Chapter 77: Chunin

Hiruzen's tone was filled with reprimand as he continued his lecture.

"If this kind of drug can alter the body's constitution, any side effects could be catastrophic for the experimental subjects."

He paused, looking Orochimaru in the eye as he listed the potential dangers. "It could cause anything from rapid aging and permanent disability to even death by complete cellular collapse. Don't you care about your own life, Orochimaru?"

There was genuine concern behind his words. Hiruzen was more than just angry he was worried. If Orochimaru recklessly damaged himself with these experiments, it would be a great loss not only to him but also to Konoha as a whole. Hiruzen had high hopes for Orochimaru; he was, after all, his most talented disciple.

"I understand, sensei," Orochimaru responded, his voice calm, though inwardly, he regretted revealing too much too soon. The matter of his chakra volume had slipped out unintentionally when they were with Tsunade earlier. He hadn't planned on discussing it until his research was further along.

However, now that the issue had been raised, he had no choice but to face the consequences. Despite his calm demeanor, Orochimaru knew he had to acknowledge Hiruzen's concerns.

"I'm confident in my research, and I don't foresee any problems arising."

Hiruzen, visibly upset, pressed further. "There 'shouldn't' be any problems? That's not good enough! If something does go wrong, it will be too late to undo the damage."

With a deep breath, Hiruzen calmed himself slightly. "Alright, you may go now. I'll think about this matter carefully. But remember this, Orochimaru never experiment on yourself again. Understood?"

"Yes, sensei," Orochimaru replied with a slight nod, then turned and left the office.

"Hm." Watching his disciple leave, Hiruzen's expression remained thoughtful. Orochimaru had always been an exceptional talent, but his recent actions had been surprising even for someone as gifted as him. Developing recovery potions, defeating over fifty teams in the Chunin Exams, and now increasing chakra reserves through experimental means? His growth was astonishing, but it also raised concerns.

With this in mind, Hiruzen quickly convened a high-level meeting with Konoha's top brass to discuss the matter.

---

Elsewhere in Konoha Hospital, a middle-aged man stood by the bedside of his son, who was bandaged head to toe.

"Son, did you fail the Chunin selection exam?" the man asked cautiously.

The young man on the bed looked utterly defeated. "Don't even bring it up, Dad. I encountered a monster during the exam. This huge snake came out of nowhere, summoned by some guy during a battle between my team and another. He stole both our scrolls!"

He clenched his fists in frustration. "It's totally unfair! I don't even know why someone like that was allowed to participate in the Chunin Exams!"

The middle-aged man blinked in surprise. "A giant snake, you say?"

"Yeah! My team was hiding in what we thought was a perfect spot, but somehow those three found us. Three people and a snake! It was impossible to fight back or run away. They were too strong."

The injured ninja on the beds nearby also chimed in with their own frustrations.

"They broke all the rules! It's bad enough to steal one scroll, but they took both ours and the other team's. Completely ruthless!"

"That snake was massive. It had thick skin and was ridiculously tough. There was nothing we could do to stop it."

"Yeah, and with the snake on their side, those three were unbeatable in the jungle. No one stood a chance."

The topic seemed to be on everyone's lips. Every Konoha ninja who had taken part in the Forest of Death during this exam was discussing the same name Orochimaru.

---

At Konoha's Barbecue Restaurant, five people gathered around a table, toasting and celebrating. Although they weren't drinking alcohol, the mood was lively.

The group consisted of Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and a young man named Hiruko.

Hatake Sakumo, having successfully passed the Chunin exam, had met up with the others to celebrate, while Hiruko had come specifically to congratulate Orochimaru and his team. Hiruko, who hadn't yet studied forbidden arts, was a rather handsome young man, with silver-white hair and gentle features. However, his eyes held a quiet envy toward Orochimaru and the others, a reflection of his deep-seated inferiority complex. (T/N: I made some changes about Hiruko, I was calling him Biru before, reread chapter 36, sorry for the inconvenience)

"Orochimaru, I've known you were strong from the beginning," Sakumo said with a smile, "but I didn't realize you were this strong. If I get the chance, I'd love to spar with you sometime."

Orochimaru smiled faintly. "There will be a chance."

Jiraiya, grinning, interrupted, "Come on, we're here to celebrate! Let's not talk about fighting. Let's get more barbecue!"

"Agreed!" Tsunade said, already piling meat onto the grill.

The sizzling sound of beef filled the air, and the group continued their lighthearted conversation. Despite his usual aloofness, Orochimaru found himself enjoying the atmosphere more than expected. Jiraiya's antics and Tsunade's sharp remarks helped create a lively environment.

After eating their fill, the group talked about going to the bathhouse to relax. Sakumo politely excused himself, saying he had other matters to attend to, leaving the others to continue their evening without him.

The three of them Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade entered the bathhouse one by one. Tsunade, however, decided not to join them in the women's section since it was empty and she didn't feel like going alone. Instead, she waited outside.

As he leaned back into the hot water, Orochimaru closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth. It was rare for him to feel truly relaxed, but there was no denying that a hot bath had its benefits.

"This does feel nice," he muttered to himself.

Still, even as he enjoyed the moment, his mind wandered back to his experiments. "It's time to start accumulating more funds," Orochimaru murmured. In this world, money was still a powerful tool. While missions helped with income, they weren't enough to fuel the kind of research he envisioned. Orochimaru understood that not everything could be solved through raw strength; sometimes, financial resources were far more effective.

With a clear plan in mind, he began to think of ways to secure more resources for his future experiments.

---

The next morning, Konoha held a small promotion ceremony for the ninja who had successfully advanced to Chunin. The event wasn't extravagant just a simple gathering at the training grounds where Hiruzen gave a speech and handed out the Chunin vests and ninja uniforms.

From that moment on, Orochimaru and his teammates were officially promoted to Chunin, and their journey of completing missions as higher-ranked shinobi had begun.