Showing Value

Night faded, and the first light of dawn began to show. Hidden Leaf Village was still steeped in the quiet before daybreak, but Uchiha Narong had already risen. He carefully checked his ninja tool pouch, wiped his kunai and shuriken until they gleamed, then changed into a clean Uchiha clan outfit. Today would be a crucial turning point in his life.

Last night, the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, had called him to his home and told him the news. The Hokage had agreed, and Orochimaru was also willing to meet him. The place was a dedicated training ground on the edge of the village, and the time was set for eight o'clock this morning.

"Lord Orochimaru's personality is... unique. You need to be careful and know your limits." Fugaku's warning was concise, but Narong could sense a trace of gravity in the clan head's tone. In dealing with Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, all the clan could do was push open a door for him. The road beyond that door was one he had to walk himself.

Narong took a deep breath. It would be a lie to say he was not nervous. After all, he was about to face that future cold-blooded scientist, the S-rank missing-nin Orochimaru. Even though Orochimaru at this point in time had not yet completely slid to extremes, his interest in researching forbidden techniques and kekkei genkai had already shown itself, and his cooperation with Danzo was proceeding in secret. Narong possessed the Sharingan, making him one of the research subjects Orochimaru was interested in.

Luckily, it's Konoha Year 45 right now. The Nine-Tails' attack hasn't happened yet, and Orochimaru's obsession with the Sharingan hasn't reached that later level of madness. His Cursed Seal Technique... probably hasn't been developed yet either. After all, Jugo, the source of the cursed seal, likely hasn't even been born yet. Narong quickly reviewed the timeline in his mind, which put him a little more at ease. Danger certainly existed, but it was still within a controllable range. This was also the key reason he had chosen Orochimaru—a powerful figure who still had "reason" to follow was easier to deal with than a pure madman researching immortality.

After steadying his emotions, Narong pushed open his door and, stepping through the morning light, headed toward the appointed training ground.

Eight o'clock sharp.

As if the timing had been calculated perfectly, a cold, slick aura appeared without warning at the edge of the training ground, like a venomous snake approaching without a sound.

Narong's heart tightened, and he immediately turned to look.

Orochimaru was already standing there, at some unknown point having arrived. He was still wearing a Hidden Leaf jonin vest, his long black hair loose, his pale face looking somewhat eerie beneath the morning light. Those iconic golden snake pupils were fixed firmly on Narong, carrying unconcealed interest and scrutiny. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly in a smile that was not quite a smile, giving off an unfathomably dangerous air.

"Heh heh heh... so you are Uchiha Narong?" Orochimaru's hoarse voice sounded. He slowly stepped closer, his steps so light they were almost silent.

"Lord Orochimaru, hello. I am Uchiha Narong." Narong suppressed the ripples in his heart and bowed respectfully, placing his posture very low. He deliberately controlled his chakra and aura, making himself look like a genin with some talent but who was still immature.

Orochimaru stopped a few steps in front of Narong. His snake pupils swept him up and down, as though appraising an interesting piece of experimental material. "That rigid fellow Uchiha Fugaku actually took the initiative to send you to me... how unexpected. It seems the Uchiha's situation is even more delicate than I imagined."

His tone shifted, cutting straight to the point. "Then let me see what 'aptitude' you have that makes you worth my time. Teacher Sarutobi's face is one matter, but I, Orochimaru, never take in trash."

His state of mind had already shifted from its initial turmoil into a resolute calm. Narong knew ordinary excellence was not enough to move Orochimaru. If he wanted to come into contact with the core experiments on First Hokage cells, he had to display "value" great enough to strongly interest this scientist—a potential that surpassed ordinary genin, and even surpassed average chunin. There was naturally risk in this, but reward and risk came hand in hand. Moreover, he was certain that when it came to valuable "experimental material" or "collaborators," Orochimaru had his own principles of secrecy and would not report it to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Please begin, Lord Orochimaru." Narong bowed respectfully, but his gaze no longer deliberately dodged. Instead, it carried a restrained firmness.

"Let me see your aptitude." Orochimaru did not drag things out. A vast killing intent erupted in an instant, surging toward Narong like an icy tide.

This time, Narong did not merely endure it by force. The instant the killing intent reached him, a crimson gleam suddenly appeared in his eyes! It was not a Single Tomoe, but two pitch-black tomoe spinning rapidly—the Two-Tomoe Sharingan!

The moment the Sharingan opened, Narong's perception of the killing intent became clearer. Although he still felt tremendous pressure, the impact on the mental level was weakened considerably by the power of the Sharingan. Not only did he steady himself, he even stepped half a pace forward. His Two-Tomoe Sharingan met Orochimaru's gaze without fear, and he spoke in a calm voice. "Lord Orochimaru's aura is truly awe-inspiring."

"Two tomoe?" Interest surged in Orochimaru's snake pupils, and his killing intent receded slightly. "It seems Clan Head Fugaku was being modest after all. Two tomoe at ten years old... not bad 'talent.'" He had originally thought Narong was only a somewhat talented Uchiha. He had not expected such a pleasant surprise.

"Then try this." Orochimaru's figure blurred. His speed was even faster than expected, and a knife-hand strike slashed straight toward Narong's neck. This time, it was no longer a probe, but carried real aggression.

Under the dynamic vision of the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, Narong clearly captured the trajectory. He did not choose the Body Replacement Technique. Instead, chakra erupted beneath his feet, and his body slid sideways at an extremely tricky angle. At the same time, the kunai in his right hand flicked upward with precision—not to hit Orochimaru, but to seal off the possible route of his next variation!

"Oh?" Orochimaru let out a soft sound of surprise. His wrist flipped, changing the chop into a flick, and his fingertip struck the side edge of the kunai.

Clang! With a light ring, Narong borrowed the force and leaped back. His wrist was slightly numb, but his response could be called exquisite, displaying taijutsu adaptability and battle wisdom beyond that of a genin.

"Your reaction and judgment are both better than expected." Orochimaru licked his lips and formed hand seals with both hands. "Ninja Art: Snake Glare Spell!"

Several chakra snakes pounced over again. Narong's gaze sharpened, and his hands formed seals at flying speed.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

He spat out multiple small fireballs from his mouth. Not only did they intercept and burn away the chakra snakes with precision, the remaining fireballs spread into a net and covered the area where Orochimaru stood, the attack fierce and sharp!

A trace of true surprise flashed through Orochimaru's eyes. This level of mastery and timing in applying a C-rank Fire Release technique was already close to that of a special jonin. His figure flickered, passing through the gaps in the fire net like a ghostly shadow. The ground where he had originally stood was blasted with several shallow craters.

"Very good!" Orochimaru seemed to have had his interest stirred. He no longer held back too much. His speed erupted fully, and he instantly appeared on Narong's left side. His fists and feet came in like a raging storm, every blow containing powerful chakra and taijutsu force.

Narong pushed the insight of his Two-Tomoe Sharingan to the limit. His pupils moved at high speed, capturing every subtle motion. He no longer blindly dodged, but began trying to block and counterattack! Though he was far inferior in strength and experience, he could always rely on the Sharingan to find the most appropriate timing, resolving attacks at the smallest cost. Occasionally, he could even use skill to overcome force and launch a few rather threatening counters, forcing Orochimaru to take him slightly seriously.

Bang! After one direct clash, Narong was forced back again, his breathing slightly uneven, but his gaze grew sharper. The strength he displayed at this moment had absolutely reached the elite level among chunin. In particular, his use of the Sharingan and his combat intelligence far surpassed others his age.

Orochimaru stopped attacking and stood in place, his golden snake pupils fixed tightly on Narong as if he wanted to see through him from the inside out. The playfulness on his face was gone, replaced by a burning interest, like someone discovering precious experimental material.

"Two-Tomoe Sharingan, refined Fire Release, combat awareness and adaptability approaching that of a special jonin..." Orochimaru's hoarse voice carried undisguised praise. "Uchiha Narong, the strength you have hidden is far more interesting than what Fugaku said, and far more interesting than what Teacher Sarutobi knows."

Narong calmed his breathing slightly. His scarlet Two-Tomoe Sharingan rotated slowly as he answered calmly, "Before someone truly powerful, holding back trump cards is foolish. What I want to learn from Lord Orochimaru is knowledge that truly leads to the peak of power, not merely ordinary ninjutsu."

These words faintly revealed that Narong knew Orochimaru was no ordinary mentor, and what he sought was no ordinary power.

Orochimaru let out a low laugh. "Heh heh heh... knowledge that leads to the peak of power? You are very clever, and very bold. I like clever children." He walked in front of Narong, and his cold fingers once again brushed past the corner of Narong's eye, feeling the ocular power of the Sharingan.

"I have seen your 'value.' Far beyond expectations." Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils flickered with calculation and anticipation. "From today onward, you are my, Orochimaru's, disciple. I will teach you some things... that surpass a mortal's imagination. As for how far you can go, that will depend on how brightly your 'talent' can bloom."

He leaned close to Narong's ear, his voice like the hiss of a snake. "And this 'truth' you have shown will be our little secret. After all, high-quality experiments... hm, high-quality students are always worth a teacher investing more attention in, are they not?"

Uchiha Narong's heart settled. He had bet correctly. The value he had displayed had successfully aroused the scientist's curiosity, and he had obtained a certain degree of "confidentiality" as a promise. The door to the First Hokage cell laboratory seemed to have been pried open into an even wider crack because of this performance that exceeded expectations. The road ahead would surely be even more dangerous, but it was also closer to his goal.