Trial

"Who am I?"

The habitually hoarse voice, shrouded in the night, sounded even more sinister than usual, sending a shiver down Qi's spine...

"Then who do you think I should be?"

Orochimaru watched Qi with great interest, his snake-like pupils gleaming with a look that could only be described as "amusement"...

In his view, a ninja was meant to be insidious, cunning, and unscrupulous. If one were to just follow orders and walk a straight line, could they even be called a ninja?

This was precisely why he looked down on certain clan heirs; these fellows had lost their minds, drifting entirely away from the concept of the ninja profession. In their eyes, as long as a ninja learned flashy and powerful ninjutsu, that was enough.

But if the ninja trade were that easy, what need would there be for combat experience? Wouldn't it suffice for both sides to just stand apart and blast each other?

Therefore, the more conventional or rule-abiding a person was, the more he despised them. Conversely, the more someone liked to exploit loopholes, cut corners, or act dishonestly, the more he favored them.

If Qi had followed Konoha's explicit regulations and stayed obediently in his room, Orochimaru's first impression of him would have dropped by half. But as it stood, Qi didn't seem that stupid—at least he knew how to exploit a gap.

"Are you from Konoha?"

Although he was extremely suspicious, even certain that the person before him was Orochimaru, Qi dared not say the name aloud.

If he said it, how would he end this? While Orochimaru was famous, not many people outside knew what he looked like. If he, an outsider, called out the name after just one glance, he would definitely be drinking tea at the Interrogation Department!

"Heh heh..."

Orochimaru let out his signature, eerie sound—half-chuckle, half-hiss.

"Looking at you, it seems you are hiding something... but it doesn't matter. Knowing how to hide is what makes a ninja. You pass."

Pass? Pass what? Wait, his disciple!?

After pondering these two words for less than a moment, Qi's face changed drastically!

He seemed to recall that it was during the Third Great Ninja War that Orochimaru had developed his grand, extreme life ambition of "researching forbidden jutsu and pursuing immortality"!

Could he be planning to use me as a test subject? My luck can't be this bad; at least give me an opponent I can actually fight... Damn it all!

Qi didn't believe that being Orochimaru's "disciple" actually meant being a student. Hadn't he seen Anko's eventual fate? Being his apprentice was a quick way to die!

"My lord, I wonder what your instructions are? A master like you, why bother playing such a joke on me?"

Asking this with his heart in his throat, Qi began to shuffle backward...

He needed to at least give himself a chance to jump into the street. There was no one on the rooftops, but the streets were still crowded; surely Orochimaru wouldn't snatch someone in broad daylight on the street...

"Heh heh... Silly child, do you really think you have a chance to escape in front of me? Since you are a ninja, you should know what to do in this situation."

Seeing Qi's movements, Orochimaru couldn't even be bothered to move. A trace of mockery flashed in his snake-like pupils, as if he found Qi's futile struggle laughable.

"A ninja's inability to accurately judge the situation is the greatest cause of death. Since you think I'm joking, what do you intend to do? Beg for mercy, or die here?"

He was clearly beginning to test Qi. Orochimaru didn't care for those damn rules; if he was interested, he did as he pleased...

But Qi didn't know this. After realizing he had arrived in the world of Hokage, he had never intended to get involved with freaks like Orochimaru or Uchiha Madara.

One was the strongest of the Sannin, an immortal being; the other was the former Asura of Konoha, a man who had possessed the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan decades ago. What could he possibly have to do with such titans? He only wanted to live a good life. He had never thought about meddling in the world of these monsters—was he looking for death?

But fate was blind; such a monster had actually come knocking on his door! Besides, wasn't this guy too dedicated? It was already late at night, time to sleep, and he still hadn't forgotten to come out and collect experimental materials?

"My lord! Why must you push someone like me into a corner? Isn't this a bit beneath you?"

Realizing that escape was impossible, the fierce side of Qi's Kaguya lineage seemed to be stimulated.

Beg for mercy? Even if the opponent possessed the pinnacle of power in this world, some things were simply impossible to do!

A glimmer of ferocity emerged from his eyes...

"You would rather die than submit, even for a moment? How disappointing. Once a person is dead, they have nothing left."

Orochimaru saw that Qi was preparing to fight to the death, and he felt a hint of regret.

Because he believed that a ninja with a strong desire to survive was the true powerhouse. One had to stay alive first; ninjas who threw their lives away at every turn might look glorious, but they were the first to die.

"You are right, but even so, I still want to live with dignity!"

As if saying it to himself, Qi's voice grew louder. Due to his preconceived notions, he was convinced that Orochimaru was here to capture him as a specimen! And now, he was just being toyed with for amusement.

"I can swallow disgusting food! I can sleep in the wilderness if I have no place to stay! If I am hunted, I will hide and train before taking my revenge! But if you want me to kneel and beg for mercy, then I would rather die!"

Having transmigrated into this world, he didn't care about the pain or the hardships, but he could never abandon his basic dignity!

It wasn't that he didn't fear death; on the contrary, he was terrified of it. But some things were harder to endure than death itself.

"Ice Release! Six-Directional Sealing!"

Qi struck, and it was a lethal blow. His opponent was Orochimaru, so he had to fight for his life. Although he tried to use the Mist Ninja's chakra-sensing techniques to determine whether the Orochimaru before him was the real body or a clone, he failed.

Orochimaru was not like Terumi Mei; his use of clones was flawless, his chakra condensed and solid, with no excess leakage. He was identical to the real body, and at Qi's current level, he couldn't sense the difference.

"Bang!"

Following six muffled thuds, six ice walls appeared out of thin air beneath Orochimaru's feet, above his head, and all around him, instantly encasing him. Simultaneously, dozens of sharp ice spikes erupted from the inner surfaces of the walls, piercing Orochimaru through!

An ordinary person wouldn't be able to see what was happening inside the ice walls, but as the caster, Qi was the exception; he could see everything occurring within.

"So this is Ice Release. To reach such a level in the initial stage, it's no wonder you've received such attention. You are a very good child..."

A cold hand touched Qi's neck, making him shudder. He suddenly realized that the Orochimaru inside the ice walls had vanished without a trace!

"Now, your life is in my hands. Tell me, are you still unwilling to submit?"

Orochimaru was currently right behind Qi, keeping his hand pressed against Qi's neck. Qi believed that if Orochimaru had the intention, he could kill him in an instant, but...

"I said it before, even if I die, I will not lose my dignity!"

A sharp whistling sound rang out. Before anyone knew it, several ice spikes had appeared above the two of them, plunging down fiercely toward their location, and the target of one of them was Qi himself!

"Dignity..."

Yet, without Orochimaru making any visible movement, the ice spikes shattered into ice shards and fell away before they could even reach them.

"That is somewhat unexpected. You would actually rather commit suicide than be killed by me... Is dignity really that important?"

"It is the only thing I possess!"

Qi felt despair. He knew the vast gap that currently existed between him and a master like Orochimaru, but the reality was that he didn't even have the ability to cause the other party the slightest hindrance!

Die as an experimental subject? Don't make me laugh!

Qi's eyes turned blood-red from madness. Ignoring the fact that Orochimaru's hand was still on his neck, he drew a kunai and stabbed it toward that hand.

"Clang!"

The kunai struck Orochimaru's hand, but it couldn't pierce even a fraction of an inch...

There was nothing surprising about this. Orochimaru excelled in ninjutsu; not only was he a master of Wind Release, but his Earth Release was also top-tier. Strengthening his skin's defensive capabilities was simple for him...

Damn it, can you stop me even if I bite my tongue!?

Seeing his moves being dismantled one by one, Qi completely lost his cool. He opened his mouth, intending to bite his tongue. If he couldn't live with dignity, then dying with dignity would have to do! He had already died once, so if he died again, who was to say he wouldn't transmigrate back to Earth!

"Hmm?"

Orochimaru frowned. The moment Qi opened his mouth, he squeezed his hand, knocking Qi unconscious.

The battle had only lasted a few rounds, yet the gap in strength displayed by both sides was already beyond words; it wasn't even a difference that could be compared...

However, with this, the test was over. The person was unconscious, so what else was there to test?

Looking at the unconscious Qi on the ground, Orochimaru put away that aggressive aura—which was extremely sinister to Qi, but for him, it was just a change of expression.

"This child has quite a backbone and a ruthless streak, much more ruthless than that child Anko. It's quite rare..."

His gaze flickered constantly, and finally, he revealed a somewhat satisfied smile.

"Not bad, very good. I shall train you for a period of time and see to what extent you can grow, hehe..."

Qi might have many shortcomings, but he ultimately possessed one thing that satisfied Orochimaru—that was his ferocity.

This ferocity would become increasingly lethal as Qi grew stronger. If he could keep getting stronger, then one day, he would become a formidable powerhouse!

Orochimaru himself was a ruthless man, which is why he only took those with enough ruthlessness as disciples; Anko was one, and currently the only one.

Casually picking up Qi, Orochimaru chuckled, tapped his feet, and after a few leaps, he had already left the area.

And when he had completely disappeared, a figure appeared on the scene. It was Ogata...

But he only watched the direction in which Orochimaru had left in silence, making no move to pursue.

"The Leaf truly values you, sending one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, to teach you ninjutsu. I hope you cherish it..."

Ogata was not Qi; he did not know what Orochimaru would become in the future, but he knew who Orochimaru was, and he knew even better that Orochimaru was one of Konoha's supreme experts.

In fact, having led Qi for so many years, he had long known that this disciple was of the ninjutsu type; his talent in taijutsu was extremely limited. It could be said that by following him, Qi would never become a true powerhouse.

Moreover, while his own taijutsu could be called that of an expert, it was only average, let alone for Qi, whose taijutsu talent was abysmal...

Ogata had sensed Orochimaru the moment he appeared, but he did not intervene because he could see that Orochimaru was testing Qi's character!

In the ninja world, let alone having an expert as a master, even having a Jonin systematically teach you combat techniques was a rare thing. Jonin were important resources for a ninja village, and they themselves had to constantly train; where would they find the time to take on disciples?

Those who had a Jonin as a master either had a family with enough influence and connections, or they were being groomed by the village. Of course, there was another reason: the Jonin had taken a liking to you and hoped to groom you as their successor.

Regardless of which it was, now that Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, was willing to take Qi as a disciple, Qi had truly established a foothold in Konoha; the background checks and such no longer had any meaning.

Qi was already the grand-disciple of the Hokage; the so-called review had ended the moment Orochimaru took him away.

Ogata stood quietly in place. He did not return, just standing there, lost in thought for a long time...

"Lord Ogata..."

An Anbu suddenly appeared on the roof.

"The Hokage has asked me to inform you that from today on, you are a member of the village. Your restrictions are lifted as of now, and you may move about the village freely."

"Understood..."

Ogata offered no polite words, and the Anbu did not engage in them either. Sure enough, after he finished those three words, the Anbu had already vanished without a trace.

"No more restrictions, huh... Heh heh... Konoha will probably assign me missions soon, but that's normal, since we are at war after all..."

Twisting his neck, Ogata jumped off the roof and walked toward his original residence.

"You foolish disciple... everything is your own destiny; you must grasp it yourself."

Ogata left with peace of mind, while the unconscious Qi was taken directly back to Orochimaru's residence and tossed to a servant.

"Arrange a room for this brat. After he wakes up, have him take a bath. Everything else can wait until tomorrow!"

Glancing at Qi, Orochimaru said indifferently to the servant.

"After he wakes up, tell him that if he doesn't want to die in training tomorrow due to a lack of energy, he had better rest well and recover his strength."

{
 "status": "active",  "subject": "Qi",  "mentor": "Orochimaru",  "condition": "unconscious",  "objective": "recovery/training"
}