Orochimaru... Teacher??

The 12th Military Division is located on the outskirts of Konoha; it is remote and secluded, yet heavily guarded.

Along the way, I endured all sorts of gazes, passing through three checkpoints under immense pressure before finally entering the interior of the military division.

The people here were all extremely busy. A clerk hurried over, saw me, and immediately pointed to the hall beside him, signaling for me to enter.

"The officer is waiting for you inside."

The massive hall was piled high with miscellaneous items, which felt completely out of place for the serious military division. I stepped inside and discovered a figure already standing there.

He was tall, clearly an adult with long hair draped over his shoulders, wearing the green chainmail issued by Konoha. Even though he was just standing there casually, he felt like a sharp blade, his edge fully exposed.

I could tell that he possessed the same quality as Fugaku—something built up through years of bloody combat and tempered between life and death. That aura seeped out from their bodies and souls, intimidating the hearts of others at every moment.

When one's strength reaches a certain level, simply standing there is enough to radiate a formidable presence.

As I walked toward him, I felt an invisible pressure in my heart.

This is undoubtedly a powerhouse!

"You've arrived," seeing me stand still before him, the man set down the report in his hand, his dark golden pupils reflecting my image—

"Uchiha Akatsuki?"

Holy crap!

Seeing his face, I was so startled I took a step back!

Orochimaru?!

How could Orochimaru be here!

Under his snake-like gaze, I instinctively sensed danger, yet to my surprise, Orochimaru only glanced at me before shifting his focus back to the documents.

"Uchiha Akatsuki, 6 years old, skilled in Fire Release and Shurikenjutsu, graduated at the top of the Ninja Academy class—"

"Truly excellent."

He let out a hoarse laugh.

"I am... very happy you've come."

I couldn't figure out his intentions and didn't dare to speak at all. Orochimaru, however, moved toward me; he was clearly moving, yet I couldn't hear a single sound, and in an instant, he was right in front of me.

Is this the Body Flicker Technique? I held my breath, resisting the urge to instinctively step back.

"From now on, I will be your teacher."

No pleasantries, no nonsense—just that one sentence, concise and clear.

"T-teacher?" Hearing these two words, my eyes widened once again.

This, this can't be a mistake, right?

In my past life, teachers were mostly there to impart knowledge, but in the ninja world, teachers are different. They not only take on the task of nurturing, but are also the ones to whom students entrust their lives; the weight of that responsibility is unimaginable.

After graduating as genin, those heading to the battlefield are assigned a squad leader, but... why is my teacher Orochimaru???

One of the legendary Sannin, shouldn't he be out on the battlefield making a name for himself instead of teaching students??

"Are you serious?"

I looked up, and the man before me had a gentle smile. Serving as a wartime commander, he didn't yet have the sinister, villainous look of the future; instead, he carried a bit of the upright air of the Konoha Sannin.

At this moment, he stood before me, reached out, and finally stopped at my shoulder, giving it a heavy pat.

"Your father asked me to take good care of you. If there is anything you cannot endure..." He continued to smile, saying the second half of his sentence with a calm expression.

"Then just hold on a little longer."

I froze, finally realizing the situation, and my heart began to wail incessantly!

So it was that old man of mine who pulled the strings!

Fugaku, you've really done me in!

The handover complete, Orochimaru scanned me up and down, suddenly noticing the sword at my waist, and asked with interest: "May I see it?"

No! This is my treasure, I won't give it to you!

"No problem, Teacher, here you go."

Watching the boy's stiff movements, Orochimaru found it quite amusing.

As the wielder of the Kusanagi Sword, he could naturally tell that this child was also a lover of blades.

With a "clang," the sharp blade left its sheath!

Orochimaru looked at the faint blue blade, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"This is a fine blade. Does it have a name?"

"Murasame."

"Hmm..." Orochimaru mused, then suddenly swung the sword with force!

I felt a fierce gust of wind, and the hard concrete floor shattered instantly, emitting a loud, booming sound!

The sheer destructive power left me instantly shocked!

Is this the power of Murasame?

"Murasame will grow and progress alongside its master, until it stands with you at the pinnacle of this world."

Cat Granny's words resurfaced in my mind, and as I watched Orochimaru standing there with the blade, I suddenly realized something.

It wasn't a problem with Murasame; it was a problem with me!

Because I am too weak, Murasame simply cannot unleash its true power!

I stared at the blade in Orochimaru's hand, feeling a wave of bitterness and a touch of anger, hating my own meager strength.

Can someone like me really wield this sword properly?

Perhaps I should just give it to Itachi.

Just as I was thinking this in frustration, Murasame suddenly began to tremble!

It violently shook Orochimaru's hand off, as if it had developed a consciousness of its own, then slammed into the ground in front of me, wobbling for a long time before settling down, as if it were throwing a tantrum!

I was startled, too, and cautiously reached out to touch Murasame. It was still warm, with that familiar, intimate sensation, and it obediently allowed me to slide it back into its scabbard.

Orochimaru looked surprised as well. He gripped his aching hand and smiled at me, "This blade of yours is not simple."

I just hugged the sword, lowered my head, and said nothing.

"Alright, there isn't much time left."

Orochimaru seemed to have urgent business to attend to. He suddenly commanded me, "I must head to the front lines. Before I return, you must complete your induction mission for the military."

"What mission?" I was stunned.

He looked at me with a beaming smile. The surroundings suddenly went completely silent; I seemed to see several heads poking into the hallway, all staring this way with wide eyes—

"You shall go—"

"Sorry, sorry! I'm late!"

Before Orochimaru could finish, a familiar voice approached from afar. I turned around in disbelief and discovered a truly detestable figure!

"Kusama Shigeo?"

My eyes went round, and my finger nearly poked him in the nose.

"Why are you here too!"

"Why can't I be here?" He looked at me with equal disgust, then sneered, "I am so outstanding, of course I was assigned to the military! And it was a special appointment! A special appointment!" He was so smug his tail could have reached the heavens!

Flames of anger flickered in my eyes, and my teeth ground together with a clatter.

I wasn't angry because I saw him, but because I saw him here!

How could a loser like him be assigned to the military alongside me!

"Kusama Shigeo, medical ninja, 9 years old, specializes in Grass Style ninjutsu, specially appointed to the military."

Orochimaru calmly opened another file and nodded at the boy, "Welcome. From now on, I am your teacher and your superior."

"Yes, Teacher!"

While surprised, half of my anger dissipated.

I grabbed Kusama Shigeo by the collar and scanned him suspiciously, "You're actually a medical ninja?"

"That's right." He boasted. "Haven't you heard of the illustrious Kusama Clan? My brother, Kusama Shakuya, and my sister, Kusama Hanaka, both serve the Hokage directly!"

Hmph, I sneered inwardly. No wonder he could get into the military.

Thinking about it, all the flowers and grass he used when fighting me did seem like the work of a medical ninja—

At that thought, I grew angry again!

"If you're a medical ninja, why are you fighting me all day long!" I practically lifted him off the ground. "Are you a lunatic!"

"Y-you, mind your own business!" He kept that same attitude, shaking off my hand, though his face turned red. He turned to Orochimaru and shouted, "Teacher, hurry and assign the mission! I'm here to earn medals!"

"Ah, that works out perfectly."

"You two will go and map the front lines together." Orochimaru's smile deepened.

"Map what front lines?"

The surroundings went quiet again.

"Go and map the entire front line of the Northern War Zone."

Smiles don't disappear; they just transfer to someone else's face.

"Furthermore, you are not allowed to use any ninjutsu. You must map it by hand, and you must finish before the sun rises tomorrow."

"This is your induction mission."

Kusama Shigeo and I stared at each other, then turned in unison to look at Orochimaru.

"What??!!!"

Two screams, uttered in perfect harmony.