Orochimaru Takes Minato as His Disciple · Uzumaki Exchange Students

Minato stopped in his tracks.

Recognizing the man blocking his way by his distinctive purple eye shadow, he greeted him respectfully. "Lord Orochimaru."

When Orochimaru made no move to let him pass, Minato scratched his head and ventured, "Did you need something from me?"

"Minato Namikaze, would you be interested in becoming my disciple?"

Orochimaru was not good with words.

Ever since he was young, he had dealt with bad people by attacking them outright. With good people, he mostly listened in silence. He let others speak, then acted when a response was needed, without making things awkward.

He became more talkative when the subject turned to his field of expertise.

He still had not figured out how to broach the task Toji had given him—taking on a disciple—when his body had already moved to block Minato Namikaze's path.

So he got straight to the point.

Faced with an offer of discipleship at their first meeting, Minato had no idea how to respond.

The man before him was one of the village's most important figures. He frequently visited the Hokage Building, and his name often appeared in its announcements.

Until now, Minato had only seen him from afar. Orochimaru would not even have known who he was.

Yet the man had sought him out, stopped him, and immediately offered to take him as a disciple. It felt so unreal that Minato was struck by a strange sense of absurdity.

He said blankly, "But I need to buy groceries at the market, and then I have to go home and cook."

Oh no—what did I just say?

Minato had exceptional instincts in battle and reflexes far faster than those of an ordinary ninja. These natural advantages gave him the upper hand in a fight.

But he was not nearly as adept