"Why? Why?"
"Why wasn't I chosen because of my constitution? Why can't I become a ninja?"
"I have to become a ninja. If I don't, I'll be at the mercy of others, with no power to protect the things I want to protect."
"Damn it."
"Thud, thud, thud...!"
Senju Fujima hadn't gone far when he heard an angry roar from nearby. The voice sounded full of grief and resentment.
"Who is it?"
Drawn by the sound, Senju Fujima walked toward its source. There he saw a boy about his age repeatedly pounding a giant tree with his fists.
"Thud, thud, thud...!"
Even when Senju Fujima approached, the boy didn't notice anyone behind him. His hands were already bloody and mangled, and his eyes brimmed with frustration.
"Why? Why?"
"Why? Ah...!"
After striking the tree for who knew how long, the boy finally stopped. He dropped to his knees and howled at the sky.
"Do you really want to become a ninja?"
Just then, Senju Fujima looked at the despairing boy and asked calmly.
"Someone's here?"
"Who?"
At Senju Fujima's words, the boy spun around, a flicker of panic in his eyes.
"You? Who are you?"
The boy turned and saw Senju Fujima. Noticing that they seemed to be about the same age, he asked in confusion.
"Snake eyes? Who's this?"
When the boy turned around, Senju Fujima saw a pair of snake-like eyes and froze for a moment.
"My name is Senju Fujima. I heard you say you really want to become a ninja."
"But your constitution was too weak, so you weren't chosen. Is that right?"
Senju Fujima looked at the boy, his surprise fading, and asked calmly.
"Senju Fujima? The young clan leader of the Senju Clan?"
"That's right. I want to become a ninja. When Kurama attacked, my parents were killed."
"I want to become strong. I don't want to leave my life in someone else's hands."
"I want to get stronger. Only the strong can protect themselves and the people they care about."
"But... but I was rejected. Why? Is it really so hard for me to become a ninja?"
When the boy heard that the person before him was the most prestigious figure in Konoha, he felt a flicker of dejection. He was nothing but an insignificant orphan.
Remembering the day Kurama attacked and took his parents from him, leaving him alone in the world, he had resolved to become strong.
But he had been rejected, and there was nothing he could do. He could only hate himself for being powerless.
"Becoming a ninja isn't impossible."
"If you're willing to become my subordinate, I can teach you ninjutsu. What do you think?"
Senju Fujima looked at the boy with the snake-like eyes. There was a good chance he was Orochimaru's father. Orochimaru was a civilian with no clan, so if someone else had the same snake-like eyes, it had to be his father or another relative.
Senju Fujima had a soft spot for a mad scientist like Orochimaru. He was not only powerful but also peerless in his research.
There was nothing he couldn't create. He could even cultivate Mangekyō Sharingan. He was a rare talent.
"Become your subordinate? Would that let me become a ninja?"
Hearing Senju Fujima's offer, the boy felt excited and tempted. No civilian would turn down such an opportunity, especially one who had been rejected by the Ninja Academy.
"That's right. If you become my subordinate, I'll make sure you become a ninja—a powerful one."
"What do you say? It's a great deal, isn't it?"
Senju Fujima smiled at the boy, knowing he was tempted.
"All right, Lord Fujima. I'll be your subordinate from now on. I hope you'll teach me ninjutsu."
The boy had already given up hope of attending the Ninja Academy, but Senju Fujima had given him hope. Deeply grateful, he quickly dropped to one knee and bowed.
He was a civilian, and it was difficult for civilians to become ninjas, let alone powerful ones. In this era, without talent, no one would recognize you.
Senju Fujima had given him the chance to become a ninja—and a powerful one at that. No civilian would choose to refuse.
"Very good. What's your name? Do you have any family?"
Seeing that he had successfully recruited the boy, Senju Fujima gave a faint smile and asked.
"Lord Fujima, my name is Hachiki Peak. I'm ten years old. I have no family; I'm all alone."
Orogamine reported to Senju Fujima. As he spoke of having no family, anger and regret flickered in his eyes.
"Hmm? Hachiki Peak?"
"Hachiki? Could it be Yamata no Orochi?"
"Back then, Orochimaru had a secret technique called the Eight Branches Technique. Could Orochimaru have had a clan that fell into decline and became civilian?"
"Maybe. Otherwise, how could their snake-like eyes have been passed down? Could those eyes be the key to activating the Eight Branches Technique?"
After hearing Hachiki Peak introduce himself, Senju Fujima paused in surprise. It was unusual for a civilian to have a surname.
Then he thought of Orochimaru's secret technique. Perhaps their snake-like eyes had something to do with it.
"Hmm. From now on, stay by my side."
"Tomorrow, I'll arrange an identity for you and get you into the Ninja Academy."
"Take this pill."
Senju Fujima soon looked away and took a red pill from his system inventory. It was a Chakra Pill he had made using Nine-Tails Chakra.
It was the smallest one, and the first pill he had made. It contained the least chakra, but its power was not to be underestimated.
Anyone who took this Chakra Pill would immediately go from being a civilian to a Chunin, even without any combat experience.
That alone was enough to prove how powerful it was. What's more, it could extend one's lifespan, though exactly how much remained unknown.
"Yes, Lord Fujima."
Hachiki Peak had no doubts. He knew Senju Fujima had no reason to harm him, so he didn't even ask what the pill did. He simply accepted it.
"Glug."
Then Hachiki Peak swallowed the Chakra Pill.
"Boom...!"
"What? This power...?"
"Ah...!"
The instant Hachiki Peak swallowed the Chakra Pill, he felt his strength surge. The pill was also constantly improving his constitution, pushing him straight into the ranks of the Chunin.
The story used ranks to represent strength merely as a way to distinguish levels of combat power. Otherwise, in the original work, power was impossible to measure—Genin could even kill Kage, which made things rather confusing.
"Th-this power is incredible!"
"Lord Fujima?"
Hachiki Peak looked at Senju Fujima, his heart filled with gratitude. He couldn't believe he had gained power so easily, and his constitution had even improved.
What he didn't know was that he had also absorbed Kurama's chakra. It might bring unexpected benefits later.
"Heh. Not bad, I suppose."
"Chunin-level strength is enough for you for now. Keep working hard."
"Strive to become even stronger, because I have no use for dead weight."
Senju Fujima smiled faintly at Hachiki Peak. His words weren't particularly pleasant, but they were practical. They could spur his subordinates on to work harder and gain more strength.
"Yes, Lord Fujima. I'll work hard and become stronger."
Hachiki Peak looked at Senju Fujima, lowered his head, and answered respectfully.
"Come on. You're coming back to the clan compound with me. I'll have someone make the arrangements tomorrow. You can start learning the basics at school."
"You have plenty of chakra now, but you can't use it to its full potential yet. You'll need to learn to control it."
Senju Fujima nodded, then turned and headed off. Hachiki Peak quickly followed.
"Ben, find him a room."
After returning to the Senju Clan Compound, Senju Fujima called out to the man standing before him.
"Greetings, young clan leader."
"Young clan leader, who is he?"
When Senju Ben heard Senju Fujima call him, he turned and bowed respectfully. Then he looked at Hachiki Peak and asked in confusion.
The boy clearly wasn't a member of the Senju Clan. Why was Senju Fujima asking him to find him a room?
"If you don't need to ask, then don't. How many times have I told you?"
Senju Fujima frowned at Senju Ben and scolded him.
"Yes, young clan leader. I was wrong."
When Senju Ben saw Senju Fujima get angry, a chill ran down his back. He quickly knelt and admitted his mistake.
"Enough. Make the arrangements now."
"Also, have someone at the school enroll him in a class. Put him in my class."
"His name is Hachiki Peak. Go on."
Looking at the timid Senju Ben, Senju Fujima didn't reprimand him further and simply gave his orders.
"Yes, young clan leader. I'll take care of it right away."
Seeing that Senju Fujima wasn't going to punish him, Senju Ben breathed a sigh of relief and stood up.
"Hachiki Peak, come with me."
Senju Ben turned to Hachiki Peak. He didn't know why the young clan leader had brought back a child of about ten, but as a servant, he had no place to question it. He could only do as he was told.
"Thank you."
Hachiki Peak quickly bowed to Senju Ben to show his respect. After all, Senju Ben was his senior, and he was living under someone else's roof, so he had better mind his manners.
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