The corridor was empty, silent except for the echo of Anko's voice.
"Lord Orochimaru, please take me as an apprentice!"
Her words hung in the air, bold and trembling. Orochimaru's footsteps halted. He turned slowly, his pale eyes settling on the girl bowing before him—her head bowed so deeply her forehead nearly touched the floor, her body rigid with an intensity that seemed foreign to her slight frame.
"Why do you want to become my disciple?"
Orochimaru's question was casual, almost playful. He studied her with the detached curiosity of a scientist examining an insect.
---
In the hospital room, the question landed like a stone in still water.
Rin's eyes widened slightly—genuine surprise flickering across her features. Anko, timid Anko, showing this kind of courage to one of the legendary Sannin? It didn't fit the girl she knew.
Shibi exhaled softly, his sunglasses catching the light. He'd noticed the recent changes in his student, yes, but this... He didn't hold out much hope that Orochimaru would agree. The Great Snake was notoriously selective. Anko had potential, perhaps, but nothing extraordinary. Still, he found himself hoping she could handle what came next—whether acceptance or rejection.
Seiran smiled faintly at the ceiling. A fated encounter. Or perhaps the timeline correcting itself. In the original path, Anko never would have asked. But here, now, she was asking.
---
Orochimaru's words replayed in Anko's mind: Why do you want to become my disciple?
She stood frozen in the corridor, trembling. The question demanded honesty—demanded more than politeness or ambition. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest.
Why?
Images flashed through her mind like lightning. An enemy she couldn't touch, unstoppable and merciless. Her own feet carrying her backward, backward—away from her teammates. Then the rain, heavy and cold, and Seiran standing among the ruins like an anchor to reality.
The memories crashed over her in waves. She clenched her fists so hard her nails bit into her palms, and tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them.
"Because I hate my own incompetence," she whispered, then louder, her voice cracking with emotion. "I hate being weak. I hate running away while others stand and fight."
She bowed deeper, shoulders shaking.
"Lord Orochimaru, please take me as an apprentice. I want power. I want to protect my teammates. I don't want to be useless anymore."
Her tears fell to the floor in front of her, each one a punctuation mark to her desperation.
---
In the hospital room, silence had wrapped around everyone without warning.
Anko's voice reached them from the corridor, raw and honest, each word striking like a bell.
Shibi's jaw tightened. Have I been an irresponsible teacher? The thought twisted in his chest. Perhaps he hadn't pushed her hard enough. Perhaps he'd missed her potential entirely.
Seiran's expression grew distant, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his mouth. The future was becoming something new.
Then Orochimaru laughed—a low, dry sound that echoed down the hallway.
"Want to protect your companions? Interesting."
A pause. Then, clearly:
"I agree."
In the corridor, Anko's head snapped up. Her eyes met Orochimaru's in disbelief, searching his face for mockery or lies. But he was nodding, serene and measured.
"You will be my disciple from now on," he said.
"Really? You mean it?" Anko's voice jumped an octave. "Thank you, Orochimaru!"
She nearly stumbled over the words, nearly stumbled over her own feet as joy crashed through her like a wave. She hadn't really expected—hadn't truly believed—but here it was. Real. True.
Orochimaru nodded, already turning to leave. "Come. We have much work to do."
---
Anko burst back into the hospital room, flushed and breathless, and grabbed Seiran's hand without thinking.
"Did you hear? He said yes! Orochimaru agreed!"
Seiran winced slightly. "Easy. Still wounded, remember?"
"Oh! I'm sorry!"
But she couldn't stop smiling.
"Rin, did you hear?"
"Congratulations." Rin's voice was warm, genuine.
Anko turned to Shibi, hesitation flickering across her face. "Sensei..."
Shibi adjusted his sunglasses. "Congratulations, Anko. Orochimaru is one of the greatest shinobi alive. Don't waste the opportunity. Train hard."
"I will!"
But as the excitement faded, reality settled in. Anko's hand was still in Seiran's, and she became aware of the weight of what was coming. She'd be leaving Team 3. Leaving her teammates. Leaving the safety of what she knew.
Seiran seemed to read it on her face. He squeezed her hand gently. "Don't worry. This is what you wanted. What you asked for. Be proud of that."
"Yeah..." Anko's voice was quieter now. "But I'll miss you all."
"We'll miss you too," Rin said softly.
Shibi stood. "I'll handle the paperwork with the Third Hokage. You focus on your training."
Seiran looked at Anko with a smile that held something complex beneath it—pride, yes, but also something like farewell. "I'm looking forward to seeing how strong you become, Anko. Don't disappoint us."
"I won't," she promised.
Her eyes lingered on each of them in turn, as if trying to burn their faces into her memory. Then, with a final nod, she turned and left to join her new master.
---
After Anko disappeared, silence settled over the room like dust.
Shibi cleared his throat, a deliberate sound that pulled Seiran's attention to him.
"There's something else. Something the Third Hokage told me to mention when we were alone."
Seiran waited.
"You've been promoted to chunin. Officially. The Third made the decision himself."
The words hung there. Seiran understood immediately what they meant. Chunin meant responsibility. Meant leading missions, leading teams. Meant Team 3—this fragile thing they'd built together—coming to an end.
Shibi's sunglasses reflected the light. In them, Seiran saw his own uncertain future reflected back.
---
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