The Problem Was Huge. Was This Any Way to Treat Someone?

As soon as he got home, Miya eagerly opened the Ninjutsu scrolls he had received from Orochimaru.

The basics of Lightning Release Chakra.

The principles of Lightning Release Ninjutsu.

Lightning Release: Lightning Light Palm.

Lightning Release: Lightning Clone Technique.

Body Flicker Technique.

From Orochimaru, Miya had learned that he possessed only Lightning Release Chakra.

As for that...

Miya was a little disappointed that he didn't have multiple Chakra natures, or even all of them.

But he didn't dwell on it. With the Nuclear Fission Furnace inside him, he could do all sorts of things even if he only had Lightning Release Chakra.

Looking at the five Ninjutsu scrolls laid out before him, he saw that they were exactly what he needed right now.

Although Orochimaru hadn't taken him on missions to earn money, Miya preferred this way of teaching.

Money didn't matter.

A ninja's strength was what mattered most.

With great strength, would he still need to worry about money?

After reading the basics of Lightning Release Chakra and the principles of Lightning Release Ninjutsu, Miya felt he had learned a great deal.

The scroll on Lightning Release Chakra basics explained its strengths and weaknesses in great detail: among the five Chakra natures, Lightning Release countered Earth Release but was countered by Wind Release, and it could become stronger when combined with Water Release, among other things.

The scroll on the principles of Lightning Release Ninjutsu explained how to use Lightning Release Ninjutsu and how to quickly transform Chakra into an electric current to unleash it.

Without these two detailed resources from Orochimaru, there was no telling how long it would have taken Miya to work everything out on his own.

Orochimaru truly deserved his reputation as the Shinobi World's greatest scientist. Even his understanding of Lightning Release ran this deep.

No wonder he would go on to master so many forbidden techniques.

Several days later, at Konoha Training Ground 40.

One tall and one small, Orochimaru and Miya exchanged blows on the training ground.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Light Palm."

Suddenly, Miya seized an opening Orochimaru had left. He flickered forward, appearing behind Orochimaru's right side, electrical currents of Lightning Release Chakra gathering around both hands. He struck Orochimaru with a palm before he could dodge.

Bang.

Electricity flashed, and Orochimaru turned into a puff of smoke with a bang.

Whoosh.

The next second, Orochimaru suddenly appeared behind the somewhat startled Miya and held a Kunai to his throat.

"I believe I told you not to let yourself get distracted in battle."

A long tongue licked Miya's cheek, and Orochimaru's unmistakably hoarse voice sounded beside his ear.

"Lord Orochimaru..."

Miya's voice now came from behind Orochimaru as well, and a Kunai pressed against Orochimaru's waist.

"That's my Lightning Clone."

As soon as Miya finished speaking, the Miya in Orochimaru's arms turned into a mass of lightning and exploded.

Bang.

Orochimaru turned into a puff of smoke again. It had been another Shadow Clone.

Clap, clap, clap.

"Miya, the speed of your progress has been a wonderful surprise."

From the shadows of the woods behind Miya, Orochimaru slowly emerged, applauding as he walked.

"Lord Orochimaru, you cheated."

"We agreed you'd only use one Shadow Clone..."

Miya turned around and pointed at Orochimaru, saying irritably without making a sound.

"Hehehe."

"All's fair in war..."

Orochimaru paid no attention to Miya's accusation. Through words and example, he showed Miya what it meant to be a ninja. If shamelessness and cheating could keep him alive in battle, Orochimaru didn't mind using them.

Life was simply too fragile.

"Fine, you're the teacher."

"You're the boss..."

"I'm going to eat barbecue. Are you coming?"

With that, Miya started to leave the training ground.

Seeing Miya prepare to leave just like that, Orochimaru shook his head, pulled a scroll from his robes, and tossed it to him.

"You can't go today."

"This is a mission the old man told me to take for you."

Miya caught the mission scroll and opened it. His face instantly darkened.

"Lord Orochimaru, can't I leave a little later?"

"And it's so far away. It'll take days just to make the round trip."

The words "depart immediately" on the mission scroll left Miya speechless for quite a while.

"The old man assigned you the mission. If you have a problem, go talk to him!"

As if he had seen through Miya's thoughts, Orochimaru quickly shifted the blame to Hiruzen Sarutobi. The dark lines over Miya's head...

Only grew more numerous!

"So you called me out today and said you wanted to test my strength, but you were really plotting against me."

"Lord Orochimaru, I didn't think you were this kind of person."

Miya's accusations didn't change Orochimaru's expression in the slightest.

"The first rule of the ninja code."

"A ninja prioritizes completing the mission."

"I won't be going with you."

Orochimaru's words stunned Miya. He only came to his senses when he saw that half of Orochimaru's body had already sunk into the ground.

"Lord Orochimaru, you're sending me out of the village on a mission alone?"

Isn't this moving too fast? I've only been a graduate for a few days, and I'm already leaving the village on a mission alone? Don't other Genin all go out with their instructors?

"Is there a problem?"

"If not, then leave the village and carry out the mission yourself!"

Well, that was that! Looking at the spot where Orochimaru had disappeared, Miya was utterly dumbfounded.

A problem?

The problem is huge, let me tell you!

After graduating, ordinary Genin would generally start by taking a few D-rank missions in the village to ease into life as a ninja.

This period usually lasted around a month.

Only then could they take a relatively simple C-Rank Mission. That was the proper progression for a ninja carrying out missions.

But when it came to Miya, things were different!

He had been handed a B-Rank Mission right off the bat, and Orochimaru was even sending him out of the village to carry it out alone.

Good grief, was this any way to treat someone?

"No, I have to go find the old Third."

Fuming, Miya took the mission scroll and hurried toward the Hokage building.

After Miya left, Orochimaru appeared in the shadows again, smiling coldly.

He was very happy!

Ever since giving Miya a physical examination that day, Orochimaru had shut himself in his laboratory, leaving Miya to his own devices for the time being.

That morning, Orochimaru had been conducting research in his laboratory as usual when he suddenly received word from Hiruzen Sarutobi. Only after hurrying to the Hokage building did he learn why he had been summoned.

He hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to assign Miya a B-Rank Mission either, but he quickly realized that Miya was no ordinary Genin, and the mission was indeed suitable for him.

So, if Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, could pull a trick like that, surely it wasn't too much for him, a mere Jonin, to follow suit?

That was also why Orochimaru had, on the surface, sent Miya out of the village to carry out the mission alone.

Miya was much stronger than the average Jonin, so Orochimaru wasn't worried about his safety at all.