Uchiha Makoto stared at Orochimaru, feeling a little dazed.
No, wait.
Wasn't this plot moving a little too fast?
He'd only fought Orochimaru yesterday, and today the Hokage had called him in for a talk.
Then, right after he left the Hokage's building, Orochimaru showed up to announce that he wanted him as his student?
Was this pacing strapped to a rocket?
He stood at the edge of the training ground, still holding the Three-Color Dango he'd just bought to reward himself for today's "outstanding performance."
And now, before the dango had even cooled, Orochimaru was standing in front of him.
Orochimaru looked the same as ever: a pale face, golden slit pupils, long black hair, and a simple Jonin flak jacket.
Standing there, he was like a snake-quiet, dangerous, and possessed of an indescribable elegance.
"Makoto."
Orochimaru spoke in his usual distinctive rasp, though there was a little more warmth in it than there had been in the Hokage's office. Not much, but some.
"I submitted a request to the Third," he said bluntly, without beating around the bush. "Starting today, you are my student."
Uchiha Makoto: "..."
He blinked, then blinked again.
The dango in his hand suddenly lost their appeal.
"What's wrong?" Orochimaru watched his expression, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. No matter how Makoto looked at it, that smile reminded him of a snake flicking its tongue. "You don't want to?"
"No, that's not..." Uchiha Makoto hurriedly shook his head, his mind racing.
Did he want to? Honestly, it was complicated. Looking at the advantages:
First, Orochimaru was absolutely a top-tier teacher.
Just look at Sasuke. In two years, he'd gone from getting instantly crushed by Itachi to fighting Naruto on equal footing. That teaching efficiency was downright absurd.
And combat wasn't Orochimaru's only specialty. There was also research, Forbidden Technique, and body modification. He could learn so much under him.
Second, with Orochimaru protecting him, that old dog Danzo wouldn't dare make a move against him openly, at least.
Whatever else Orochimaru was, he was still one of the Sannin, one of Konoha's strongest fighters. Danzo would have to think twice before snatching someone from him.
Third, becoming Orochimaru's student would effectively brand him as part of the "Hokage faction."
Sure, Orochimaru would eventually defect, but right now, he was still the Third's beloved student, a bona fide member of the Hokage's inner circle.
That affiliation would be pretty useful within Konoha.
But...
The downsides were obvious, too.
What kind of person was Orochimaru? A mad scientist, an enthusiast of human experimentation, and a future S-rank missing-nin.
Getting involved with him meant having one foot in the Naruto version of Resident Evil.
Besides, Orochimaru really did "make full use" of his students. He treated Sasuke as a vessel, planted a Cursed Seal on Anko, and made the Sound Four the most disposable of disposable tools.
Uchiha Makoto had no desire to wake up one day on an operating table, a row of scalpels beside him, with Orochimaru smiling and saying, "Makoto, let's make a few little modifications..."
He shuddered.
Still...
Uchiha Makoto glanced at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was watching him, his golden slit pupils betraying no particular emotion, but that scrutinizing gaze still made his skin crawl.
Refuse?
Get real. How many people in all of Konoha would dare refuse when Orochimaru personally offered to take them as a student?
And what would happen after he refused?
Danzo would pounce immediately and drag him into Root's lair. Then the question wouldn't be whether he became a vessel, but whether he got out alive.
Accepting... might not be so bad.
There were still seven or eight years before Orochimaru defected, anyway.
Seven or eight years would be enough for him to grow strong enough that he wouldn't have to fear anyone.
By then, if Orochimaru wanted to try anything, he'd have to ask my fists for permission first.
And most importantly, Uchiha Makoto was eagerly running the numbers in his head.
Orochimaru! This was Orochimaru! The big boss of the first phase of Naruto's main storyline, a fan-favorite villain, a research fanatic, a collector of Forbidden Technique... Just how high would his "manifestation level" be?
Those two idiots, Obito and Guy, trusted him reliably, but they were still young and inexperienced. Tell them, "I can create S-rank Forbidden Technique," and they'd probably think he was bragging.
But Orochimaru was different! This man actually knew his stuff. Talk to him about Forbidden Technique, body modification, or immortality, and he could keep the conversation going for three days and nights without repeating himself.
If he could milk some "trust" out of him...
Wouldn't the Lie-Into-Reality system's progress shoot up like a rocket?
At that thought, the last of Uchiha Makoto's hesitation vanished.
I'm in!
So what if I become Orochimaru's student? As long as I don't end up on an operating table, everything else is negotiable!
He took a deep breath and arranged his face into a perfectly measured expression, with just a touch of being overwhelmed by the honor.
"Lord Orochimaru..." He paused, as though gathering his words. "It would be an honor to become your student."
Orochimaru smiled.
This time, it was a genuine smile, though it was still rather snakelike.
"Good," he said. "Then I'll arrange your early graduation as soon as possible. With your abilities, remaining at the Ninja Academy would only be a waste of time."
Here it comes.
The classic "early graduation" package.
Uchiha Makoto's heart tightened. No. Absolutely not.
Graduating early would mean immediately entering Orochimaru's "teaching program."
If he spent every day with Orochimaru, how long could he keep his little secrets hidden?
The system itself wouldn't be much of a problem, since it couldn't be seen or touched. But what if those mad scientist eyes noticed something about his lie-into-reality ability...?
Besides, he was only six.
Graduating from the Ninja Academy at six-what kind of monstrous genius would that make him?
Never mind Danzo; the eyes of all Konoha would be fixed on him. How
would he keep growing stronger under the radar? How would he keep milking people for benefits?
"Um..." Uchiha Makoto looked up, putting a little of the hesitation and reluctance "befitting a child" on his face. "Lord Orochimaru, I... I'd like to finish my first year."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.
"Why?" he asked, his tone revealing neither pleasure nor displeasure.
"Because..." Uchiha Makoto lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the hem of his clothes-a gesture he'd picked up from watching Obito. "Because there's still so much I haven't finished learning at school. And... and all my friends are here. I want to graduate with them."
He spoke slowly, his voice growing softer and softer, the very picture of a conflicted child who couldn't bear to leave his classmates but didn't dare go against his teacher's wishes.
Orochimaru watched him, something flickering in his golden slit pupils.
After a moment, he nodded.
"Very well," he said. "Then we'll wait six months, until you finish your first year."
He agreed?
He agreed just like that?
Uchiha Makoto breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, but maintained his obedient, "thank you for understanding, teacher" expression.
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru said nothing more. He simply reached out and produced two scrolls-not from his mouth, but from his sleeve.
"These are your welcome gifts." He handed over the scrolls. "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, C-rank. Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, B-rank. Start learning them. If there's anything you don't understand, you can come ask me."
Before you continue