After the teacher finished assigning squads, the classroom emptied one by one. Laughter and chatter followed the new Genin out the doors, until only three students remained.
Mizuki, Anko, and Yamuto sat in silence. Minutes dragged into an hour, and the classroom began to feel less like part of the academy and more like an abandoned relic.
Then the door creaked open.
Orochimaru stepped inside, pale and composed, a smirk tugging at his lips. His golden eyes scanned the room like a predator sizing up prey. The air seemed to tighten, pressing down on the three Genin.
"Hello there," he said, voice smooth but unsettling. "I am your Jonin instructor. Orochimaru. Nice to meet you three."
Mizuki stiffened. That outfit—he recognized it. The same one Orochimaru would later wear when he defected from Konoha. A chill crawled down his spine.
"So," Orochimaru continued, his smile lingering, "let's do introductions. Your name, what you like, what you dislike, and your dream."
Mizuki's curiosity got the better of him. He leaned forward with a small smirk."How about you go first, sensei?"
For a heartbeat, the room froze. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed into sharp slits, a death glare that felt like a blade pressed to Mizuki's throat. Then, just as suddenly, his expression relaxed.
"I am Orochimaru," he said lazily. "There are many things I like. As for my dream…" His tongue flicked briefly across his lips. "I wish to learn every jutsu in this world."
The weight of those words settled on the trio like a shadow. Then, with a simple gesture, he motioned for them to continue.
Yamuto cleared his throat nervously. "I'm Yamuto… I like reading books. My dream is… to become a powerful Jonin one day." His voice was barely more than a whisper.
Anko leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "I'm Anko. I love dumplings and sleeping. My dream is to become a strong kunoichi… then retire early."
Mizuki chuckled softly. Typical Anko. He smirked as he gave his own. "I'm Mizuki. I like to sleep and train. My dream is to become strong enough to protect my friends."
Orochimaru's expression didn't change. He let the silence hang until it was almost unbearable before speaking again.
"Very well. But before I accept you as Genin, there will be one final test. Fail, and you return to the academy." His tone was even, but the promise of failure carried real weight.
"The test begins tomorrow at five in the morning. Do not eat beforehand."
And with a flicker, he was gone.
The three regrouped at a dumpling shop, trying to shake off the heavy atmosphere. But Yamuto soon excused himself, citing vague reasons, and slipped away into the night.
That left Mizuki and Anko, who decided to continue planning at her small apartment. They discovered they had more in common than they realized—both had lost their parents in the last Great Ninja War, both lived alone on allowances from the Hokage.
The conversation shifted to the test.
"What do you think it'll be?" Anko asked, flopping down on her couch.
"Could be an obstacle course," Mizuki mused. "Or maybe some kind of survival challenge."
"Or a scavenger hunt," Anko grinned, clearly amused at the thought.
They traded guesses until Mizuki snapped his fingers."What if we're supposed to fight him?"
Anko gave him a look. "Fight Orochimaru? Are you insane? We'd get destroyed."
"Unless…" Mizuki leaned forward. "Winning isn't the point. Maybe the real test isn't skill—it's teamwork."
Anko tilted her head, considering. "…That's a bit of a stretch. But it's the best theory we've got."
Together, they formed a loose plan:
The test would pit them against Orochimaru.
Beating him wasn't necessary—teamwork was the key.
Food might be a trick, or some hidden element.
Despite the grim subject, Mizuki found himself enjoying Anko's energy. She was sharp, quick to adapt, and easy to laugh with. Their strategy talk often drifted into casual chatter, their bond growing quietly in the background.
Eventually, Anko yawned. "Hey… I've got a spare couch. You can crash here if you want."
Mizuki hesitated, ready to refuse—until he saw the expectant look in her eyes. "…Alright. Thanks."
They settled in, the apartment falling quiet.
"Mizuki?" Anko's voice came soft in the dark.
"Yeah?"
"…Goodnight."
Mizuki smiled faintly. "Goodnight, Anko."
Sleep soon claimed them both, dreams restless with the shadow of Orochimaru's test waiting at dawn.