Planning a Training Regimen

Inside the Ninja Academy.

Today was the day of the Graduation Exam.

The exam covered the Three-Body Technique.

For Chiyu, this kind of test was as easy as turning over his hand.

The Ninja Academy's graduation exams were actually quite simple.

Even Minato Namikaze, who had graduated early, had not faced an exam where he had to fight a Chunin and last under their attacks for a certain amount of time to pass.

Early-graduation candidates like Minato Namikaze had to be tested not only on the Three-Body Technique, but also on basic skills such as taijutsu and shuriken throwing.

In short, as long as they demonstrated everything they had learned at the Ninja Academy and proved they could become qualified ninja, they could graduate early.

The exam began soon enough.

Chiyu arrived at the classroom where it was being held.

The teacher administering the exam was Shota Hayabusa.

Chiyu knew that Shota Hayabusa looked down on him, so he could not be bothered to say much to him.

After Shota Hayabusa announced the start of the exam, Chiyu immediately performed the Clone Technique, Substitution Technique, and Transformation Jutsu.

Shota Hayabusa could not find a single flaw in Chiyu's Three-Body Technique. After stamping "Exam Passed" onto his assessment certificate, he handed Chiyu a forehead protector.

Without a word, Chiyu took the forehead protector and left the classroom, not even sparing Shota Hayabusa a glance.

Shota Hayabusa was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged. Every other student thanked him after finishing the exam, thanking him for his diligent teaching over the past few years.

Yet Chiyu was so cold and indifferent.

Shota Hayabusa grumbled unhappily, "Just as expected of a Two-Five-Boy. Cold-blooded by nature. It really is infuriating that someone like him gets to become a ninja."

Chiyu waited for a while at the entrance to the Ninja Academy. Before long, Kushina Uzumaki came out as well.

Kushina Uzumaki had already impatiently put on her forehead protector.

"Chiyu, does it look good?"

Wearing her forehead protector, Kushina Uzumaki spun around in front of Chiyu.

"It looks great."

Looking at the forehead protector on Kushina Uzumaki's forehead, Chiyu felt a complicated mix of emotions.

Now that they had officially become ninja, the beginning was about to unfold. Soon, the ninja world would become a meat grinder—where the weak died and the strong survived.

"Time to go."

At some point, Orochimaru had appeared behind Chiyu.

Chiyu turned around and bowed. "Teacher Orochimaru."

The moment Kushina Uzumaki saw Orochimaru, a chill ran down her back.

With his pale skin and snake-like vertical pupils, Orochimaru looked to Kushina Uzumaki like a venomous snake waiting to devour its prey.

Tsunade and Jiraiya, the other two of the Legendary Sannin, looked perfectly normal. Why did this Orochimaru seem so terrifying?

Kushina Uzumaki shrank back behind Chiyu in fear.

But since Orochimaru was Chiyu's teacher, Kushina Uzumaki still gathered her courage and greeted him. "Lord Orochimaru..."

Orochimaru merely glanced at Kushina Uzumaki without responding.

Chiyu turned to Kushina Uzumaki and instructed, "Kushina, Teacher Orochimaru came for me, so you should head home first. Remember, if anything happens, shake that bell!"

Kushina Uzumaki nodded. "I understand, Chiyu."

Chiyu rubbed Kushina Uzumaki's head. "Then hurry home and tell Grandma Mito the good news that you've become a ninja."

Kushina Uzumaki knew that after this parting, she might not see Chiyu again for some time. She left reluctantly, looking back every few steps.

Chiyu was reluctant to part with her too, but he did not want Kushina Uzumaki to remain in Orochimaru's sight for too long.

No one knew what his teacher was thinking now.

Being targeted by him would not be a good thing.

Chiyu turned back to Orochimaru once more. "Sorry, Teacher Orochimaru, for keeping you waiting."

"Then let's go."

Chiyu followed Orochimaru away from the Ninja Academy.

After walking for who knew how long, Chiyu followed Orochimaru to an underground base at the edge of Konoha.

Chiyu looked around at the dim surroundings with an odd expression.

Did Orochimaru already have a habit of building underground bases at this time?

Orochimaru led Chiyu to what looked like an office workspace. The desk was covered in opened Ninjutsu Scrolls.

Orochimaru sat down and asked Chiyu, "Do you know your Chakra natures?"

Chiyu answered truthfully, "I only know that I have one Lightning Release nature."

Orochimaru took out a sheet of paper. "This is Chakra paper. It can detect the Chakra natures a ninja possesses. Just infuse your Chakra into it."

Chiyu took the Chakra paper and infused it with Chakra.

The Chakra paper began to change.

One section wrinkled up, one section caught fire, one section became damp, and the final section crumbled apart.

Watching the changes in the Chakra paper, Orochimaru said in surprise, "Oh? You possess four Chakra natures: lightning, fire, water, and earth? You only lack Wind Release to have Five Natures Complete."

Orochimaru closed his eyes, pondering how he should teach Chiyu.

Chiyu did not speak to interrupt Orochimaru, quietly standing beside him and waiting.

Half an hour later, Orochimaru opened his eyes and said to Chiyu, "I am not particularly proficient in Lightning, Fire, or Water Release Ninjutsu, but I should have more than enough knowledge to guide you.

"As for taijutsu, you practice the Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form. You only need to keep improving it. I have no taijutsu here that is better than the Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form.

"You have already mastered the shape transformation and nature transformation of Lightning Release Chakra, so for now, focus on Lightning Release and continue refining it. Then gradually master Fire, Water, and Earth Release Ninjutsu.

"I have noticed that you are not very proficient in using your Sharingan. Training in its use must also be added to your regimen. As one of the ninja world's three great ocular techniques, even a One-Tomoe Sharingan is immensely useful to a ninja.

"The Insight Eye of the One-Tomoe Sharingan, combined with the Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form, should produce a marked improvement.

"Then there is my secret technique, which must be used in conjunction with the Summoning Jutsu, so you must also become proficient in the Summoning Jutsu.

"That will be your training regimen for this period. Do you have any objections?"

Chiyu answered, "Teacher Orochimaru, I have no objections!"

Orochimaru rose from his chair. "Since you have no objections, we will begin tomorrow. I'll take you to your room."

Orochimaru led Chiyu out of the office and to a room.

The room was bare at a glance. Apart from a bed and a bedside table, there was nothing else.

Orochimaru instructed Chiyu, "You may go almost anywhere in this base, but do not enter any rooms with seals on them."

"Yes, Teacher Orochimaru."

After Orochimaru left the room, Chiyu lay down on the bed he would likely be sleeping in for a long time.

Orochimaru truly was Orochimaru. Just hearing the plan Orochimaru had laid out for him, Chiyu felt that his days ahead would definitely be very fulfilling.