Chapter 39: Drawing Blood

Chapter 39: Drawing Blood

Becoming the "grand-disciple" of Hiruzen Sarutobi brought a surge of joy to Toneri. It marked him as a legitimate member of the Hokage faction.

By extension, this might even give him the chance to stand near the Hokage seat one day. Though realistically, that's all it might ever amount to—just standing near it.

What excited him even more was the realization that he'd likely be one of the earliest disciples taken in by the renowned Sannin. With this title, even someone like Minato Namikaze might have to address him as "senior" in the future.

Quite the thought.

However, while he would have leapt for joy under Jiraiya or Tsunade, the prospect of training under Orochimaru made him feel… conflicted.

Among the Sannin, Orochimaru was undoubtedly the strongest at this time and Hiruzen Sarutobi's most promising candidate to succeed him as Hokage. His skills and knowledge far exceeded those of his peers.

"Master Orochimaru?" Toneri called out, understanding he had no other choice in the matter.

That said, training under Orochimaru wasn't entirely a bad thing. In fact, if he looked at it objectively, it might yield greater benefits than training under Jiraiya or Tsunade combined.

But rewards often come hand-in-hand with risks.

As long as Toneri tread carefully and managed Orochimaru's curiosity—keeping himself interesting, but not too interesting—his safety should remain intact. Orochimaru, after all, had a history of being attentive to his disciples. Even Anko Mitarashi and Sasuke Uchiha received proper instruction from him, despite his later descent into darkness.

Right now, Orochimaru's mindset was only beginning to shift.

With this clarity, Toneri relaxed slightly. If he played his cards right, he could secure significant gains while ensuring his safety. This was an invaluable opportunity.

Seeing Toneri address him as "Master," Orochimaru's expression softened, and he gave a curt nod.

The death of Nawaki Senju during the Second Shinobi War had left a mark on him, making him despise weakness. To him, anyone lacking strength had no business aspiring to be a hero. They should simply stay out of harm's way.

It was only due to Hiruzen Sarutobi's insistence—and the fact that Toneri was the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails—that Orochimaru agreed to take him as a disciple. His curiosity about Jinchūriki played a significant role in this decision.

"Come. Let's examine your body." Orochimaru's voice was calm and magnetic, betraying no emotion.

Toneri: "…"

This was precisely what he feared.

When Orochimaru noticed Toneri lagging behind, he turned slightly, his lips curling into a faint smile. However, the smile didn't reach his eyes, which glimmered with cold amusement.

A chill ran down Toneri's spine. He quickly trotted after Orochimaru, head bowed, looking like a chastised kitten.

At this moment, Orochimaru was still dressed in the standard Konoha ninja uniform, indicating he'd only recently returned from the battlefield. As they walked through the streets, villagers and shinobi alike greeted him warmly. "Master Orochimaru," they would say with respect. Orochimaru, though not overly responsive, would occasionally nod in acknowledgment.

Observing this, Toneri became even more certain that Orochimaru hadn't yet spiraled into the extremes of his future self. His current persona still embodied a powerful, respected shinobi of Konoha. This realization allowed Toneri to relax further, even as he noted Orochimaru's keen glances.

The duo exited the bustling streets and arrived at Orochimaru's residence—a large yet desolate mansion, devoid of servants. Despite its spaciousness, the place was eerily quiet.

The interior was clean and organized, suggesting that Orochimaru either maintained it himself or hired someone to do so in his absence. However, the atmosphere remained cold and uninviting.

Toneri began to understand how this environment might shape a person's disposition.

Eventually, Orochimaru led him to a concealed entrance, tapping on the wall twice. A hidden tunnel appeared, its interior lit by a chain of lamps that flickered to life one by one.

Tap. Tap.

Orochimaru stepped into the tunnel without hesitation, and Toneri, after a brief pause, followed suit.

It wasn't uncommon for Orochimaru to establish underground bases, given his snake-like tendencies.

The end of the tunnel opened into a massive, well-lit laboratory. The air was thick with sharp, chemical odors that made Toneri wince.

Scanning the room, Toneri noted the myriad tables, jars, and apparatuses scattered about. To his relief, there were no signs of human experimentation. This lab, though sterile and unsettling, was better than what he had anticipated.

"Toneri-kun, I need a blood sample. Let's draw some blood," Orochimaru said suddenly, standing behind him.

Toneri stiffened.

Extracting blood might sound innocent enough, but in a world like this, blood held immense significance. Techniques like Hidan's Curse of Jashin required only a drop to kill.

While Orochimaru didn't specialize in curses, Toneri couldn't shake the possibility of clones, experiments, or something equally sinister resulting from his compliance.

"Master Orochimaru, my health is excellent. There's no need for a… physical examination," Toneri stammered, attempting to deflect.

Orochimaru set the syringe he was holding back on the table.

Toneri blinked.

Was that it?

But before he could feel relieved, his body went rigid. He could only move his eyes and mouth.

A thick, cold sensation coiled around him, starting at his feet and climbing upward.

A snake—a massive one, as thick as his arm—was wrapping itself around him. Its forked tongue flicked dangerously close to his skin, and its fangs hovered mere millimeters from his flesh.

"Master Orochimaru… are you into bondage?" Toneri tried joking weakly.

Orochimaru: "…"

The snake's fangs suddenly plunged toward Toneri's arm.

BOOM!

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