"Orochimaru, you're here."
Danzo Shimura's voice carried an unusual warmth. He looked at Orochimaru with a gentle gaze, almost as if he were gazing upon a precious treasure he had long coveted.
"I heard about the Iburi Clan's situation," Danzo continued, his tone filled with false sincerity. "If you need help, just ask, and I will meet your needs. Konoha is a peace-loving village, and the Iburi Clan lives in a forest close to us. As the leading shinobi village, we should have the generosity of a great nation."
Danzo leaned forward, his smile tightening.
"Orochimaru, this research project of yours is excellent. I, Danzo Shimura, will invest. Tell me—how much research funding do you need?"
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed. Danzo's seemingly generous words translated in his mind as oppressive rhetoric, filled with hidden schemes.
Something's wrong. No, everything's wrong. You're not trying to steal my achievements, are you, Danzo?
The man before him looked like an angel investor, overflowing with goodwill. Yet Orochimaru sensed something foul beneath that mask. Still, he could not deny that his heart wavered when he heard the promise of funds.
Not long ago, Orochimaru had emptied his savings to help the Iburi Clan construct their underground laboratory. Resources were scarce, his experiments expensive, and his research demanded more than what he could provide alone. Danzo's words—poisonous as they might be—still tempted him.
Why would I refuse free money, especially when it fuels my research? Orochimaru thought.
Danzo smiled faintly, satisfied to see hesitation in Orochimaru's eyes. He knew the young prodigy's ambition, and he intended to bind it under the banner of Root.
---
Chapter 45 – Chunin Exams
Konoha's biannual Chunin Exams had finally begun. This year, unlike the grand joint tournaments between the Five Great Villages, each village conducted its exams separately. The Hokage believed this reduced unnecessary conflict while still training the next generation of shinobi.
Thus, the total number of candidates was limited to Konoha's own genin.
The first exam was a written test held inside the Academy's largest hall. Rows of young shinobi sat tensely at their desks, pencils scratching against paper. The proctors moved silently between the rows, watching with hawk-like eyes.
Jiraiya slumped in his seat, his expression twisted into an exaggerated mask of fear.
If I fail this exam, won't Lord Jiraiya be humiliated forever? Orochimaru and Tsunade might both become chunin while I remain a genin…
The thought stabbed at his pride. He imagined Tsunade laughing at him, Orochimaru sneering, and the entire village whispering about his failure. His body stiffened in dramatic despair.
No, no, no! How could I, the future Great Sage Jiraiya, end up like this? Even if it's only to stop Tsunade from mocking me, I must pass the Chunin Exams!
Orochimaru, seated nearby, cast him a sidelong glance. Jiraiya looked as if he might burst into tears or laughter at any moment. Orochimaru couldn't help but feel uneasy.
When Jiraiya noticed the gaze, he turned with an overly confident smile, giving a flashy thumbs-up. His pearly white teeth glinted under the exam hall's lanterns with a cheerful ding! sound in Orochimaru's imagination.
That only made Orochimaru worry more.
The first exam wasn't simply about knowledge; it was about information gathering. The questions were intentionally difficult, often beyond what genin were expected to know. The true challenge lay in cheating skillfully without being caught.
Across the room, Tsunade scribbled furiously, her quill scratching across the page with irritation. Jiraiya, meanwhile, scratched his head, staring at the blank paper as though it might suddenly answer itself.
Has he forgotten everything after spending so much time with the toads at Mount Myōboku? Orochimaru thought with a sigh.
Subtly, Orochimaru weaved a genjutsu. When Jiraiya glanced down again, the correct answers shimmered into view across his paper.
Even this way… you can cheat?
The overseer of the exam noticed the subtle use of genjutsu but said nothing. Instead, he allowed a faint smile to appear before masking it again. After all, the exam tested cleverness, not honesty.
One by one, the careless cheaters were disqualified. Finally, the proctor announced, "Those remaining have passed the first exam."
Jiraiya's face lit up. He quickly realized who had helped him and gave Orochimaru a discreet thumbs-up. Though he had noticed the genjutsu, he couldn't help feeling grateful.
"Tch, Orochimaru," Tsunade muttered afterward, draping an arm around Orochimaru's shoulders. "Did you think the homework was hard? Don't tell me you finished that easily."
"It was all stuff I already knew," Orochimaru replied calmly, though his lips curved in a teasing smile.
"You did that on purpose!" Tsunade pinched his cheek, glaring.
"…hmph." Orochimaru looked away, letting her think what she wanted.
---
The second exam was a team battle, where squads of three faced off. Victory or defeat determined whether the team advanced, testing their cooperation. Killing was forbidden, though even without such a rule, no one wished to murder a fellow villager.
Orochimaru's team easily defeated a weaker squad, their coordination flawless.
The third exam shifted to individual battles in the arena. The stands filled with spectators, including the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and his ever-present shadow, Danzo Shimura.
"Begin!" the referee called.
In the first match, Tsunade faced her opponent. Without hesitation, she clenched her fist and smashed the ground with terrifying force.
Boom!
The stone floor shattered, cracks spreading like spiderwebs. Dust rose in thick clouds.
The audience froze, jaws hanging open.
"I-I surrender!" Tsunade's opponent stammered, trembling at the thought of taking such a blow.
"The winner: Tsunade," the referee declared quickly.
Tsunade dusted off her hands and strutted back to the viewing platform. She shot Jiraiya a smug glance.
"…Don't get cocky!" Jiraiya snapped, gripping the railing so hard it bent under his fingers.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched, both exasperated and proud. As expected of Tsunade… her raw strength is beyond compare.
In the crowd, Hyuga Mio's pale eyes flickered toward Orochimaru. Doubt lingered in her mind—should she approach him to ask about the cursed seal on her forehead? Meanwhile, Uchiha Yashiro clenched his fists, recalling his humiliating defeat. If my opponent had been Orochimaru, I wouldn't have lost so badly…
The matches continued.
Aburame Shiki won his bout when his kikaichu frightened his opponent into surrender.
Nara Shikii advanced by outmaneuvering Kanzota with Shadow Imitation.
Inuzuka Nari unleashed Beast Mimicry, spinning into a devastating Piercing Fang to knock out Takeshita Izumi. Orochimaru observed with interest, noting its Yang Release nature.
Sarutobi Antu clashed with Shimura Kazama in a display of Fire versus Wind. Kazama's wind only amplified Antu's flames, leading to his defeat. Danzo's face remained cold, though disappointment flickered in his eyes.
Then came the sixth round—Jiraiya versus Akimichi Kenji.
Jiraiya leapt dramatically into the arena, striking what he believed was a cool pose. "Come on! My rival!"
"You idiot, take this seriously!" Tsunade yelled from the stands, crushing the railing in her grip.
The referee nodded. "Begin!"
"Multi-Size Technique: Human Boulder!" Kenji roared. His body expanded, spinning into a giant ball that barreled toward Jiraiya with shocking speed.
"What the—?!" Jiraiya barely dodged. The Human Boulder bounced off the arena walls, ricocheting like a deadly pinball before slamming into him.
Jiraiya staggered, wincing. He's faster than I thought!
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!" Jiraiya slammed his hands onto the ground. The arena floor turned to sludge, swallowing Kenji mid-charge. The massive boy sank, trapped.
"The winner is Jiraiya!"
Still, Jiraiya, panting, used his Wild Lion Mane Jutsu, extending his hair to pull Kenji free from the swamp. Though clumsy, the act revealed growth. Hiruzen allowed himself the faintest smile.
The seventh match ended swiftly—Hyuga Mio's Byakugan palm strike floored her opponent instantly.
Finally, the eighth round appeared on the scoreboard:
Orochimaru vs. Uchiha Yashiro.
Danzo's gaze sharpened. "Uchiha brat or not," he murmured under his breath, "he won't defeat Orochimaru."
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