"People's Physiques Are Different"
At the camp.
Senju arrived at Orochimaru's quarters.
Three years had passed. Now sixteen, Senju had grown significantly—already standing at around 1.75 meters. The youthful softness in his face had gradually faded, replaced by sharper lines of maturity. Orochimaru, however, remained unchanged, his face still pale and serpentine as ever.
Over these years, Orochimaru had already delved deep into his clandestine research, and Senju had been assisting him—primarily by procuring "experimental materials."
Naturally, those materials were the captured Cloud-nin.
Orochimaru looked up from a scroll and asked, "Senju, what brings you here?"
Senju stood straight and spoke without hesitation. "Orochimaru-sensei, I want permission to be reassigned to Kusagakure. With you, Jiraiya-sama, and Minato Namikaze here, my absence won't change much. I'd like to pursue my own objectives."
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed, then relaxed. "You intend to search for that Uzumaki orphan, don't you? It's about time. Mito-sama's condition worsens by the day. If you wait any longer, you may lose your chance entirely."
He tapped his fingers on the desk. "So… is your backup plan in place? I won't be of much help. I need to maintain my identity here in Konoha."
By "backup plan," Orochimaru referred to the preparations Senju had been making in case he failed to find Karin's mother—plans intended to prevent Kushina Uzumaki from becoming the next Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Orochimaru had long suspected Senju might eventually come into conflict with Konoha for the Uzumaki girl's sake. But his own priorities—research and secrecy—meant he couldn't afford to be exposed.
Senju nodded. "The preparations should be complete by next year. Don't worry, Orochimaru-sensei—I'll handle it."
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Very well. Stay here a few more days. You've been promoted to jōnin, so I'll submit a formal transfer request. Given the current stability in Takigakure, Konoha shouldn't object to your deployment to Kusagakure."
After leaving Orochimaru's room, Senju summoned his team: Uchiha Kyōsuke, Uchiha Keiichi, Uchiha Ryūhei, and Uchiha Jin'no.
Thanks to Senju's refusal to take credit for their shared missions, all four had been promoted from chūnin to tokubetsu jōnin. Under his relentless pressure, each of them had improved drastically.
"Captain!" they greeted in unison.
They had been forged in fire under Senju's command. If he told them to charge into the enemy's stronghold, none of them would hesitate. Their unit had earned a fearsome reputation in Takigakure—for their ruthless efficiency and utter lack of mercy.
No target of Senju's team had ever survived.
With a rare smile, Senju addressed them. "Congratulations. You'll soon be free of the hell I created for you."
The four looked at him, puzzled.
"I've requested a transfer from Orochimaru-sensei. I'll be heading to Kusagakure soon. You're free."
Uchiha Keiichi blinked. "So sudden?"
Senju scoffed. "Shouldn't you be happy?"
Keiichi dropped his gaze.
Surprised at first, he now realized he was happy.
Ever since becoming Senju's subordinates, their lives had been one endless cycle of blood and violence. They had long since become numb to the carnage.
With Senju leaving, the pressure would finally ease. Yet… the feeling was bittersweet.
For all his cruelty, Senju had never abandoned them. He had always charged into the most dangerous zones first. Each of them had been saved by him at least once.
To them, if Senju was on a mission, it would succeed.
But their bond with him was strictly professional. Senju never opened up, never shared anything personal. He was cold, distant—and worst of all, bore deep resentment toward the Uchiha clan.
They had tried to break through that wall. Tried and failed.
Each attempt was met with sarcastic scorn—or worse, a beating.
After three years, their relationship remained nothing more than captain and subordinates.
Senju stretched lazily. "I only ever used you to vent my frustrations, but we've been together for three years, so I'll give you some parting advice."
He glanced at them. "After I'm gone, don't follow Uchiha Kazuo. That idiot's not as strong as he thinks, and his arrogance is just embarrassing. He leans too heavily on the Uchiha name, and frankly, everyone here resents him."
"Of course," Senju added with a sardonic grin, "you're all Uchiha too. You don't have to listen. This isn't an order. I'm practically sowing discord here."
"But if you do listen—consider following Minato Namikaze. You might have a future under him. Not much of one, but a future nonetheless."
He turned, voice indifferent. "That's all. After today, we have nothing to do with each other. Next time we meet, you're free to curse me like the rest of your clan does."
"If it's just insults, I'll let them slide. Vent all the resentment you've built up these years."
Senju stood, turned his back, and began walking away.
"Captain!" Kyōsuke suddenly called out.
Senju paused. Without turning around, he said, "I'm still your captain for a few more days. Don't call me that next time. What is it?"
Kyōsuke hesitated, then finally asked, "Captain… why can't I reach your level with Thunder Breathing? I've trained every day for three years…"
Senju gave a knowing smirk.
He was aware of how much Kyōsuke had pushed himself. But no matter how much anyone else trained, they would never reach his level in Thunder Breathing.
Because the most critical component—the true secret of the technique—was known only to Senju.
He answered simply, "People's physiques are different."
Then, without looking back, Senju left.
Kyōsuke stood in stunned silence.
People's physiques are different?
Is that it? Am I just… untalented?
The thought weighed on him like a stone.
That answer—it hurt more than any wound ever had.
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