"Walk by, don't miss out! Last day of our clearance sale!"
"Barbecue Q offers 20% off on weekend dining, limited spots, first come, first served!"
Ren walked along Konoha Avenue, looking at the shops on both sides that were enthusiastically shouting to attract customers. Each storefront was bustling with people, loud and noisy. It truly lived up to its reputation as Konoha's most prosperous avenue.
Today was the weekend. After a night of diligently studying Ice Release, Ren knew the importance of balancing work and rest. Proper relaxation helps a tired mind recover. The human body has certain physiological rhythms. Long-term excessive labour can lead to physical exhaustion. Cultivation is no different.
So, Ren took a day off for himself.
"Hmm? Ren, why are you here?"
A questioning voice came from behind him.
Ren instinctively turned his head.
He was met with a pair of wide, red eyes.
...
"Yuhi, why are you here?"
Yuhi shook the vegetable basket in her hand, looking at Ren with some surprise, then smiled sweetly.
"I came out to buy some groceries. What about you, Ren? Does our cultivation maniac even have time to go shopping?"
Sigh, Ren felt a little embarrassed. Because of his training with Might Duy and his son these past two years, he and Might Guy had gained the nickname "Cultivation Maniacs" at the Ninja School.
However, these were just nicknames given to them by their friends, usually used to tease them. Might Guy, being a single-minded individual, took all of it as support for him. As for Ren, aside from classes, he was usually nowhere to be found. Plus, Ren was thick-skinned enough that this joke slowly faded from memory.
Looking at Ren in front of her, Yuhi's eyes lit up.
"I say, Ren, if you're free this afternoon, why don't you come to my house for lunch? You haven't visited my house in a long time. My father has also been mentioning that I should invite you over when I have time."
"Hmm..."
Ren agreed without much thought. Anyway, he was too lazy to cook for himself, so he might as well freeload at Yuhi's house. Plus, he knew Yuhi liked him, but for now, he'd rather not. He was too young for that; he'd rather wait a couple more years (*¯︶¯*).
"Alright, please tell your uncle that I will visit this afternoon. I have something else to do, so I'll be going now. See you this afternoon."
Ren, who had come back to his senses, pushed the jumbled thoughts out of his mind. After responding to Yuhi, he turned and left.
"Ren is something; he's always so impulsive."
Yuhi puffed out her cheeks, looking angrily at the departing Ren. After shaking her head helplessly, she continued to buy groceries, carrying her vegetable basket.
After bidding farewell to Yuhi, Ren continued towards his destination.
However, along the way, rumours about the White Fang incident were almost no longer heard. It seemed White Fang had already begun to act. This was going to be interesting. A thought flashed through Ren's mind, he shook his head, and continued on his way.
After passing through the bustling Konoha Avenue, he circled the Hokage Building and began to climb up the adjacent rock face.
It was a small outdoor activity, he thought.
Ten minutes later, Ren, having finished his rock climbing, reached the top of Hokage Rock.
Standing on the Second Hokage's rock face, he looked at the unobstructed view of Konoha Village, with eagles occasionally flying across the sky. A magnificent and grand aura swept over him.
Only when he reached the summit would he truly understand what it meant to "stand at the very top, looking down on all the smaller mountains."
Ren sat cross-legged on Hokage Rock, gazing down at Konoha Village. He saw Yuhi bargaining with a vegetable vendor, and on an adjacent street, Might Dai and his son were running laps around Konoha. Obito and Rin were strolling on the main street. Everyone was in motion, experiencing the myriad facets and flavours of life.
"Born in such a peaceful Village, how fortunate we are."
Ren let out a sigh of emotion. Although the senseless directives from Konoha's higher-ups had led to numerous tragedies and negative consequences.
The downfall of the Uchiha, Danzo and Orochimaru's human experiments, White Fang's suicide due to being attacked by rumours, and the Hyuga Clan being framed, with the clan head's own younger brother taking the blame due to the higher-ups' weakness.
While the darkness hidden beneath Konoha was countless, the common people at the very bottom still lived well, with happy families. The children established by the First Hokage did not have to go to the battlefield at a young age, and the Ninja could selectively perform missions according to their difficulty. It truly achieved a Village where everyone was free and equal.
"Yes, it's truly a prosperous Village."
A cold, hoarse voice came from beside him.
Ren's hair stood on end.
He immediately pulled back several body lengths to the side. As Ren, whose strength already surpassed that of an average Chunin, he was approached without him knowing.
After steadying himself, Ren looked closely.
Long black hair was draped behind his head, purple markings adorned both sides of his nose, and his golden pupils, like a snake's, showed no emotion. He wore two dragon fang pendants in his ears. Dressed in a white, pristine robe, its wide sleeves fluttered wildly in the strong wind.
Ren suppressed the urge to turn and run and bowed.
"Lord Orochimaru."
That's right, the person who had arrived was one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, the Ninja World's foremost scientist.
The Cold One,
Orochimaru!
The achievements of this man were something many could only dream of.
Born in Konoha Village, Orochimaru began to ponder the meaning of life at a young age due to the death of his parents. It was not until a chance encounter that he found the shed skin of a white snake in front of his parents' memorial stone. This gave him new inspiration in life.
He, along with Tsunade and Jiraiya, is a disciple of Third Hiruzen. During the Second Ninja World War, the three of them jointly fought against Hanzou, the demigod of Hidden Rain Village.
Although they were defeated after a struggle, Hanzou acknowledged their strength and bestowed upon them the title of "Konoha's Legendary Sannin."
During the Third Great War, he began to conduct experiments on humans. After collaborating with Danzo, things spiralled out of control. He captured people within the Village for extensive scientific research.
When discovered by the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, who surrounded Orochimaru with Anbu, the Third Hokage's leniency towards his disciple led to letting the tiger return to the mountains.
Several years later, he initiated the "Konoha Crush Plan" to take revenge on Konoha and was finally repelled by Sarutobi Hiruzen at the cost of his life, his hands sealed. He was an absolute major antagonist in the early stages, but in the later stages, due to his contributions in the Fourth Great War, he was allowed to remain in Konoha to continue his scientific research.
How unlucky, I appreciate it. I come out to climb a rock and enjoy the scenery, only to encounter one of Konoha's two most dangerous individuals. My luck is truly something else.
Ren was gritting his teeth, thinking of a way to escape.
It wasn't Orochimaru's fault. His research base was located underground in the forest behind Hokage Rock. When he was doing experiments, he felt a bit lacking in inspiration, so he came out of the underground base to wander around and find some inspiration.
While sensing his surroundings, he detected a Chakra signature near Hokage Rock and, out of curiosity, came to investigate.
Thus, this fated encounter occurred.
The golden snake-like pupils constricted.
"Well then, young man, shouldn't you introduce yourself first when you meet someone?"
...