes spread out from the point of contact, and in an instant, white smoke billowed around him. As the smoke cleared, a small toad appeared in front of them.
Tsunade blinked. "This is…"
Jiraiya puffed out his chest, arms crossed proudly. "What do you think? Pretty cool, right? I've learned how to summon toads from Mount Myoboku! Impressed yet?"
Ever since he had signed the contract with the toads of Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya had been eager to show off his new abilities especially to Tsunade. He wanted her to see that he wasn't just a slacker; he was powerful, too.
Tsunade had originally been slightly impressed. However, the moment she saw Jiraiya's smug expression, her pride kicked in, and she rolled her eyes. "It's just a summoning jutsu. What's the big deal? I can do that too."
"What?!" Jiraiya immediately deflated, his excitement crashing into disbelief. "You can do it too?"
"Of course! Watch."
With a similar motion, Tsunade bit her finger, performed the seals, and slammed her hand to the ground. A second plume of white smoke appeared, and when it dissipated, a small slug stood next to Jiraiya's toad.
"This… this is…!" Jiraiya was stunned, his jaw nearly hitting the floor. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Tsunade had summoned something too?
Tsunade grinned smugly. "How about that? Did I lie to you?"
Jiraiya stood in stunned silence, unable to process what had just happened. He had been so proud of his new skill, only to discover that Tsunade who hadn't bragged about it at all could do the same thing.
"But…" Jiraiya stammered, still trying to salvage his pride. "Even so, I'm definitely stronger than Orochimaru!"
Tsunade gave him an unimpressed look. "You'd better stop dreaming. Even if you know the summoning technique, I'm sure Orochimaru knew it a long time ago. He's just not as showy as you."
"No way…!" Jiraiya's world was collapsing.
"How's it impossible? If you don't believe me, go ask him."
"I will!"
--
Jiraiya's confidence was shattered as he stormed off, determined to find out if what Tsunade said was true. Meanwhile, Tsunade couldn't help but chuckle at his frustration, knowing full well that Orochimaru likely did know the summoning jutsu and that he was the type to keep such abilities to himself.
Poor Jiraiya,she thought with a smirk. He's got a long way to go.
Chapter 19
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining an ant specimen...]
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining...]
Orochimaru's mind churned as the system continued its updates. "Does the same species only count as one specimen?" he wondered aloud.
After listening to the system's explanation, he realized something important. It seemed that in order to complete the task of gene extraction, each unique species would only be counted once, regardless of how many individuals he collected.
For example, if he gathered cells from several humans, they would all still count as one species. The same logic applied to animals: he could collect different varieties of the same species, but they wouldn't count toward new tasks.
That makes sense, Orochimaru mused. It didn't affect his research at all. For someone like him, collecting a hundred species was child's play.
"Well, this should be easy enough," he muttered, his golden eyes glinting with confidence.
As he continued walking, something in the distance caught his attention a cemetery. It seemed eerily familiar to him.
After a moment, realization struck. Ah, of course... This was the resting place of his parents in this world. No wonder it stirred a sense of familiarity within him.
With a slight pang of nostalgia, Orochimaru made his way to the Yamanaka Clan's flower shop, purchased a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, and returned to his parents' grave. He laid the flowers before the stone with a sense of quiet reverence.
"Even though I'm not the Orochimaru you once knew," he said softly, bowing deeply in front of the tombstone, "I still owe you this respect. Consider it my filial duty."
After paying his respects, Orochimaru turned to leave. But as he was about to step away, something white behind the tombstone caught his eye. Curiosity piqued, he moved quickly, stepping behind the stone and picking up the strange object.
"What's this? Snakeskin? But... it's white?" he mumbled.
Before he could examine it further, a familiar voice called out from a distance.
"Hey, Orochimaru!"
Looking up, he saw Jiraiya running toward him. Orochimaru quickly stuffed the white snakeskin into his robe, concealing it from view.
"What's up?" Orochimaru asked, his voice calm and even.
"I need to ask you something..." Jiraiya began.
--
"Summoning Jutsu?" Orochimaru repeated, blinking in mild surprise as Jiraiya explained. That's right he had been so busy with his experiments that he had nearly forgotten that all three of the future Sannin had their own signature summons.
Tsunade had already mastered her slug summoning, and now it seemed Jiraiya had learned to summon toads. How could I have overlooked this? Orochimaru mused.
"Tsunade told me you already knew how to summon creatures too, but I didn't believe her!" Jiraiya said, his tone slightly accusing. "So I came to ask for myself. Hey, hey, show me if you can do it!"
"I can't," Orochimaru replied bluntly, not wanting to waste any time.
"What? You really can't?" Jiraiya's disbelief was evident on his face.
"I have no reason to lie to you."
"Hah!" Jiraiya burst into laughter, his pride swelling. "See? I, Jiraiya-sama, had to work so hard to master summoning, and you, Orochimaru, have never even done it before! I knew it!"
Jiraiya's glee was almost palpable as he pranced around, clearly reveling in his victory. Orochimaru, however, had no interest in entertaining his antics. He simply turned and began walking away, uninterested in Jiraiya's childish celebration.
"Hey! Where are you going? Don't leave! Let's have a chat, come on!" Jiraiya called after him, but Orochimaru waved him off dismissively.
"Boring," Orochimaru muttered, making it clear he wasn't going to engage further.
--
Later that night, Orochimaru lay on his bed, his mind racing with thoughts as he stared at the white snakeskin he had retrieved from the cemetery earlier. Though he had acted indifferent during the day, Jiraiya's words had left a small impression on him.
Tsunade probably learned summoning from her family, Orochimaru thought. The slug's size is directly proportional to the amount of chakra used, so she can summon it no matter how small her reserves are.
As for Jiraiya, he had learned the summoning technique from Hiruzen. The fool had used the technique without a contract and had accidentally been transported to Mount Myoboku, the land of the toads. But what about Orochimaru?
There were plenty of scrolls in my parents' inheritance, but none contained the summoning technique, let alone any mention of summoning snakes.
A chilling thought crossed his mind: Could it be that because I'm a reincarnator, the opportunity that should have belonged to the original Orochimaru is gone?
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed through the house, jolting Orochimaru from his thoughts.
"What was that?" he muttered, quickly sitting up. Another thud followed soon after.
This time, Orochimaru pinpointed the source of the noise. It was coming from the living room. In a few quick steps, he made his way out of his room and into the hallway, his senses sharp as he approached the living room.
Boom!
The sound rang out again. Orochimaru's golden eyes scanned the room, searching for the source.
It's coming from under the floor... Is something hitting the floor from below?
A sudden thought struck him. Could there be... a hidden basement beneath the house? It wouldn't be unusual for a ninja family to have secret passageways or basements. Orochimaru's parents might have dug the basement before he was even born, and he simply hadn't known about it.
Without wasting any time, Orochimaru began scanning the floor for any signs of a trapdoor or secret entrance. As a ninja, searching for hidden passages was a basic skill.
After moving a few pieces of experimental equipment into his system's storage, he found the source of the noise a thick wooden panel in the far right corner of the room. The muffled thudding was coming from beneath it.
Orochimaru knocked on the panel, confirming it was hollow. Cautiously, he drew a kunai and slipped his hand into the gap at the edge of the floorboard, ready for whatever might come.
Squeak!
The floor panel lifted easily, revealing a secret compartment below.
A massive python, as thick as an adult's calf, reared its head from the dark hole beneath the floor. The creature's body was covered in intricate flower-like patterns, and its golden eyes, with vertical slits, locked onto Orochimaru's. It hissed, flicking its tongue menacingly.
Orochimaru's first instinct was to retreat and defend himself, but something held him back. The giant snake didn't seem to have any intention of attacking him. Instead, it stared at him intently, its gaze almost assessing.
After a few tense moments, the python opened its mouth, revealing something unexpected a scroll. The large serpent dropped the scroll onto the floor in front of Orochimaru, then slithered back into the darkness beneath the house.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he bent down and picked up the scroll, feeling its weight in his hands.
A summoning scroll? he wondered. As he slowly unrolled it, the truth became clear.
Chapter 20
The unexpected joy from Orochimaru discovering the white python overwhelmed him momentarily. His instincts, however, did not lead him to attack. Instead, his first thought was to step back.
Why attack a snake when I should be one of them? he mused. If he attacked this snake, how could he expect to forge a bond with them later?
Luckily, the flower-patterned python didn't seem hostile, but Orochimaru remained cautious. After all, sudden kindness from a snake wasn't something to be taken lightly. Glancing at the scroll the python had dropped, he quickly formulated a plan. While keeping a wary eye on the snake, he reached for the scroll.
Upon inspecting it, he found that the scroll itself wasn't particularly unique, save for what it recorded the origin of this snake.
"Was this snake raised by my parents?" Orochimaru thought aloud, his golden eyes narrowing. "Could it be that they implanted a spiritual mark in its subconscious, so it wouldn't attack me?"
His gaze returned to the massive snake. Orochimaru was well aware that each of the Sannin had their own signature summon creatures. Jiraiya had the toads of Mount Myoboku, Tsunade had her slugs from Shikkotsu Forest, and he, Orochimaru, would eventually summon the snakes of Ryūchi Cave.
But this snake in front of him? It wasn't speaking, unlike the high-level toads or the intelligent slug Tsunade summoned. Most snakes from Ryūchi Cave didn't have the gift of speech unless they were particularly special.
It can't speak? Orochimaru thought, pondering the situation. So how did the original Orochimaru control these snakes?
His mind worked through the possible explanations.
"Do I need to sign a summoning contract first?" Orochimaru muttered. "That makes sense… but how do I go about signing the contract? Do I need to visit Ryūchi Cave?"
Just as these thoughts were crossing his mind, the flower patterned python reacted. Bah! The python hissed and gestured toward the basement, seemingly asking him to follow.
"Do you want me to go down with you?" Orochimaru asked tentatively.
Bah! The python nodded or at least it seemed to.
Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, but quickly decided to follow. With my current strength, I should be able to handle anything unexpected. He walked down into the basement, fully aware of his surroundings.
The basement was small, and the lighting was poor. Realizing the darkness would hinder him, Orochimaru quickly returned upstairs to fetch a candle. Once lit, the soft glow of the flame illuminated the space, revealing two objects sitting before him.
One was an intricately detailed scroll, and the other was a long iron box.
--
Orochimaru sat cross-legged in his living room, the two items placed beside him. Behind him, the flower patterned python coiled quietly, its tongue flickering in and out as it watched him obediently. The creature's docile nature surprised Orochimaru. It seemed surprisingly loyal and calm in his presence, an unexpected contrast to the snake's usual aggressive reputation.
This snake is unusually well-behaved, Orochimaru thought, though he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. There were more pressing matters at hand.
He turned his attention to the two objects in front of him. Even with all his experiments and experiences, he couldn't help but marvel at what he had found.
So my father had a summoning contract with the snakes of Ryūchi Cave too? Orochimaru's mind raced. It seemed that this python had been summoned by his father to guard these two treasures.
Orochimaru recalled that in the basement, there had been a tunnel leading out of Konoha Village, allowing the python to leave to hunt for food. That explained how the creature had survived in hiding for so long. The python had been living beneath the house for a year, sustaining itself by catching prey from the outside.
"What a pleasant surprise!" Orochimaru said to himself, his voice filled with rare emotion. He calmed his excitement and examined the long iron box next to the scroll. The box wasn't locked but had a simple seal that required chakra to unlock. Orochimaru channeled a bit of chakra into the seal, and soon the box creaked open.
Inside the box was a shining silver sword, its blade gleaming in the dim candlelight.
Orochimaru's eyes widened, his pupils contracting. "It really is… Kusanagi!"
In his memories, this very sword had been used by him to kill both the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and his former master, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. While the Kusanagi Sword wasn't a divine artifact, it was incredibly sharp and could extend, shorten, and transform at will making it a formidable weapon.
Beside the sword lay a letter.
Orochimaru opened it slowly. Countless words appeared before his eyes, written in a familiar hand.
"Boy, if you're reading this, it means I'm no longer in this world..."
There was no doubt this was a letter left behind by Orochimaru's father.
The letter explained how his father had obtained the sword by chance. Before heading to the battlefield, he had a premonition that he might not survive. Fearing that the sword would fall into enemy hands, he hid it away in the basement, entrusting it to the care of the python.
The letter warned Orochimaru of the sword's immense value and power, advising him to only use it once he was strong enough. His father cautioned him never to display the Kusanagi in front of others until he was capable of wielding it effectively.
"So that's why Orochimaru in the original timeline always kept this sword inside his body," Orochimaru chuckled darkly. He remembered vividly how the original Orochimaru would summon the Kusanagi by having a snake regurgitate it from his mouth a sight that was as bizarre as it was unsettling.
Disgusting,Orochimaru thought with a grimace. The original Orochimaru must have altered his body through countless experiments, turning himself into something less humane.
That won't be me. Orochimaru decided firmly. He had no intention of becoming a grotesque snake-human hybrid. His experiments would be different.
Placing the Kusanagi Sword to the side, he picked up the scroll. As expected, it was a summoning contract. His father's name was written at the top, marking him as a summoner of Ryūchi Cave.
According to the instructions on the contract, Orochimaru would need to sign his name on the bottom and then leave a bloody handprint to finalize the agreement. It was a simple process, one that he had been familiar with from his knowledge of the original story.
Without hesitation, Orochimaru followed the instructions. He pricked his finger, signed his name, and placed a blood-stained handprint on the scroll.
As the blood seeped into the scroll, Orochimaru felt a sudden shift within his mind. Something foreign yet familiar embedded itself into his consciousness a connection to Ryūchi Cave and its serpentine inhabitants.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Master, please issue your command!"
Orochimaru blinked in surprise. The voice belonged to the flower patterned python coiled behind him.
So, after signing the contract, I can communicate with these snakes telepathically?
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