The Land of Fire, Konoha, Ninja Academy.
In this season of blooming cherry blossoms, the cannon fodder... no, the graduates of the Ninja Academy were about to embark on a brand-new life.
"Hey, Hanazuki, I heard a new Three-Color Dango shop just opened nearby. Want to go try it?"
Uchiha Hanazuki, who had been sprawled across his desk and sleeping soundly, his long black hair tied in a ponytail and an inexplicable beauty to his lazy demeanor, was shaken awake. He instinctively looked around.
"Is it that time already? I'm going back to sleep. Remember to wake me when our jonin instructor arrives."
He sprawled back across his desk. Anko, beside him, glared in exasperation. Was he going or not? What a jerk...
Uchiha Hanazuki was a boy, ten years old, and graduating from the Konoha Ninja Academy. He was in the same class as Mitaraishi Anko.
It was the time of the Third Shinobi World War. With the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire was restless, and neighboring countries seemed eager to make a move.
Hanazuki and his classmates were lucky. After all, they still got to experience a full Ninja Academy curriculum.
They were also unlucky, because as soon as they graduated, Konoha's old geezers would send them to the battlefield to make a name for someone else.
"Hanazuki, I'm telling you, at least pretend to be a little motivated in front of your juniors. Don't make them lose faith in you, okay, Yugao?"
Though still young, Uzuki Yugao had already blossomed into a beauty. She smiled serenely, her expression helpless.
Yet in a world within her mind that no one could sense, a pitch-black fox sat atop a pale blue lake, glaring red-eyed at Hanazuki.
"Hey, brat from the Uchiha Clan, offer up a bag of chips and I'll give you chakra. Make sure they're fish-cake flavor. If you switch them to bamboo-shoot flavor, I'll kill you!"
"Also, I'm sick of this scenery. Change it to a maple-leaf garden... no, on second thought, a cherry-blossom grove would be better."
The black-and-orange fox before him seemed to be suffering from indecision. Hanazuki's mouth twitched as he asked in confusion,
"If I remember right, I just got the Nine-Tails. Are you really the Nine-Tails, Kurama?"
"You little punk! Of course I'm the Nine-Tails. But how do you know my name? Did that guy Menma tell you?"
Wait, Menma? Could this Sign-in System be...
Hanazuki hurriedly looked at the sudden Sign-in System. The three black Tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly, and he finally made out the barely perceptible words before "Shinobi World Sign-in System."
"Limited Tsukuyomi Ninja World Sign-in System. Limited Tsukuyomi, huh? No wonder this black-and-orange fox is so easygoing. It's the Black Nine-Tails."
He nodded slightly. Limited Tsukuyomi was a world that was the opposite of the real one. Uchiha Sasuke had become a playboy, Naruto had become Menma, and Hinata had turned into a bossy big sister...
"So that's why. Even Kurama is easygoing because this is an inverted world?"
His blood-red Sharingan glimmered. Just as he was about to negotiate amicably with the Black Nine-Tails, who was still struggling to choose, a violent shaking jolted Uchiha Hanazuki awake from his inner world.
"Damn it, who interrupted me?"
"Idiot! The jonin instructor is here! Can't you stay awake for once?"
Anko whispered urgently, her face turning deathly pale. A massive brown-black serpent, thick and slick with moisture, was slowly tightening around Hanazuki, whose expression was blank. The two girls were so terrified they turned pale.
"Ninja can't afford to let their guard down. Students who lack a sense of urgency are so annoying. My adorable students, hehehe..."
"You're so noisy. What a troublesome pervert."
The serpent suddenly tightened. A cloud of white smoke dispersed, and Hanazuki, who had been sitting in his seat, was now a wooden post.
"Hehehe. Saying what you really think in front of others will make them dislike you, my adorable student."
A slender figure stood silently behind the three of them. His cold, composed gaze carried a hint of scrutiny as it shifted slowly from Anko and Yugao to the black-haired boy at the podium.
"Teacher Orochimaru? I'm sorry, I'm sorry. He's always like this. Please don't hold it against him."
Anko hurriedly apologized, while Uzuki Yugao remained silent, her brows slightly furrowed.
Orochimaru paid no attention to Anko's apology. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. As he sized up Uchiha Hanazuki, he realized Hanazuki was sizing him up as well.
His long hair hung loose, his features were sharp, and his skin was cold and pale, like a snake's. He was hardly someone one could like.
"An apology is unnecessary. It seems one of you is rather full of himself. Now, head to Training Ground 3. Your first mission is about to begin."
Training Ground 3. Could it be...?
Having more or less guessed what Orochimaru was up to, Hanazuki said nothing. Anko and Yugao hurried after them.
Konoha Training Ground 3.
A stream burbled nearby, birds sang, and flowers filled the air. Wooden posts for shuriken practice stood ahead.
Uzuki Yugao had arrived early and was waiting at the training ground with a single-edged sword in hand. Anko was adjusting her ninja tool pouch, while Hanazuki alone kept his eyes lowered, having already guessed what was going on.
"Hehehe, what punctual children. I don't dislike students who arrive on time."
"Yes, yes. Then let's get started. Whether it's snatching bells or a one-on-one fight, I won't lose, Teacher Orochimaru."
At Hanazuki's words, Orochimaru merely smiled and raised his right hand. Two bright bells dangled from it, and a dangerous gleam lurked in his eyes.
"Seems you've heard some rumors. With your abilities, you'll have to take the bells from me to decide who gets to graduate from the Ninja Academy. The failures will have no choice but to return to school."
"All right, begin."
"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, scorching heat instantly dried the air. The fireball hurtling toward him brought an excited look to Orochimaru's face.
"I almost forgot. I should've reminded you that you can attack me with the intent to kill. It seems I was worrying for nothing. Hehehe..."
His body melted like mud, then his supple form, snake-like in its flexibility, dangled from a branch some distance away.
"Uchiha Hanazuki, middle of the pack among his Ninja Academy classmates. He's never shown any particular talent. It seems he's been hiding his abilities quite well."
"You two, as ninja, shouldn't turn your backs to the enemy. Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."
Serpents like ropes coiled around Anko and Yugao. Orochimaru's figure appeared in the mouth of one of the snakes clinging to them, and his dark purple tongue lightly licked Anko's cheek.
"Oh my, thank you for the compliment, Teacher Orochimaru. But remember this: a ninja should never turn their back to the enemy. Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique..."
Heat hot enough to boil the stream surged toward him again. The excitement on Orochimaru's face grew more pronounced as he chuckled under his breath.
"What's wrong with Teacher Orochimaru? Why has he been chuckling over there ever since he said 'begin'? What happened?"
Anko looked utterly bewildered, while Yugao gripped her sword hilt tightly, her face full of shock.
"Could it... could it be that Teacher Orochimaru... is under a genjutsu?"
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