As soon as Amano Ren returned to the house, he hurried straight to Orochimaru's room. Mere seconds later, under the weight of Orochimaru's icy glare, he was promptly and mercilessly thrown out.
Stumbling back into his own room, Ren sat down quietly. That chilling, snake-like gaze had frozen him to his very core. He could tell—one wrong move, one more act of insolence, and Orochimaru might actually kill him. It wasn't just fear; it was instinct. From that moment forward, Ren made a mental note: recklessness could get him killed. Caution would now be his rule of survival.
That evening, it was time for dinner again. The meal was as ordinary and quietly presented as ever. Silence dominated the table.
Orochimaru ate with an indifferent expression, as if the earlier disturbance had never happened—though, at the time, he'd looked like a serpent poised to strike. Ren didn't even dare sneak a glance at him. He kept his head down and focused solely on eating.
It was only their second meal together. At lunch, Ren had barely eaten out of fear. But now, determined to restore his health, he decided to eat as much as he could.
Orochimaru noticed the change but didn't say anything. After finishing his meal in silence, he stood and headed toward the courtyard. As he left, he tossed a single, cold sentence over his shoulder:
"Clean up when you're done."
Ren blinked and looked toward the doorway, but Orochimaru was already gone.
"…Okay."
Speaking to the empty room, Ren scarfed down the rest of the food and carefully washed every dish.
The whole process took maybe ten minutes, yet as he finished, he suddenly realized the heaviness in his body was starting to fade.
"Huh?"
He lifted his arm in confusion and clenched his fist. He could feel strength returning—still faint, but real. No wonder washing dishes hadn't felt as draining as before.
So it's true… Eating really does help me recover.
What Ren didn't know was that his body had a unique ability to absorb energy. Every grain of rice, every drop of water—it all became fuel. However, that didn't mean the more he ate, the more energy he could take in. Absorption efficiency varied by person, just as one's capacity to hold chakra had its limits. Though it could grow with training, there were always boundaries.
Even so, a single meal had noticeably improved his condition. That lifted his spirits.
Thinking back on the decision he'd made earlier that day, Ren gathered his courage and walked toward the courtyard.
He stepped onto the wooden corridor that led there and saw Orochimaru seated calmly, his feet resting on an oval stone step.
Ren hesitated briefly, then mustered his nerve and sat beside him. Orochimaru didn't react in the slightest.
Ren sat in silence, trying to figure out how to speak. The last rays of twilight painted both their figures in soft, golden hues.
"In a little while, I'll be sending you to the Ninja Academy," Orochimaru said suddenly, his cold, slightly hoarse voice breaking the silence.
"Ninja Academy?" Ren blinked.
Orochimaru's eyes remained fixed on the old tree in the courtyard, his gaze deep and unreadable. "Three years. That's how long it takes to graduate."
Ren didn't know much about the Ninja Academy, but he wasn't stupid—he quickly guessed it was a place where people learned strange and powerful skills.
"If I go, can I learn the kind of powers you have?" he asked, eyes gleaming with interest.
Orochimaru turned slightly to look at Ren, gave a faint nod, and replied coolly, "It's a place to build your foundation. Real power—you'll have to earn that yourself."
"I understand."
Ren nodded firmly and clenched his small fists. The academy was just the beginning, but… three years? That was too long.
"One year. No… I'll build my foundation in half a year," he thought silently.
But he didn't yet know: the war had just ended, and the Hidden Leaf Village was in no rush to push its new recruits. To reduce casualty rates, the academy now required all students to complete the full three-year program—no exceptions.
In the days that followed, Ren's appetite grew steadily. Orochimaru, on the other hand, was either gone from dawn till night or would vanish for several days entirely.
After just half a month, Ren's once bony frame began to fill out. His loose-fitting clothes now hugged his body more closely.
Then, one morning, Orochimaru suddenly said, "Get ready. We're heading to the academy today."
Though surprised, Ren had mentally prepared himself for this. He changed into a more suitable outfit and followed Orochimaru toward the Ninja Academy.
It was late June, in the 29th year of Konoha's founding. A new generation was about to enter the academy—including one who would become legendary: the future Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
But this time, there was someone new among them—Amano Ren.
On the way, they saw many other ninja walking with their children, heading in the same direction.
Ren kept pace with Orochimaru's quick steps. Everywhere they passed, other ninjas bowed their heads respectfully. As Orochimaru moved ahead, Ren overheard quiet whispers behind them:
"You need to work hard, okay? Try to become an outstanding ninja like Lord Orochimaru one day."
Alongside these words of encouragement, there were also hushed murmurs from onlookers sneaking glances at Ren.
"That's the child Lord Orochimaru brought back from outside the village."
"I heard he's extremely gifted."
"And to be raised by Orochimaru himself… That kid's future is bound to be impressive."
"Even if he's not talented, Orochimaru's guidance alone could make him strong. I wish he were the instructor for my child after graduation."
The academy wasn't close. Along the way, Ren began to understand something: the man walking ahead of him wasn't ordinary. Everyone's attention and admiration were directed toward Orochimaru.
Ren listened to their whispers, saw the reverence in their eyes, and looked at Orochimaru's back.
No, he didn't dream of becoming a great man like him.
He only thought: How do I get power from this man?
When they finally reached the Ninja Academy, Orochimaru's name carried weight. The reception staff treated them warmly and worked at lightning speed. Within minutes, Ren was officially registered as a student of the Hidden Leaf's academy.
With everything settled, Orochimaru glanced at Ren. He didn't offer any words of advice—just left a single sentence behind as he turned away:
"I'm leaving."
Used to Orochimaru's manner, Ren simply nodded and watched his figure disappear. Only then did he follow the chunin escort toward his classroom.
If not for Orochimaru's reputation, that chunin likely wouldn't have guided Ren at all.
On the way there, the chunin sized Ren up. There was something different about him—he didn't act like a normal child. The most striking difference? His calmness. No excitement, no nervousness. Just stillness.
"This is the place."
They stopped in front of a classroom door. The chunin smiled and pointed to it.
"Thank you," Ren said quietly.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room already held many children. As soon as the door creaked open, the chatter stopped. All eyes turned to the unfamiliar boy who had just entered.
But after a few moments, everyone lost interest and returned to what they were doing—except for one.
Minato Namikaze's eyes lit up when he saw Ren. When Ren looked in his direction, Minato smiled gently and waved him over.
The kid sitting next to Minato glanced at him in surprise. Did Minato… know this stranger?
Before today, all the kids in the classroom had at least seen each other a few times. But Ren—he was completely new.
Ren stood at the entrance, silently studying Minato. Golden hair. Eyes as blue as sapphires. He was one of the few who had interacted with Ren before.
Ren hesitated. Should he go over?
Minato seemed to sense the uncertainty in Ren's eyes and gave a small, helpless smile—as if already expecting to be ignored a second time.