Konoha White Fang Returns, Orochimaru's Interest in Kiyoshi

Kiyoshi spotted a familiar face.

Tsunade.

She seemed to be helping someone with a diagnosis.

Shizune, who was about Kiyoshi's age, stood beside her.

"Kiyoshi."

A white-haired boy with unruly hair stepped out from behind the wooden sliding door and walked to the wooden fence at the front of the yard.

"I came to see why you took leave today."

Kiyoshi came up with an excuse.

"It's nothing."

Kakashi's voice was much colder than before, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Kakashi, since your friend has come for you, let him in."

A voice came from inside the house.

"Yes, Father."

Kakashi stepped aside.

"Come in, Kiyoshi."

"Excuse me."

Kiyoshi followed Kakashi and pushed the door open.

There were quite a few people inside.

Tsunade, Shizune, and Orochimaru.

Two of the Three Ninja were here.

Sitting at the very back was a man with long silver-white hair tied in a ponytail. His body was wrapped in numerous bandages, with blood faintly seeping through and staining them red.

"Lord Sakumo."

Kiyoshi greeted him respectfully.

Then he respectfully greeted Tsunade and Orochimaru as well.

"It has been a long time, Lady Tsunade."

"So it's the Uchiha brat."

Tsunade turned around, narrowing her eyes slightly.

This brat's talent in taijutsu was even better than she had expected.

How long had it been? Yet he already possessed a sturdier build than most children his age.

"I'm Kakashi's father. Since you two are friends, there's no need to be so restrained."

Hatake Sakumo smiled.

It was clear that Hatake Sakumo was a gentle person.

No wonder he had created a prank technique like the Thousand Years of Death and passed it down to Kakashi.

"Heh heh, Uchiha..."

Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth. Purple markings ran along the sides of his nose, and earrings hung beneath his earlobes.

He had heard about Kiyoshi Uchiha from Danzo.

Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade, who was diagnosing Hatake Sakumo, before looking back at Kiyoshi.

"How has it felt since coming to Konoha?"

Orochimaru asked.

Among foreigners who had entered the Ninja Academy and qualified to become ninja, only Kiyoshi Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki counted.

One came from the Land of Lightning, while the other came from the already-destroyed Whirlpool Country.

"Lord Orochimaru, only after coming to Konoha did I learn that there are so many ninjutsu to study. If I get the chance, I want to learn even more ninjutsu."

Kiyoshi answered.

In that small village on the edge of the Land of Lightning, Kiyoshi had not had so many ninjutsu available to learn. He had not even had access to the Three-Body Technique.

In this Shinobi World, where strength reigned supreme, only power could allow him to survive amid countless upheavals.

"Is that so?"

Orochimaru was rather surprised by Kiyoshi's answer.

He had thought Kiyoshi would be like other children, praising Konoha's superior conditions and saying things like Konoha's moon was rounder than the Land of Lightning's, or that its air smelled sweeter.

After all, Kiyoshi's current life was worlds apart from his past.

"Heh heh... Unfortunately, everyone has limited energy. Over the course of a lifetime, one can only learn a handful of ninjutsu."

Orochimaru sounded somewhat wistful.

Learn more ninjutsu?

Had he not once shared that very thought?

But human lifespans were limited.

"That's why I want to live longer. The longer one lives, the more one can learn."

Kiyoshi's words startled everyone.

After all, birth, aging, sickness, and death were natural laws that could never be defied.

Still, everyone had more or less thought about living longer.

But few kept believing in it so firmly.

Those present all thought Kiyoshi was still young and simply talking nonsense.

Just like how children loved shouting that they wanted to become Naruto.

"What does a child know? When it is time to die, just let nature take its course. Living too long is not a good thing."

Tsunade waved a hand and instructed Shizune to put away the medical instruments.

Shizune stepped forward, took out a Sealing Scroll, and sealed them all away.

Kiyoshi watched every reaction from Tsunade and the others.

In the Shinobi World, even though technology was constantly developing and changing by the day,

most people's thinking remained extremely conservative—or rather, backward.

After a thousand years of development, even Naruto, who wanted peace in the Shinobi World, had never considered abolishing the system of Daimyo, the nominal rulers of everyone.

Instead, he bowed his head and submitted to them.

He had not even abolished the Hyuga Clan's feudal and cruel Caged Bird Curse Mark system, which treated people as slaves. It was still enforced right under Naruto's nose.

The idea of living longer... or even achieving immortality, was something almost no one considered.

Only one person was different.

Kiyoshi could feel Orochimaru watching him, his gaze as sharp as that of a venomous snake.

"...No, Tsunade. He's very interesting."

It was the first time Orochimaru had discovered someone who shared his thoughts on immortality.

Afterward, Orochimaru asked Kiyoshi several more questions, and Kiyoshi answered them one by one.

"Orochimaru..."

Tsunade frowned slightly. The normally reliable Orochimaru was actually discussing absurd topics with a little brat who was not even a genin.

They had important business to attend to this time.

"Sakumo, focus on recovering from your injuries. Don't pay attention to the harsh voices in the village."

Tsunade spoke.

Even with Hatake Sakumo's strength, he had been forced to choose between the mission and his comrades during this operation. That showed just how perilous the mission had been.

"Alright."

Although Hatake Sakumo looked somewhat haggard, he still smiled in response to Tsunade's comfort.

"This wasn't Father's fault at all! Anyone who doesn't value their comrades isn't worthy of being called a ninja."

Kakashi spoke up.

Since his father had returned yesterday afternoon, the village had been filled with voices condemning him today.

"Enough, Kakashi. It was my fault. When a ninja fails a mission, condemnation is the punishment he deserves."

Hatake Sakumo's smile faded as he spoke solemnly.

Kakashi wanted to say more, but Hatake Sakumo continued.

"Go out and play with your friend. I need to discuss something with Tsunade and Orochimaru."

"...Yes, Father."

Kakashi lowered his head.

He did not understand. What had his father done wrong?

Why did even his father think he was at fault?

Hearing that, Kiyoshi knew they were being dismissed, so he followed Kakashi out.

Only after they had completely left the entrance did Kiyoshi feel Orochimaru's gaze disappear.

Orochimaru should remember me now.

Kiyoshi thought to himself.

He had said those things precisely to leave a deeper impression on Orochimaru and establish a connection with him.

Like a venomous snake, he brought danger—but also opportunity.

The outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War was drawing closer. It would be best to increase his strength or acquire a powerful life-saving ninjutsu.

Orochimaru was Konoha's best researcher and possessed plenty of forbidden knowledge.

His survival abilities were also maxed out. He had died several times, yet he simply would not stay dead, reviving again and again in all sorts of ways.

Even Yakushi Nonō could not compare to him in that regard.

Moreover, Orochimaru had extensive knowledge of the human body and even possessed information on Cursed Seals and Sage Chakra.

As for the other ways to obtain Sage Chakra—

Tsunade would not take him on.

Jiraiya would only accept the Child of Prophecy.

If he wanted Sage Chakra, he could only start with Orochimaru.

When the various Otsutsuki invasions came in the future, without Sage Chakra or taijutsu, he would not be able to deal any damage at all!

And Sage Chakra did not merely amplify ninjutsu. It also... strengthened the body.