Orochimaru's Choice

Hatake Ziyan spent a month running back and forth every day. His instruction had produced results on both sides, but he was still getting irritated.

I'm the mighty Sword God, the Blood-Colored Swordsman whose very name terrifies the Shinobi World, and now I'm stuck playing babysitter, running between two places every single day.

Hatake Ziyan felt this was beneath his dignity and decided to change the arrangement.

Once he had made up his mind, Hatake Ziyan went straight to the Hokage Office.

"Little monkey, I need a training ground. I don't ask for much-somewhere secluded, spacious, fully equipped, and free from interruptions!" Hatake Ziyan wasted no time. After entering the Hokage Building, he addressed Hiruzen Sarutobi directly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened with exasperation. That was supposed to be asking for little? Still, cowed by Hatake Ziyan's imposing presence, he did not refuse. He asked for a little time, saying he would have someone prepare it that day so Ziyan could use it tomorrow.

Hatake Ziyan nodded, then added, "Right, one more thing. After I finish training the kids every day, you'll need to send your people over to repair the place!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi forced a smile. "Rest assured, that won't be a problem!"

With that settled, Hatake Ziyan returned to Hatake Sakumo's courtyard and told Kakashi, who was practicing his swordsmanship, "Kakashi, go tell Kushina and Nawaki to meet here tomorrow morning. I'll take you all to the training ground and teach you together!"

At Hatake Ziyan's words, Kakashi put away his short blade, nodded, and ran outside.

Early the next morning, the three youngsters were already waiting in the courtyard.

Hatake Ziyan came out, nodded in satisfaction at the sight of them, and motioned for them to follow as he headed toward the training ground Hiruzen Sarutobi had prepared.

Before long, Hatake Ziyan brought the three of them to a training ground in the hills behind the village.

"All right, from now on, come here every morning. Start with physical conditioning. Strong bodies will give you a better chance of surviving on the battlefield. As for ninjutsu and everything else, I'll draw up specific plans for each of you. You can start training now!" Hatake Ziyan went to the edge of the training ground and lay down on a branch of a large tree.

The three youngsters began the physical conditioning routines Hatake Ziyan had tailored for each of them.

Hatake Ziyan watched the three, assessing their condition to see whether anything needed adjusting. Just then, a figure appeared behind him.

"Orochimaru, have you made up your mind?" Hatake Ziyan asked without turning to look at the newcomer.

"I was already being very careful, but I still couldn't slip past you, Lord Ziyan!" Orochimaru licked his lips as he spoke to Hatake Ziyan.

"Stop trying to flatter me. You're no good at it!" Hatake Ziyan glanced at Orochimaru. "Have you decided?"

Orochimaru gave an awkward chuckle. "I have. I still hope to receive your help, my lord. As for what I can offer in exchange, please tell me directly. Anything within my power is acceptable, apart from my life!"

"Oh?" Hatake Ziyan looked at Orochimaru again. He had not expected him to be so direct, but he liked dealing with clever people like this.

"For now, I can't think of anything you have that's worth asking for. How about this? I'll provide what you need, and whenever I need something in the future, you must do it for me. What do you say?" Hatake Ziyan asked.

Orochimaru thought for a moment, then flicked out his tongue to lick his lips again. "Lord Ziyan, you're trying to make me your subordinate! You certainly know how to strike a bargain!"

Hatake Ziyan smiled without answering and continued watching the three on the training ground.

Orochimaru raised his head to glance at the three below. "Agreed. It would be an honor to serve under you!"

"You're clever, and I like clever people. But don't try to play games with me, or I won't mind killing you myself!" Hatake Ziyan spoke as casually as if they were chatting about everyday matters, though his words decided life and death.

Orochimaru took no offense at Hatake Ziyan's words. "Rest assured, my lord. Trying to outsmart you would be asking for death. I understand that very well!"

Hatake Ziyan pulled a scroll from inside his clothes and tossed it to Orochimaru. "Here's what you wanted. Take it back and study it carefully! Preferably somewhere no one else can find. If anything goes wrong, I won't clean up your mess. I might even kill you first!"

Orochimaru caught the scroll, his eyes brimming with excitement. He licked his lips several times in succession. "Rest assured, Lord Ziyan. I know where to draw the line!"

Hatake Ziyan nodded, then his expression turned serious. "Have you been researching Hashirama cells?"

Orochimaru's expression stiffened. "Yes! A few years ago, Shimura Danzō took some men to dig up the First's body. He said the First's strength had a great deal to do with his powerful bloodline.

"He asked me to investigate whether the First's cells could be transplanted into a human body to grant someone Lord Hashirama's Wood Release! But the experimental results were terrible. The First's cells were far too aggressive. Everyone who received Hashirama cells died!"

Hatake Ziyan nodded. "Looks like Danzo didn't tell you the truth! I sensed someone with chakra fluctuations similar to my big brother Hashirama's!"

"What?" Orochimaru exclaimed.

Orochimaru's startled cry made the three training below look in their direction.

Hatake Ziyan shouted to them, "Keep training!"

Hatake Ziyan had not sensed any chakra fluctuations resembling Hashirama's at all. He simply knew the plot: one of the children in Orochimaru's experiments had survived, and Danzo was secretly raising him in Root.

A vicious gleam entered Orochimaru's eyes as he looked toward Root's headquarters. "So my research was on the right track back then. Damn you, Danzo. You even kept it from me!"

Hatake Ziyan smiled at Orochimaru. "What's so surprising about Danzo lying to you? He's a schemer through and through. And did you really think your research with Danzo was hidden from Hiruzen Sarutobi?

"You really are too naive. That kindly teacher of yours has been backing all of this. Otherwise, do you think so many people could disappear from the village without a Hokage noticing? A Hokage still in his prime, at that? And would Danzo alone dare touch Hashirama's body?"

Hatake Ziyan's words pierced Orochimaru's heart like a sharp sword. At this point, Orochimaru had only begun turning to darkness and was not yet adept at thinking in terms of conspiracies.

And Hatake Ziyan had told him all this simply to cause trouble for Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.