chapter 5

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I will publish the next chapter if we can obtain 10 power stones today.

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In Akimachi's barbecue, Sinbad and Anko follow Orochimaru and the aroma of grilled meat fills every corner. They head to their own table. As they pass, they see Minato and his team consisting of Kakashi, Obito, and Rin. They all look at each other.

Minato: "Orochimaru-san, how are you?"

Orochimaru smiles: "I'm fine, Minato. What about you and Kushina?"

Minato: "We're fine." Then he looks at Orochimaru's team and gives Sinbad an evaluative look.

Orochimaru notices this and smiles, saying, "Stronger than Sakumoto's son."

Minato: "Who knows?!"

The children listen to the adults' conversation. Anko smiles provocatively at Kakashi and Obito.

Kakashi gives Sinbad an analytical look and says, "Who are you?"

A vein bulges in Sinbad's face as he speaks proudly, "I am certainly the person who will overshadow Kono-ha."

Minato smiles brightly, "You're certainly full of vitality. I hope to see you grow and achieve this great goal."

Sinbad puts his hand in front of his eyes, self-assessing internally, "Very bright."

Sinbad and Anko enjoy their meal unbelievably, eating the best grilled meats and delicious dishes at Akimachi's restaurant. As they savor the food, they exchange conversation and laughter, trying to forget the tough moments in battle and the challenges they faced.

When it's time to leave, Orochimaru gathers them and tells them about the importance of gathering early in the morning at the village's borders for a new mission.

Anko wonders, "But won't we forget that we should do D-rank missions like any graduating genin?"

Orochimaru: "There is a threat outside, and that's why you graduated two full years early. As for training, war is the best arena for it. Going through life-threatening situations will make you real ninja."

In the quiet of the night, Sinbad wanders alone on his way back home. The streets are almost empty, filled with silence and tranquility. His footsteps echo on the ground, accompanied by the whispering wind that soothes the hot summer air.

Dim streetlights dot the path, casting their faint shadows on the dark road. Sinbad sometimes sees people staggering.

He passes by some closed shops, where darkness prevails heavily over their windows, reflecting the calmness and stillness that dominate the streets at this late hour.

Finally, after some time, Sinbad arrives home. The streets remain quiet and empty, adding further serenity to the night atmosphere. He enters his apartment, closes the door behind him, and his nightly journey ends, feeling safe and peaceful, his stomach full as if he hadn't eaten at all.

The next morning, Sinbad prepares his bag for the mission and heads to the village gate. The morning road is the opposite of the evening, filled with the sounds of people and children everywhere.

Sinbad thinks to himself, "So this is what it means to be the strongest ninja village, even in the midst of war, with all the other villages attacking you."

When he reaches the village gate, he finds Anko and Orochimaru waiting for him. Sinbad smiles foolishly and says, "I helped a cat cross the road."

Orochimaru smiles and says, "I hope you maintain this spirit until the end."

Sinbad feels a shiver down his spine. Then Anko says angrily, "You didn't even try to come up with a good excuse."

Sinbad laughs awkwardly and tries to change the subject, "Forget it, what's our mission?"

Orochimaru, with a serious expression, says, "We're going to our front with Sonagakure. I left them for you to come for your test, as ordered by Sarutobi Sensei."

The path leads through vast countryside and beautiful landscapes, where lush green rice fields intertwine with gentle breezes mingling with the scent of wildflowers blooming on the roadside. A picturesque scene of nature unfolds, bringing peace and tranquility to the travelers' souls.

Farmers work diligently in their lush green fields, reflecting the lively rural life. Travelers feel peace and tranquility as they pass through these breathtaking scenes.

The road is also used as an opportunity to learn and develop ninjutsu skills, as Orochimaru leads Sinbad and Anko to quiet areas beside the road to begin training. They learn Kono-ha's taijutsu techniques and move skillfully between trees and open lands, improving their skills under Orochimaru's supervision.

Their training ranges from physical exercises to combat techniques, with Orochimaru briefing them on scenarios they may encounter and asking them how they would respond. Orochimaru hands each of them a chakra paper.

Orochimaru: "Surely you two don't know your chakra affinity?". Then he looks at who's with him.

They both reply simultaneously, "No, we don't know." But Sinbad adds, "All I know is that I can use lightning."

Orochimaru patiently explains, "The chakra paper test isn't about knowing which element you can use and which you can't, it's about your affinity with each element. Everyone knows that chakra comes in the form of five basic elements - fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning. Most people have chakra that has an affinity with one of the five basic nature transformations. To know what affinity someone has, specially made paper from a certain type of tree reacts to even the slightest hint of chakra in any number of ways, depending on the nature exposed in the chakra. The chakra paper reactions are as follows:

Fire: The paper will ignite and turn to ash.

 Wind: The paper will split in half.

 Lightning: The paper will crumple.

 Earth: The paper will turn to soil and crumble.

Water: The paper will become moist.

 There are also Yin and Yang."

Then he hands the paper to Anko and tells her to release her chakra onto it.

When Anko passes her chakra onto the paper, it splits into two parts, with one part turning to ash, another crumpling, and the last becoming moist.

Anko puffs up her chest proudly and says, "As expected of me, Three chakra affinities."

Orochimaru: "Be proud of yourself, as your affinity is better than 90% of the ninjas, but don't forget that training is the most important, and there's always someone more talented." Then he looks at Sinbad, Anko following his gaze, then Anko "Tsuk."

Sinbad smiles shyly, mixed with some pride, and acts foolishly like Chopper from One Piece, "Don't look at me like that, I'm embarrassed quickly."

Orochimaru hands the paper to Sinbad, and as soon as his chakra touches the paper, it splits into five parts, with one turning to ash, one splitting, one crumpling, one turning to soil, and the last becoming moist. But the surprise is the formation of a circle in the middle of the two parts of Yin and Yang.

The three look at the paper in astonishment, and the day ends without them saying anything.

As time passes, the training gradually becomes more challenging, with Orochimaru introducing more complex and difficult techniques. The two challenge themselves to overcome the obstacles, working hard to improve their performance and develop their ninjutsu skills.

And so, the journey to Sonagakure continues, with skill development and capabilities enhancement, and Orochimaru's attempt to help them become stronger in every possible way before they reach the camp.