Orochimaru

The Yamanaka Clan had profited considerably from the sale of Healing Talismans recently, and as the developer and creator, Yamanaka Tohru's wallet had also grown fat.

After Obito and Rin arrived, the four of them feasted at the barbecue restaurant. Even Obito, tempted by the grilled meat, set aside his usual quarreling with Kakashi and buried himself in eating.

After finishing the barbecue, the four strolled along the streets, exchanging news about their recent situations.

"Obito, who do you think our instructor will be?"

"Well... I don't know that either." As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Obito was usually well-informed, but when Rin tried asking him just now, even Obito didn't know.

"Huh? You already know you're in a team together?" Yamanaka Tohru hadn't heard the Ninja Academy teacher mention team assignments and asked curiously.

"Obito told me before the exam. He said everyone would pass this test, and I'd be grouped with him and a Chunin to form a squad."

"It looks like war is coming soon!" With graduation already predetermined, only a single trigger was needed to start a war.

Yamanaka Tohru recalled that in the original story, the Third Shinobi World War began with the disappearance of the Third Kazekage. After Jiraiya went to Sunagakure to gather intelligence, the village's ninja deployments had noticeably decreased. Combining this with the original work, Yamanaka Tohru deduced that Sasori of the Red Sands had likely defected.

Shortly after Sasori of the Red Sands defected, he killed the Third Kazekage, who had come to pursue him. Sunagakure would use this as a pretext to launch a war. The Third Shinobi War was drawing closer by the day.

"Kakashi, Obito, Rin—war is about to begin. Everyone will be sent to the front lines. These are Healing Talismans I developed, thirty in total. Ten for each of you. Their effect is similar to the Mystical Palm Technique." After speaking, Yamanaka Tohru distributed the talismans to the three.

Kakashi knew about the Healing Talismans and accepted them, storing them away. Seeing Kakashi put them away, Obito and Rin didn't refuse either.

"This is all I can do. Be careful on the battlefield, especially you, Obito. Don't do anything pointless or try to play the hero."

Though he knew that in the original story, Obito was taken by Madara during the Battle of Hizashi Bridge, and Rin was mistakenly killed by Kakashi a year before Minato became Hokage, that was the original story. Day by day, Yamanaka Tohru grew more aware that he was living in a real world.

He couldn't guarantee whether Kakashi's, Obito's, and Rin's experiences during the Third Shinobi War would match the original. These three were among his few friends in the world of Naruto, and Yamanaka Tohru could only do his best to help them survive.

After saying goodbye to the three, Yamanaka Tohru returned to the Third Training Ground. Uzuki Yugao was still swinging her blade tirelessly. For a four-year-old girl to achieve this level of dedication was truly remarkable.

"Yugao, stop for a moment. I need to talk to you."

Hearing Yamanaka Tohru's voice, Uzuki Yugao halted her training. He had never interrupted her practice before, and this unusual behavior made her curious.

"Big Brother Tohru, what's the matter?"

"Yugao, starting tomorrow, don't come to the Third Training Ground for a while." Yamanaka Tohru said reluctantly.

"Why?"

"Because war is coming soon. Big Brother Tohru needs to make some preparations."

Uzuki Yugao nodded. Though she had never experienced war herself, she had heard about its horrors from her parents and those around her.

"Then, Big Brother Tohru, come teach me again after the war ends." Yugao's bright smile lightened the weight in Yamanaka Tohru's heart.

After watching Yugao leave, Yamanaka Tohru began producing Healing Talismans at full capacity. Thirty a day was the number he had told the Third Hokage, but the actual amount was far more.

Another month passed. During this time, Yamanaka Tohru rushed to produce over 1,100 Healing Talismans. After handing over 900 to the Yamanaka Clan, he still had more than 200 left.

With a reserve of over 200 Healing Talismans, Yamanaka Tohru felt much more at ease. He decided not to continue making them. Over nearly three months, he had produced more than 2,700 talismans. Keeping 200 for himself, 2,500 in the village was sufficient.

For the time ahead, Yamanaka Tohru planned to focus on Wind Style. The first to declare war on Konoha in the Third Shinobi War was Sunagakure, and most Suna ninja used puppets and Wind Style.

He wasn't worried about puppets—whether it was mechanisms or poison, he could handle them. But he wasn't very familiar with Wind Style. Yamanaka Tohru wanted to learn more about Wind Style ninjutsu before the war broke out.

Both Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya were experts in Wind Style, but unfortunately, Minato had just become a Jonin instructor and was busy giving Kakashi, Obito, and Rin intensive training to boost their strength.

As for Jiraiya, the Third Hokage had sent him to Sunagakure to gather intelligence. With both of them unavailable, Yamanaka Tohru decided to visit the Konoha Library to study the basics of Wind Style.

But just as he left the Third Training Ground, he sensed a powerful, cold chakra behind him.

The chakra grew closer. Without changing his expression, Yamanaka Tohru activated Ice Release and opened the Yin Seal.

He took a few more steps forward when an Earth Style ninjutsu suddenly struck from behind. Yamanaka Tohru burst into Lightning Release Chakra Mode and activated Ice Lightning Mode. The instant the Earth Style technique hit, he evaded it with Lightning Body Flicker.

Turning around, Yamanaka Tohru looked at his sudden attacker—long black hair, golden snake-like pupils, purple eyeshadow, pale skin, and blue-green magatama earrings. It was Orochimaru!

"Snake Sage, master of core technology!" This was a common saying among Naruto fans in his past life. Orochimaru was the only ninja in the Naruto world who truly believed in science—cell culture, human experiments, reincarnation, cloning.

"Tohru-kun, a first meeting. I couldn't resist testing you. Please don't take offense." Orochimaru's slightly hoarse voice carried little emotion, but to Yamanaka Tohru's ears, it sounded somewhat familiar. As fellow believers in science, there was bound to be a connection.

"You are Lord Orochimaru?" Yamanaka Tohru asked, feigning ignorance.

"That's right, it's me."

Seeing that his attacker was Orochimaru, Yamanaka Tohru relaxed. At this point, Orochimaru still had feelings for Konoha and held considerable respect for his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen. So Yamanaka Tohru wasn't worried about what Orochimaru might do to him.

"Tohru-kun, I heard you successfully developed the Healing Talisman?"

Orochimaru had just returned from the Land of Earth when he learned from the Third Hokage that Yamanaka Tohru had completed the talisman they had previously failed to finish.

This wasn't the first time Orochimaru had heard Yamanaka Tohru's name. He naturally knew of the medical ninja who was said to rival Tsunade.

At first, Orochimaru thought Yamanaka Tohru was just a pawn the village had pushed forward to stabilize Konoha's medical system after Tsunade left. Later, when he learned that the title of "medical ninja rivaling Tsunade" came from saving the suicidal White Fang, his impression of Yamanaka Tohru changed somewhat.

Still, Orochimaru felt the title was undeserved. No one understood the extent of Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu better than he did.

It wasn't until he heard from the Third Hokage that Yamanaka Tohru had completed the Healing Talisman that Orochimaru developed some interest in him.

Earlier, Orochimaru had heard from Jiraiya that Yamanaka Tohru often trained at the Third Training Ground. He had intended to go there to meet him but happened to run into Yamanaka Tohru heading out, which led to the test just now.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru. I got lucky and developed it." Orochimaru watched with interest as Yamanaka Tohru spoke calmly in his presence. From the test just now, he had to admit the boy was exceptional.