Orochimaru takes a disciple

After settling everything, Ye Feng walked out of the underground laboratory. Looking up at the sun overhead, he felt that it shone a little brighter.

"Obito is probably still waiting to hear from me. Time to head back. I'll be just in time for lunch."

When Ye Feng returned to school, the morning classes had indeed ended. He found Obito Uchiha.

"Wow, you're finally back! I was worried sick! What did they take you away for? Did Lord Orochimaru go there?" Obito hurried over to ask as soon as he saw Ye Feng.

"Don't worry. Lord Orochimaru brought me back himself. I even chatted with him for a while."

"That's good. As long as you're all right."

"Obito, did you bring lunch?" Ye Feng already knew the answer, but asked anyway, wanting to see Obito look embarrassed.

"I forgot again. I'll go check with Rin. Maybe she brought some for me."

"Come on. I prepared some for you." Ye Feng stopped teasing Obito.

"Oh yeah! You're the best, Ye Feng!"

Ye Feng went back and took out the food he had prepared. Just then, Inuzuka Clan Fengyu, Kurenai Yuhi, and Rin Nohara came over as well.

Inuzuka Clan Fengyu and Kurenai Yuhi wanted to share their lunches with Ye Feng, while Rin Nohara, worried that Obito had forgotten to prepare lunch, planned to give him some of hers.

The Chinese food Ye Feng had brought was a novelty to them. They had never seen dishes like these before, and the aroma alone made their mouths water. Obito went straight in with his fingers, pinching a piece of twice-cooked pork and popping it into his mouth.

"Did you wash your hands? Everyone, use chopsticks." Ye Feng slapped away Obito's hand as he reached over again and scolded him.

Seeing that the three girls also wanted a taste but were too embarrassed to ask, Ye Feng couldn't help smiling and invited them to try it too.

"Wow, it's so spicy! But it's so satisfying and smells so good. With white rice, it's absolutely delicious!" Inuzuka Clan Fengyu exclaimed as she tried Sichuan food for the first time.

The other two girls also had their mouths stuffed with food and mumbled in agreement.

Watching the four of them wolf down the food without giving him a chance to get any, Ye Feng lamented that he hadn't made enough after all.

"Could I try a little too?" Asuma Sarutobi came over just then. Watching the four devour their food, he swallowed as well.

Ye Feng had gotten along fairly well with Asuma Sarutobi over the past two days. He had none of the arrogance or bullying ways of someone from a great clan. He was merely angry that Ye Feng was too close to Kurenai Yuhi, but hadn't resorted to any underhanded or dirty tricks. Ye Feng had a good impression of him, so he readily agreed to let him join them.

Before long, however, Ye Feng regretted it. Asuma Sarutobi joined the scramble for food, and Ye Feng didn't get a single bite before they finished everything. When the white rice ran out, they used the mildly flavored sushi in its place.

Looking at the empty lunch boxes and the other five lounging about with full stomachs, Ye Feng's face darkened.

Only after eating and drinking their fill did the five realize that Ye Feng hadn't eaten yet. They looked at the empty lunch boxes, then at Ye Feng, blushing with embarrassment. The three girls hurriedly tossed their remaining sushi to him, saying they would wash his dishes, then ran off with the lunch boxes.

Looking at the colorful lunch boxes in his hands, Ye Feng wanted to cry but had no tears. He could only pick up a few pieces of sushi to tide himself over. He had gone to all that trouble to make food that tasted like home, yet it was all gone before he could have a single bite.

After Ye Feng left Orochimaru's residence.

Orochimaru acted with his usual swift decisiveness. By early afternoon, all of Konoha knew that he had taken Uchiha Yefeng as his disciple. Even the Ninja Academy knew.

"Lord Orochimaru really took you as his disciple? Why didn't you say so earlier? Why didn't Lord Orochimaru take me? How am I any worse than Ye Feng?" Upon hearing the news, Obito grabbed Ye Feng's shoulders and shook him back and forth, demanding answers.

The other students in the class also looked envious. This was one of the legendary Sannin. Anyone who became their disciple would at least become an elite jonin in the future. They would also become part of the Hokage Faction.

Upon receiving the news, Shimura Danzō believed Orochimaru had received some benefit from Ye Feng and wanted to protect Uchiha Yefeng, so he went to see Orochimaru.

"I just heard that you took Uchiha Yefeng as your disciple. What did you see in him? Or did you receive something?" Shimura Danzō made no attempt to hide his thoughts and asked Orochimaru directly.

"I studied Ye Feng's constitution. It is quite unusual and useful for my experiments. Besides, the boy is very much to my liking. I would ask that you refrain from making things difficult for him in the future, Lord Adviser."

Orochimaru also knew that Shimura Danzō wouldn't believe he had taken a disciple for no reason, so he found a plausible excuse. Whether Shimura Danzō believed it was his own business. Since Shimura Danzō had come, Orochimaru also took the opportunity to warn him: Uchiha Yefeng was under his protection, and he was not to touch him.

Shimura Danzō understood what he meant. He snorted coldly and said, "I hope you don't get your eyes pecked out by a little chick." Then he turned and left.

Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage had also learned that Orochimaru had taken a disciple and that Shimura Danzō had used his name to take someone away.

"To think Orochimaru would take Uchiha Yefeng as his disciple. It seems the boy really is promising. This makes him part of the Hokage Faction as well. We should have more contact with him later and instill our ideas in him. Send someone to warn Shimura Danzō that I have a use for Uchiha Yefeng. As for using my name, I'll allow it this once, but never again."

Of all those who heard that Orochimaru had taken a disciple, the Uchiha Clan was the most anxious.

Inside the Uchiha Clan Head's study.

"I didn't expect the Hokage Faction to act so quickly. They couldn't even wait for classes at the Ninja Academy to end. We must act quickly too. Fugaku, go wait at the Ninja Academy. You must make contact with Ye Feng as soon as school lets out. We have a natural advantage. Don't miss this opportunity."

"Yes, Father."