Meeting Snake Uncle

The next day was Saturday, and there was no class.

Kamiya Keiyun first dug a tunnel, increasing its depth from 17.7 meters to 33.8 meters.

Then he took Sanyō out to visit Snake Uncle.

Snake Uncle was, after all, a celebrity, and many people knew where he lived, including Sanyō.

To show respect, Kamiya Keiyun bought a whole watermelon from the market. The watermelon cultivation here wasn't great; perhaps due to seed breeding issues, the flesh was small and not very sweet. It tasted like a winter melon.

However, there was no doubt that it was a luxury item. A 15-jin watermelon cost a staggering 900 Ryo.

"This is Snake Uncle's house?" Kamiya Keiyun looked curiously at the house before him. He already knew that the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had only three disciples, without any particular ranking: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. All three were Elite Jonin.

He also knew that ninja survived on mission commissions, and Jonin could undertake high-level missions with extremely generous rewards.

A Jonin like Orochimaru must have earned a lot of money.

But the place Orochimaru lived in was no different from Kamiya Keiyun's home; it was a detached house, two stories high.

The front yard looked somewhat neglected, overgrown with weeds.

If it weren't for the lack of dust on the front door, they might have thought no one was home.

Just as he raised his hand to knock, a white snake appeared from nowhere, coiled around a doorpost, and opened its mouth, "Who are you looking for? Did you come to the wrong place?"

"Ah!" Sanyō yelped in surprise. A talking snake!

Kamiya Keiyun was relatively unfazed. Seeing such a rare white snake, he instinctively thought of Little White.

Was it a special breed, or did it have albinism?

"Excuse me, is this the home of Jonin Orochimaru?" Kamiya Keiyun asked politely.

"Yes!" the white snake replied. "So, you wish to see Lord Orochimaru?"

"Yes!" Kamiya Keiyun quickly nodded. "Please, excuse me, Lord White Snake, could you inform him? Kamiya Keiyun and Kamiya Sanyō are here by invitation!"

"Many people want to see Orochimaru, but few actually get to meet him!" the white snake hissed, flicking its tongue. "I'm only responsible for relaying the message. Whether he sees you or not is none of my business!"

"Understood!" Kamiya Keiyun nodded rapidly. He knew that Jonin were high-ranking members of the village, and it was normal for them not to have time to meet two brats.

Their actions were indeed rather presumptuous. If someone with ill intentions saw this, they would surely overthink it.

But Kamiya Keiyun couldn't do anything about it. His father wasn't the Third Hokage; if he wanted to succeed and get things done, he had to be shameless!

Orochimaru had been staying home during this period, trying to calm his mind.

The Second Great Ninja War had just ended. Konoha had won, and three young ninja had even earned the title of Sannin. For a time, they were immensely glorious.

However, Orochimaru didn't feel happy because of these honors.

After all, the outcome of the war was the death of his disciple Nawaki, the death of his friend Dan Katō, and the permanent departure of many dear friends and comrades.

Tsunade had developed hemophobia, Jiraiya was staying in Amegakure, and Orochimaru had nowhere to vent his feelings. Without any inspirational texts to read, he could only retreat into himself and contemplate the meaning of life.

When he heard the white snake's report, he paid it no mind.

During this time, many people had brought their children to visit him, hoping to gain his favor. As long as he ignored them, those people would naturally understand his intentions.

However, Kamiya Keiyun?

That name sounded somewhat familiar!

Orochimaru recalled.

To help him overcome the grief of Nawaki's death, his teacher had suggested he take on another disciple and had given him a list of Ninja Academy students.

This child was on that list.

Had he learned something and come to visit in advance to secure a spot?

"Who did he come with?" Orochimaru asked.

"Uh, with his sister, named Kamiya Sanyō!" the white snake relayed.

In reality, it had already said this once, but Orochimaru's brain capacity was precious, and he was too lazy to memorize irrelevant information.

"Sister?" Orochimaru was taken aback. He wasn't brought by a parent; what was this about bringing a sister?

Could it be that he was going to give his sister to me?

Many families sent their daughters to me, but this was the first time someone was offering their sister!

Orochimaru's gaze turned cold. He unconsciously compared Nawaki and Tsunade, the siblings. If faced with the same situation, what would Nawaki do?

He would rather die than bury his sister's future!

"Let them in!" Orochimaru fiddled with the kunai in his hand. He had witnessed the fragility of human life, and now he was about to witness the darkness of human nature!

Very well, it just so happens that I have a fire in my heart that needs to be released. If it turns out as I imagine.

Teacher, I'm eliminating a scourge for Konoha, that's not too much to ask, right!

The front door opened, and Kamiya Keiyun frowned. He noticed that despite it being broad daylight, all the windows in the room were closed, making it completely dark inside without the door being open.

Orochimaru was sitting on a cushion in the living room, in front of a long table. On the wall behind him was a large Chinese character.

Rō!

"This atmosphere, are you contemplating?" Kamiya Keiyun nodded inwardly, feeling a sense of kinship. He too enjoyed thinking in a dark space, as it helped him calm down as much as possible.

"Lord Orochimaru, I've brought the person," the White Snake said.

"Mm, you may go," Orochimaru's voice was a little hoarse, not from a deliberate husky tone, but a gentle one filled with mature charm.

Affinity continued to rise!

As expected of Snake Uncle, hearing that voice, Kamiya Keiyun knew he had come to the right place!

"Kamiya Keiyun, why have you come to see me?" Orochimaru asked in a low voice, his eyes still flashing with a cold glint.

He looked at Kamiya Keiyun intently. If Kamiya Keiyun's intention was what he thought it was, then he wouldn't be going back.

"Snake Uncle— no, Lord Orochimaru, hello!" Kamiya Keiyun and Sanyō bowed in greeting. Then Kamiya Keiyun asked, "Lord Orochimaru, it's like this. Before I state my purpose, may I ask you a few questions first?"

"Oh?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. Is he trying to test me?

"Ask away!"

"It's like this, how much do you know about Earth Style?"

Hmm?

Orochimaru was wondering if it was about his personal preferences, but why did it suddenly shift to Earth Style? Or perhaps, he knew Orochimaru liked Earth Style, so he was playing to his strengths?

He licked his lips lightly. Things were starting to get interesting. This child wasn't as simple as he'd imagined!

"Earth Style, I'm very skilled at it!" After thinking for a moment, Orochimaru answered seriously, "In the whole world, there shouldn't be more than five people whose mastery of Earth Style surpasses mine!"

He was actually being modest. Orochimaru's most proficient ninjutsu was Earth Style, followed by Water Style. As a ninjutsu genius, he had inherited almost all of Sarutobi Hiruzen's ninjutsu, and he was particularly outstanding in Earth and Water Style. In terms of Earth Style alone, he should only be second to Sarutobi Hiruzen and Iwagakure's Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales.

"That's good!" Kamiya Keiyun nodded and asked again, "Then, Lord Orochimaru, do you know of a ninjutsu that can turn mud into stone?"

"There are many such ninjutsu!" When it came to ninjutsu, Orochimaru immediately became professional. "Earth Release: Earth Bullet can condense mud into stone to attack enemies. Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spear, Earth Release: Rock Stealing Stick, and Earth Release: Rock Lodging Collapse can all achieve this effect."

"Huh?" Kamiya Keiyun was stunned. So many? Does this mean my technique is worthless? Wait! Kamiya Keiyun found the key point!

"You just said, to attack enemies. Are all the ninjutsu you mentioned for combat?" Kamiya Keiyun asked.

"Hmm? Combat ninjutsu? Are ninjutsu divided into combat and non-combat use?" Orochimaru retorted. Aren't all ninjutsu combat ninjutsu?

"As expected!" Kamiya Keiyun smiled. It seems Orochimaru doesn't know about my technique. He said he was so skilled in Earth Style, so any Earth Style ninjutsu he doesn't know must be an original ninjutsu! I guess I came to the right place this time!

"That's right, my ninjutsu is a Production Ninjutsu!" Kamiya Keiyun said, "I've named it: Earth Release: Mud to Stone Technique!"

"Hmm?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. This technique, just by its name, sounds very ordinary, merely the foundation for all rock-based ninjutsu. But why is it called a Production Ninjutsu?

"The environment here isn't suitable. Shall we go to the courtyard, and I'll demonstrate it for you?" Kamiya Keiyun suggested.

Orochimaru was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Alright!"