Orochimaru, Who Inverted the Heavenly Dipper, Wants to Add Fuel to the Old Man's Fire

Orochimaru thought rapidly.

He had pondered it all the way here, yet still could not figure out what Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted...

It had been years since they had spoken privately.

So why had he been summoned straight to his home for a meal?

What was this supposed to be?

Though Orochimaru did not know the term "Hongmen Banquet," the doubts in his heart were much the same.

After entering, however, he relaxed a little.

Mistress Biwako treated him kindly, and the air was filled with the scents of apples and eggs, both of which he liked...

Yet when he learned that Hiruzen Sarutobi had gone to the training ground, a trace of curiosity arose in Orochimaru's heart.

The old man had been buried beneath Mountains of Documents and Seas of Meetings for so long... Did he still maintain a daily training routine?

Judging by how exhausted he always looked before, he did not seem like he had that kind of energy.

Standing at the door and looking at his imposing teacher, who seemed almost rejuvenated, Orochimaru's mouth twitched imperceptibly.

No, was this still the same person?

He had turned back the clock by ten years, hadn't he!

"You came so early? Didn't I say to just come by mealtime?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi casually hoisted the Adamantine Staff onto his shoulder and asked with a chuckle, "What, kid, are you hungry? Have a few extra bowls later. Your Mistress made several dishes!"

His tone was utterly domestic, as though Orochimaru were his son returning home from school.

Orochimaru blinked, his probing gaze fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi's body as he slowly asked, "Teacher... what happened to you?"

"Ah, the work pressure was too much before, and I fell seriously ill."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke frankly, with a touch of wistfulness.

"When a person gets sick, they have no choice but to slow down. And once I slowed down, I came to understand quite a few things. My mind relaxed, and my body improved along with it. I even tried practicing some of the techniques Lord Tobirama left behind."

"I figured out a few things on my own too. The results seem decent, don't they?"

Orochimaru nodded seriously. "Very good. I thought you had begun to master the Yin Seal..."

Influenced by that gentle attitude, he unconsciously reverted to the unique form of address used by the Sannin.

In fact, he had considered it on the way here.

If the conversation went poorly, he would deliberately keep a cold face and call him "Lord Hokage"!

For the ever-cold and ruthless Orochimaru, only the three members of Team Hiruzen could bring out such an almost childlike temperament in him across the entire Shinobi World.

"That is still a long way off, but I do indeed intend to cultivate the Yin Seal."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "A strong Hokage will always put people more at ease than a frail little old man..."

A glint flashed through Orochimaru's eyes.

Those words delighted him.

Had his teacher realized the terror of aging and become willing to use ninjutsu to solve the problem?

As the Professor of Ninjutsu, had you finally come to your senses!

Were ninjutsu not invented precisely to solve all kinds of problems?

"Teacher, you should have had this idea long ago. I can help you..."

It was as if a fresh wind had swept through Hiruzen Sarutobi's aging body and mind, causing the Hokage, whom he had thought would slowly decay away, to burst forth with renewed vitality.

"From the sound of it, you've learned many new ninjutsu over the past two years?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "Why not show your teacher?"

Orochimaru's heart stirred.

Long ago, whenever he learned a new ninjutsu, he would demonstrate it before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

And every time, Hiruzen Sarutobi would patiently watch him finish, then offer meticulous guidance to help him master it better.

"The old days, huh?"

The breeze stirred Orochimaru's teal Magatama Earrings. "Teacher, will you guide me again after all this time?"

The ninjutsu he had been researching recently was not convenient to show Hiruzen Sarutobi.

It was a Forbidden Technique that violated human ethics. Its name was Living Corpse Reincarnation, and it could seize another person's body.

But setting that aside.

Having an instructional spar with his revitalized teacher was also something he wanted.

It would allow him to feel Hiruzen Sarutobi's changes more deeply.

"Guide you? You might be stronger than me now, Orochimaru..."

"But when a disciple invites me, it would be improper for me as the teacher to refuse."

"Sensei, how about getting a little more serious?" Orochimaru habitually extended his long tongue and licked the corner of his mouth. This decisiveness made him find things even more interesting. "Should I notify the Anbu?"

Though his interest had been piqued, he had thought things through carefully.

If teacher and disciple were to truly cut loose...

The commotion they caused would surely incite panic if the Anbu were not around the village to maintain order.

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily and swiftly formed several hand seals. "Earth Release: Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"

A towering, solid earthen wall rose from the ground, enclosing the training ground on all sides.

Though the training ground was quite spacious, he and Orochimaru were no ordinary shinobi. Once they got carried away fighting, there was no telling how far the damage might spread.

"You've thought this through very thoroughly, Orochimaru. Ever since you were young, you've had the mindset of a Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi praised him without restraint, waving a broad hand. "No need to notify them!"

"I was very displeased about Uzumaki Kushina being abducted by Kumogakure last time..."

"This time, there'll be no notice, no warning, and no one to receive us or report in. You and I, teacher and disciple, will stay right here and see how capable the village is of responding!"

Orochimaru nodded faintly, the anticipation in his eyes growing stronger.

Whether it was being told he possessed the mindset of a "Hokage," or his teacher's unconventional plan to test Konoha's rapid-response capabilities...

Both pleased him immensely!

He was no longer like that Old Man who always weighed every word and action so heavily.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rummaged through his Ninja Tool Pouch and took out a slightly rusted Bronze Bell.

"Sensei, are we still playing the bell-grabbing game?" Orochimaru chuckled. "I'm not a Ninja Academy graduate anymore."

"Does it look familiar?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said sentimentally. "This is the bell you used when you were children. I kept it as a memento."

At those words, something stirred in Orochimaru's heart.

The Old Man had actually kept this bell in his Ninja Tool Pouch all this time?

A strange flicker of emotion passed through Orochimaru's heart.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled faintly.

In truth, he had only put the bell into the Ninja Tool Pouch afterward...

His original plan had been to casually show it to Orochimaru someday, pretending it was unintentional, to close the distance between them.

He had not expected a suitable occasion to come so quickly.

To be fair, the former Hiruzen Sarutobi had felt deeply for the Sannin.

It was only that the pressure brought by being Hokage had nearly left him unable to breathe. He had become overly cautious in every respect, and coupled with the traditional mindset of an old shinobi, he naturally could not express his feelings as openly as this.

Teacher and disciple were like father and son—always silent and reserved, making it easy for misunderstandings to form.

Over time, the tiny gaps that accumulated bit by bit would hold the two apart, driving them farther and farther away.

In that case, even if they could let bygones be bygones when they suddenly looked back, how much meaning would there be left in it?

So it was better to be an emotionally stable "old father" who gave plenty of emotional support, openly praising his own disciple...

That Persona was far more likable!

The slight upward curve of Orochimaru's lips proved that his thinking was correct.

"If we're grabbing bells, having just me would be fine too..." Orochimaru suppressed the emotions in his heart and spoke.

"Orochimaru, you have always been the disciple I am most proud of..." The bell swayed in the breeze, producing a pleasant chime.

"Heh heh..."

Orochimaru laughed hoarsely. "Sensei, why are you saying such things?"

"Didn't I always say that when you were little? You're not used to it? That's my fault too. I mentioned it less after you grew up..." Hiruzen Sarutobi tossed the bell to Orochimaru. "How about I'm the one grabbing the bell today? Let me test what you're made of, brat, and see whether your shoulders have grown sturdy."

Orochimaru caught the bell reflexively, his heart tightening.

Sensei was grabbing the bell?

What did that mean?

"Am I overthinking this?" Orochimaru desperately wanted to ask himself.

Hiruzen Sarutobi circulated the Chakra within his body, his gaze gradually turning serious.

There were several reasons why he had Orochimaru defend.

First, although he had more or less integrated the original owner's combat instincts, attacking was naturally easier than defending, allowing him to reveal fewer openings.

Second, it also hinted at how highly he regarded Orochimaru, raising his favorability. He had to bring this research talent back to his side.

Third, this stage that had been set up through his back-and-forth with Orochimaru was the perfect place for him to establish his authority!

Once he unleashed a high-powered ninjutsu, never mind how fast it was, the Anbu, Konoha Military Police Force, and a whole host of others would surely arrive...

As a Hokage who had not acted in a long time, he needed to put on a spectacle that would leave people stunned.

That would benefit his "authority."

"My Chakra reserves have increased considerably... so there's no need to pinch every bit of it. I need to fight with momentum, with ferocity!" Hiruzen Sarutobi organized his battle plan.

After coming back to his senses, Orochimaru's heart tightened as he watched the eager Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Something was off...

Just a moment ago, he had thought the Old Man wanted to test him...

So why did it now feel like he had been set up? Like the Old Man had found an excuse to give him a thorough beating!

"But this changed teacher of mine is truly interesting..."

Orochimaru licked the corner of his lips and thought, "It may be a little dangerous, but let's add some fuel to the fire!"

Orochimaru cleared his throat and turned the tables.

"Teacher, do you remember what you told us when we fought over Bells back then?"

"You said we should attack with the intent to kill you..."

"Teacher, perhaps you should hold the same mindset today."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes immediately lit up!

There was such a request?

He had been wondering how to strike the right balance...

After all, although Orochimaru had been the one to request a spar with him, if he hit too hard, it might create a rift between them...

But if Orochimaru brought it up himself, that was different!

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, Orochimaru suddenly felt a little uneasy. He hurriedly added, "Five minutes, Teacher!"

"If you can't defeat me in five minutes, then I win..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily. "Fine!"

Before his words had even fallen, his fingers fluttered like butterflies as they rapidly formed hand seals.

Hiruzen Sarutobi drew in a deep breath, his chest swelling high. "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Chakra poured forth without reservation!

The fireball transformed into a dragon and lunged viciously at Orochimaru, blanketing the entire training ground!

The blazing fire radiated fearsome might, and the reflected light on the earthen walls swayed as though they were about to ignite.

"Reddish-white flames? And such range..."

This was a hereditary Fire Release technique of the Sarutobi Clan, though it was not particularly complicated.

Yet while the ninjutsu itself was basic, the Chakra nature transformation within it was anything but.

"Good! It's been a while since I've tried these ordinary Five Nature Transformation Techniques..." Orochimaru also circulated his Chakra. Like Hiruzen Sarutobi, he was a ninja proficient in all seven Chakra natures.

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

The fireballs collided and intertwined. They first exploded at the center, then formed a towering fire tornado that twisted savagely through the sky.

For a moment, it was as though a gigantic firework had exploded in midair.

"The Old Man's Fire Release is truly seasoned... The temperature is actually this high?" Orochimaru retreated swiftly, drew his thumb across his lips, and let blood spill onto the ground before slamming his hands together.

"Summoning Technique: Rashomon!"

A massive gate bearing a demonic face surged from the ground, cutting off the roaring flames.

The reddish-white flames of the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet split around both sides of the giant gate and struck the Earth Style: Earth-Style Walls surrounding the training ground, causing even those sturdy earthen walls to begin melting.

"Teacher, have your fundamentals improved again?"

Standing atop the Rashomon, Orochimaru swept his gaze into the distance and said meaningfully, "But people will be arriving soon..."

"Kid, openly show the villagers your strongest side!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said loudly, "A contest has no distinction of size. If you fall behind, go back and keep training. The same goes for me!"

"This stage belongs to both of us!"

At that, Orochimaru smiled—the same smile he had worn as a child.

To be honest, if he had to fight Hiruzen Sarutobi to the death, he certainly had no confidence.

But with five minutes as the limit, relying on his escape techniques and jutsu to stall would be effortless... Even with the restrictions of the venue, Orochimaru had that confidence.

In the entire Shinobi World, how many dared claim their techniques were stranger or their survivability greater than his?

He had been worried that if Hiruzen Sarutobi failed to defeat him in front of everyone, he would lose face as Hokage.

But he had not expected his teacher to act like a young man, refusing to discuss any of that and speaking only of a real fight...

Now this felt good.

"I rarely used Body Modification techniques before, but sooner or later, they would draw attention..."

"Old Man had always been highly sensitive toward this kind of technique."

"If I showed him a little today and my teacher turned on me, I could make preparations early."

Orochimaru's thoughts raced. "Summoning Technique? Fivefold Rashomon!"

He had previously been accustomed to summoning the Triple Rashomon, but today, Orochimaru summoned five at once!

Five towering, sturdy Rashomon gates stood in Konoha's widest training ground. Together with the previous one, they formed an irregular arrangement, like a labyrinth.

This was Orochimaru's plan.

With his agility, he could weave and dart through the multiple Rashomon gates like a slippery venomous snake. Even the most elite hunter would be bitten if they entered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru waited in tacit understanding.

A short while later, the Anbu arrived.

Hatake Sakumo was the first to arrive, followed by his eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

Both of them were Anbu Squad Captains.

Seeing his father and his beloved disciple at each other's throats, Shinnosuke was somewhat bewildered. "What are you...?"

"Your speed is barely acceptable, but still slower than I expected."

"Sakumo, you will take charge of the scene next!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely. "Maintain order and record the arrival times of every department and every individual in the village."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Hatake Sakumo immediately accepted the order.

After briefly examining the man standing as straight as a pine, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly.

Very loyal!

Hiruzen Sarutobi shifted his gaze back.

At that moment, Orochimaru had already transformed half his body into a snake as he looked expectantly and probing at his teacher.

"Huh?"

Joy rose in Orochimaru's heart. He saw no displeasure in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, only curiosity.

That curiosity—though it was rather a reversal of roles to say so—really resembled his own...

It was the desire to explore any and every ninjutsu!

"Give me more surprises, Teacher!"

Orochimaru slipped into the labyrinth formed by the multiple Rashomon gates. Endless hissing echoed within, clearly concealing a large number of venomous snakes, as he shouted from afar:

"Old Man, I don't feel any pressure at all. Use whatever other techniques you have together!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twisted.

His disciple really was an interesting fellow.

At that moment, the Uchiha Clan of Konoha's Military Police Force also arrived.

"Just in time..."

"You want to fight me with hit-and-run tactics? Then I'll melt this entire area!"

"Let me see how strong this body is!"

Lord Hokage erupted with Chakra!