What kind of thing are you? [Seeking recommendation tickets]

Chapter 42: What Exactly Are You? [Requesting Recommendation Tickets]

After obtaining three C-rank Ninjutsu, Toneri left Orochimaru's mansion with great satisfaction.

And because he successfully became Orochimaru's disciple, he gained the right to freely enter and exit Orochimaru's house.

This house was filled with snakes everywhere; an ordinary person who barged in would likely enter standing up and leave in pieces.

Humming a little tune, Toneri wasn't in the mood or have the energy to wander around with the Anbu ninja today. After just a "brief" tour of Konoha, he "luckily" found the Nara Clan's territory.

Under the astonished gazes of Shikaku and Shikashin, he devoured all the food on the dining table like a whirlwind.

Ever since Toneri moved in, his family status had soared. Coupled with his pleasing demeanor, he had won the affection of Yoshimi Nara.

But this left Shikashin and Shikaku in a difficult position, having to wait at home for Toneri's return before they could eat.

Even more cruelly, once Toneri sat at the table, it signaled the start of war.

A war without smoke!

Anyone who was a moment too slow might only have watery rice soup to console themselves for dinner.

Originally, Shikashin, as an elder, was unwilling to fight for food with the younger generation, but...

It's truly pathetic; the current Toneri didn't even leave them any soup.

Happily returning to his room, Toneri placed the three Ninjutsu scrolls on the table and opened them one by one.

Having been involved in the ninja profession for over two weeks, he still hadn't learned any offensive Ninjutsu.

Although he obtained the B-rank Ninjutsu Shadow Clone Technique from Danzo, this Ninjutsu was more for learning. As for offense, that depended on himself.

In this world, the importance placed on Ninjutsu was far greater than Toneri had imagined, truly reaching the point of cherishing it as one's own treasure.

The most valued were, of course, the secret techniques belonging to each clan, such as the Nara Clan's Shadow Imitation Technique, the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transfer Technique, and the Akimichi Clan's Expansion Jutsu. These secret techniques were the foundation of a clan and absolutely forbidden to be passed down.

For any outsider to learn these clan secret techniques meant an irreconcilable feud!

It was extremely brutal and serious.

As for ordinary Ninjutsu, while perhaps not as cherished as secret techniques, they were still highly valued.

It wasn't that they could be taught casually.

In the Ninja Academy, the only Ninjutsu taught throughout the entire six-year curriculum was the Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques. Teachers generally wouldn't teach additional Ninjutsu unless they had a very good relationship with the teacher or were a talented individual favored by the teacher, in which case they might learn one or two different Ninjutsu.

But even then, they wouldn't be taught casually.

All Ninjutsu resources were tightly controlled by some major clans. To learn them, one either had to join the clan or become its vassal.

However, Konoha also had a system of exchanging merits for Ninjutsu.

Why did so many geniuses and powerful ninja emerge every time a war broke out?

Besides the brutal war forcing ninja to improve their strength, it was also the fastest way to earn merits. Those with outstanding war achievements were even allowed to choose one or two Forbidden Jutsu from the Scroll of Seals as a reward.

In addition, the most popular way of teaching Ninjutsu in the Shinobi World was through master-disciple transmission.

Masters taught disciples, or squad leaders taught subordinates, which could establish deeper relationships and bonds.

The Konoha's Jonin squad leader system, to a certain extent, was designed to give more civilian ninja access to more Ninjutsu.

Why was Toneri so afraid when he first learned he was to become Orochimaru's disciple, but later quickly accepted the reality and even became somewhat excited?

It was precisely because, with Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, as his teacher, he could access a much wider range of Ninjutsu and have more opportunities to become stronger.

Now, it seemed that besides often playing with snakes, which made him seem difficult to approach, Orochimaru was actually a relatively qualified teacher.

In the future, when Sasuke sought refuge with Orochimaru, who was a rogue ninja, although Orochimaru had ulterior motives, he still did his best to train Sasuke, not only in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu but also in Summoning Beasts. He even meticulously taught combat skills and team combat coordination.

Otherwise, the Hawk Team wouldn't have come into existence later.

Today, after learning about Toneri's three elemental affinities, he directly gave him three Ninjutsu scrolls.

Don't underestimate them just because they are C-rank Ninjutsu. These three Ninjutsu not only corresponded to the three elements but also encompassed attack, control, and defense functions respectively.

The most powerful fire element served as the offensive Ninjutsu, the most versatile water element for control, and the strongest defense of the earth element for defense.

Who said Orochimaru just picked them randomly?

With Toneri's current Chakra control, learning these three Ninjutsu wouldn't be that simple.

Using a Shadow Clone to memorize the contents of the scrolls, he himself climbed onto the bed.

As soon as he neared the pillow, a soft snore could be heard.

He was truly exhausted today.

In his dream, Toneri found the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, his "number two tool man," on his left, and the "cool lord" Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, on his right. Together with a giant cat, they swept through the Shinobi World, punching Pain, kicking Madara Uchiha, and casually tossing Kaguya Otsutsuki to be the poop-scooper for the Two-Tails...

Dreams always had a stark contrast with reality.

In reality, I am timid; in my dreams, I strike with all my might!

Still at Orochimaru's mansion.

After tidying up the laboratory, Orochimaru was preparing to begin a new line of research.

The Second Shinobi World War had finally ended, and that fool Jiraiya had let his compassion get the better of him, believing in such baseless things as the "Child of Prophecy."

In Orochimaru's opinion, it was more crucial to forge one's own path than to believe in destiny.

Although he found Jiraiya's actions somewhat distasteful, Orochimaru couldn't help but wear a slightly warm smile at the thought of his only two friends.

It was like the sunlight of early spring melting the ice and snow.

But the smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

He liked snakes because they were cold-blooded. He didn't need superfluous emotions, nor did he want to be burdened by them.

"If you barge into my place so carelessly again, neither you nor your subordinates will need to return," Orochimaru said, his magnetic, husky voice devoid of any emotion as he stood with his back to the tunnel entrance.

The words were chilling, making it impossible not to believe him.

From the shadows, Shimura Danzō, leaning on his cane, appeared in the tunnel with two fully armed Root Ninja.

"Orochimaru, I believe that at this stage, I am the only one in all of Konoha who can help you. I know about your hidden talents, while that cowardly Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't dare support you in showcasing them. So, how about it? Shall we cooperate?"

Danzō was clearly not someone who would be intimidated by a single word from Orochimaru.

Orochimaru offered no reply, but the figure standing before the lab table slowly began to "melt."

The two Root Ninja immediately moved to flank Danzō, adopting a ready-to-attack stance.

BOOM!!!

Hundreds of snakes suddenly surged out, one after another, flinging the Root Ninja against the wall.

Shadow Snake Hands!

Orochimaru licked his lips and walked up to Danzō, his icy snake eyes fixed on the grim-faced Danzō, his voice laced with mockery, "Oh? Help me? What makes you think you can?!"

Danzō remained silent. He pulled a scroll from his robes. "Look at this first..."

A snake crawled onto Orochimaru, bit the scroll, and returned it to his hand.

Upon opening the scroll and dispelling the seal, even with Orochimaru's vast experience, his pupils couldn't help but contract sharply. Immediately, something called "greed" erupted from his eyes, and his tongue, which he licked his lips with, extended even further...

There's a group number in the introduction, feel free to join and chat.

Honestly, hasn't Jin Mu been good enough to you all? Begging for votes every day after bathing and changing, and you still want to help me get banned...

And in the group, can anything I say be believed? My reputation