Chapter 68 Orochimaru
Taiwan Novel Website is super smooth and worry-free
At a certain bridge in Konoha.
Kakashi put away icha icha paradise and shook his head. "Too slow!"
"Twelve o'clock, right on time."
Naruto glanced at the sun directly overhead. "You're the one who came early."
"Yeah, Sensei, why are you so early today?"
Sakura was used to meeting at noon; though Kakashi had said nine yesterday, none of them believed it.
"..."
Kakashi opened his mouth, then closed it.
Even Sakura had gone bad.
"I called you here to notify you of something."
Kakashi coughed, his expression turning slightly serious.
"In July there will be a joint Chunin Exams. All Genin can sign up, but you need to understand the risks—Genin from every village won't hold back against Konoha. Plenty of Genin die in these exams."
Though he tried hard to build tension, it clearly wasn't working.
"Is it more dangerous than Zabuza?"
Since her two ace teammates stayed silent, Sakuraasked.
Kakashi tugged at the corner of his mouth.
This batch of students was really hard to manage.
"While there aren't many Ninja more dangerous than Zabuza, you still can't take it lightly."
"Oh."
Sakura nodded to show she understood.
"..."
Kakashi felt he had zero game experience—he'd run into two cheaters.
"I'll register you."
He gave up on small talk and moved to business. "For the next two months I'll give you, Sakura, special training to reach Chunin level. (っ◔◡◔)っ"
"Yes, Sensei."
Sakura accepted the likely hellish training without hesitation.
She couldn't keep riding her teammates' coattails.
Winning while lying down felt great—winning that way forever would feel even better.
"Naruto and Sasuke, train on your own."
Kakashi wanted to teach them, but there really wasn't anything left to teach.
It was only a matter of time before those two surpassed him.
The brief meeting ended.
Sakura left with Kakashi.
Naruto rubbed his chin.
Once she built a solid foundation, Tsunade would be back in the village.
Provided Hiruzen stepped down first.
Sadly, the old man clung to the Hokage seat until death finally passed it to Tsunade.
Though Tsunade had her own issues, given Hiruzen's age he should've retired long ago.
Once Sakura inherited Tsunade's skills, she'd be a super healer.
Naruto himself probably wouldn't need her—his body healed faster than her medical Ninjutsu.
But Sasuke would.
With his personality, trouble was inevitable.
"What are you going to do?"
"Train my Ninjutsu."
Sasuke didn't hide it, thinking aloud. "My Sharingan's hit a bottleneck. In two months I plan to develop a Lightning Release stronger than Chidori."
Oh, the S-rank jutsu Kirin.
"Got any ideas?"
Sasuke shook his head. "Not yet."
"The stronger the jutsu, the more Chakra it needs."
Naruto lifted a hand toward the sky. "Why not use the lightning already up there?"
Sasuke followed his gaze to the clouds and nodded.
Brilliant.
It really was a good method.
Once he succeeded, he'd beat Naruto senseless.
"I'm off."
Inspired, Sasuke gave a quick goodbye and vanished.
He'd find a cloudy spot to start experimenting.
Naruto shrugged.
Speaking of which, the guy's other cheat was about to come online—
Orochimaru's Cursed Seal.
A decent but not game-breaking power-up.
The transformation just looked hideous.
Uncle Snake—no, at this point it should be Auntie Snake.
He really couldn't appreciate Auntie Snake's aesthetics.
Besides the seal, all those snake-like jutsu were slimy.
Naruto had hated snakes in his past life; nothing changed now.
The thought of fighting Orochimaru made him queasy.
And the guy had layer after layer of revival passes—an unkillable cockroach.
Naruto thought it over.
Let Sasuke get bitten; it wouldn't kill him, and Itachi would clean up afterward.
Once Sasuke had the Cursed Seal, Neji could study it, maybe combine it with authentic Sage Mode and improve it.
A future Cursed-Seal squad could be cool.
Orochimaru was also Naruto's chosen tool to kill Hiruzen.
He couldn't do it himself.
Naruto returned to his cabin.
His training stayed the same—
Refining Sage Chakra, physical workouts, and developing a new Rasengan.
Oh, and chatting and playing cards with Kurama...
The dark basement of Root.
"Long time no see."
Orochimaru swept his gaze over the familiar setup, his voice oddly feminine.
"Spare me the small talk."
Danzo didn't like Orochimaru, but he was a useful partner.
Without him, Yamato wouldn't exist.
"Are you confident this time?"
"Naturally."
Orochimaru's long tongue licked the corner of his mouth. "I can't wait to plunge my blade into Sensei's body."
"You'd better."
Danzo frowned. "You know Hiruzen's strength—don't dig your own grave."
"Don't worry. I'll have a big gift for Sensei; I'm sure he'll be delighted."
Thinking of Edo Tensei, Orochimaru wore an amused smile.
"Anything else?"
Danzo had nothing more to discuss; it was a simple transaction.
"Make an identity for Kabuto so he can infiltrate the exam teams and gather intel."
"Easy."
Danzo felt irritated at the name Yakushi Kabuto.
That double-crosser.
"What's wrong?"
Danzo suddenly heard Orochimaru dry-heave.
"Nothing—the air here disgusts me."
Orochimaru said indifferently.
"..."
Danzo flicked his sleeve. "You can leave."
Unbothered, Orochimaru turned and left the basement, soon reaching a small Inn.
A temporary hideout.
The white-haired, bespectacled Yakushi Kabutorose at once.
"Seal it for me."
Orochimaru ordered.
"Yes."
Green Chakra glowed over Kabuto's hands as he pressed them to Orochimaru's stomach.
"I've told Danzo you'll stay and collect information—especially on Uchiha Sasuke. I want everything on him."
Remembering his earlier defeat under Sasuke's brother, Orochimaru's lips curled in a cold arc. "I couldn't get Uchiha Itachi, but I will have Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Understood."
Kabuto dispersed the Chakra. "This seal is even sturdier; it shouldn't interfere with your fight against Hiruzen."
"Hm. What about that Fool?"
Orochimaru nodded and asked.
"According to intel, Uchiha Itachi's been hunting him for nearly two months,"
Kabuto mused. "He might be dead by now."
"What a shame."
Orochimaru licked his lips, grinning. "In the Akatsuki Organization, he was my only friend."
Yet there was no hint of any rescue attempt