On his way to the training ground, Orochimaru looked around with interest.
It hadn't been long since the First Shinobi World War ended, and Konoha still looked rather desolate.
There were very few young and middle-aged men...
Orochimaru sighed, once again reflecting on how cruel this world was.
The reason for this state of affairs was, naturally, the war. Countless men in their prime had died in the First Shinobi World War.
Leaving behind countless war orphans like him...
That was probably also why the students in his year at the Ninja Academy graduated at just six years old.
First, Konoha didn't have enough ninjas at the time to sustain the economic system built around mission requests.
Second, Konoha's finances couldn't support the large number of orphans like him.
All things considered, the simplest solution was to graduate them quickly from the Ninja Academy and have them start earning money by taking missions.
Otherwise, why would the Third Hokage himself take on the role of their instructor?
In a sense, this should have been the most brutal of the Shinobi World Wars, because the spark that ignited it was the death of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi.
While Hashirama Senju was alive, he had distributed the Tailed Beasts among the various ninja villages in an effort to maintain peace in the ninja world.
He hoped the power of the Tailed Beasts would serve as a deterrent and keep the villages from rashly attacking one another.
But what had really stopped the other villages from making a move was clearly Hashirama Senju, who could suppress several Tailed Beasts all by himself.
Otherwise, why had the First Shinobi World War broken out as soon as Hashirama Senju died? And why had it lasted for years?
There was no denying that the God of Shinobi had been far too naïve.
After walking for a while, he arrived at the designated training ground.
Since he had deliberately left early, the vast training ground was deserted, with only three wooden posts standing forlornly in the open space.
Orochimaru wasn't in a hurry. He casually found a clean patch of grass and sat down, closing his eyes to rest.
Then he began sorting through the basic cultivation methods from The Outcast in his mind. As things stood, those were the only techniques he could use.
The Foundation Strengthening and Dual Cultivation of Life and Nature methods... They were far more sophisticated than the crude Chakra Refinement Technique of the Naruto world.
Perhaps he could try combining them and taking the best from each?
As he pondered this, a slightly haughty female voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey, you're here pretty early, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a head of brilliant blond hair.
It was Tsunade.
She folded her arms across her chest and raised her chin slightly, wearing an expression that said, "I'm just that good."
"Not bad."
Orochimaru replied mildly, letting his gaze linger on her for a moment.
Was this the future "Legendary Sucker" and "Medical Genius"?
Tsunade seemed a little displeased by Orochimaru's cool response. She pursed her lips but said nothing more.
After all, he was pretty much the same way at school...
She went over to the other side, leaned against a tree, and kept glancing toward the entrance, looking a little impatient.
A little later, a figure appeared right on time at the training ground entrance.
It was their instructor, the current Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Unlike the kindly old man from the manga, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in his prime and still had a sharp edge to him.
His keen eyes swept across the training ground. When he saw only Orochimaru and Tsunade, his face immediately darkened.
He was the Hokage, personally taking on the role of their instructor—and someone still dared to be late?
These brats certainly had guts!
His gaze lingered on Orochimaru for a moment longer. This child was just as composed as the reports had said—far too composed for his age.
As for Tsunade... Well, she was the First's granddaughter, exceptionally talented, though a bit hot-tempered.
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was assessing them, a boisterous voice and hurried footsteps drew closer.
"Sorry, sorry! I'm late!"
A white-haired boy with spiky hair came charging in, drenched in sweat. As he ran, he sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
"Whew... I ran into a black cat crossing the road, and I had to take a little detour to avoid it..."
Jiraiya panted as he explained, coming up with an excuse that was as original as it was implausible.
Pfft—
Hearing that classic excuse for being late, Orochimaru almost lost his composure.
Good grief. That excuse was cut from the same cloth as the one used by a certain silver-haired, masked man!
No wonder Kakashi would later become obsessed with Jiraiya's Icha Icha Paradise. So that was where it all began!
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at this "problem student." The corner of his mouth twitched before he finally shook his head helplessly.
Oh, well. As the Hokage, there was no need to stoop to a brat's level...
"All right, now that everyone's here.
"Starting today, I'll be your instructor: Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Before we begin training, we'll follow the usual custom and introduce ourselves.
"Tell us your names, what you like and dislike, and... your dreams."
Hiruzen Sarutobi cleared his throat. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.
"Let me go first!
"My name's Jiraiya! What I like is... heh heh, beautiful women!
"What I dislike... I can't think of anything in particular!
"As for my dream! My dream is to become a Hokage who surpasses all the Hokage before me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiraiya eagerly jumped forward, planted his hands on his hips, puffed out his chest, and shouted at the top of his lungs.
His voice rang out, full of the swagger and... foolishness unique to the hero of a hot-blooded shonen manga.
At the words "become Hokage," Tsunade, standing off to one side, couldn't help rolling her eyes.
Hmph. A dead last thinks he can become Hokage?
As the First's granddaughter, she understood better than anyone the weight and meaning behind the title "Hokage."
Orochimaru couldn't help covering his face. Sure, Naruto was a shonen manga.
But seeing manga become reality was just too embarrassing...
The corner of Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched. Of course, he had read the files on all three children.
Jiraiya was the biggest problem student of the bunch. His theory grades were abysmal, and his practical skills were only below average. He was a classic dead last.
Become Hokage? That dream... seemed impossibly far away.
Still, it was good to have a dream.
"Hmm, you've got plenty of spirit!
"But wanting to become Hokage isn't enough on its own!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded without expressing an opinion, then turned to Tsunade. "Next."
"My name's Tsunade. What I like is... gambling! What I hate is losing!
"My dream is to become a great medical ninja like my grandfather... and protect the people important to me!"
Tsunade snorted and stepped forward, still with her arms folded across her chest, her voice brimming with pride.
As she spoke of her dream, she thought of her two grandfathers, both now dead, and her eyes grew resolute...
"Huh? A medical ninja?
"What's so great about medical ninjas?
"They're all soft and weak. They can't even beat an enemy!"
Hearing that, Jiraiya immediately piped up, a look of disdain on his face.
In his simple-minded view, medical ninjas were support types who hid behind the front lines.
Real ninjas were supposed to charge into battle and crush their enemies with powerful ninjutsu~
"What do you know? Medical ninjas can save lives!
"They can protect their comrades, too! They're a lot better than a loudmouthed idiot like you!"
Tsunade immediately bristled and glared at Jiraiya.
Watching the two of them bicker, Orochimaru's mouth twitched.
Tsunade's talent for Medical Ninjutsu was unquestionable. She was even ahead of her time.
Without a solid foundation laid from childhood and an unwavering conviction, she could never have reached such heights.
Jiraiya had dismissed her dream right out of the gate. No wonder he couldn't outshine Dan Katō, despite having the advantage of being right there beside her...
"All right, all right. Quiet down."
Seeing the two of them squabble, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurried over to break it up. Then he turned to the last one, Orochimaru. "Your turn."
"My name's Orochimaru. What I like... is researching the unknown.
"I hate being interrupted...
"My dream... is probably to exhaust every truth in the world and turn everything unknown into something known."
Orochimaru spoke after a moment's thought. He wasn't lying.
He loved the process of discovery—that feeling of parting the mist and glimpsing the truth. It fascinated him.
Whether it was ninjutsu, biotechnology, or the mysterious Qi.
In a sense, he and Orochimaru were rather alike...
"Researching the unknown... uncovering every truth..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded thoughtfully, a hint of approval in his eyes.
This child certainly had a different way of thinking.
Well, everyone had their own path.
"Good. It seems each of you has a goal of your own.
"Now, it's time for your first test."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned serious.
As he spoke, he took two small golden bells from his Ninja Tool Pouch and jingled them between his fingers. Their clear chime rang out.
"Do you see these two bells?
"Today's training is simple. Take these two bells from me before noon.
"Only those who get a bell will pass and officially become Genin."
Before you continue