Stirring of the Heart

Hisss—!

Orochimaru took the scroll but did not rush to open it. Instead, he stared intently at Goenji.

"Tell me. What is Danzo's mission? Why did he need a spy to provide intelligence, and what was it for?"

"I don't know, Lord Danzo..." Goenji did not hide anything and told Orochimaru about the mission Danzo had given him.

After all, his strength was still somewhat lacking.

If Orochimaru decided to cause trouble, there was nothing he could do about it.

Besides...

After hearing Goenji out, Orochimaru said, "Important intelligence, and it must be personally delivered to Ōnoki. What is that old man Danzo plotting this time?"

He looked at the scroll in his hand, visibly puzzled.

He had no idea what Danzo was up to again.

He had not expected that the espionage operation to obtain Iwagakure's intelligence would bring such a gain.

"Lord Orochimaru, I've already told you everything I know. Do you have any further instructions?"

Goenji spoke respectfully.

Well, that settled it. He would not have to carry out the mission.

He just did not know how Danzo would deal with him once he returned.

Damn!

Was he really going to have to defect from Konoha?

Danzo had said that if he failed to complete the mission, there would be no need for him to return.

"Ugh, not being strong enough is seriously annoying."

Goenji was already considering whether he should just run away.

After all, he was no match for an old fox like Danzo right now.

Even though they were both Jonin.

That was only in terms of rank.

In actual strength, Danzo far surpassed him.

When it came to characters from the original anime, Goenji had to consider their real-world strength on a much greater scale.

"Hehe, you needn't worry. I won't make things difficult for you. Stay outside for the next few days, and I'll help you complete this mission."

As if he had guessed Goenji's thoughts, Orochimaru thoughtfully offered him a solution.

"???"

Several question marks flashed through Goenji's mind.

Orochimaru patted his shoulder. "While you wait, keep an eye out for my signal. I may need you at any time, so don't go too far.

"At the same time, I'll explain things to Danzo for you. Rest easy."

Bang!

After saying that, Orochimaru vanished from before Goenji's eyes along with several snakes.

"Phew! Orochimaru is terrifying, but he truly is the Shinobi World's King of Charisma. No wonder so many people follow him!"

Seeing Orochimaru leave, Goenji finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Now he could finally understand why so many people followed Orochimaru with unwavering loyalty.

With his social skills and such thoughtful consideration, he was simply too reassuring.

Even Madara Uchiha could not do that.

Just think about it: when Madara Uchiha defected from Konoha, not a single clansman followed him. That showed who had greater charisma in the real world.

No wonder he was one of Goenji's favorite characters.

He possessed extraordinary wisdom, powerful ideals, the ability to put those ideals into practice through his subordinates, and formidable research skills.

Back then, Goenji had loved cosplaying Orochimaru.

Unfortunately, he had not had the money to buy the costume.

At the same time, he was delighted. Orochimaru was far too considerate; Goenji would not have to do anything himself.

Goenji believed that with Orochimaru's capabilities, he would definitely succeed. There could not possibly be any accidents.

As an elite among ninja elites, Orochimaru was a top-tier expert in every field. Goenji had no doubt about that.

Although in the anime, Orochimaru constantly had people spitting out snakes and snakes spitting out people, which was somewhat disgusting.

In reality, however, Orochimaru was not someone who only knew those few tricks.

According to the intelligence he knew, Orochimaru was proficient in all five elemental nature transformations and even mastered secret techniques such as Yin Release and Yang Release.

He was also exceptional with Shuriken, Taijutsu, Kunai, traps, swordsmanship, and more.

He had no weaknesses.

The weakness fans had constantly discussed in the original work, claiming that Genjutsu was Orochimaru's weakness, simply did not exist.

On the contrary, Genjutsu was one of Orochimaru's strongest methods.

Versatile and proficient in everything.

The one most similar to Orochimaru in that regard was Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Only in reality could one truly feel the pressure they exerted.

Rather than merely seeing their actions through a few drawn frames in a two-dimensional world.

"Better hide for now. Iwagakure's people patrol this area every so often."

After thinking it over and confirming that he was safe for the moment, Goenji surveyed his surroundings and quickly used his abilities to conceal himself.

He waited for Orochimaru's orders.

After facing Orochimaru this time, the sense of danger in his heart had surfaced once again.

If Orochimaru did not handle things and he returned to Danzo's team, nothing good would come of it.

Danzo's combat ability was said to rival Hiruzen Sarutobi's, and he had been active on the battlefield all this time. His combat experience and fighting instincts had not declined much.

He might even still be at his peak.

Konoha.

The Uchiha clan.

At the training ground, a figure leaped high into the air.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Several Shuriken flew out and struck the tree trunk with perfect accuracy.

Thud, thud, thud!

Huff, huff—

Afterward came a burst of heavy breathing.

Itachi Uchiha looked at the distant Shuriken, his eyes filled with delight.

"My body is a little too small. Otherwise, I could definitely do even better!"

He was already very satisfied that, with the body of a two-year-old, he could throw Shuriken that far.

Teacher Goenji had been right: master mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and there was nowhere in the world to fear.

And by mastering mechanics, he could use the smallest amount of strength to unleash greater power.

He had tested it repeatedly over the past few days, and it was indeed true.

Teacher Goenji truly was a learned man.

Itachi Uchiha secretly admired him.

Knowledge was power. That was something Teacher Goenji often said while teaching him.

Now, he had already felt it for himself.

At two years old, he could not learn chakra, as it would drain his body dry. So he had turned to studying Shuriken, Taijutsu, and other things, and he discovered that mastering knowledge truly could optimize himself.

It allowed him to make his originally limited strength far more powerful.

"I wonder what Teacher Goenji is doing now. He's probably displaying his prowess on the battlefield, killing enemies until they don't dare show their faces."

Itachi muttered to himself.

In his eyes, a teacher as strong as Goenji must have been cutting an imposing figure on the battlefield.

He had no idea that the person he admired was also trembling with fear when facing other ninja.

Iwagakure.

On an unnamed mountain peak, a massive river poured into an opening in the mountainside, producing the rushing sound of a waterfall.

Within the space behind the waterfall, countless experimental instruments filled the cave—lights, machines, and all manner of laboratory equipment.

"Hehe, so that's how it is. Danzo quietly obtained such important intelligence. No wonder that kid was scared half to death."

Orochimaru returned to his spy hideout in Iwagakure. Looking at the scroll he had just deciphered, the corners of his mouth rose high.

In that case, he would have to proceed according to Danzo's objective.

That kid must have been feeling terribly stifled.

He thought again of Goenji's figure: his sweating face and the trembling way he had handed over the mission scroll.

As a ninja, handing his mission item and mission requirements over to someone else had already made Orochimaru decide that Goenji was not a pure ninja.

Interesting.

Danzo had actually entrusted such a mission to someone like him. It seemed his abilities were quite good.

He wondered whether he could recruit him under his command someday.