The Blind Swordsman of the Uchiha Clan

"Sarutobi Hiruzen will likely use you to suppress the Uchiha Clan."

"I fear he will resort to some troublesome methods when the time comes."

"If you lose, you won't be able to become a ninja, you know."

Hearing this, Chiba paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up to face Kushina directly.

Even though she couldn't see his eyes, Kushina could read the look of utter disdain on his face.

Kushina was somewhat surprised by this expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you really think... I care about the status of being a Konoha ninja?"

"Do you really think... I care about the ninja headband issued to me by Sarutobi Hiruzen?"

No, Chiba had never cared.

"Regarding the graduation exam he proposed, I have a good idea of what to expect."

"I can probably guess who my opponent will be."

"You know even that?"

Kushina blinked, feeling rather curious.

"Probably."

"Do you know, Kushina?"

"When you truly understand an opponent, you can deduce their methods by working backward from their goals."

"Are you saying... you understand Sarutobi Hiruzen that well?"

Although it was improper to discuss the Hokage of Konoha in private like this, Kushina had never cared about such things.

Even though she had always considered Konoha her second home, as a jinchuriki, she knew exactly what kind of existence she was in the village.

The so-called Will of Fire had never held as much sway over her as one might imagine.

The will she inherited was never the Will of Fire, but rather the one passed down from the first Nine-Tails jinchuriki—Uzumaki Mito.

"Perhaps..."

Chiba gave an answer that wasn't entirely precise.

Did he understand him?

He supposed he did; after all, Chiba knew many things about Sarutobi Hiruzen, and had even witnessed his death.

But did he truly understand him?

After all, from beginning to end, Chiba and Sarutobi Hiruzen had met in person fewer than three times.

Their conversations were even fewer.

Today, Chiba slipped out under the pretext of going for training.

He found a good spot to enjoy the moonlight, lit a campfire, and skewered the prey he had caught to roast over the flames.

Before long, the scent of pure, wild meat permeated the air.

A single campfire and a wisp of smoke in the dead of night—it had a unique charm of its own.

Chiba was waiting for someone.

He was waiting for a special person.

That person would be the one to examine him in three days' time.

And that person would inevitably come to find him tonight.

If he didn't show up, it would only mean that Chiba had overestimated Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Then—

A pale face suddenly appeared at Chiba's side, mere centimeters away.

That long tongue flickered in and out like a venomous snake.

"Chiba-kun... we—meet again!"

The night is dark, close your eyes, and beware of Orochimaru!

He had come, after all.

Facing a man who radiated danger at every moment, Chiba merely raised his hand calmly.

"Sit down, Mr. Orochimaru."

"I don't know if you've eaten yet."

"But tonight, the midnight snack is on me."

Hearing this, Orochimaru smiled.

He seemed to be masking his surprise.

Then, he realized that the other party couldn't see his expression anyway.

He simply sat down by the campfire in front of Chiba.

Chiba then tossed a gourd to Orochimaru.

"What is this?"

"Wine! I brewed it myself. It's a bit strong, so be careful."

Orochimaru looked at Chiba in surprise.

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, he took the wine gourd and took a sip.

His furrowed brow indicated that his throat was not having an easy time.

It was indeed very strong.

However, the aftertaste was mellow.

"Chiba-kun... were you... waiting for me?"

"Of course."

"You knew I would come tonight?"

"Ah, I did!"

Chiba also took a drink, though he only took a small sip.

He knew exactly how strong the wine he brewed was.

"Because—I should be your only 'confidant' now, right? When there's something to be happy about, of course you'd come to share it with a 'confidant'!"

Hearing this, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a strange smile.

"Do you know what I'm happy about?"

"Of course."

"For a scientist, what could be more worth celebrating than being able to observe and study one's own experimental material up close?"

Orochimaru flicked his tongue, looking somewhat surprised.

"As expected, Chiba-kun, you are very special!"

"I didn't expect you to understand Sarutobi-sensei so well."

"So, are you asking me to go easy on you during your graduation exam?"

"Go easy? No need."

Chiba took a generous sip of the strong liquor and then picked up a skewer of roasted game to eat.

"If you don't complete the mission Sarutobi Hiruzen gave you, you'll disappoint him, you know."

"He won't be happy even if I do complete it!"

"Besides, his suspicion of me won't decrease in the slightest."

Indeed.

For a suspicious man like Sarutobi Hiruzen, how could suspicion ever be easily reduced?

It was impossible.

The graduation exam opponent Sarutobi Hiruzen had chosen for Chiba was Orochimaru.

This was not only an attempt to suppress the Uchiha Clan, but also a test for Orochimaru.

If Orochimaru completed the mission perfectly, it would not only serve as a warning to the Uchiha Clan, but also send a signal to Orochimaru himself.

Externally, it created the illusion that Orochimaru was still his obedient student, while internally, he remained wary of him.

How could Sarutobi Hiruzen pass up such an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone?

"Although I won't go easy on you, I won't truly follow Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders either."

"I will test you according to my own standards."

"Oh? What standards?"

"Naturally, the standards for an experimental subject!"

The Sharingan was Orochimaru's obsession, but what he truly craved was eternal life.

The unseen Sharingan, and a powerful physical talent.

Chiba perfectly met Orochimaru's requirements for both.

He needed to prepare for his own [Living Corpse Reincarnation].

Even if the [Living Corpse Reincarnation] had not yet been truly completed in the literal sense.

Orochimaru would never have imagined that he could actually have such a pleasant conversation with a six-year-old child.

More importantly, that child was his pre-selected test subject.

Chiba truly seemed to be his kindred spirit.

Ever since Orochimaru began to see through the meaning of life and started his research into [Eternal Life].

Not a single person could understand him.

Whether it was his teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen, or his companions Jiraiya and Tsunade.

It was the same for all of them.

And Orochimaru had never expected anyone to understand him.

He knew that scientists were always lonely.

The line between genius and madman was but a single thought.

In Orochimaru's view.

[Eternal Life] was the ultimate evolution of life.

And in the process of life's evolution, how could there not be sacrifices?