In the forests of Konohagakure, Guy and Kakashi leapt swiftly from branch to branch.
This time, their destination wasn't deep in the forest but the central hospital of the village.
Guy glanced at the wounded man on his back, worry written all over his face. "Orochimaru-sama… he's not going to die, is he?"
He wasn't exaggerating—the injuries were bizarre.
On the outside, Orochimaru seemed unharmed, but his pale skin now had an odd pink tint, making one wonder how many blood vessels had ruptured under the flesh.
Guy could even catch a faint smell of blood from his back.
Neither Guy nor Kakashi was a medical ninja. The basic first aid they learned at the academy was useless here.
They even suspected that not even a medical ninja could handle this.
"He won't die."
Kakashi didn't respond, but a voice came from behind Guy instead. "But if you keep shaking me like this, I really will die. Put me down."
Startled, Guy froze mid-leap. "Orochimaru-sama, you're awake?"
"Pfft…"
After a bit of fumbling, Orochimaru coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood, his injuries worsening.
Leaning against a tree, he fixed his gaze on them and spoke slowly. "'Treat them on the spot, don't move the wounded.' Didn't your academy teachers ever teach you that?"
Yes, they did. But that rule doesn't apply when the guy is about to die!
Kakashi and Guy muttered under their breath, but seeing Orochimaru recover a bit after resting, they shut their mouths.
Common sense doesn't apply to someone like Orochimaru.
"Huff…"
Orochimaru breathed in and out in a steady rhythm, and the wounds on his lungs and chest were visibly healing.
The Genie leaned out with a smug look on his face. "So? Not bad, right? Breathing techniques are great for healing."
Orochimaru glanced at the smiling Genie but didn't reply.
The injuries on his body were caused by the very person who gave him this treatment method, so there was no way he could feel grateful.
"Don't be so cold. You should know—you just successfully used natural energy."
The Genie stretched his neck down so he was face-to-face with Orochimaru.
He grinned. "From now on, you don't need to feel jealous of Jiraiya's Sage Mode with the toads. You have something better."
That only made Orochimaru's face turn cold. He growled, "That natural power—I can't control it."
If The Genie hadn't released it all at the last second, Orochimaru's mind would have been crushed under the weight of natural energy.
The Genie nodded. "That was my mistake."
Blessed and cursed by the world—the natural energy in the ninja world is very active, easy to sense, but it also means the mind faces heavier pressure when touching it.
Other than the Sage of Six Paths, no one's mental strength can handle that.
The Sage Modes created by the three great sanctuaries aren't meaningless for shinobi.
But—
For Genie Lamp, the so-called Sage Mode is useless. The toad oil can't be taken out of that world, and forcing a copy would only twist and deform the host.
He needed something more universal.
Genie Lamp looked at Orochimaru, smiling. "Pure natural energy is dangerous. But… will you give up?"
Orochimaru leaned against a big tree, silent.
Once you've had a taste of meat, how could you go back to eating only vegetables? There was no way he'd give up, even if it meant risking his life.
But Orochimaru was still annoyed—annoyed that The Genie saw through his greed so easily.
It was like putting a plate of meat covered in silver needles in front of him and saying, 'You're going to eat it anyway.'
Not wanting to look at The Genie's hateful face any longer, Orochimaru struggled to his feet and turned his sharp gaze toward Guy and Kakashi.
"When I was training just now, were you two watching?"
Both of them looked awkward. Before Guy could give the excuse he had prepared, Orochimaru continued,
"Don't tell anyone about this. In return, I'll teach you a Taijutsu technique."
"This…"
Kakashi and Guy exchanged glances, seeing the excitement in each other's eyes.
Not only were they not in trouble, but they were getting a reward?
"No problem, Orochimaru-sama. We won't tell anyone," Guy promised right away.
Kakashi also agreed.
Orochimaru nodded. "In a few days, I'll pick a day and let you know."
That was a clear sign to leave.
Kakashi understood and gave a polite bow, pulling Guy with him, but Guy held him back.
Orochimaru frowned. "What else?"
Guy looked at him expectantly. "Orochimaru-sama, if you're teaching me Taijutsu, does that mean… I'm your student now?"
Hearing that, Kakashi also stopped in his tracks. Being a student of one of the Sannin was a big deal. Orochimaru's Taijutsu was excellent, but Kakashi had no intention of taking another teacher.
Especially since Minato-sensei had just passed away.
"Guy, you can call me teacher." Orochimaru turned his eyes to Kakashi. "But that doesn't mean you are my student. I'm only teaching you one Taijutsu move. Don't go around saying you're my student."
"Uh… yes, sir!"
Kakashi couldn't understand why Orochimaru disliked the idea, especially when he had accepted Guy.
But Orochimaru clearly had no intention of explaining. So Kakashi gave a quick bow, then dragged the excited Guy away.
When the two disappeared into the forest, the Genie poked his head out and asked, "I don't get why you did that. Kakashi is a genius too."
"But he's Minato's student."
Orochimaru let out a cold hum. "If he calls me teacher, doesn't that mean I'm beneath Jiraiya?"
"I thought you didn't care about anything except living forever."
"Forget it. Have you rested enough? We still have important things to do."
"It'd be a shame not to take advantage of how badly you're hurt."
…
In the heart of Konohagakure, the core area where the Nine-Tails rampaged last night, countless ninjas and civilians were busy.
It was noon, the sun blazing, yet the mood was heavy.
Beside bodies covered with white sheets, muffled cries of children could be heard now and then.
The ninjas and villagers clearing the ruins acted as if they didn't hear, staying focused on their work, but their sadness was obvious.
At that moment, a figure came stumbling from the distance, his body clearly bearing terrible injuries.
Resting ninjas noticed. One of them put down his water bottle and quickly leapt forward.
But before he could reach him, the figure collapsed headfirst.
The ninja hurried closer to check his wounds. But when he saw the man's face, his expression twisted in shock.
"O-Orochimaru-sama…"
Why was he here? And why was he so badly hurt?
The ninja's cry drew others' attention. Soon, more ninjas and villagers learned the news, and unrest began to spread.
Could it be… after the Fourth Hokage, Konohagakure was about to lose another of the Legendary Sannin?