Orochimaru's Awakening Progress: 10%.

Ruohuo felt as if he had opened Pandora's box.

And he had the evidence to prove it.

Orochimaru first brought him to the training ground.

"Ruohuo-kun, use your Sharingan to observe carefully."

Orochimaru performed the hand signs in slow motion, but he did not fully activate the technique, nor did he say what it was.

However, the system reacted.

[Ninjutsu Type: C-rank Wind Style: Wind Scythe.]

[Triggering "Child of Flame" effect: You can learn all elemental techniques, but any technique you perform will be replaced by flames.]

[Successfully learned ninjutsu: Fire Style: Fire Scythe.]

A perfectly ordinary Wind Style ninjutsu.

Ruohuo knew that Orochimaru was beginning to observe his "everything is Fire Style" talent.

Anyone who has been to school knows the drill.

Observe first, then research, compare multiple variables, and experiment repeatedly.

Look at that; isn't this just the most basic pursuit of knowledge for a mad scientist?

Ruohuo naturally accepted everything that came his way.

He didn't even want to hide the buff that allowed him to learn ninjutsu in seconds!

He was, after all, a successor to the Will of Fire, the next Uchiha clan head, the future captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, and the future authority of the ninja world's security department.

How could he justify himself without a bit of talent?

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Unlike other Fire Style techniques that were spewed from the mouth, several blades of flame appeared out of thin air, slicing through the air before him with intense heat!

Wind Style: Wind Scythe → Fire Style: Flame Blade!

Orochimaru did not hide his reaction either.

He thoughtfully pulled out a small notebook, recorded quickly, licked his lips, and then demonstrated a brand-new set of hand signs for Ruohuo.

However, this time there were quite a few more signs, and Orochimaru only demonstrated them without actually casting the technique.

"This technique might require a bit more chakra."

"If you can't learn it, don't force yourself."

"Understood, teacher!" Ruohuo was extremely enthusiastic!

Fugaku had said similar things, and in the end, he had shown him every Fire Style technique he knew.

Orochimaru was the legendary Cold-Blooded Master, a student of the Professor of Ninjutsu.

Even if he didn't possess all five elements at this stage and relied heavily on snake-related ninjutsu, it should be enough to keep Ruohuo busy for a while, right?

[Ninjutsu Type: B-rank Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet.]

[Triggering "Child of Flame" effect: You can learn all elemental techniques, but any technique you perform will be replaced by flames.]

[Successfully learned ninjutsu: B-rank Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet.]

With over twenty hand signs performed without a single error, Ruohuo felt a small spark of anticipation.

What would be the effect of using a Water Style technique with Fire Style?

Whoosh—!

The air became incredibly scorching as a giant dragon of flames appeared out of thin air!

Without a target to attack, it circled around Ruohuo, looking absolutely spectacular!

It was just that the temperature seemed a bit high...

Ruohuo felt a little melancholy; the Water Dragon Bullet had indeed turned into a Fire Dragon Bullet, but it seemed he couldn't learn to ride the fire dragon and soar freely like Mei Terumi?

On the other side, Orochimaru's expression grew even stranger as he pulled out his notebook again to record rapidly.

After finishing his notes, Orochimaru didn't rush to teach another ninjutsu, but instead pulled out a shuriken.

"Ruohuo-kun, next I will teach you a very practical ninjutsu."

"It will be of great help in elevating your Will of Fire..."

"...Understood." Ruohuo also wanted to pull out a notebook to record this.

[Orochimaru awakening progress: 10%.]

He had started spouting nonsense; it felt like he was beginning to resemble the slippery snake he remembered...

"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Orochimaru shouted the name this time, and the thrown shuriken instantly split into two, then four, quickly forming a curtain of shuriken!

Just like when he learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu earlier.

Because it was not a ninjutsu, it failed to trigger the "Child of Flame" learning buff.

This time, the system did not pop up any prompts.

But Ruohuo had the Sharingan.

This seems to be an A-rank ninjutsu, right?

The learning difficulty... shouldn't be too high, after all, Orochimaru learned it right after graduation.

The requirements should be something like... hand seal speed? Chakra reserves? Shadow Clone Jutsu? Shuriken throwing technique?

Oh, and I need a shuriken.

Ruohuo pulled a shuriken from his ninja tool pouch, flung it violently in front of him, and simultaneously performed rapid hand seals!

Although he didn't get the buff, Ruohuo's talent wasn't entirely provided by the system.

Since Orochimaru could learn it as a child, he should be able to meet the requirements as well.

"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

A single shuriken shot out, rapidly splitting in mid-air into countless blades, forming a dense curtain of shuriken!

Ruohuo raised an eyebrow; he was indeed a genius.

"Oh?"

Orochimaru licked his lips and pulled out a small notebook to record quickly.

Ruohuo didn't move around, standing "obediently" in place, waiting for Orochimaru to offer up more "wool" on his own.

This scene became a microcosm of how this master and apprentice would get along from then on...

Facts proved it.

Whether before or after his "awakening."

Orochimaru was a very qualified teacher.

Sasuke had made rapid progress under Orochimaru's tutelage.

Right now, for Ruohuo, Orochimaru was indeed the most suitable teacher for him.

Although he hadn't yet "awakened," Orochimaru's ideal had always been to learn all techniques, find the truth of the world, and achieve eternal life.

This goal had been born after Orochimaru witnessed too many deaths.

It was only after failing to be elected Hokage that it was infinitely magnified, leading him to study forbidden techniques at any cost to overcome the fragility of life.

And now.

By chance, Ruohuo, who was wantonly displaying his "talent," seemed to have invisibly unlocked the shackles in Orochimaru's heart.

Though it wasn't much, it was indeed effective.

In the days that followed.

Orochimaru continuously demonstrated ninjutsu within his clearance to Ruohuo, attempting to find the boundaries of Ruohuo's "abilities."

And Ruohuo naturally accepted everything, frantically increasing his ninjutsu reserves.

Of course, Orochimaru couldn't teach every single day.

As the only one of the Sannin remaining in Konoha, he was no less busy than his teacher, the Hokage.

But Orochimaru had Shadow Clones...

Aside from basic instruction and ninjutsu training, Orochimaru never missed a single one of Ruohuo's genin missions.

This made Ruohuo's ninja life very fulfilling.

Every day he woke up, sprinted twenty kilometers to the Hokage Office Building.

He would pick up the day's missions and strive to complete them by noon.

The afternoon was for special chunin-level training: consolidation and learning of ninjutsu, as well as instruction in basic ninja skills.

Hmm, although it was instruction, the one taking notes was the teacher...

When class ended in the evening, he could just catch Obito after school.

After training Obito and Shisui, and replenishing their nutrition with grilled fish and game, he would go home and collapse into bed.

Occasionally, when Orochimaru gave him a day off, Ruohuo would head to the Konoha Military Police Force to learn from his seniors.

Especially regarding genjutsu, which would be of great use later on.

Life went on in a cycle, efficient and rich.

Days passed one by one...

Finally, on this morning.

Ruohuo got up, looked at the circle marked on the calendar, and smiled confidently.

"After training for so long."

"It's time to improve my Will of Fire once again!"

Hmm.

Some lies, if you keep saying them, you eventually start believing them yourself.