Apprenticing Under Orochimaru

The "Sannin" were idols in the eyes of most of Konoha's younger generation. Trained by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, all three were powerful ninja capable of standing on their own.

During the Second Shinobi World War, their three-man squad had been ordered to stop Hanzo of the Salamander, the "Demigod of the Shinobi World."

Though they had ultimately suffered a narrow defeat at Hanzo's hands, they had earned his high praise. After the war, Hanzo of the Salamander personally spread their fame and bestowed upon them the title of Konoha's Legendary Sannin.

"Cold Lord" Orochimaru, the nominal squad captain of the Sannin, enjoyed immense prestige among Konoha's younger ninja.

Kakashi's goal had been clear from the start: to become Orochimaru's disciple! In a shinobi world where most believed in bloodlines and the few believed in connections, only Orochimaru believed in science!

If Kakashi wanted to stand at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World, only the path of research could allow him to rival the Otsutsuki—or even become something beyond them.

To take Orochimaru as his master, Kakashi had plotted for a long time.

Over the past few days, Sakumo Hatake seemed to have been in poor spirits. After returning home, aside from instructing Kakashi as diligently as ever, he was often distracted and dazed.

"Father, what's wrong?" Unable to stop himself from worrying, Kakashi finally asked Sakumo Hatake.

"Ah? Sigh..." Seeing Kakashi ask about his condition, Sakumo Hatake fell silent for a long while before slowly speaking.

"Do you remember Uncle Mitarashi? When his daughter was born, I took you to his home."

"Yes, I remember. You said Senior Mitarashi was an excellent companion, both in terms of strength and trustworthiness. Ever since you graduated from the Ninja Academy, you fought alongside each other many times."

Kakashi remembered Mitarashi so clearly because there had not been many people at the family banquet when Anko was born, yet Orochimaru had been among them.

Knowing of Orochimaru and Anko's future master-disciple relationship, Kakashi had deliberately looked into Mitarashi's circumstances. Once immensely powerful and a textbook Elite Jonin, he had unfortunately suffered severe wounds in the war that left lasting illness. His strength had steadily declined over the past few years.

But he had made his name very early. Not only Orochimaru, but even Sakumo Hatake had received his help in their younger days.

"Senior Mitarashi passed away from illness. The funeral is tomorrow." Sakumo Hatake's voice was somewhat low.

"Can I go with you tomorrow? To see this elder off."

"Mm... all right." Though he did not understand why Kakashi had so unusually taken the initiative to go out, Sakumo Hatake had no reason to refuse.

Days fit for farewells were always marked by endless rain.

Aside from his widow and young daughter, those attending Jonin Mitarashi's funeral were all comrades who had been close to him in life.

The young Kakashi followed behind White Fang, his gaze sweeping across the venue from the corner of his eye.

Sure enough, he spotted Orochimaru standing apart from the crowd.

Kakashi then asked White Fang in a low voice, "Father, are human lives all so fragile? Ordinary people are like this, and ninja too? Is there really no way for people to live forever?"

Having set his sights on Orochimaru from the very beginning, he murmured the question softly.

The ninja present were all powerful and sharp-eared. Thus, nearly everyone heard Kakashi's words.

Most of those who heard them felt their hearts grow heavier. Jonin Mitarashi lay inside now, but would they one day meet the same end? Or would they die far from home, fallen on some battlefield?

Orochimaru, standing some distance away, seemed not to notice, but the violent contraction of his pupils in that instant revealed just how unsettled he was.

White Fang did not think much of it. Kakashi had shown unusual maturity since childhood, and he assumed Kakashi had been moved by the scene and thought of his mother, Sakumo Hatake's wife Masako Hatake, who had also died of illness.

After pondering for a moment, Sakumo Hatake offered his view.

"Because life is fleeting, we must work even harder to make ourselves shine. Even after that light fades, the process of having once illuminated those around us will surely have been wonderfully meaningful."

White Fang's answer suited his character well, and it earned nods of approval from many present.

But not from Kakashi.

Still, Kakashi said nothing more. He had his own calculations; for his first contact with Orochimaru, this was about enough.

Anything more might have backfired. After all, Orochimaru's thoughts were exceptionally difficult to fathom.

Now that he had borrowed the words and views of Orochimaru's future self, it should have been enough to make him interested in an unfamiliar little brat.

Two days later, White Fang brought Kakashi to visit Orochimaru and formally invited him to accept Kakashi as his disciple.

After asking Sakumo Hatake to wait outside for a while, Orochimaru met with Kakashi alone.

Orochimaru asked only one question. "Little Kakashi, what is your dream?"

"I don't have a dream. I only have an ambition. To live long enough, then personally uncover the truth of this world. I want to know whether those so-called immortals are truly destined to sit high above the clouds, looking down upon all living things. Can tiny crawling insects, instead of merely looking up, replace them through efforts that refuse to accept fate?"

Kakashi had kept his head lowered in respect, but as he spoke those words, he raised his little head. His voice was young, yet every word rang with force.

The door opened, and Orochimaru signaled to Sakumo Hatake that he had accepted this disciple.

A delighted smile spread across Sakumo Hatake's face. After agreeing upon a date for the formal apprenticeship ceremony, he took Kakashi home first.

Because of the personalities of both parties involved, the matter was not widely publicized. Yet Konoha's upper ranks basically all knew of it. The Third Hokage smoked as wisps of smoke curled around him, obscuring his face. Beside him, Danzo wore a deep frown.

"Sarutobi, it is not a good thing for Orochimaru and Sakumo to grow too close. Orochimaru's recent actions have been highly suspicious, while Sakumo is the deputy director of the ANBU..." Danzo did not continue. The implication was clear enough.

"Sakumo mentioned this matter to me. Kakashi seems to possess great talent in ninjutsu, and Sakumo believes that in this regard, he is inferior to Orochimaru. He actually asked whether Kakashi could train under me without formally becoming my disciple, but I refused on the grounds that I lacked the energy." Still deep in thought, the Third Hokage spoke calmly.

"Let it be, then. I will give Orochimaru another warning. Sakumo is not that kind of person; his past actions make that clear." With a single sentence, he settled the matter.