First Meeting with Orochimaru

Akiyama Shun was still only a Chunin, which meant he couldn't take on high-difficulty missions rated A or above by himself. But with Tsunade leading the team, that was another matter.

"You said you wanted to become a Jonin as quickly as possible. You also know that becoming a Jonin requires a comprehensive evaluation, so I found you a mission that's perfect for showing what you can do."

Tsunade had brought Akiyama Shun back to her home. She held a mission report, waving it like a fan as she explained the details.

"Let me start with the objective. A spy has infiltrated the Land of Fire's capital, and the mission is to eliminate him."

"We've identified the spy as Yoshioka Yusuke. His combat ability is unknown, and we don't know which village he's from or what jutsu he can use. If you can identify his village, the mission reward will definitely be better, and it'll look good on your record."

"The mission has an additional requirement. Since this is the Land of Fire's capital, don't cause too much of a disturbance. Do your best to kill him quietly, in his own home, without alerting anyone. It'll be a real test of your infiltration skills."

As she explained, Tsunade occasionally paused to check Akiyama Shun's expression. She only continued once she was sure he understood.

"That's everything. Any questions?"

"No, none at all." Akiyama Shun shook his head.

After he finished speaking, he noticed that Tsunade still hadn't gotten up. He looked at her in confusion. "Do you want to gamble a little more before we leave?"

Tsunade: "..."

After composing herself, Tsunade continued. "No. As it happens, someone else accepted this mission when I did. We'll wait for him, then leave together."

Wait for him? Did that person know where Tsunade lived?

Unlike Jiraiya and the others, Tsunade had hidden her home address to keep debt collectors from showing up at her door. Only people in her close circle would know where she lived.

In other words...

"It's been a long time, Tsunade. And a pleasure to meet you, Shun."

A sinister voice sounded beside Akiyama Shun. He turned to look and, sure enough, there he was...

One of the Sannin, the "poison" among the "gambling, womanizing, and poison" trio, the man who respected science more than anyone in the Ninja World, and the one who played "Death God vs. Hokage" in the Ninja World—Orochimaru!

At this point in time, whatever Orochimaru was like in private, in the public eye he was one of the renowned Konoha Sannin, and even a widely favored candidate for Fourth Hokage.

Orochimaru himself also made time for high-difficulty missions.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Orochimaru!"

Since Orochimaru had addressed him so politely, Akiyama Shun returned the courtesy.

"Orochimaru."

Tsunade greeted him, too.

"I've heard about you. You have a lot of talent, and you possess the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai."

As Orochimaru spoke, his snake-like eyes remained fixed on Akiyama Shun.

But Akiyama Shun wasn't particularly nervous. Given his current relationship with Tsunade and Jiraiya, he was confident that no one in Konoha would make a move against him.

Most importantly, Orochimaru, like Danzo, hadn't completely lost his mind yet. Nawaki's death had only begun to drive him a little crazy.

In these relatively safe circumstances, Akiyama Shun was quite willing to spend time with Orochimaru. If all three Sannin were willing to support him, it would make everything he did much easier.

"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Orochimaru."

Akiyama Shun replied.

Orochimaru chuckled, then let the subject drop. He turned and left Tsunade's house, setting off for the Land of Fire's capital.

Tsunade was the second to leave, and she seemed completely relaxed.

She knew that Orochimaru had accepted the mission first, and that he usually undertook missions alone. Now that she and Akiyama Shun were joining him, it was clear the Hokage was deliberately grooming Akiyama Shun.

He wanted Akiyama Shun to learn more about infiltration.

After all, Orochimaru's infiltration and disguise skills were among the best in the entire Ninja World.

As for Tsunade, she was mainly going along to sightsee and clear her head. The mission had little to do with her.

Akiyama Shun brought up the rear.

And so, the three of them left Konoha together and headed for the Land of Fire's capital.

They were lucky; nothing went wrong along the way. It was wartime, after all, and bandits were everywhere.

Yet not a single bandit tried to rob the three unarmed travelers.

The journey went smoothly, and it didn't take long for them to reach the Land of Fire's capital.

Before they arrived, the three of them used the Transformation Technique to change their appearances, so they wouldn't alert their target.

The moment they reached the capital, even Akiyama Shun couldn't help but marvel.

The difference was enormous!

As befitted a nation's capital, its prosperity was on a level that a small village like Konoha couldn't match.

Then again, those ninjas were good at fighting. Ask them to develop the economy...

"Is this your first time here, Shun?"

Orochimaru had noticed Akiyama Shun's expression.

"Yes. When I went on missions with Teacher Tsunade before, we were usually out in the wilderness or near the border."

Akiyama Shun answered honestly.

"That's all right. We have plenty of time. If you want to look around, I don't mind."

Tsunade stretched and glanced around the street before quickly finding a place to stay.

A casino next to an izakaya—it was practically a sanctuary for Tsunade.

"You're the one who wants to look around..." Akiyama Shun shook his head. He was used to it by now, and he knew that until Tsunade's hemophobia was cured, she wasn't suited for this kind of mission. He was already grateful she was helping him this much.

After that, only Akiyama Shun and Orochimaru remained on the road.

As they walked, Akiyama Shun passed a bathhouse. Seeing it beside Orochimaru brought familiar memories flooding back.

"What's wrong, Shun? Did Jiraiya take you to see the women's bathhouse?"

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes fixed on Akiyama Shun.

Akiyama Shun shook his head. "No. Lord Jiraiya told me that when he was a child, he took Lord Orochimaru to see a women's bathhouse."

One had to admit, as a child, Jiraiya had been a loyal friend. When he found a good place, he didn't keep it to himself—he went straight to share it with his best friend.

It was a pity that Orochimaru wasn't interested in women at all.

Orochimaru: "..."

Memories from his childhood began attacking his mind.

!

The two had been chatting when they suddenly noticed something. They pretended nothing had happened and continued their conversation as usual.

Only after a figure had disappeared completely down the street did Akiyama Shun look at Orochimaru.

They met each other's eyes, both understanding what the other meant.

The target had appeared.