Parting, a New Crossroads

"Lord Orochimaru, please take me as your disciple!"

Anko's voice rang unusually clearly through the empty corridor. Orochimaru's raised foot froze in midair. He turned around and looked at her calmly.

Anko did not raise her head, remaining bent at the waist. But the face buried against her chest was more determined than ever before.

"Why do you want to become my disciple?"

With a faintly amused smile, Orochimaru looked Anko up and down.

"Anko..."

In the hospital room, nearly everyone was shocked by this sudden scene.

A trace of surprise appeared in Uchiha Rin's eyes. That was Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin. Who would have thought that Anko, the girl who had always been so timid, would have such courage?

But why did she insist on becoming Orochimaru's disciple?

Aburame Shibi sighed. He had noticed Anko's recent changes, but he had not expected her to possess such courage.

Still, he did not hold much hope that Anko could become Orochimaru's disciple. Among the Jonin, Orochimaru was renowned for having a sharp eye. Anko had been under him for so long, yet her talent could not exactly be called outstanding.

Hopefully, she could endure this blow.

A faint smile appeared on Hyuga Satoru's face. Was this a fateful encounter?

Or was it the timeline correcting itself?

Anko, who had originally not become Orochimaru's disciple due to his influence, had actually gathered the courage to ask Orochimaru to take her as his disciple.

Why do you want to become my disciple?

Orochimaru's voice continued to echo in Anko's ears in the corridor, causing her to space out slightly.

Why did she have to become Lord Orochimaru's disciple? Anko asked herself.

Suddenly, scene after scene appeared in her mind...

Her, running desperately when faced with an enemy she could not defeat...

Her, seeing the badly wounded Hyuga Satoru amid the ruins in the pouring rain...

Memories surged in like a tide and instantly swallowed her whole. She clenched her fists unconsciously, tears sliding down her face as her voice trembled.

"Because I hate my own incompetence. I hate my own weakness."

"Lord Orochimaru, please take me as your disciple! I want strength. I want to protect my companions... I want to..."

Anko bent even lower, her fists clenched tightly. The floor before her was covered in her tears.

At some point, the hospital room had fallen completely silent.

Anko's grief-stricken voice traveled in sentence by sentence from the corridor, like a hammer striking their hearts again and again.

Aburame Shibi sighed.

Perhaps I've been an irresponsible teacher, failing to bring out her true potential...

He could not help but blame himself.

A faint smile hung on Hyuga Satoru's lips as he gazed at the ceiling.

In the corridor.

Orochimaru suddenly laughed, his voice hoarse.

"Wanting to protect your companions? An interesting idea."

"I agree."

What?

Still bent over, Anko wondered if she had heard wrong. She slowly raised her head and looked at Orochimaru with some hesitation.

Orochimaru smiled faintly at her and repeated himself.

"I agree. From now on, you are my disciple."

"R-Really? Lord O-Orochimaru, no, Master Orochimaru."

Orochimaru smiled and nodded at her.

"Wonderful!"

Anko was so excited she nearly jumped up. The sudden happiness almost made her faint.

In truth, she had not held much hope of becoming Orochimaru's disciple. She had only thought that as long as there was even the slightest chance, she had to try.

She had never expected to actually succeed.

She happily rushed into the hospital room and grabbed Hyuga Satoru's hand.

"Wu, did you hear that? Lord Orochimaru agreed to take me as his disciple."

"I heard." Hyuga Satoru smiled helplessly at her. "Could you be a little gentler? I'm still injured, you know?"

"Oh, sorry!"

"Rin, did you hear?"

"Yes. Congratulations."

"Teacher Shibi..."

"Congratulations, Anko. Orochimaru is one of the famed Legendary Sannin. I hope that under his guidance, you won't slack off."

Aburame Shibi pushed up his dark glasses. Although he had never expected Orochimaru to agree, he was truly happy for Anko.

"Yes, definitely!"

Hyuga Satoru let out a breath and looked toward the ceiling. The Shinobi World seemed to have changed quite a bit because of his arrival. He wondered whether Orochimaru would still defect from Leaf Village.

He was a little curious about how Leaf Village would change in the future.

"Congratulations, Anko." He looked at her with a smile, a trace of complicated emotion in his eyes. "From now on, you'll be training under Orochimaru."

"Mm." Anko responded softly and unconsciously lowered her head slightly.

Becoming Orochimaru's disciple also meant separating from Team Three.

"Anko, don't worry. I'll handle things with the Hokage."

Aburame Shibi spoke in a low voice. Since Anko had become Orochimaru's disciple, she would inevitably have to leave Team Three for the time being. He could handle the necessary procedures with the Hokage.

"Thank you, Teacher Shibi."

Anko's voice grew much quieter. Though she had become Orochimaru's disciple, the thought of parting from these companions still made her heart ache faintly.

"Anko, don't overthink it." Hyuga Satoru smiled. "We're all happy that you became Orochimaru's disciple. Go on, Orochimaru is waiting for you outside. I'm looking forward to the day you grow stronger."

"Mm."

Anko responded softly, gazing reluctantly at the people in the hospital room as though she wanted to etch their faces firmly into her mind...

After Anko left, the hospital room remained quiet for a long time.

Aburame Shibi pondered for a moment, then looked at Hyuga Satoru and spoke.

"I originally planned to tell you this later, but since Anko has already left, there's no harm in saying it now."

"The Hokage has specially promoted you to Chunin. That is to say..."

"From now on, you may lead a team or carry out missions alone. Team Three is going to disband..."