Crack-like streaks of crimson spread outward from the edges of his pupils, slowly writhing.
Orochimaru could clearly hear the heartbeat inside his chest.
It grew louder and more violent, shaking his ribs until they went numb.
With every beat, those crimson lines pulsed along with it.
This was…
What the hell was this?!
Watching the crimson gradually cover the entire void, Orochimaru instinctively mobilized his chakra.
A tremendous force erupted from his body and tore the illusion apart.
Huff.
The scenery around him returned to normal.
Color came back, and the air became breathable again.
A drop of cold sweat slid down Orochimaru’s temple and slipped into his collar as he lowered his head.
When he looked at Shingetsu’s eyes again, they had already returned to their usual black.
But remembering that blood-red gaze in the darkness still sent a chill down his spine.
After steadying his breathing, Orochimaru spoke in a hoarse voice.
“Just a single tomoe…
How is that possible?
That level of eye power has already far surpassed the two tomoe.
It’s infinitely close to the level of three tomoe!”
Shingetsu spread his hands helplessly.
“Can’t be helped.
Maybe it’s because mine is a compressed version.
One tomoe is stronger than two.”
“It’s like how the force is in your hands when you punch, or in your feet when you run.”
“Unlike the normal condition of needing chakra to activate it, my condition for awakening my eyes is focusing my attention on them.
When I do that, it’s hard for my body to perform precise movements.”
Shingetsu spat to the side and snorted.
“When I showed Mikoto, she had no idea how powerful this condensed version of mine was!
She even thought I was about the same as her!”
“If she weren’t so weak that I was afraid I’d knock her stupid, I really would’ve let her try it!”
Worried about his little sister getting hurt, but not worried about his sensei…
Hm…
Shingetsu-kun must believe I’ll be fine.
That’s his recognition of my strength.
Orochimaru nodded.
Ordinary sensory ninjutsu already could not detect Shingetsu, who had no chakra.
In his normal state, he possessed the insight of the Sharingan, and when necessary, he could also unleash an eye-power attack.
Orochimaru could not help but praise him.
“An organ-mutation-type Kekkei Genkai with no obvious external traits.
It’s practically art.”
“Most people would never imagine that the attack has already begun the moment the eyes open.”
“Concealed and powerful.
It could be called the ultimate assassination weapon.”
Shingetsu shook his head helplessly.
“Before the Mangekyō, the Sharingan’s biggest use is looking cool.
Mine doesn’t even have its most important function anymore, so what kind of art is that?”
“My usual dynamic vision is already enough.
I generally don’t like awakening my eyes.
It makes people think I’m almost ten and only have one tomoe.
That’s way too embarrassing.”
This was the first time Orochimaru had ever heard anyone say that.
The Sharingan was for looking cool?
“Shingetsu…”
Orochimaru hesitated for a while, but still said, “You can’t learn ninjutsu.
Any Jōnin could give you the same help I can, and the Uchiha Clan has no shortage of them.”
“You could have kept your information hidden and acted as a secret weapon within the Uchiha Clan.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know about the delicate relationship between the village and the Uchiha.”
“I taught you that a ninja’s battle is a battle of intelligence.”
Orochimaru looked at Shingetsu, rare seriousness on his cold face.
He could feel Shingetsu’s trust.
In that case, he would choose to trust Shingetsu too and speak openly about certain things.
The village’s wariness toward the Uchiha had always existed.
Although his sensei had never stated it outright, the two elders, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, had spoken to him before, telling him not to tell Shingetsu anything about the higher-ups.
The corners of Shingetsu’s mouth lifted, and he spread both hands.
“As for the reason…”
“I’m strong!
Very strong!”
“I was born into this world as someone strong.
I understood that from the moment I was born!”
“Since I was born this way, I really shouldn’t be greedy.”
Shingetsu opened his arms wide, his still-childish face filled with arrogance.
“Hiding information is a privilege of the weak.
How could I do something like that and squeeze away what little room they have to survive?”
“I’m right, aren’t I, Orochimaru-sensei?”
Orochimaru was silent for a long time, then shook his head with a faint smile.
“If I were still a boy, I would have mocked your immaturity.”
“But now, I’ll praise you.”
“Someone who can firmly believe in their own strength is undoubtedly strong.”
Perhaps that conviction was exactly why the power of Heavenly Restriction existed in him.
Not a curse, but a blessing.
“Hey!
Orochimaru, this might not be the best time for me to show up.”
“But it is the time we agreed on.”
Shingetsu was startled.
The voice was too close!
Even if the Sharingan did not have the Byakugan’s blind-spot-free insight, there was no way he should have failed to notice someone getting this close.
He suddenly turned his head.
What entered his view was a tall, handsome man in his twenties with silver-gray hair, wearing a Jōnin vest.
The man raised a hand with a bright smile.
“I’m Sakumo Hatake.
Nice to meet you, Shingetsu-kun.”
Oh, it’s him.
Then it’s fine.
The genius ninja of the Hatake Clan, the man who surpassed the Sannin and became the youngest person promoted to Jōnin since Konoha’s founding, Sakumo Hatake, known as the White Fang.
And in the Second Shinobi World War that would soon follow, this man would truly become famous.
The name Konoha’s White Fang would strike fear throughout the Ninja World.
His name would even echo into later generations, to the point that officials of the Land of Fire would refer to Kakashi as the Son of the White Fang.
“I almost forgot…
Sakumo.”
Orochimaru and Sakumo Hatake were from the same generation.
The fact that he called him by name and spoke so casually showed that the two had a good relationship.
“Jōnin Hatake,” Shingetsu greeted him, then looked to Orochimaru for an explanation.
Orochimaru placed a hand on Shingetsu’s shoulder and said, “I’ll be leaving on a mission in two days, and I won’t be able to return to the village for quite some time.”
“I specifically asked him to come guide you.
Even Hokage-sama has highly praised the Hatake Clan’s inherited sword techniques.
Make good use of this opportunity.”
Patting Shingetsu’s shoulder, Orochimaru said calmly, “I found a lead on the matter you mentioned before.
That person is currently within the Land of Fire.”
Shingetsu’s eyes lit up.
That person was tied to whether he could use ninjutsu or not.
He had not expected Orochimaru to find them so quickly.
“You’ve got something, Orochimaru-sensei!”
Orochimaru smiled helplessly.
“I don’t quite understand, but I assume that was meant as praise.”
“That person is very dangerous.
If you hadn’t passed my test, I would have waited until I came back and gone with Sakumo.”
“In any case…
it’s time for you to see the real ninja world.
From now on…”
Orochimaru did not continue.
At his position, he could already see clearly that the Second Shinobi World War was unavoidable.
In fact, according to later records, it might not be wrong to say the Second Shinobi World War had already begun.
Sakumo Hatake said calmly, “Orochimaru already told me the details of the mission, but if Shingetsu-kun is coming too…”
He leaned a little closer and grinned.
“Then that adds another task, looking after a junior.
You’ll have to pay extra!”
Orochimaru took a stack of ryō from his robe.
“Here.”
“Heh, then I’ll count this as an early wedding gift!”
Sakumo quickly put the money away.
He had recently confirmed his relationship with his childhood sweetheart and was thinking of holding the wedding once the situation grew a little more stable.
“Mm.
I still have village matters to deal with, so I’ll go first.”
Before leaving, Orochimaru gave Shingetsu a long look and fell silent for a moment.
“The total payment is eight hundred thousand ryō.
You’ll have to pay me back later.”
Shingetsu laughed brightly.
“Just say you’re worried about me.
Don’t worry, I’ll come back safely!”
“No, I’m serious,” Orochimaru said solemnly.
For the past half year, Shingetsu had been eating his food and drinking his supplies, and the amount was dozens of times that of an ordinary person.
On top of that, Orochimaru had issued missions to search for that person’s whereabouts, and now he had hired Sakumo.
All of that had nearly used up half the mission funds he had saved over the years.
As for the other half, two-thirds had been borrowed by Tsunade for gambling, and one-third had been borrowed by Jiraiya for gathering material.
He truly had no money left.
Watching Orochimaru walk away, Sakumo leaned close to Shingetsu and grinned.
“I bet you won’t pay him back.
I can see right through you, kid.”
Shingetsu shook his head.
“What are you talking about?
I’ll pay him back slowly.
Bit by bit.”
“It’s fine.
Orochimaru-sensei makes money fast.
He’s Konoha’s number one workhorse.”
“Yeah.
The guy doesn’t even have a wife or kids, so why does he work himself so hard?” Sakumo crossed his arms and gossiped about Orochimaru behind his back together with Shingetsu.
“Hey, I heard you can’t use ninjutsu.
I have a secret taijutsu ultimate technique that’s left countless ninja with painful memories.
It’s incredibly powerful!”
“For just one thousand ryō, I’ll teach it to you.
What do you say?”
A technique that makes people suffer like they’ve died for a thousand years?
That did sound powerful.
Shingetsu could not understand it.
How could a shameless bastard who came up with a technique like One Thousand Years of Death and spread it around ever commit suicide?
This guy seemed even flashier than his son.
Should he say…
as expected of a Konoha villager?
Their bullying methods really were on another level.
No.
I have to stay alert at all times.
Before they bully me, I have to bully them hard first!