Surviving at Military Headquarters

"Teacher, I'm here."

The next morning, I stood on the training ground facing Orochimaru's back. My eyes were swollen like walnuts, and I kept my head lowered in silence.

I knew I was late.

But I'd done it on purpose.

My eyes stayed fixed on the tips of my toes. I heard the faintest footsteps approaching, one step at a time, as if they were stepping on my heart. At last, they stopped in front of me.

In just those few seconds, I felt like I'd forgotten how to breathe.

Then something cold settled on my shoulder. A black robe brushed close against me. I could smell the dampness clinging to it, along with the chill of the early morning and patches of blood that hadn't dried yet.

Wait, blood?

"You're here, Akatsuki."

His voice was as hoarse as ever, with a hint of weariness in it.

I looked up and met Orochimaru's eyes. There was no anger in them.

He was still wearing yesterday's black robe. His long hair was a little messy, and there were bits of grass and rainwater on him. Mud clung to his feet, as if he'd hurried straight here from somewhere else.

I felt a little puzzled and was about to ask him about it, but then I suddenly realized—

He must have gone on another mission after we parted last night.

Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, Konoha's elite combat strength, and a Military Headquarters commander. In the future, he'd be someone who could compete with Namikaze Minato for the Hokage Position.

He was a very busy man.

And yet, someone like him had the patience to be my teacher. Not just that—he was the Genin team leader with the closest ties to me and the greatest responsibility for me.

That was hard to believe, and it stirred something unfamiliar in me.

Whatever his reason for making that decision, this teacher-student relationship had already bound us together completely. There was no separating us.

"Did you sleep badly last night?" Orochimaru's words brought me back to my senses. He still wore a smile, watching me with unusual warmth.

"I slept very well. Thank you for asking, Teacher."

"That's good." He paused, and his voice suddenly turned cold.

"But Akatsuki, now that you're my student, you'll follow my rules."

"Respecting your teacher comes first, doesn't it?"

"...Yes, Teacher."

Strangely enough, he didn't give me much trouble. He just watched me for a long time—long enough for a cold sweat to break out—before finally speaking.

"Well then... my dear disciple, what would you like to learn?"

His question caught me off guard.

I suddenly realized that the man standing before me was a walking encyclopedia of the Shinobi World. He was an unmatched authority on ninjutsu, secret techniques, and even all kinds of forbidden jutsu!

If you ignored the danger, he was every transmigrator's dream teacher.

Maybe there wasn't anything he couldn't teach me!

My heart began to pound. I opened my mouth and said, "Teacher, I want to learn swordsmanship." I gripped Murasame, raised my head, and looked at Orochimaru with the utmost seriousness, full of hope for the future.

"I want to master this sword."

Orochimaru fell silent for a moment. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"If you want to learn swordsmanship, you'll have to train in Taijutsu first."

After a long pause, he stepped forward and grabbed my arm, as if feeling my bones.

"Teacher, my Taijutsu..." I started to say, but the hand gripping my forearm suddenly tightened. He twisted my arm sharply behind me, with enough force to nearly snap it!

My heart lurched. I turned with his movement and kicked at Orochimaru, forcing him back. Only then did I manage to steady myself, still shaken, and glare at him!

Damn it... You bastard, pulling this again!

The veins in my forehead throbbed. The pain in my nearly torn shoulder had drained the color from my face. I was furious and terrified. I could only shout, "Teacher!" I didn't dare say anything else.

Because Fugaku had already handed me over to him.

Military Headquarters was my second training ground, and Orochimaru was the second hurdle I had to overcome. I couldn't afford to say no.

"Draw your sword." I hadn't even caught my breath when Orochimaru suddenly gave the order again.

I froze at his words, not yet understanding what was happening. The Kusanagi Sword came slashing down from above! Startled, I hurriedly blocked it! The blades collided with a resounding clang that seemed to shake my very heart!

Here we go again!

The two famous blades crossed, both trembling and creaking as neither gave way. I gritted my teeth, the pitiful muscles in my arms bulging as I braced my legs and put all my strength into holding on. By contrast, Teacher Orochimaru remained completely calm, controlling the situation with just one hand.

"Teacher, what are you doing?!"

I struggled to keep my balance, but the blade kept sinking lower. Soon, the tip of the Kusanagi Sword was near my head, pressing down my hair!

"From now on, you'll attack me with everything you have. Otherwise, you'll die."

As soon as he finished speaking, a surging killing intent burst from Orochimaru. I stiffened almost instantly. My legs went weak, then began to tremble. I could barely stop myself from falling to my knees. Only when the Kusanagi Sword cut my arm and warm blood sprayed out did I understand that he meant it.

And so, a new fight for survival began at Military Headquarters.

In the sunlight, Kusama Shigeo clung to a tree and watched the carnage below. He couldn't help swallowing, his whole body prickling with dread.

It was a one-sided beating of the Uchiha brat. Even he, the boy's old nemesis, couldn't bear to watch anymore.

"...Why did my brother hand me over to this psycho... No, my brother wouldn't be that cruel. It must've been my big sister's idea!" At the thought of the older sister who'd practically raised him, his face fell.

"You've really done a number on me! If I fall into this psycho's hands, I'll be lucky to get away with my skin intact!"

He brooded for a while. When he looked back toward the West Training Ground, the hunting game was already nearing its end.

With a thunderous crash, gravel sprayed everywhere. Across the endless stretch of rocky ground, the man kicked a small figure away. A blade spun through the air and buried itself in the earth, glinting with blood.

I rolled several times before collapsing limply on the ground, aching all over and unable to move. My eyelids kept drooping, and the last sliver of white in my vision blurred into darkness.

How long had it been?

If I weren't hurting all over, I'd have thought I'd died several times already.

My sword... Where's my sword...

I reached out, groping around without noticing the black snake suddenly darting toward me and coiling around my body! Its wet, slimy touch wrapped around my skin as it squeezed my bones until they creaked!

"Ugh... Mm..." My vision was a blur. Acting on instinct, I pulled my fingers, and the steel wire flickered into view between them, viciously slicing the black snake into pieces that fell all around me!

Panting, I dropped to my knees. Snake blood and sweat dripped from my forehead. I didn't have an ounce of strength left.

Only then did I realize that I hadn't even reached my limit under Fugaku.

Your limits only came out when you were truly facing death and danger.

"Too weak."

Beneath the midday sun, Orochimaru came up to me and looked down at me.

"Your speed is too slow, your strength is insufficient, and your reflexes are lacking..."

As he listed my shortcomings, he crouched down and stroked my drenched head, then smiled faintly.

"Still, our Little Akatsuki... has a pretty sharp mind."

I was dazed from the beating, my face smeared with blood and sweat. I couldn't make out what he was saying. I just desperately tried to stand, but my legs gave way. Before I could fall, he grabbed me and lifted me up, leaving me dangling unsteadily in his hand.

"Why are you crying?"

"Who's crying!" I wrenched myself free of his grip. Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to stand, picked up Murasame, and sheathed it. Then I glared at Orochimaru.

Though... I could only make out a blurry shape.

He wasn't angry. He simply handed me a strange pill and said, "Eat this."

I lowered my head and took a step back, utterly unwilling.

Who wants to eat this stuff every day?!

"We don't have much time. Every minute we waste here could increase the death toll on the front lines."

"You want to grow stronger as quickly as possible and become a powerful ninja, don't you?"

"..."

I gritted my teeth and swallowed the bitter pills. I endured the waves of chakra surging through my body until I was dizzy and nauseous.

As expected, every medicine has its side effects.

I hate taking medicine.