Leaving Otogakure

In the cold, damp room, Orochimaru's sinister voice echoed for a long time.

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Jun Tianlin, who had been basking in ecstasy, stiffened. After taking two deep breaths, he looked at Orochimaru, waved his hand, and sighed helplessly.

"I knew it. Orochimaru, you wouldn't let us two brothers come and go from Otogakure so easily. Tell me, what kind of trial have you set for us?"

Watching Jun Tianlin's helpless and indignant expression, Orochimaru split his mouth wide in a happy smile. Even the sinister tone of his voice diminished, replaced by a hint of delight.

"Hiss, rest easy. I spent seven years painstakingly teaching you both to bring you to this level; I wouldn't arrange a death trap for you. With your strength, even if you encounter some powerful jonin, you can easily escape if you can't win. Unless some old Kage-level geezers shamelessly target you, the Ninja World is yours to roam! Therefore, I have arranged a trial for you. Look, this scroll contains your targets. Remember, I want you to kill everyone listed in these scrolls within a month and bring back their heads to prove you have passed the trial!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Orochimaru reached into his sleeve with his right hand, and two black scrolls flew toward the sky.

Thud.

With two soft sounds, a black scroll appeared in the hands of both Jun Tianlin and Kimimaro.

Seeing Jun Tianlin and Kimimaro catch the scrolls, Orochimaru waved his hand impatiently, his eyes slightly closed as he shooed them away. "Fine, you have the scrolls now. You can go. Why are you still lingering here? Do you need me to kick you out?"

Seeing that Orochimaru was already chasing them away, Jun Tianlin didn't say anything more. After giving Orochimaru a deep look, he turned around decisively and led Kimimaro out of the room.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot to mention: you are not allowed to team up during the trial. In other words, you two must separate and resolve the targets in your respective scrolls individually. If you work together, the trial will be considered a failure!"

Just as he stepped out of the door, Jun Tianlin heard Orochimaru set another trap for them. He didn't turn back to argue, but instead quickened his pace toward the exit.

In the cold room, the moment Jun Tianlin and Kimimaro turned and walked out, Orochimaru opened his slightly closed eyes. A strange look flickered in his cold, yellowish-brown pupils.

In a trance, Orochimaru, sitting on his high seat, looked at the departing Kimimaro and Jun Tianlin and seemed to see himself from many years ago, when he was a disciple of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He remembered the kind gaze Hiruzen Sarutobi had for him when he first became his student...

He remembered the proud look in Hiruzen's eyes during the Second Ninja War, when he, Tsunade, and Jiraiya earned the legendary title of "Sannin"...

He remembered the pain and regret in Hiruzen's eyes when he was discovered conducting forbidden human experiments and was forced to leave Konoha, becoming an S-rank missing-nin...

Suddenly, watching the backs of Kimimaro and Jun Tianlin as they left, Orochimaru seemed to see the shadow of his own desolate and helpless self leaving Konoha all those years ago!

At this moment, Orochimaru seemed to understand the feelings Hiruzen once held for him—it was affection, the frustration of seeing his potential wasted, and the regret of seeing him walk the path of a traitor.

Right now, the usually cold and heartless Orochimaru felt a faint trace of regret on his face. It was regret for the path he had chosen, but even more so, a longing for his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi!

In a daze, the intention to take Kimimaro and Jun Tianlin as disciples seven years ago took root and grew, amplified by the turmoil in Orochimaru's heart.

"Hiruzen... Teacher, was I... wrong...?"

Ignoring the lost-in-thought Orochimaru, Jun Tianlin had already returned to his room to pack, preparing everything needed for the journey and stuffing all his gear into his ninja pouch. He appeared at the gate of Otogakure alongside Kimimaro.

"Tianlin, I cannot be with you for this mission. In the coming days, you must be extra careful. If you encounter someone you cannot defeat, it is better to run away quickly; do not let a moment of pride get the better of you!"

Kimimaro, usually taciturn, gave Jun Tianlin a long, unprecedented lecture at the moment of separation before heading off along the left path.

Conversely, after watching Kimimaro leave, Jun Tianlin felt no lingering attachment. He strode forward, a look of excitement on his face, and charged toward the path on the right.

"The Ninja World, huh? After all these years, I finally have the time to personally experience your scenery!"