Orochimaru Makes a Decision

As noon approached, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Orochimaru standing in the shadows, flipping through a battle report from the border.

"Although Anko was attacked, she was fortunately discovered by a Jonin in the camp early on, so she wasn't seriously injured," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking at Orochimaru, whose face showed no emotion. After a moment of thought, he spoke first.

Ever since he failed to compete for the position of Fourth Hokage, his most talented disciple had become reclusive. Not only had he grown distant from his former subordinates, but even his own teacher couldn't fathom what he was thinking.

Now, only Anko Mitarai could get close to Orochimaru. In ten days, he would leave Konoha to meet the Daimyo and wouldn't return for about half a month. During this time, someone needed to monitor Shimura Danzō.

He knew about Orochimaru's contact with Danzō, but he believed in Orochimaru's feelings for his disciple, Anko. Danzō's actions against Anko would not be hidden from Orochimaru.

In fact, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt he had guessed correctly. As he watched Orochimaru's retreating back, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Walking down the long corridor, bright windows blocked the cold wind outside, and only the gentle sunlight fell on Orochimaru, dispelling his gloomy aura.

Orochimaru ignored the slightly fearful gazes of passersby and stood by the window, looking into the distance towards the Hokage Rock.

Decades of storms had seen four Hokage change, but the Hokage Rock still stood firm in its place. In the future, it would witness even more Hokage transitions.

Therefore, only eternity was the most important thing. The human body was truly too weak. He needed more experiments to abandon this frail body.

Konoha was no longer suitable for him. The web of interpersonal relationships and interests made Orochimaru feel a sense of irritation.

This is the last time, teacher.

"One last time, no one is allowed to open this for these sacred less than three minutes!" Uchiha Yue glared with her round eyes, baring her small fangs as she warned the restless Senba opposite her, her right hand pressing down tightly on the sukiyaki pot lid.

As the biggest foodie in the team, Senba eventually withdrew his restless fingers and took the sushi handed to him by Iruka, starting to eat.

Ten seconds later, after finishing five sushi in three bites, Senba comforted his internal organs before looking at Teacher Genma, who was drinking sake opposite him.

"Teacher Genma, you just said that if we complete one more B-rank mission, we can apply for the Chunin exams? Is the village really in such a hurry?"

Senba naturally knew the process of promotion to Chunin in the village and didn't expect the three of them to face the exam so soon.

Hearing Senba's question, Genma Shiranui tilted his head, drank the remaining sake in his mouth, and let out a satisfied sigh before looking at the three youngsters in front of him.

"Special circumstances call for special measures. These are special times. As long as your performance in combat is outstanding, you can be promoted. Don't forget that during the Third Shinobi War, someone in the village was promoted to Chunin at the age of six."

Genma Shiranui specifically mentioned the most brilliant genius of his generation at the end, his words also expressing some wistfulness. That person's talent should not have stopped at Elite Jonin.

If it weren't for the burden of his close friend's remains, he might have had a chance to become the Fifth Hokage.

Just as Senba and the others were contemplating the words "special circumstances call for special measures," the three minutes for the sukiyaki were up. The moment the lid was opened, a rich aroma accompanied by rising steam wafted towards them.

From Senba's perspective, the soup in the pot was boiling vigorously, fully blending the aromas of beef, shiitake mushrooms, tofu, and other ingredients. It smelled so good that his mouth was watering.

Refusing the raw egg mixture offered by Iruka, Senba picked up a piece of perfectly cooked beef with his chopsticks, dipped it lightly in a little balsamic vinegar, and then put it in his mouth to chew slowly.

The richness of the beef combined with the tang of the balsamic vinegar made him enjoy the sensation of the meat juice filling his mouth to the fullest, while also whetting his appetite.

Yue and Iruka strongly disagreed with Senba's unorthodox eating method, believing that sukiyaki must be dipped in raw egg for authenticity.

Unfortunately, Senba absolutely refused. Forget raw egg, he rejected raw fish and similar ingredients altogether.

"Teacher Genma, what happens if we don't pass this Chunin exam?" Senba said, scooping up another piece of tender tofu and savoring it.

Genma Shiranui, who was having the service staff prepare the next pot of sukiyaki, couldn't help but fall silent for a moment upon hearing this. "Those who don't pass will continue to form Genin squads with new recruits."

"In other words, you might be separated." Genma Shiranui said this while his gaze fell on Iruka.

He knew that some things had to be said clearly to this child. If he let the child guess and figure it out himself, it might add a burden to his heart.

Seeing the teacher's gaze fall on him, Iruka's eyes showed a hint of loneliness, but he quickly recovered. His ambition had never been to become the strongest ninja; that was the ambition of Senba and Yue.

Seeing Iruka adjust his emotions so quickly, Senba and Uchiha Yue exchanged a glance, their eyes showing a hint of relief. This might not be a bad thing.

Genma Shiranui, who also saw this scene, smiled. In the next second, three thick stacks of money were divided equally in front of the three of them, which was the reward for their last mission.

"Teacher Genma, what about your share?" With just a glance, Senba knew the distribution was wrong. The three of them had received too much reward.

The missions issued by Konohagakure did not include the village's commission, so the reward received each time was the full amount, followed by distribution within the team.

For ninja squads led by Jonin like this, the Jonin took fifty percent, and the remaining fifty percent was shared among the three of them.

Senba weighed the reward in his hand. It was at least a hundred thousand ryo. Combined with what Yue and Iruka received, it was more than a typical B-rank mission.

"I am very satisfied with your performance this time, so I am taking no share." Genma Shiranui put a piece of tofu into his mouth in the boiling soup, took a sip of sake contentedly, and then said.

"Don't spend it carelessly. Tomorrow, go buy some good combat attire and useful ninja tools. We'll be departing in ten days. B-rank missions involve fighting against ninja."

"Don't be careless. Don't be stingy with the money you have; turning it into strength is the correct way to use it."

The three of them nodded silently at Teacher Genma's words. Not to mention Yue and Iruka, even Senba was in urgent need of money.

Grandma Momoka's educational philosophy was similar to "too much motherly love spoils the child." She was never stingy with ninjutsu, but she was strict about financial enjoyment.

The most common example was Grandma Momoka always using one of Konoha's Sannin as a negative example to remind Senba. As for who it was, Senba had no habit of speaking ill of others behind their backs.

It just so happened that he hadn't had a chance to exchange the unexpected windfall he received last time for cash, so this reward came at the perfect time.

As Senba's mood improved, his appetite became even more unrestrained, and he immediately transformed into a food-devouring master, entering storm mode.