The Appearance of Orochimaru
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"I never thought that one day I would also be teaching students," Orochimaru mused as he pushed open the door and walked in. His gaze swept over the students present and the teacher who had just entered, exuding a cold aura like that of a poisonous snake.
"It's Lord Orochimaru! I didn't expect to meet you here," Namikaze Minato exclaimed, turning around in surprise. He hadn't expected the last teacher leading the team to be Orochimaru. Respectfully, he said, "This group of students will be in your care from now on."
Orochimaru, being Minato's senior and a renowned shinobi, commanded great respect. He hadn't yet experienced the Third Shinobi War, so Minato couldn't compare to him in terms of strength and reputation. There were only two candidates for Hokage now: Orochimaru and Konoha's White Fang. Orochimaru's status and respect among the people were evident.
"It's Minato. Did you just come from the battlefield? And still taking care of students part-time? Thank you for your hard work," Orochimaru remarked. At this time, he wasn't the perverse figure known for his unnerving tongue flicks, yet his presence still made the students freeze in place.
"I didn't expect it to be Orochimaru..." Muzan thought, a glimmer of unease in his eyes beneath his black robe. The worst had happened. Of all the people in Konoha, Orochimaru was the one Muzan feared most. Orochimaru's reputation as a scientist willing to do anything for his experiments made him a terrifying figure.
"Wow! Are we going to be led by Orochimaru-sama?" Anko's excitement was palpable. She hadn't expected that their leading teacher would be one of Konoha's legendary Sannin. Alongside Anko was a timid young man named Ito Mari, who seemed destined for a tough training regimen.
"Have you met Lord Orochimaru?" Ito Mari's voice was barely a whisper, stuttering with fear. His tone was so low that anyone without a ninja's hearing would have instinctively ignored it.
"Yes," Orochimaru replied, barely acknowledging Anko and Ito Mari. He passed by Namikaze Minato and focused on Kakashi and Muzan. "Sakumo-sama's two children are Konoha's new geniuses, One is known as the youngest medical ninja. I will train them."
Orochimaru stood close to Muzan, lowering his head to reveal his snake-like eyes, which bore into Muzan with the intensity of a predator. However, instead of retreating, Muzan stepped forward, directly meeting Orochimaru's gaze and pressure.
"Very good. You have the qualifications to become strong. As for you two," Orochimaru said, addressing Anko and Ito Mari, "I am very disappointed."
He wasn't stingy with his praise, looking increasingly satisfied with Muzan. Anko and Ito Mari, however, were seen as burdens Konoha forced upon him to foster bonds.
"The next ninja training is not just playtime at the academy. Be prepared to face death," Orochimaru warned before leaving, instructing the three to meet in the Forest of Death for training the next morning.
After Orochimaru left, Mari gasped, fear evident on his face. The illusion of imminent death had shaken him. If Muzan hadn't withstood Orochimaru's pressure, Mari would have fared worse. "Thank you, Muzan," he muttered.
Muzan's blood-red eyes glanced at his teammates. Orochimaru's interest stemmed more from Muzan's strength. Only his younger brother and father knew the full extent of his bloodline abilities. Orochimaru was obsessed with the Uchiha clan's eyes and Hashirama's cells, so Muzan needed to be cautious.
"No need to thank me. His pressure was aimed at me, but it affected you," Muzan replied. He knew that future Anko would be marked by Orochimaru, likely foreshadowed by today's events. Mari's timid nature made him a liability on the battlefield.
"I still envy Kakashi. With Namikaze Minato-sama as a teacher, Kakashi's future is bright. My father is on a mission, and I'm the only one taking care of Kakashi at home. It's tough," Muzan said.
"You're just a few minutes older than me!" Kakashi retorted.
Compared to the cold and ruthless Orochimaru, Minato was a warm and approachable figure. His ability to defeat Orochimaru in the Hokage election was due in part to his gentle personality, which drew people to him.
Minato noticed Muzan's talent and maturity, sensing a potential even greater than Kakashi's. "No need to envy Muzan. Lord Orochimaru's strength is renowned. Having him as your teacher will greatly benefit your future. However, the Sannin's teachings are strict, so be prepared," Minato advised.
As a disciple of Jiraiya, Minato understood the rigors of training under a Sannin. Orochimaru's character made him sympathize with the three boys.
"Thank you, Minato-sama, for the reminder," Muzan said. Minato then left the classroom with Kakashi, leaving Muzan and his teammates behind.
Mari looked at Muzan, instinctively fearing the figure beneath the black robe. He unconsciously hid behind Anko.
"You're too cowardly, Mari. Muzan is our comrade," Anko scolded.
"But... there are legends about him in the academy..." Mari stammered, unable to articulate his fear.
Muzan sighed. "I didn't realize I had such an impact on you. I'm sorry." He removed his black robe, revealing a fair face. His beauty was almost enchanting, making Anko's meatballs seem unappetizing in comparison.
"Is that better?" Muzan asked.
"I'm sorry for wearing a black robe. My skin is sensitive to the sun. Please protect me in the future. After all, I'm a medical ninja and not good at fighting," Muzan lied.
Only Mari would believe Muzan's words. The memory of Muzan beating up a chūnin upon graduation was still fresh. Anko, knowing this, didn't believe Muzan's facade.
"I won't believe you, but if you treat me to some meatballs, I'll help you more in battle," Anko declared. Muzan's team consisted of a standard fighting ninja, Anko, a sensing ninja, Ito Mari, and himself, a medical ninja. This was the typical setup for a ninja squad.
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