At the Konoha training field, Guy approached Tengen. "Finally found you, Tengen! Kakashi's out."
"So?" Tengen eyeing him calmly.
"So, let's have a match!" Guy flashed his signature gleaming grin.
"Hm, Guy, I want to test something." Tengen said.
"Test what?" Guy asked, curious.
"Pikachu, come on out." Tengen called softly.
"Pika!" Pikachu hopped to the ground.
"What's this creature? It's kinda cute." Guy's studying the Pokémon without suspicion.
In the vast Naruto world, all sorts of creatures existed, so a mouse-like being wasn't shocking.
"Let's do this." Guy striking a combat pose.
"Chu!" Pikachu sparked with electricity, catching Guy off guard and zapping him.
Guy stood charred, hair standing on end, currents flickering across him.
"Got him in one shot. Nice luck, Guy." Tengen was walking away as Pikachu trotted behind. One in five Thunderbolts caused paralysis, and Guy hit the jackpot.
Moments later, Guy shook off the stun. "Incredible! What was that Lightning Release? I couldn't move!"
"No good. I need to boost my taijutsu. Fifty laps around Konoha!" Guy declared and vanishing in a flash.
The next day, in a Ninja Academy classroom, the newly graduated students gathered for team assignments.
"Tengen, who'll be our sensei?" Anko's brimming with curiosity.
"No clue. We'll see." Tengen shook his head. He suspected their sensei would be exceptional.
Given his displayed strength, an ordinary ninja wouldn't suffice as his sensei.
They'd be surpassed in no time, a laughable prospect.
The Third Hokage and others attending the exam likely had this in mind.
It wasn't narcissism. Few students had shone yesterday. Anko was solid, but in Hiruzen's eyes, such talent appeared yearly, unremarkable.
Tengen, however, was a rare gem.
Like Kakashi, prodigies like him were destined for jounin, a vital asset to Konoha.
One by one, students were called out, led away by their sensei, but Tengen and Anko remained.
Finally, the classroom was empty save for them.
"Where's our sensei?" Anko exasperated.
"They're here." Tengen glances at the door. A ninja entered, pale-faced and chilling, radiating an eerie aura.
"Orochimaru." Tengen thought, grimacing. So, Orochimaru was their sensei.
Orochimaru was the last person Tengen wanted to be close to. By now, he was likely conducting human experiments. Still, Tengen hadn't revealed his unique abilities, and as Orochimaru's student, he wouldn't be targeted recklessly.
Ideally, Tsunade or Jiraiya would've been better.
But no, it was Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sama!" Anko's eyes lit up with awe. The Sannin's fame was immense, known even to academy students.
Likely, only the Third Hokage outshone Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade in renown.
"Tengen, is Orochimaru-sama our sensei?" Anko whispered excitedly.
Tengen stayed silent. It was obvious.
"You two, follow me." Orochimaru said, his voice cold and detached.
True to his serpentine nature, Tengen wondered if Orochimaru had begun modifying himself. Probably not, those changes likely started when he founded the Otogakure.
Orochimaru led Tengen and Anko to a building's balcony.
"Tengen, Anko, from today, I'm your sensei. My name's Orochimaru. You know of me, I presume." He said, his narrow eyes scanning them.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sensei." Tengen and Anko replied promptly.
"Hm. Tell me your likes and goals." Orochimaru said.
"I'll go first! I love dango, and my goal is…" Anko glanced at Tengen. "To surpass Tengen!"
Tengen felt like he'd been randomly targeted.
"Me? Not much. I like chasing threads of fate. No real goals for now." Tengen said.
"Threads of fate?" Orochimaru paused, puzzled.
Just a poetic spin on collecting video signals.
"Acceptable." Orochimaru nodded. "Meet here tomorrow at nine. Another teammate will join us."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sensei." Tengen and Anko responded.
"Good." Orochimaru said and vanished into the distance.
"Tengen, Orochimaru-sensei! I can't believe we got him! The other graduates will be so jealous." Anko's buzzing with excitement.
"Yeah, real enviable." Tengen gave her a dry look.
Anko would later bear Orochimaru's cursed seal.
"Sticking with Orochimaru means I need to power up fast. If he takes an interest in me, I'm in trouble." Tengen thought.
"Gotta keep collecting those video signals."
***
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