Orochimaru's Arrival

"Yamkawa Jiro, Abe Reiichi, Matsushita Shiki!"

"I'm your team leader. Come with me."

One student after another was selected. Those remaining in the classroom looked at one another as Jonin continuously entered and led students away.

Even Uchiha Yuu had been waiting for his team leader to arrive.

Then, a white-haired middle-aged man walked in with a sleazy grin on his face.

"Inuzuka Umeko, it's been a long time."

"Jiraiya, don't look at me with those disgusting eyes."

The Inuzuka Clan's team-leading Jonin glanced at Jiraiya. If he had not been the Third Hokage's disciple, she would have punched him across the room.

Having been scolded in front of a group of juniors, Jiraiya coughed awkwardly twice before turning to the blond boy with a solemn expression.

"Well then, kid, I'm your team leader."

"Jiraiya, disciple of the Third Hokage! Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku!"

Minato Namikaze had not expected Jiraiya to take an interest in him. He had wanted to follow the two of them to find Tsunade, but Jiraiya had cut in halfway.

Before he could say much, Jiraiya had already spoken. Given his status as one of the Legendary Sannin, Minato immediately prepared to follow him.

Only Kushina muttered softly:

"Why did it have to be Lord Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya was an Elite Jonin. Hearing that said to his face, he had wanted to teach her a lesson, but the moment he saw that it was Kushina, he immediately wilted.

After all, Jiraiya knew very well that the little girl had spent years at Tsunade's side. Besides, Kushina was the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.

"Huh? I'm Jiraiya, Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku! If I teach your little boyfriend, I'll make him stronger. And don't forget, Tsunade and I studied under the same master. If you have time, you can come play with Minato Namikaze."

"Really?!"

Only then did Kushina relax a little. At least they would be able to see each other often.

After Jiraiya took Minato away, he ran into Tsunade as she entered.

"Tsunade! I made quite a bit of money this time. Want to go drinking?"

"Sorry, I have a boyfriend."

Crack, crack, crack!

Everyone present could hear something shattering. Jiraiya stood frozen in place, until Minato Namikaze finally dragged him away by force.

From that day on, there was one more heartbroken man in the world.

After sending Jiraiya off, Tsunade silently apologized. He was a good man!

Turning her attention back to the little brats, Tsunade looked at Kushina and said directly:

"Kushina, I'm here to pick you up. From now on, you'll study by my side."

"Come on, Yuu. Let's study Medical Ninjutsu under Tsunade together!"

Kushina tried to grab Uchiha Yuu's hand, but he dodged aside.

"What's wrong?"

He could hear that something was off in her words. For someone like Tsunade to choose a student, she needed the Third Hokage's approval. Clearly, Yuu was not Tsunade's disciple.

"Lady Tsunade didn't say my name, so I can't go with you."

Tsunade nodded cautiously and apologized. The Third Hokage had originally intended for her to teach him, turning him into an outstanding ninja while also strengthening the connection between the village and the Uchiha Clan.

But an unexpected situation had arisen.

"That's right. I'm only taking Kushina with me this time. You have another team leader. That guy should be arriving soon."

As soon as she finished speaking, the setting sun outside cast a long, slanting shadow through the doorway. A pale man strolled in unhurriedly.

The light purple eyeshadow and dark yellow pupils revealed his identity.

"Orochimaru, you're a little late. And you haven't even changed out of those bloodstained clothes. How come you seem even less reliable than Jiraiya?"

"I just finished a mission. The fact that I made it here before dark means I hurried as much as I could."

His cold, sinister aura was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, making everyone wary.

Noticing the bloodstains on himself and the terrified students behind him, Orochimaru gave what he believed was a warm smile.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Orochimaru. From now on, I'll be your teacher."

Orochimaru's team was a standard noble lineup. Besides Uchiha Yuu, there were Nawaki and a member of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family.

At the same time, he observed Yuu's reaction. He had not deliberately released killing intent; it was merely the lingering killing intent from his mission. Yet he found that Uchiha Yuu's expression had not changed in the slightest.

He was far better than the students behind him.

Why Orochimaru?

Though he did not say it aloud, Uchiha Yuu fell into doubt. By all rights, Orochimaru had no connection with him. If the goal was to nurture his sense of loyalty toward the village—

Tsunade would have been the best teacher.

"Yes, Teacher Orochimaru."

Fortunately, Orochimaru had not yet reached the stage where he would conduct experiments by any means necessary. He had not yet suffered the deaths of his disciples or been tempered by war, so his personality had not become twisted.

However, compared with the other two, Orochimaru was the very model of a ninja.

He possessed every virtue of a ninja. He had bonds with friends, but missions came before everything else.

Training under Orochimaru would definitely be extremely strict.

After he led Uchiha Yuu out of the classroom, the students behind them finally let out long breaths.

"So scary... Is that Lord Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin?"

"That aura just now... it felt like we were going to be killed!"

"Yuu's teacher is terrifying. I hope our teachers won't be like Lord Orochimaru."

Orochimaru led Uchiha Yuu to the training grounds and gave him an appraising glance.

The reason he had become Uchiha Yuu's team leader was Danzo.

He had recently been cooperating with Danzo on certain matters. Danzo had recommended that he become Yuu's team leader, and naturally, Orochimaru had received some benefits from him.

He just did not know what Danzo was plotting.

"Today is just for you to meet your teammates."

Two people stood on the training grounds. One was the familiar Nawaki, while the other was a Hyuga Clan member with pale eyes.

She wore no forehead protector.

"A member of the Hyuga Main Family."

A dojutsu clan as famous in the Shinobi World as the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan had no truly top-tier experts, but their eyes surpassed those of the Uchiha Clan in reconnaissance.

"My name is Hyuga Reiko. I'm happy to become teammates with Yuu-kun."

Hyuga Reiko showed a sweet smile. As the eldest daughter of the Main Family, she was completely different from Uchiha Yuu. She had been raised within the education system of a great clan since childhood, and her etiquette was especially impeccable.

"Nice to meet you, Reiko."

Nawaki, standing to one side, did not introduce himself. They already knew each other.

"Very interesting."

Orochimaru looked at the three who had just met. He recalled how the Third Hokage had taught him back then, when they too had first met like this. He had never imagined that one day, he would lead students himself.

"Tomorrow, come to the entrance of the Forest of Death. You're all talented disciples of great clans, so I have no concerns about your strength. As for the rest, I'll make you Genin in the shortest possible time."