Orochimaru's Greed

In the forests of Konoha, Guy and Kakashi raced between the branches and trunks, one following the other.

This time, they weren't heading deeper into the forest. They were making for Konoha Central Hospital.

Guy glanced at the injured man on his back and asked worriedly, "Lord Orochimaru isn't going to die, is he?"

He wasn't exaggerating. Orochimaru's injuries were truly bizarre.

Orochimaru looked unharmed on the outside, yet an unusual flush spread across his normally pale skin, making them wonder how many capillaries had ruptured beneath it.

Guy could even catch a faint scent of blood from behind him.

Neither Guy nor Kakashi was a medical ninja. The basic first-aid knowledge they'd learned at the Ninja Academy was no help in a situation like this.

They even thought that a medical ninja would be at a loss, too.

"He won't die."

Kakashi didn't answer, but a voice came from behind Guy. "But if you keep jostling me like that, I really will. Put me down."

Guy's heart lurched. He came to an abrupt stop. "Lord Orochimaru, you're awake?"

"Pfft..."

After a frantic scramble, Orochimaru spat out several mouthfuls of blood, and his injuries worsened.

Leaning against a large tree, he looked at the two of them and spoke slowly. "'When someone's injured, treat them where they are. Don't move them.' Didn't your teachers at the Ninja Academy teach you that?"

We learned that, but it doesn't apply to someone who's about to die!

Kakashi and Guy muttered under their breaths. But when they saw Orochimaru rest for a while and visibly improve, they both fell silent.

Common sense didn't apply to a ninja like Orochimaru.

"Phew..."

Orochimaru breathed in and out rhythmically. The wounds to his lungs and heart began to heal before their eyes.

Genie poked his head out, looking pleased with himself. "Well? The Breathing Technique works pretty well for healing, doesn't it?"

Orochimaru glanced at Genie's smiling face and said nothing.

Genie was the one who'd caused the injuries, despite being the one who'd given him the treatment method. Orochimaru couldn't bring himself to thank him.

"Don't be so cold. You successfully used Natural Energy this time, after all."

Genie stretched his neck until his head was upside down, face-to-face with Orochimaru.

He grinned. "Now you don't have to keep brooding over Jiraiya's Toad Sage Mode. You've got something better."

Orochimaru's expression darkened at the mention of it. "I can't control that kind of natural power at all."

If Genie hadn't released it all at once at the last moment, Orochimaru's mind would have been snuffed out under the pressure of the Natural Energy.

Genie nodded. "That was my mistake."

The world could be both a blessing and a curse. Natural Energy was abundant in the Shinobi World, making it easy to sense, but that also meant the mind faced immense pressure when it came into contact with nature.

Aside from the Sage of Six Paths, whose talent was exceptional, no one had the mental strength to withstand it.

The Sage Mode developed by the Three Great Sage Regions wasn't completely useless to ninjas.

But...

Sage Mode was of no use to Genie, and Toad Oil couldn't be brought out of the world. Trying to replicate it by force would only distort and alter its host.

He needed a more versatile ability.

Genie looked at Orochimaru, a smile appearing on his face. "Pure Natural Energy is dangerous, but would you really give it up?"

Orochimaru leaned against the tree, saying nothing.

Once he'd tasted meat, how could he go back to a life of vegetables? There was no way he'd give it up, even if it meant risking his life.

Still, Orochimaru was displeased. He hated that Genie had seen straight through his greed.

A plate of meat studded with silver needles had been set in front of him, and Genie looked as if he were saying, 'You're definitely going to eat it.'

Orochimaru didn't want to look at Genie's detestable face any longer. He struggled to his feet and turned his sharp gaze on Guy and Kakashi.

"Earlier, while I was training, were you two watching from the side?"

The two looked awkward. Before Guy could offer the excuse he'd prepared, Orochimaru continued.

"Don't tell anyone about it. In exchange, I'll teach you the Taijutsu I was practicing."

"Uh..."

Kakashi and Guy exchanged glances, surprised and delighted.

They weren't being punished, and they were even getting a reward?

"Of course, Lord Orochimaru. We won't tell anyone," Guy promised at once.

Kakashi agreed as well.

Orochimaru nodded. "I'll pick a day in a few days and let you know."

He was dismissing them.

Kakashi understood and started to apologize, then tugged Guy along to leave. But Guy grabbed him and held him back.

Orochimaru frowned. "Is there something else?"

Guy looked hopeful. "Lord Orochimaru, if you're teaching me Taijutsu, does that mean I'll be your student from now on?"

At that, Kakashi stopped, too. Being a student of one of the Sannin carried great prestige, and Orochimaru's Taijutsu was excellent, but Kakashi had no intention of taking another teacher.

Especially since Minato-sensei had just died.

"Guy, you can call me teacher." Orochimaru turned his gaze to Kakashi. "But you can't. I'm only teaching you a Taijutsu technique. Don't go around telling people you're my student."

"Uh... Yes!"

Kakashi was puzzled by Orochimaru's rejection, especially since he'd accepted Guy.

But Orochimaru clearly had no intention of explaining, so Kakashi could only apologize before dragging the excited Guy away.

After the two vanished into the woods, Genie poked his head out and asked, "I don't quite understand what you did. Kakashi is a genius, too."

"But he's Minato's student."

Orochimaru gave a quiet snort. "If I let him call me teacher, wouldn't that put me a step below Jiraiya?"

"I thought you only cared about immortality."

"Forget it. Have you rested enough? We still have something important to do."

"It'd be a shame not to make good use of your injuries, since you're hurt so badly."

In the heart of Konoha, at the center of the Nine-Tails' rampage the previous night, countless ninjas and civilians were hard at work.

It was noon. The sun blazed overhead, but the mood was gloomy.

From time to time, muffled sobs from children could be heard beside bodies covered with white cloth.

The ninjas and civilians clearing the rubble seemed not to hear them. They focused on their work, but their grief was plain to see.

Just then, someone came running from afar. He staggered, clearly suffering from severe injuries.

Some ninjas who were resting caught sight of him. One of them set down his water bottle and hurried over.

But before he could reach the man, he collapsed face-first.

The ninja quickened his pace and reached the man's side, intending to check his injuries. But when he saw his face, his expression turned to terror.

"L-Lord Orochimaru..."

What was he doing here? And why was he so badly injured?

The ninja's shout carried to the others, and more ninjas and civilians learned the news. An inevitable commotion broke out.

Could it be... that after the Fourth Hokage, Konoha was about to lose another of the Sannin?