PS: Happy New Year, everyone~~ On this festive occasion, please be generous and give this little crazy writer a red envelope to bring in some good luck. Thank you~~
"Knock, knock."
Just as Jun Tianlin was clutching his forehead and worrying about money, a soft knock sounded at the door.
"Lord Jun Tianlin, I was sent by Lord Orochimaru to deliver the things you need. Please accept them!"
"Click."
With a crisp sound, Jun Tianlin opened the door and stood before the lackey waiting outside. He raised his right hand and took the item from him, then said calmly,
"Mm. You can go back now. Tell Orochimaru that I've received the gesture he intended to make."
With that, Jun Tianlin stopped paying attention to the lackey, who wasn't even a ninja. He turned and walked straight back into his room.
"Heh, talk about perfect timing. I hadn't even gone to speak to Orochimaru about the money, and he went ahead and sent it over. Tsk, tsk, one hundred thousand ryo. That's no small sum!"
With a quiet chuckle, Jun Tianlin happily stuffed the one hundred thousand ryo into his pocket. That money would be the foundation for him to establish himself in Konoha...
After putting the money away, Jun Tianlin took one last lingering look around his room. He sighed softly, then turned decisively and strode outside.
"This place can wait for now. When I return from Konoha, I'm sure I'll be an even stronger ninja than I am now!
"Uchiha, I'll be taking your Kekkei Genkai!"
With all his complicated thoughts put aside, Jun Tianlin focused on reaching Konoha and finding an opportunity to get his hands on the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. He hurried through the underground passageways of Otogakure, turned left and right a few times, and soon emerged from the village at its main gate.
He looked back at Otogakure's dark red gate. For a moment, his heart was filled with emotion.
Once, he and Kimimaro had nearly lost their lives. It was only thanks to Orochimaru taking them in that they had barely survived and made it to Otogakure in such a sorry state.
Once, he and Kimimaro had been put through seven whole years of hellish training right here, pushed by Orochimaru until Jun Tianlin had reached his current level of strength.
Just a month ago, he had risked his life fighting rogue ninja, battling for his freedom. After a month of hardship and fierce battles, he had finally returned victorious.
Now, for the sake of his future, Jun Tianlin stood once more at the gates of Otogakure, heading for Konoha, soaring toward his future!
Otogakure was where Jun Tianlin's life had begun, where his dreams had taken root, and where his journey toward the peak had started!
With all those complicated feelings swirling inside him, Jun Tianlin finally turned his back on Otogakure and set off, quickly disappearing into the distance.
At the gate of Otogakure, a small black snake stared blankly at Jun Tianlin's departing figure...
Meanwhile, inside Otogakure, in Orochimaru's room, Orochimaru sat in the seat of honor, his expression unreadable. A hint of warmth appeared in his eyes as he murmured softly,
"Little brat—no, Jun Tianlin. If you return from Konoha this time, I, Orochimaru, will acknowledge you and Kimimaro as my disciples. From then on, I'll do everything in my power to train you both, just as Teacher Sarutobi did. With talents as astonishing as yours, I'm sure the two of you will stand at the peak of the Ninja World one day!
"But if anything happens to you in Konoha, then even if it's the Konoha that Teacher Sarutobi wants to protect, I'll tear it down in my lifetime and erase it from the Ninja World!
"You convinced me with your words, and made me acknowledge you as my disciple. I won't let you face even the slightest threat!"
By the end, Orochimaru was brimming with murderous intent, the madness in his eyes enough to make anyone shudder. He meant every word—this was the truth buried deepest in his heart!
Before you continue