Hachiki Peak? Snake Aunt's Father?

"Why? Why?"

"Why can't my constitution be chosen? Why can't I become a ninja?"

"I must become a ninja. If others are the blade and I am the fish, I will have no power to protect what I cherish if I do not become one."

"Damn it."

"Thud, thud, thud...!"

Not long after Senju Fujima had set out, he heard a roar coming from not far away. Judging by the sound of the voice, the person seemed filled with extreme grief and indignation.

"Who is that?"

Drawn by the noise, Senju Fujima walked toward the source of the sound and saw a boy around his own age, relentlessly pounding his fists against a giant tree in front of him.

"Thud, thud, thud...!"

By the time Senju Fujima approached, the boy still hadn't noticed anyone behind him. His hands were already a bloody mess, and his eyes were filled with unwillingness.

"Why? Why?"

"Why? Ah...!"

The boy didn't know how long he had been hitting the tree, but he finally stopped, dropped to his knees, and let out a howl toward the sky.

"Do you want to become a ninja that badly?"

At that moment, Senju Fujima looked at the desperate boy and asked calmly.

"Someone's there?"

"Who?"

Hearing Senju Fujima's voice, the boy spun around abruptly, a flash of panic crossing his eyes.

"You? Who are you?"

The boy turned to see Senju Fujima, and seeing that he was about his own age, he asked with some confusion.

"Snake eyes? Who is this?"

When the boy turned his head, a pair of snake-like eyes appeared before Senju Fujima, causing him to freeze for a moment.

"My name is Senju Fujima. I heard you say just now that you really want to become a ninja?"

"But your constitution is too weak, so you weren't selected? Is that right?"

Senju Fujima looked at the boy, withdrew his look of surprise, and asked calmly.

"Senju Fujima? The young clan head of the Senju Clan?"

"That's right, I want to become a ninja. When Kurama attacked, my parents were both killed."

"I want to become strong. I don't want my life to be controlled by others."

"I want to become stronger. Only by being strong can I protect myself and those I care about."

"But, but I was rejected. Why? Is it really that hard to become a ninja?"

The boy felt a flash of gloom in his eyes when he realized the person before him was the most noble individual in Konoha, while he was nothing more than an insignificant orphan.

Thinking back to the day of the Kurama attack, which had left him orphaned and alone in this world, he had steeled his resolve to become a powerhouse.

Unfortunately, he had been rejected, yet he was powerless to do anything about it, left only to resent his own lack of talent.

"Becoming a ninja is not impossible."

"If you are willing to become my subordinate, I can teach you ninjutsu. What do you think?"

Senju Fujima looked at the boy with the snake eyes. There was a high probability that this was the father of Orochimaru. After all, Orochimaru was a commoner without a clan, so anyone possessing such snake eyes must be his father or a relative.

Senju Fujima quite appreciated a mad scientist like Orochimaru; not only was he powerful, but his research capabilities were truly peak, unmatched by anyone.

There was nothing he couldn't create; he could even cultivate the Mangekyo Sharingan. He was a rare talent indeed.

"Become your subordinate? Can you really make me a ninja?"

Hearing Senju Fujima's words, the boy felt a surge of excitement and temptation. After all, no commoner could turn down such an opportunity, especially not a commoner who had been rejected by the Ninja Academy.

"That's right. As long as you become my subordinate, I guarantee I can make you a ninja—and a powerful one at that."

"How about it? That's a pretty good deal, isn't it?"

Senju Fujima looked at the boy, knowing he was tempted, and asked with a smile.

"Fine, Lord Fujima. From now on, I am your subordinate. I hope you will teach me ninjutsu."

The boy had lost all hope of entering the Ninja Academy, but Senju Fujima had given him a new path. Feeling deeply grateful, he immediately knelt on one knee and bowed to him.

As a commoner, it was incredibly difficult to become a ninja, let alone a powerful one. In this era, without talent, one would never be recognized by others.

Since Senju Fujima had offered him the chance to become a ninja—and a strong one at that—no commoner would ever choose to refuse.

"Very good. What is your name? Is there anyone else in your family?"

Seeing that he had successfully recruited the boy, Senju Fujima raised the corner of his mouth slightly and asked.

"Reporting to Lord Fujima, this subordinate's name is Hachiki Peak. I am ten years old, and I am the only one left in my family; there is no one else."

Hachiki Peak looked at Senju Fujima and reported that he had no family left, a flash of anger and regret crossing his eyes.

"Hm? Hachiki Peak?"

"Hachiki? Could it be related to the Eight Branches Technique?"

"Back in the day, Orochimaru seemed to have a secret technique called the Eight Branches Technique. Could it be that Orochimaru also came from a clan? Perhaps one that declined and faded into the common folk?"

"Maybe so. Otherwise, how could their snake-like pupils be passed down? Could those pupils be the key to unlocking the Eight Branches Technique?"

After hearing the introduction of Hachiki Peak, Senju Fujima was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected the man to have the surname Hachiki; generally, it was rare for commoners to possess a family name.

He then associated it with the secret technique of the snake-master Orochimaru, thinking it highly likely that their snake pupils served such a purpose.

"Very well, you shall stay by my side from now on."

"Tomorrow, I will arrange an identity for you to enter the Ninja Academy."

"Take this pill."

Senju Fujima quickly shifted his gaze, retrieving a red pill from his system inventory. This was a chakra pill he had crafted using Kurama's chakra.

It was the smallest one he had made, his very first attempt, and contained the least amount of extracted chakra, yet one should not underestimate its power.

Anyone who consumed this chakra pill would inevitably transform from a commoner into a Chunin, even without any combat experience.

This alone was enough to demonstrate its potency, not to mention its life-extending properties—though the exact number of years it added remained unknown.

"Yes, Lord Fujima."

Hachiki Peak had no doubts. He knew Senju Fujima had no reason to harm him, so he didn't bother asking about the pill's effects and took it directly.

"Gulp."

Hachiki Peak swallowed the chakra pill immediately.

"Boom...!"

"What? This power!"

"Ah...!"

Suddenly, the moment Hachiki Peak swallowed the pill, he felt a surge of power erupt within his body. It began to refine his physique, propelling him directly to the level of a Chunin.

The term "level" is used here to represent strength, simply to better distinguish combat power; otherwise, in the original work, combat power is impossible to measure—even Genin can kill Kage, which is quite troublesome.

"Such... such immense power!"

"Lord Fujima?"

Hachiki Peak looked at Senju Fujima before him, feeling immense gratitude. He never expected to gain power so easily, and his physique had been improved in the process.

What he didn't know was that he had also absorbed Kurama's chakra, which might lead to unexpected benefits in the future.

"Heh, barely acceptable. It's not bad."

"A Chunin's strength is sufficient for your current needs. Work hard in the future."

"Strive to become an even more powerful existence, because I have no use for trash."

Senju Fujima smiled slightly at Hachiki Peak. Though these words didn't sound pleasant, they were highly practical, capable of igniting a subordinate's fighting spirit and driving them to strive for greater strength.

"Yes, Lord Fujima. This subordinate will certainly work hard to become stronger."

Hachiki Peak looked at the man before him, quickly lowering his head and bowing respectfully.

"Let's go. Follow me back to the clan grounds. I will have someone make arrangements, and tomorrow you will go to the academy to learn the most fundamental knowledge."

"As you are now, you possess a body full of chakra but cannot unleash its full potential. You need to learn how to control it."

Senju Fujima nodded slightly and turned to walk ahead, with Hachiki Peak quickly following behind.

"Ben, find him a room."

Upon returning to the Senju clan grounds, Senju Fujima immediately called out to the man standing before him.

"Greetings, Young Clan Leader."

"Young Clan Leader, who is this?"

Seeing Senju Fujima call him, Senju Ben quickly turned around, bowed respectfully, and asked with a look of confusion at Hachiki Peak.

Because this person was clearly not a member of their Senju Clan, he wondered why Senju Fujima would ask him to arrange a room for him.

"If it's not necessary to ask, then don't ask. How many times must I teach you that?"

Senju Fujima frowned at Senju Ben and scolded him.

"Yes, Young Clan Leader. This subordinate was wrong."

Seeing Senju Fujima's anger, Senju Ben felt a chill run down his spine and immediately knelt to admit his mistake.

"Enough. Go and make the arrangements at once."

"Also, have someone make arrangements at the school to enroll him in a class, the same one as mine will do."

"His name is Hachiki Peak. Go quickly!"

Looking at the timid Senju Ben before him, Senju Fujima did not offer any further reprimand and simply issued the order.

"Yes, Young Clan Leader. This subordinate will handle it immediately."

Seeing that Senju Fujima had no intention of blaming him, Senju Ben felt a weight lift from his heart and stood up.

"Hachiki Peak, come with me!"

Senju Ben then looked directly at Hachiki Peak and spoke. Although he did not know why the Young Clan Leader had brought back a ten-year-old child, as a subordinate, it was not his place to question it; he could only obey.

"Mm, thank you."

Hachiki Peak hurriedly bowed to Senju Ben as a sign of respect. After all, they were his seniors, and since he was living under someone else's roof, it was best to maintain a polite attitude.