"It seemed your mission to escort the merchant caravan to the Land of Grass had gone quite smoothly."
Orochimaru looked at Feng Ye. A glint flashed through his eyes as he revealed a faintly eerie smile, tilting his head back slightly as he spoke to Feng Ye.
Having been sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi to the front lines in the Land of Grass, he had originally intended to bring Feng Ye along. Yet he had not been able to find him, and after asking around, learned that Feng Ye had accepted an escort mission for a merchant caravan.
He had thought he might run into Feng Ye in the Land of Grass, but unexpectedly, Feng Ye had returned today and had been assigned here by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Of course.
That was not what had truly caught Orochimaru's attention.
What had truly drawn his notice was that Feng Ye's bearing was different from when they had last met!
The previous Feng Ye had carried more of an air of caution. Though a trace of confidence could be seen, it had been restrained and never displayed outwardly.
But now, Feng Ye radiated the confidence and vitality unique to young people, as though he had become an entirely different person.
There was no doubt about it.
If Feng Ye had failed his escort mission to the Land of Grass, his bearing would not have changed like this. In other words, Feng Ye must have completed the mission. More than that, he might even have encountered some unexpected incident during it—and resolved it perfectly.
Only something like that could have brought about such a drastic change, turning his cautiousness, restraint, and wariness into an outwardly radiating vitality and confidence.
"Yes."
Feng Ye nodded. "There was a small incident, but I completed it."
Hearing Feng Ye's