Masaichi: "Apologize to My Teacher!"

"Drink."

After Orochimaru finished summarizing, he handed Masaichi the cup containing the mixture he had prepared.

It was white, and the bottle gave off a faint scent of milk powder.

How could students make their teacher happy? Naturally, when a teacher handed them something, they drank it without a second thought.

Masaichi did not hesitate. He unscrewed the cup and drained it in one gulp, showing no guard against Orochimaru whatsoever.

After all, he was neither Uchiha nor Senju. Even if his teacher wanted to take over a body, he would not set his sights on his.

Unfortunately, Orochimaru did not care about such social conventions. He was a pure scientist and only wanted to know whether the result matched his expectations.

After drinking it, Masaichi smacked his lips twice. "Protein powder?"

Orochimaru froze for a moment. "Oh?"

"Teacher, did you extract it from milk?"

Orochimaru looked at Masaichi in surprise, then clapped his hands. "Not bad. Based on my research these past few days, things like milk..."

At first, Masaichi could more or less understand what Orochimaru was saying.

But later on, it sounded like incomprehensible gibberish.

In short, Orochimaru had extracted whey protein from milk. One hundred grams of whey protein contained as much protein as 320 grams of beef or twelve eggs.

Was this Orochimaru?!

Masaichi was completely stunned.

It had only been a few days?!

He had merely provided the idea of a healthy diet, yet his teacher Orochimaru had already developed high-protein food in the Ninja World.

Orochimaru's research would absolutely bring earth-shaking changes to the Ninja World.

In scientific terms, the human body could not build muscle without protein.

Why were ninjas so skinny on average? Because they normally did not consume enough protein. To keep functioning, their bodies broke down their own muscles.

In other words, if ninjas consumed enough protein every day, their strength could rise several levels.

Genes guaranteed the upper limit of one's strength; sufficient nutrition guaranteed the lower limit.

"Is there any more, Teacher?"

Masaichi... Masaichi wanted to improve so badly. At twelve years old, he was already a Chunin, and that frightened him. He was afraid of falling behind the Ninja World's top-tier fighters.

"Our ranch's dairy cows cannot produce enough milk, Masaichi-kun," Orochimaru said meaningfully.

"Teacher, it looks like we need to make a trip to the Land of Lightning."

"Masaichi, you will find a way to hold back the Hidden Cloud Village's A-B brothers."

"? I'm supposed to hold them back?"

"I know it is difficult, but this is an order."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had thought this student of his would delay before heading to the battlefield again.

The front line where the Hidden Cloud Village and Konoha were at war.

Two days ago, Orochimaru had returned to the battlefield with his students and subordinates.

Leading the Cloud Shinobi against Konoha were the Hidden Cloud Village's A-B brothers.

The future Fourth Raikage, A, and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer B.

Their father had not died yet and was overseeing the overall situation in the rear. Thus, the carefree A was less here to fight a war than to seek physical thrills on the battlefield.

"Not enough, not enough. You're not enough. Bring Orochimaru out."

With a single elbow strike, A sent a Konoha Jonin flying. His companion caught him, but faced with this dark-skinned man, the Konoha ninjas were helpless for the moment.

Just standing there with his rugged, bulging muscles, A radiated pressure. "Why does Orochimaru not dare show himself?"

"Yo, Orochimaru's trash, Orochimaru's weak, Orochimaru doesn't dare come to the front and fight us."

Killer B's "contempt" deeply pierced the hearts of the Konoha people.

Especially since his clumsy rap sounded even more like mockery.

Who knew the Hidden Cloud Village was so good at taunting people?

But there was nothing they could do. Orochimaru understood the difference in quality between the two sides far too well. How could he possibly engage them head-on? Thus, he fought extremely conservatively.

"Konoha's commander is nothing but a coward."

A and B found it incredibly boring. They could not push the front line forward, and Orochimaru was as slippery as a rogue snake. Another day of retreating.

"Konoha Village really is a gathering place for cowards."

"What did you say?!"

"Don't fall for his provocation. People like us are no match for them. If we can retreat, then retreat."

The Konoha people were burning with rage, but the rational ones tried to comfort them.

Everyone understood that principle, and they swallowed their anger.

"But then again, an incompetent commander ruins the entire army."

"What did you say?!"

Just as A and B were growing bored and preparing to lead the Cloud Shinobi away.

"Stop right there!"

A child who looked about twelve stepped out from the Konoha ninja army. He roared at A in furious outrage.

A turned around, a huge question mark practically appearing over his head.

The Hidden Cloud Village ninjas were equally confused.

"Hey, Masaichi, don't argue with him." The speaker was a ninja from the Inuzuka Clan. Seeing that the Cloud Shinobi were already withdrawing while Lord Orochimaru's student turned back to argue, he broke out in a cold sweat.

Someone immediately explained to A who Masaichi was.

Orochimaru's student.

"What? Was I wrong about anything?" A crossed his arms and looked at Masaichi. "Your teacher is a thoroughgoing coward."

"Bastard!!"

A: "?"

A thought Masaichi was going to throw out a few insults before leaving, but to his disbelief, the child actually charged toward him.

He thought he had seen wrong.

But he had not.

"Lightning Lariat!"

Masaichi shouted it as he bent his arm slightly, looking as though he intended to elbow A to death.

"Interesting."

If this brat had used any other move, A would have killed him outright. But he had chosen to imitate the Hidden Cloud Village's taijutsu.

If someone imitated the Hidden Cloud Village's strongest taijutsu and got beaten to death, how embarrassing would that be if word got out?

"Come on, let me see what you've got."

The outcome was unsurprising. If twelve-year-old Masaichi could grind young A into the dirt, the Ninja World would be over in two years.

A also treated Masaichi to an authentic Lightning Lariat.

He flew away like a kite with its string cut.

"Hahaha, your physical condition is not bad." Although Masaichi had flown away, force worked both ways. A had pulled back some of his strength just now, yet he had still felt a certain amount of pain.

His assessment was that Masaichi possessed physical abilities close to those of a Jonin.

"I don't bully children. Go on, leave." A looked at Masaichi lying on the ground and staring at the sky. He did not kill him, merely turned around, waved, and led the Cloud Shinobi away.

They had not gone more than a few steps.

"Hold it!"

A turned back again and saw Masaichi struggle to his feet, raising a fighting stance toward him.

A: "?"

"Who gave you permission to insult my teacher!!"

Masaichi charged again.

The Konoha ninjas did not stop him, because they never imagined that Masaichi, who had just coughed up blood, would actually charge in again. They had been completely unprepared.

No, was he really this reckless?

"Bold!" A hated cowards. Masaichi's recklessness—no, this kind of courage—suited his tastes perfectly.

Masaichi charged, and Masaichi flew again.

"It isn't a Shadow Clone." Approval filled A's eyes. "Right now, I am an insurmountable mountain to you, little one. Come challenge me again in a few years."