"Are you sure about this?" Kadoya asked, standing across from Minato, who was currently shirtless and looking oddly determined in the middle of his backyard.
Minato nodded, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Yes. How can I support your crazy ideas, and still aim to be Hokage, if you're playing on hard mode while I'm cruising through life on easy mode?"
The little sun was learning. He'd clearly picked up on Kadoya's chaotic way of thinking and speaking
Kadoya let out a small smirk. "Very well. Just know, I won't be gentle."
Without another word, he summoned a Shadow Clone, and the two of them got to work, carefully etching seal after seal onto Minato's skin.
Unlike Kadoya's own body, which was practically a walking tapestry of arcane ink, Minato's tattoos were more restrained, only covering the right side of his body. Still, there was meaning in the design.
Since his own inkwork was inspired by Gilgamesh, Kadoya found it amusing to give Minato a look reminiscent of Cu Chulainn.
Once the work was complete, Minato now bore several key seals:
A storage seal, allowing him to carry non-living objects within his own body.
A chakra storage seal, for emergency reserves.
A nutrient seal, which absorbed excess energy and converted it into stamina, perfect for recovery during extended battles.
And finally, a temperature regulation seal, shielding him from extreme heat or cold.
Kadoya stood back and admired the result, arms crossed.
Minato, meanwhile, was wide-eyed, turning and twisting, trying to get a better look at the glowing marks that pulsed softly along his body. His expression flickered between awe and disbelief.
Kadoya couldn't help but chuckle.
Minato may have started out as the bright, well-behaved prodigy everyone expected, but after years of being around him, he had grown in ways the original Minato never could have.
Compared to the original Minato, at this age, at least.
His body is stronger, his mind is more flexible, he knows more ninjutsu, has already mastered the Rasengan, and has a closer relationship with Kushina.
If this keeps up, then Kadoya is confident that his best friend would become the Fourth Hokage and survive to take care of his wife and child.
...
On his way to the Ninja Academy, Kadoya suddenly stopped mid-step.
His instincts flared like sirens in his mind.
Without breaking stride, he casually adjusted his path, veering off toward a quieter, more secluded alleyway of the village.
"Come out," he said flatly, not even bothering to raise his voice.
No response.
Then, two dark kunai sliced through the air, aiming straight for his chest.
Kadoya didn't flinch. A sphere of water surged to life in his left palm, splash, the kunai embedded harmlessly into it before he casually pocketed them like souvenirs.
Normally, when normal people meet, they would at most ask, "Have you eaten?"
How warm and friendly that was.
But when ninjas meet, they like to greet each other with kunai, and a few kunai will come at you if they disagree.
Kadoya simply clapped his palms together, forming a water shuriken and throwing it toward the direction the kunai came from.
The massive spinning water shuriken flew, as a log suddenly appeared in its place.
The log was cleanly cut in half.
Kadoya stood there, calm, waiting for the other party's next move.
The opponent, like a snake, hid in the dark, ready for a fatal blow at any time.
Suddenly, a pair of pale hands stretched out from the ground, grabbing toward Kadoya's feet. He swiftly jumped back before the hand could make contact, his hand blurred through hand seals.
"Wind Style: Downburst!"
Kadoya slammed both palms down on the ground. A sudden, concussive gust of wind exploded outward, ripping the ground apart in a burst of flying debris and shattered earth, instantly exposing the hidden attacker below.
Before the dust could settle, Kadoya vanished, using Blink.
He reappeared in front of the target midair, his fist drawn back and glowing with focused chakra.
"Strength of a Hundred Sealings!"
With a thundering punch, he brought his fist down like a meteor. The earth cracked, the air roared, and the figure below was pulverized.
A heartbeat later… the body melted into a muddy puddle.
"...Earth Clone," Kadoya muttered, eyes narrowing.
"Kadoya, you've become stronger, your Body Replacement was so fast, even I was caught off guard by it speed." A hoarse voice rang out behind him.
Kadoya turned his head and found the person who had ambushed him - Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was wearing a kimono at this time, but with a Jonin vest on the outside.
Originally, Orochimaru wanted to place a kunai on Kadoya's neck to frighten him a little, but seeing Kadoya using Tsunade's technique. Orochimaru wisely kept his distance.
Kadoya smiled, not bothering to correct him that what he just used wasn't the Body Replacement. "Lord Orochimaru, why are you so free to come to me? You should be very busy now."
Kadoya had not seen Orochimaru since the training two years ago.
The nearly nineteen-year-old Orochimaru was completely different from then,
Two years ago, he was still a little green, but now he was becoming more and more feminine.
Odd... Shouldn't males become more masculine as they age?
Is the drug he is taking slowly turning him into a femboy?
"I didn't expect you to become so strong now."
Snake Uncle's hoarse voice rang out. His golden snake eyes locked onto a young boy who resembled Tsunade in strength.
"Let's go, I just received the order to return to Konoha today. Accompany me for a chat." Orochimaru patted Kadoya on the shoulder and then walked forward alone.
Since Snake Uncle had proposed to take a walk with him, Kadoya could not refuse.
After all, this was the perfect chance for him to earn some free points.
Still, you just came back and didn't go to rest or accompany your friends, but came to find me, a nine-year-old child. You wouldn't want to take me to see the little goldfish, would you?
Kadoya thought. Snake Uncle really had a preference for luring children.
Orochimaru walked slowly in front, and the two walked into a small bar.
Kadoya calmly followed. Not seeing any little goldfishes or a white van with the word "free candy c'mon in" on the side.
He stepped into the small bar and glanced around.
The place was nearly empty. Dim lighting bathed the worn walls in a tired amber hue, giving the bar a rundown, forgotten air. Only a handful of patrons lingered in silence.
Snake Uncle walked in behind him and casually ordered a pot of sake and a few side dishes.
"Drinking?" he asked.
Kadoya raised an eyebrow. "I'm still a minor. You're really offering me alcohol?"
Orochimaru didn't answer. He simply nodded and poured himself a full glass.
"Back when I was your age, Tsunade, that idiot Jiraiya, and I used to sneak off here to drink."
He lifted the cup to his lips, taking a slow sip. "This little joint was Tsunade's discovery, actually. It's the only place in Konoha that's ever sold booze to minors."
Kadoya gave a light shrug. "Figures. That does sound like Tsunade-sensei." He scanned the room again, amused.
Seems this place has history and a dangerous amount of leniency.
The bar may have looked small and quiet, but like much of Konoha, it was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
"The old owner died a few days ago," Orochimaru said after a pause. "His son took over."
He drained the rest of his sake with one long pull.
Kadoya took a small sip from his own cup, watching Orochimaru. He was in a talkative mood tonight. That alone was... suspicious.
"Things with form always fade. People, places, nothing lasts," Orochimaru said. "What do you think?"
Kadoya nodded slowly. "No one's immortal."
"Exactly. Not even the Sage of Six Paths escaped time. Even he vanished into history." Orochimaru's golden eyes dimmed. "To age and die without leaving a trace, life is such a hollow thing. And yet here I am, barely nineteen, and I already feel it creeping in."
He turned to Kadoya, narrowing his eyes.
"What about you? What do you think of life?"
Kadoya didn't answer immediately.
"Something bothering you?" he asked instead, watching him carefully. Orochimaru's interest in him had always felt… excessive. It wasn't normal for a nineteen-year-old Jonin to ask a nine-year-old kid something like that.
Orochimaru gave a rare, crooked smile. "Haha... perhaps I was too forward."
His voice, raspy yet strangely melodic, echoed faintly in the quiet bar.
"The first time I saw you, I had a strange feeling," he continued. "You seemed different. I've been watching you ever since. You feel... misplaced in this world. Like a child carrying a soul that's already walked a hundred lifetimes."
Kadoya kept his expression neutral.
"You're like a gust of wind, one that might stir the entire world when the time comes. That's why I ask."
Orochimaru's tone turned quieter. "After my parents died, I expected death to come for me any day. But nothing prepared me for what I saw on the battlefield. Death wasn't a distant idea, it was everywhere. The corpses didn't stop. Enemies. Friends. Classmates."
"And what did we gain from it? War experience. Tactical know-how. That's all."
He poured another cup of sake. "Life is... dreadfully dull."
Kadoya took another sip, then said calmly, "We're all ordinary people in the end. Everyone's chasing happiness, but not everyone gets to catch it."
Orochimaru echoed his words softly, his gaze distant, as though recalling things forever lost.
After a moment, Kadoya quietly refilled his cup and asked:
"The war's about to start, isn't it?"
Orochimaru nodded slowly. "Yes. The Land of Rain and the Land of Grass are clashing. The Land of Wind and the Land of Earth are both massing troops at their borders. If things continue this way, Konoha will be boxed in the moment war breaks out."
"Then why are you back now?" Kadoya asked, though the answer had already begun to form in his mind.
Orochimaru smiled again, his lips curling at the edges. "The Third summoned us back. The mission assignments for Jonin have been issued."
He picked up a piece of dried jerky with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.
"We're coming back... to lead our students."
"Team leaders? Oh, right. We're the fourth-grade class, and graduation's close."
"Exactly. Since you haven't graduated yet, we have to take you on missions first. Once war breaks out, no one will have time to babysit."
Orochimaru's voice turned grim. "When the war starts, you'll be sent straight to the front."
"Genin always suffer the most in war. No experience, no time to adjust. This pre-war exposure is just to help you bleed before the real bleeding begins. It might save your life later."
Kadoya nodded in understanding.
"So... Lord Orochimaru, are you my team leader?"
"Correct. Originally, Tsunade was supposed to be your instructor. But the Uchiha clan head requested the change." His voice carried a deeper meaning.
Kadoya didn't reply. He only narrowed his eyes.
That old fox...
"What about Tsunade-sensei?"
"She stormed into the Hokage's office and kicked the door in."
"I see... how much did she extort from him this time?"
Orochimaru actually laughed, a rare sound. "Rumors were true, you are her beloved disciple."
"She walked away with two thousand ryo and vanished into the nearest casino."
Kadoya sighed, his lone ahoge swaying in frustration. "So in her eyes, I'm worth two thousand ryo. Noted."
Just then, the bar owner arrived with a steaming roast chicken.
Kadoya leaned forward, smile ready. "Oh? So you're treating me? How thoughtful."
He reached for his chopsticks.
"Don't rush," Orochimaru said, stopping him. "That chicken isn't for you. It's for a distinguished guest."
"Distinguished... guest?"
Orochimaru didn't answer. Instead, he bit his thumb and began weaving hand signs.
"Summoning Jutsu."
With a puff of smoke, a large white snake appeared, over a meter long, with two small ivory horns on its head.
Orochimaru picked up the chicken and tossed it toward the snake.
Its jaws unhinged unnaturally, devouring the whole bird in one swift gulp. The snake then turned toward Kadoya, licking its lips.
"This kid? He's too small." Its voice was raspy and unnerving.
"Size doesn't matter," Orochimaru replied. "He'll need this scroll sooner or later. Give it to me."
The snake didn't argue. It spat out a sealed scroll.
Orochimaru unrolled it and pointed to a blank line. "Write your name in blood. You've already mastered the hand seals, haven't you? You summoned that blue frog."
"From tomorrow on, you'll be going on missions with me. This contract... is a parting gift from your teacher."
Kadoya silently signed his name.
The snake swallowed the contract again and vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Orochimaru also faded away, vanished with a puff.
A shadow clone.
Kadoya stared at the empty plate and half-finished sake bottle, now abandoned.
"He didn't pay..." he muttered.
He sighed, grabbing the bill.
"Fine. I'll just tell Tsunade-sensei you extorted me. Let's see how much she extorts from you."
Orochimaru: "This is slander! I didn't extort you!"
Congratulations! Hidden Quest: "The Student of the Three Sanin: Act 1 (Orochimaru)"
Reward: + 1 System Point + Increase Orochimaru Bond Level