Chapter 23: Invitation

Orochimaru and his team strolled back to the village at a leisurely pace. Jiraiya couldn't stop praising Orochimaru's strength and his ability to regenerate from a broken arm, while Tsunade seemed lost in her own thoughts.

Orochimaru's mental perception extended throughout half of Konoha Village, and he sensed familiar mental power fluctuations once again.

Although Konoha's protective barriers could hinder spiritual detection, Orochimaru's power was strong enough to bypass these restrictions.

After being away for five or six days, some new faces appeared in the village, while others had become names engraved on memorial tablets.

A wave of powerful mental power fluctuations stood out like the sun and moon amidst the stars. Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, aware that someone was observing his group from a distance.

"Interesting, really interesting. It seems many people have taken notice of me."

As he observed the gate of Konoha and the majestic city walls, Orochimaru compared them to a protective area sheltering the ninjas and civilians inside, but also a strong and unbreakable cage that bound people's minds.

Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh at the complexity and web of interests among the roughly 20,000 people in this small town. Even in such a seemingly small place, the politics and power struggles were intricate and multifaceted.

"Is it so difficult for people to understand each other? Is Pain right or wrong?"

Taking in the bustling crowd, Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh.

"This is the best of times, this is the worst of times,

Ninjas are wise, ninjas are foolish,

The people have faith, the people are full of doubts,

This is the land of hope, this is the corner of disappointment,

We have everything before us, we have nothing before us,

Some people are on their way to heaven and hell simultaneously."

"Orochimaru, you..." Tsunade was shocked by Orochimaru's gesture and hoarse voice.

"Is this kid really only seven years old?" An Anbu ninja's eyes deepened as they looked at Orochimaru.

"After being away for so long, you should rest at home first, Orochimaru. Someone will fetch you and take you to see Lord Hokage in two hours." The two Anbu glanced at Orochimaru again and left.

Mucheng was given a gag order and quickly disappeared.

"Orochimaru, I'll go with you to see Second Grandfather later." Tsunade patted Orochimaru on the shoulder, taking on a big sister's role, and then pulled Jiraiya away.

"I'll come by later!" Jiraiya waved to Orochimaru.

After more than a year of missions together, the three of them had formed a strong bond and deep understanding. Sometimes, a simple look was enough to convey everything.

"What path should I take in the future? Should I become a villain or a savior?" Orochimaru shook his head and returned home.

The house was still empty and desolate. Orochimaru first properly handled the remains of the Kaguya ninja, cleaning and preserving them. He removed a bookcase, revealing a secret room.

Orochimaru carefully sensed the seals and barriers he had set up, ensuring no one had entered.

The secret room was lined with bookshelves containing ninjutsu and medical books that Orochimaru had acquired. Despite the limited resources available at this stage, he inherited Orochimaru's curiosity and research spirit, meticulously studying the available knowledge.

Orochimaru was powerful, effortlessly completing missions, but at night, he devoted all his energy to his research in this room.

The center of the room housed several workbenches with basic equipment. They were piled with tissue samples from dozens of snakes, ninja blood samples, and a multitude of written notes.

The truly strong always put in effort behind closed doors, no matter the world they inhabit.

Current conditions were quite challenging, and Orochimaru could only make basic enhancements to himself. These were only surface-level skills, leaving him eager for more resources and a better environment to expedite his growth.

After feeding the snakes in several bamboo baskets, Orochimaru recorded his own body data before taking a bath, having a meal, and tidying his clothes.

Back on the streets of Konoha, the three of them met again.

"Alright, Orochimaru, you'll be seeing Hokage-sama soon. Come with me and join in the peeping fun~" Jiraiya leaned on Orochimaru's shoulder with a mischievous grin, but Orochimaru quickly pushed him away in disgust.

"Orochimaru, don't worry, the Second Grandfather is very kind," Tsunade said with a relaxed and lovely smile.

"Haha, that's what I thought too." Orochimaru's heart was touched as he saw Tsunade's smile. The ninjas from this era were truly amazing!

........

Hokage's office was simple and solemn.

Upon seeing Orochimaru and his companions enter, Tobirama set aside the document in his hand and looked at them.

Jiraiya, a civilian ninja through and through, couldn't dare to face the legendary Hokage and remained shy and restless.

This was different from Naruto, the Fourth Hokage's son, who was indulged by high-ranking officials despite the villagers' ignorance.

Ordinarily, Jiraiya wouldn't be allowed to enter, but Tsunade dragged him along.

"Tsunade, your performance has been excellent during this time. I've been closely monitoring it," Tobirama spoke gently to Tsunade.

"Of course, I have two babysitters watching over me." Tsunade feigned anger.

Tobirama smiled but didn't dwell on the topic, "The ninja world hasn't been peaceful lately. Go to the medical class and learn medical ninjutsu from Aunt Koharu for a while. I believe you'll do well."

"Ah, alright... I will." Tsunade's determination was evident, and the recent mission made her realize her weaknesses. She glanced at Orochimaru. She hoped that mastering medical ninjutsu would allow her to assist others better.

"You are Orochimaru, right?" Tobirama looked at Orochimaru, and an overwhelming aura rushed towards him. The powerful chakra pressed Orochimaru, momentarily rendering him stiff.

The peak of the Kage level—so terrifying!

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Orochimaru's powerful spiritual power surged, breaking through Tobirama's oppressive aura in the next instant.

"Oh, I've heard that you did well on this mission. You managed to defeat a Jonin all by yourself." Sensing the shift in aura, Tobirama regarded Orochimaru with newfound appreciation.

"It was just a stroke of luck, Hokage-sama. I owe my success to Teacher Sarutobi's guidance," Orochimaru replied with composure.

Orochimaru didn't pretend to be agitated; his character, along with Orochimaru's previous performances, was consistently low-key and composed.

"Winning without arrogance and modest in victory, not bad. I had originally considered promoting you directly to Chunin, but Danzo and some of my other disciples felt you were too young, and since the Chunin exams are still six months away, they abandoned the idea." Tobirama spoke simply and neatly, making Danzo wear a displeased expression.

"But you are a genius of Konoha, after all. You made significant contributions on this mission. As a reward, I picked an A-level ninjutsu from the Senju clan's library for you. I believe you'll master it quickly." Tobirama put away his imposing aura and brought out the A-level ninjutsu scroll.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama."

"Well. After you pass the Chunin exams, you can choose to join Anbu for further training."

Your solicitation is quite direct~

"Lord Hokage, I have a request." Orochimaru said hurriedly.

"Oh, what is it?"

"I also wish to join the medical class for study." Orochimaru continued, "I gained some insights from the recent battle, and I believe it's essential to thoroughly understand my abilities before considering joining Anbu. I hope you'll grant me permission!"

"Well..." Tobirama pondered, suspecting Orochimaru just wanted to avoid the limelight. However, geniuses often had their own unique ideas, and Orochimaru's choice was tantamount to accepting his solicitation.

"I approve!" Tobirama waved his hand, "And this mission will count as your A-level achievement, so feel free to take some time off if there's nothing else to do."

"That's great!" Jiraiya couldn't help but exclaim excitedly.

"Thank you, Grandpa! Goodbye, Grandpa!" Tsunade made a playful face and quickly left.

Orochimaru smiled but said nothing. Yes, there was plenty to do in the medical class.

*****

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