Orochimaru

The sun rose and the moon set, yet people remained the same. Summer passed into autumn, and the waters remained clear.

The autumn wind swept by, knocking down a few leaves. The weather no longer seemed quite so hot.

A few days later, the village seemed as though nothing had happened.

Even so, some things had already happened, and they were bound to bring different consequences. Hyuga Iwa knew that ever since he had stopped Hatake Sakumo from committing suicide, he had changed this world!

No, rather, from the moment he arrived in this world, he had already begun changing it. Even if those changes were insignificant, once they happened again and again, even the smallest changes would become enormous variables, altering the course of history to some extent!

Hyuga Iwa's life returned to normal once more. Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy followed their respective teams on all kinds of missions, often going days without seeing each other. That was only because they were Genin, and many of their missions did not require them to leave the village.

That day, Hyuga Iwa skipped class and came to the hospital.

The moment he entered the hospital gates, Hyuga Iwa sensed a tense atmosphere.

People rushed back and forth through the hospital, busy without pause. After listening for a while, Hyuga Iwa learned that these wounded people had been sent back from the border.

Hyuga Iwa pondered for a moment. Thinking of how Kakashi Hatake had often been nowhere to be seen lately, along with several unusual signs, he realized that the Shinobi World seemed to be stirring once again.

The outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War did not seem to be many years away, did it?

The Third Shinobi War had seemingly begun with the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, right?

When exactly had that been?

No matter how hard Hyuga Iwa racked his brain, he could not recall anything about it. If he had known, he would have watched more Naruto anime or read more manga in his previous life. Then he would not be so ignorant about most things.

Watching the busy nurses, Hyuga Iwa took the initiative and went over to help with the nursing work.

When the busy nurses saw Hyuga Iwa, they all paused for a moment, either exchanging a few words with him or thanking him.

They thought highly of Hyuga Iwa and knew that his ambition seemed to be becoming an outstanding medical ninja. Whenever they had time, they generously offered him guidance.

Of course, Hyuga Iwa's ambitions were nowhere near as modest as they imagined. He was simply too lazy to explain every time. A misunderstanding was a misunderstanding; it was not doing him any harm anyway.

Just then, a figure entered Hyuga Iwa's field of vision.

The man walked straight toward Hyuga Iwa as soon as he entered the hospital. A trademark smile hung on his face, and his hook-like eyes were slightly narrowed. Chilling glints flashed through them from time to time, making one shudder.

Halfway there, Orochimaru stopped. He gave Hyuga Iwa a meaningful look, muttered something under his breath, then turned and headed outside.

Although Hyuga Iwa had not heard what Orochimaru said, he understood his meaning from Orochimaru's gaze.

Hyuga Iwa sped up his work. Before long, he had treated the wounded person's injuries. After setting down his tools and apologizing to a nearby nurse, he followed him outside.

On a street outside the hospital, Hyuga Iwa followed the figure ahead, walking forward step by step. Judging by the direction, they seemed to be heading out of the village.

Along the way, Orochimaru acted as though nothing was wrong, even greeting passing shinobi from time to time. It seemed his reputation among shinobi was quite high!

Hyuga Iwa thought idly.

Hyuga Iwa followed Orochimaru from a distance while pondering why Orochimaru had come looking for him, but he could not think of anything about himself that would attract his interest.

The two had barely had any contact before, and he did not seem to have done anything that touched upon Orochimaru's interests, did he?

Could it be because of Hatake Sakumo?

Or had Orochimaru taken a liking to his talent?

Thinking about it, he did seem rather conspicuous. He was a member of the Hyuga Clan, yet he hung around with several civilian shinobi. Worse still, he had caused some trouble not long ago.

At that thought, Hyuga Iwa awkwardly rubbed his nose. What happened to keeping a low profile? How had he forgotten it all in the blink of an eye?!

Hyuga Iwa narcissistically thought, Could it be that geniuses are simply this different and eye-catching?!

As he thought, the two went farther and farther from the busy areas. Soon, they left the village boundaries and arrived at the edge of a secluded forest.

Standing before Orochimaru, Hyuga Iwa's face was calm, without the slightest trace of emotion.

"Not bad. You actually dared to follow me alone." Orochimaru chuckled softly, sticking out a sharp, snake-like tongue.

Hyuga Iwa tilted his head and looked at Orochimaru, his face full of "confusion." "Wasn't it you, Lord Orochimaru, who wanted to see me?"

"Oh~?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. A wicked smile appeared on his handsome face, while a burning light shone in his eyes. Like a venomous snake spotting prey, he looked cruel and sinister.

"What? Are you planning to make a move against me, Lord Orochimaru?" Hyuga Iwa's eyes sharpened as he glared back fearlessly, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"You are very confident. It seems you are certain I will not attack you, aren't you?"

A faint voice sounded beside Hyuga Iwa's ear, and only then did the figure before him slowly fade away.

Hyuga Iwa felt as though he had been pricked by needles. Every pore on his body suddenly stood on end, and a chill rose from the depths of his heart, making him shiver involuntarily.

The muscles throughout Hyuga Iwa's body tensed abruptly, then quickly relaxed. He turned around and looked at Orochimaru, who was almost pressed against him. "Speak. Why did you bring me here?"

"Danzo wants to see you."

Orochimaru gave an answer Hyuga Iwa had never expected!

Danzo wanted to see him?

Could he not just send someone? Was there really any need to send Orochimaru?!

Since when had Orochimaru of the Legendary Sannin become so idle that he was moonlighting as a messenger?!

After grumbling inwardly for a moment, Hyuga Iwa said, "Danzo wants to see me? Then there was no need to trouble you, Lord Orochimaru, was there?"

"Of course, I also wanted to see what kind of genius Danzo would personally invite. Hmm, you truly are quite impressive. How about it? Would you like to cooperate with me?"

A rare expression of appreciation for talent appeared on Orochimaru's face as he extended an invitation to Hyuga Iwa.

Hyuga Iwa could not help but smile bitterly. Spreading his hands helplessly, he said, "Thank you for thinking highly of me, my lord, but I have already joined Danzo's Root. Besides, betraying Lord Danzo would not end well."

"Hehe, you need not worry about that, because I am also a member of Root!" Orochimaru smiled disdainfully and revealed Root's insignia.

Hyuga Iwa gave it a surprised look. Honestly, he had never known that Orochimaru was also a Root shinobi!

Given the Orochimaru of the future, he and Danzo were probably partners, right?!

So they had begun cooperating this early? Did that mean they were now secretly researching Hashirama Cells?

Wood Release, huh.

Hyuga Iwa mocked inwardly. Danzo, that conspirator who acted without restraint under the banner of doing everything for the Leaf Village, was destined to fail.

Still, would he have a chance to participate in those experiments?

Although Hyuga Iwa knew many secrets, those pieces of information absolutely could not be exposed, at least not now, and certainly not by him!

Because he had no way to explain where the information came from!

Thus, how to deal with Orochimaru became a troublesome matter.

The information Hyuga Iwa offered had to pique Orochimaru's interest while also sounding reasonable and plausible. That would severely test Hyuga Iwa's skill with words.

Unfortunately, that was his weak point, so Hyuga Iwa could only choose an even more difficult approach: impress Orochimaru with his own research abilities!

But that was not something he could accomplish overnight. At the very least, the current Hyuga Iwa did not yet possess such abilities.

However, Orochimaru had now given Hyuga Iwa an opportunity. He simply did not know what sort of cooperation Orochimaru meant.

After reconsidering, Hyuga Iwa asked, "How does Lord Orochimaru wish to cooperate?"

Orochimaru gave Hyuga Iwa a meaningful look and smiled. "I have always believed that everyone has their own value. Right now, you have yet to prove yours, so when you possess that kind of strength, come speak to me about cooperation."

"My value... For example, Wood Release?"

The instant Hyuga Iwa's words fell, a fierce killing intent surged toward him, seeming to make his clothes snap in the wind.

Orochimaru's expression was no longer relaxed, nor was there the slightest smile on his face. An endless torrent of killing intent flooded forth like a burst dam, as if even the air were about to freeze solid.

At that moment, Hyuga Iwa finally understood the gap between himself and a true expert. It was like an impassable chasm stretching to the heavens.

After enduring it for a moment, Hyuga Iwa could not help backing away. He staggered back several steps in succession.

Hyuga Iwa knew what the words "Wood Release" represented to the Leaf Village, and he knew even better of the Leaf Village's current desire for—and embarrassment over—Wood Release.

The First Hokage had relied on Wood Release to become invincible across the world, yet after his death, not a single person in the Leaf Village had been able to inherit his Wood Release!

After Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, he once again secretly initiated research into Hashirama Cells in order to obtain Wood Release.

Yet even after many people died, there had still been no results whatsoever!

Even so, only a limited number of Leaf Village higher-ups knew of these matters. How did Hyuga Iwa know?

"Lord Orochimaru, this is not the attitude for cooperation."

Although Hyuga Iwa was struggling bitterly under the pressure, he refused to yield in words.

"Oh? Then I am curious. Where did you hear such information?" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, his snake-like pupils contracting. His predatory gaze fixed openly on Hyuga Iwa, as though he were about to swallow him whole.

Hyuga Iwa pondered for a moment before deciding to tell the "truth." "I happened to overhear our clan head speaking and made the connection. So Lord Danzo truly is researching Wood Release?"

Orochimaru did not reply. He merely narrowed his snake eyes and stared continuously at Hyuga Iwa.

Suddenly, Orochimaru gave a soft laugh, withdrew his aura, and turned to leave.

"Brat, I tentatively acknowledge you. I hope you live to see tomorrow."

Orochimaru did not investigate whether Hyuga Iwa's words were true. What did that have to do with him?! He had merely been confirming a few things.

Hyuga Iwa was even more outstanding than he had imagined. But sometimes, being too outstanding was not a good thing. Only the living mattered!

And besides...

Out of the corner of his eye, Orochimaru casually glanced at a large tree. Someone had been watching from there all along!

If that person had not accidentally leaked a trace of his presence in his urgency just now, Orochimaru would not have discovered him.

That faint, almost imperceptible aura was like a sharp sword, cold and threatening.

He had no doubt whatsoever that if he forcefully attacked, he would be cut in two with a single slash!

A name could not help but flash through Orochimaru's mind—Hatake Sakumo!

After confirming that Orochimaru had left, Hyuga Iwa finally let out a breath of relief, and his entire body instantly relaxed.

He took several deep breaths, then looked into the forest and slowly said, "Thank you for saving me, Lord Sakumo."

After a moment of silence, a young figure stepped out from behind a tree, a trace of surprise on his handsome face.

"I never expected even you to notice I was here. Your sensory abilities are even stronger than I imagined!"

Hatake Sakumo glanced at Hyuga Iwa's Byakugan. His Byakugan had not been activated from beginning to end!

"You flatter me." Hyuga Iwa awkwardly scratched his head.

Hatake Sakumo walked over to Hyuga Iwa's side, followed his gaze toward the direction Orochimaru had left, and slowly said, "Keep your distance from him in the future. That man is dangerous. If I had not happened to see you today, you might have been in danger."

"Understood, Lord Sakumo. I will remember that."

"Mm, let's go."

The two tacitly chose not to investigate the details. Hatake Sakumo did not ask, and Hyuga Iwa would not speak. Some matters were better known by one less person!

After the two left, another figure emerged from the forest and watched them depart. He muttered to himself, "What an interesting brat. It seems Danzo has discovered someone extraordinary. I just wonder how far he will grow in the future!"