First Time Leaving Home

"So... where's my jonin squad leader, Orochimaru-sensei?"

"Can't you see? He's standing right in front of you!"

Xuanhui looked around. There were only clusters of trees and rough rocks.

He was certain that this man with the rather punchable grin was the only living thing in front of him.

"Originally, I didn't want to be a jonin squad leader, but you happened to graduate!

So I spoke to the old man. From now on, you'll officially be my disciple, and I won't have to lead any other genin!"

Orochimaru had it all planned out. He was using Xuanhui as a shield so Hiruzen Sarutobi would stop pestering him.

"But that won't hold for long. I'll become a jonin soon enough!"

"Impossible."

Orochimaru immediately dismissed Xuanhui's words. The corners of his mouth curled slightly, and his smile became confident.

"What do you mean? Orochimaru-sensei, are you doubting me?"

"No, no, no! I've never doubted your strength.

I'll just withhold your application for the Chunin Exams and refuse to submit it."

"Are you even human?"

Xuanhui was so angry he laughed. Veins bulged on his hand as he grabbed Orochimaru's robe and shook him hard.

Orochimaru did not argue, simply letting Xuanhui throw his tantrum.

Only after Xuanhui had exhausted himself did Orochimaru lift him by the collar.

"Enough. I'll take you on some missions. Once you've accumulated enough contributions, you can exchange them for ninjutsu."

Xuanhui nodded and let Orochimaru carry him away.

"By the way, why don't you ask your clan for some Fire Release ninjutsu?"

"I'm figuring out how to ask. My dad only knows the Great Fireball Jutsu, and Grandpa doesn't have much standing in the clan either. I need to find someone I know first so things will be easier!"

"As long as you know what you're doing."

Orochimaru generally took a hands-off approach with Xuanhui. If Xuanhui had ideas of his own, he would let him try first.

In the long run, this could cultivate his overall abilities.

"Once you've learned three Lightning Release ninjutsu and three Fire Release ninjutsu, I'll submit your application for the Chunin Exams. After you become a chunin, the old man and I will teach you about chakra nature transformation."

"Sounds good!"

Xuanhui had no objections to this plan. If things went quickly, he could finish it all next year. By then, the war would surely have already begun.

"What kind of mission are we taking?"

"We wouldn't bother with anything too low-ranking. Let's keep it simple and take an A-rank mission first!"

"Wow! We really aren't holding back!"

"The missions I usually do are all S-rank. This time, I'm mainly taking you out to see the world."

Orochimaru truly had the confidence to say that. When it came to missions, no one in the village could compare to the three of them.

Besides, Xuanhui himself had a way to save his life—he could take refuge by hiding in the library.

After completing a few more A-rank missions, he would soon be able to claim an excellent ninjutsu.

Thus, led by Orochimaru, Xuanhui arrived at the mission administration office.

Orochimaru took a list from the attendant and handed it to Xuanhui.

Xuanhui lightly touched his thumb to his tongue and casually flipped through two pages.

One mission caught his attention.

"This one!"

Xuanhui pointed at one of the A-rank missions.

Orochimaru bent down and examined it carefully.

"Escort a merchant caravan... to the Grass Village border? Looks good. This one, then!"

Before long, Orochimaru guided Xuanhui through the process of accepting the mission.

Once the two were standing on the street, Xuanhui took out the mission token, toyed with it for a moment, then casually stored it in the library.

Orochimaru entered through the wooden door as well. He told Xuanhui to go home and pack, then call for him once he was ready.

"Why are you back so early today?"

Nara Yamanaka held a broom in her hand and was clearly cleaning.

With her husband and child both out, she spent her days doing housework and reading the romance novels her son had bought for her. Her life was fairly comfortable.

"I'm going on a long trip. Orochimaru-sensei is taking me on a mission."

"Huh? You have to travel far for a mission? What mission did you accept?"

"Just an A-rank mission. It's fine, I'll take good care of myself."

A clear, crisp sound rang out.

Xuanhui raised his head and saw the broom fall onto the floor.

"Isn't that too dangerous? Can't you change missions? Mom is scared!

No, no... Xuanhui, at the very least, you should become a chunin first. This is too early for you..."

Xuanhui's head instantly began to ache. He should have known to tell a couple of lies... Mom was hard to soothe!

He sighed helplessly, swiftly kicked off his shoes without even setting them aside properly.

He quickly walked toward Nara Yamanaka, his steps neither too light nor too heavy.

When she saw her son approaching, she knowingly sat down on the floor, as if all strength had left her.

Xuanhui opened his arms and cradled his mother's head.

His mother's body trembled slightly. She was uneasy!

The moment she thought of her child being away from home, being deceived or bullied, or even... her entire body shook!

Her fingers gripped Xuanhui's sleeve as she continuously shook her head.

Yet Xuanhui's little hands, not even as big as his mother's head, gently stroked her long hair.

"Mom, don't worry...

Orochimaru-sensei has completed hundreds, if not thousands, of S-rank missions. A tiny A-rank mission won't go wrong...

I have my own means of protecting myself. I've been an outstanding student for the past three years, so there's nothing to worry about...

The Grass Village border is far away, but there have been many ninja stationed there recently. Bandits and horse thieves can't run rampant, so you don't need to worry about us getting robbed on the road..."

Xuanhui knew that his mother was fragile, prone to overthinking, and insecure, so he could only imitate his father.

Whenever his father went on a mission, he soothed his mother like this. She had always wanted him to give up being a ninja, but his father was unwilling.

His father simply wanted to earn more money so that she and Xuanhui could live good lives.

Holding his mother's head, he said whatever came to mind and slowly comforted her.

"Okay... Xuanhui, it's your first time traveling far from home... You must be careful..."

"It's okay, Mom. I love you. Rest more and don't overthink it. I'll be back soon...

Don't forget to tell Dad... Oh, right, have Grandpa ask around and see if he knows a kid in the clan named Fugaku."

Xuanhui looked at her reddened eyes, wiped away the tears at their corners, then walked around her and went upstairs to pack his luggage.

Nara Yamanaka sat on the floor with her head hanging low, completely dazed. Only after an unknown amount of time did she finally stand up resolutely.

"My child has grown up... That's wonderful..."

"Why did you take so long to come out?"

"I had a lot to pack, so I got delayed."

"You only need to prepare some daily necessities. We're not going on vacation."

"The faucet at home was broken. It kept making noise, so I wrapped it with a few layers of tape. It took a lot of effort, but I finally fixed it."

Orochimaru was somewhat bewildered when he heard that.

He tilted his head up toward the sky, his gaze fixed on the white clouds against the blue expanse.

Should a faucet... be repaired with tape?