Victim of Konoha Bullying

Crimson fissures radiated from the edges of his pupils, slowly writhing.

Orochimaru could clearly hear his heartbeat pounding in his chest, growing more violent by the second, numbing his ribs. With every pulse, those crimson patterns throbbed once more.

This was...

What?!

As he watched the crimson gradually engulf the entire void, Orochimaru instinctively mobilized his Chakra. A tremendous force burst from within his body and tore apart the illusion.

Huff—

The scenery around him returned to normal. Color returned, and the air became breathable once more.

A bead of cold sweat slid from Orochimaru's temple and slipped into his collar as he lowered his head.

When he looked at Kamizuki's eyes again, they had already returned to their usual black.

Remembering that crimson gaze in the darkness, he felt a chill run down his spine.

After steadying his breathing, Orochimaru spoke hoarsely.

"Only one tomoe... How is that possible? This level of Pupil Power has already far surpassed two tomoe and is infinitely close to three tomoe!!"

Kamizuki spread his hands helplessly. "Can't be helped. Maybe it's because this is a compressed version. One tomoe is stronger than two."

"It's like how strength is focused in your hands when you punch, and in your feet when you run."

"Unlike the usual requirement of using Chakra to activate it, my condition for opening my eyes is focusing my attention on them. At that point, it's hard for my body to perform precise movements."

Kamizuki spat to the side and snorted.

"When I showed Mikoto, she had no idea how powerful my concentrated version was! She even thought I was about the same as her!"

"If I weren't worried she was too weak and I'd knock her stupid, I'd really want to give her a try!"

Worried about his little sister getting hurt, but not worried about his teacher...

Hmm... Kamizuki-kun must have believed I would be fine. This is recognition of my strength.

Orochimaru nodded.

Ordinary sensory ninjutsu could not detect Kamizuki in the first place since he had no Chakra. In his normal state, he possessed the Sharingan's insight, and when necessary, he could also launch Pupil Power attacks.

Orochimaru could not help but praise him. "An organ-mutating Kekkei Genkai without any obvious external traits is simply art!"

"Ordinary people would never realize that the attack has already begun the moment the eyes open."

"Hidden and powerful, it is the ultimate weapon for assassination!"

Kamizuki shook his head helplessly. "Before the Mangekyo, the Sharingan's greatest use is still looking cool. Its most important function is gone, so what kind of art is that?"

"My usual dynamic vision is enough. I generally don't like opening my eyes. Otherwise, people would think it's embarrassing that I only have one tomoe when I'm nearly ten years old."

This was the first time Orochimaru had heard such a statement. The Sharingan was for showing off...

"Kamizuki..."

Orochimaru hesitated for a while before finally speaking. "You cannot learn ninjutsu. Any jonin could provide you with the same help I have, and there is no shortage of them among the Uchiha."

"You could completely hide your information and become a secret weapon concealed within the Uchiha clan."

"Don't tell me you don't know about the delicate relationship between the village and the Uchiha..."

"I taught you that a ninja's battle is a battle of information."

Orochimaru looked at Kamizuki, rare seriousness appearing on his cool face.

He could feel Kamizuki's trust. Therefore, he chose to trust Kamizuki as well and lay certain matters bare.

The village had always been wary of the Uchiha. Though his teacher had never said so directly, the two elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, had spoken with him and told him not to reveal information about the higher-ups to Kamizuki.

Kamizuki's lips curled upward as he spread his arms.

"As for the reason..."

"I'm strong! Extremely strong!"

"I was born into this world as a strong person. I understood that from the moment I was born!"

"Since I was born this way, I really shouldn't be greedy."

Kamizuki spread his hands wide, his still-childish face filled with arrogance. "Hiding information is the privilege of the weak. How could I do something like that and squeeze the little living space they have left?"

"Am I right, Teacher Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru remained silent for a long time before shaking his head with a faint smile. "If I were still a youth, I would laugh at your immaturity."

"But now, I would praise you."

"Anyone who can firmly believe in their own strength is undoubtedly strong!"

Perhaps it was precisely because of such conviction that the power of Heavenly Restriction existed within you...

It was not a curse, but a blessing.

"Hey! Orochimaru, perhaps this isn't the best time for me to show up."

"But it's the time we agreed on~"

Kamizuki shuddered in alarm.

The voice was too close!

Even if the Sharingan did not possess the Byakugan's omnidirectional perception, there was no way someone should have approached this close without him noticing!

He abruptly turned his head.

What entered his sight was a tall, silver-gray-haired man in his twenties. He wore a jonin vest and had handsome features.

The man raised a hand with a smile, his voice bright and cheerful. "I'm Hatake Sakumo. Hello there, young Kamizuki."

So it was him...

Then there was no problem.

Hatake Clan's genius ninja, the man who outshone the Sannin and became the youngest person to be promoted to jonin since Konoha's founding: Hatake Sakumo, known as the White Fang.

Before long, during the Second Shinobi World War, this man would truly rise to fame. The name White Fang of Konoha would strike fear throughout the Shinobi World.

His influence would even reach future generations, to the point that even officials of the Land of Fire referred to Kakashi as the White Fang's son.

"I nearly forgot... Sakumo."

Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo were from the same generation. The fact that he called him by name, along with his casual tone, showed that they had a good relationship.

"Jonin Hatake." Kamizuki greeted him, then looked to Orochimaru for an explanation.

Orochimaru put an arm around Kamizuki's shoulder. "In a few days, I'll be leaving on a mission and won't be able to return to the village for quite some time."

"I specifically asked him to guide you. Even Lord Hokage greatly praises the Hatake Clan's inherited swordsmanship. You must treasure this opportunity."

Patting Kamizuki on the shoulder, Orochimaru said calmly, "I found a lead on the matter you mentioned before. That person is currently within the Land of Fire."

Kamizuki's eyes lit up. That person was connected to whether he could use ninjutsu. He had not expected Orochimaru to find him so quickly!

"Not bad, Teacher Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru smiled helplessly. "Although I don't quite understand it, that should be praise, right?"

"That person is dangerous. If you hadn't passed my test, I would have planned to go with Sakumo after I returned."

"In any case... it's time for you to see the true ninja world. In the future..."

Orochimaru did not continue. At his position, he already knew very well that the Second Shinobi World War was unavoidable.

In fact, according to future records, the Second Shinobi World War might already have begun.

Hatake Sakumo said mildly, "Orochimaru has already told me about the mission, but if Kamizuki-kun is going too..."

He leaned closer and grinned. "Then I'll have one more task: looking after a junior. You'll have to pay extra!"

Orochimaru took out a stack of silver from his robe. "Here."

"Hehe, consider it wedding money paid in advance!"

Sakumo swiftly put away the silver. He had recently confirmed his relationship with his childhood sweetheart and was thinking of holding a wedding once the situation stabilized somewhat.

"Mm, I still have village matters to handle, so I'll be going first."

Before leaving, Orochimaru gave Kamizuki a deep look and fell silent for a moment.

"The payment is eight hundred thousand ryo in total. You'll have to pay me back later."

Kamizuki laughed brightly. "Just say you're worried about me. Don't worry, I'll return safely!"

"No, I'm serious," Orochimaru said sternly.

Over the past half year, Kamizuki had eaten and drunk at his expense in quantities dozens of times greater than an ordinary person's.

He had also spent money issuing missions to locate that person's whereabouts. Together with hiring Sakumo this time, he had used nearly half the mission funds he had saved over many years.

Of the remaining half, two-thirds had been borrowed by Tsunade for gambling, and one-third by Jiraiya for research material.

He truly had no money left.

--

Watching Orochimaru walk away, Sakumo leaned toward Kamizuki and said with a grin, "I bet you won't repay him. I saw right through you at a glance, kid."

Kamizuki shook his head. "What are you talking about? I'll repay him slowly, bit by bit."

"It's fine. Teacher Orochimaru makes money quickly. He's Konoha's number one workhorse."

"Yeah, he doesn't even have a wife or kids, so why does he work so hard?" Sakumo crossed his arms, gossiping about Orochimaru behind his back together with Kamizuki.

"Say, I heard you can't use ninjutsu. I have a secret ultimate taijutsu technique that has left countless ninja with painful memories. It's incredibly powerful!"

"For only one thousand ryo, I'll teach it to you. How about it?"

A technique that made people suffer as though they had died for a thousand years? That was indeed powerful.

Kamizuki could not understand how a shameless guy capable of inventing and popularizing a technique like One Thousand Years of Death could commit suicide.

This guy looked even more flamboyant than his son.

What could he say... as expected of a Konoha resident...

Their bullying methods were on another level.

No, I have to remain vigilant at all times!

Before they can bully me, I need to bully them hard first!