“This is bad!
Get out of the way!” Anko tried to rush over, but she was nowhere near fast enough.
All she could do was watch helplessly as the giant snake crashed down on top of Muzan.
Back in the Hokage Tower, the two watching through the crystal ball saw the same scene.
If Sakumo’s son died beneath Orochimaru’s summoned snake, Konoha would become the laughingstock of the ninja world.
Worse, they could lose the support of someone who might one day become a Kage-level powerhouse.
“Not good!” Tsunade immediately prepared to rush over, only to feel someone stop her by the shoulder.
She turned to see the Third Hokage wearing a solemn expression as he pointed toward a spot hidden within the dust cloud.
“If you go now, it’ll already be too late.
You might as well watch how he handles this.” “Don’t forget…
he learned your Monster Strength.” Meanwhile, inside the Forest of Death, Anko and Mari charged straight into the dust cloud, desperate to pull Muzan free.
What they saw was something they would never forget.
Muzan was indeed trapped beneath the giant snake.
But not in the way they imagined.
His hands were braced beneath the snake’s lower jaw.
His small body looked as though it were carrying an entire mountain.
Terrifying strength flowed from his body into the ground beneath him, crushing the earth into a deep crater.
“Get up!” For the first time, he truly understood what it meant to lift mountains with sheer strength.
Every step he took made the earth tremble.
With a roar, he threw the giant snake aside.
Beneath his black robe, muscles split apart as crimson blood seeped through the fabric, filling the air with the scent of iron.
Yet the torn flesh regenerated at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Panting heavily, Muzan collapsed onto the ground.
“Good thing I’m strong.” “If I’d been any weaker, I’d be a puddle of meat by now.” Even after surviving such a close call, he didn’t seem particularly worried.
Instead, he looked at the two who had rushed over and laughed.
“Were you two amazed by how cool I looked just now?” Neither of them laughed.
Mari anxiously inspected his injuries, while Anko simply punched him square in the chest.
“You idiot!
Do you realize you almost died?!” The punch actually aggravated his internal injuries.
Just as Muzan opened his mouth to complain, Anko immediately shoved an entire skewer of dango into it.
The overly sweet taste nearly made him spit it back out.
“Ugh!
That’s disgusting!
I hate dango!” Poof!
The giant snake dissolved into smoke.
Orochimaru’s summon had been defeated by the combined efforts of the three of them.
Even Muzan knew they had been lucky.
Without Anko and Mari creating the opening, he never would have managed to shove the explosive tag into the snake’s mouth for the finishing blow.
On his own, he could have injured it at best.
Whether he could have escaped alive afterward would’ve depended entirely on luck.
Clap…
clap…
clap…
Applause echoed from deep within the Forest of Death.
Stepping over broken branches and fallen trees, Orochimaru slowly walked toward them.
“Congratulations.” “You’ve become true genin.” “From today onward…
you may call me Sensei.” His gaze swept across Anko and Mari before lingering on Mari for several seconds.
“I never expected a coward like Ito Mari to pick up a kunai to protect his comrades.” “But remember this.” “In front of someone truly strong, your so-called protection only becomes a burden.” Faced with Orochimaru’s merciless criticism, Mari lowered his head.
Tears already covered his face as he quietly swallowed his frustration.
“Y-Yes…
Orochimaru-sensei…” If it hadn’t been for me…
Muzan would’ve defeated the giant snake much sooner…
Mari accepted Orochimaru’s criticism without complaint.
That didn’t mean Muzan would.
“Orochimaru-sensei.” “This time…
you’re wrong.” “Without my teammates’ help, I never would’ve gotten the explosive tag into the snake’s mouth.” Orochimaru said nothing.
Instead, an aura as deadly as a venomous serpent enveloped all three of them.
I’m going to die…
I’m going to die…
Mari’s entire body trembled.
Compared to the giant snake, the predator standing before them was a hundred times more terrifying.
His body froze completely.
Then, in the next instant…
The pressure disappeared.
“Hahaha…” Orochimaru extended his unnaturally long tongue and slowly licked across each of their faces.
Anko and Mari froze stiff.
Muzan only felt sick.
As expected of Uncle Snake.
“Interesting child.” “If you don’t want to become dead weight…” “Then keep up.” “I hope the three of you can become the wind that stirs this decaying Konoha.” “Now then…” “My dear disciples.” “From this moment on, I’ll make you stronger.” At this point in time, Orochimaru had already begun growing indifferent toward human life.
Even so, he still genuinely loved the village and wanted to change Konoha’s corruption in his own way.
Of course, after the Third Great Ninja War, his plans would collapse.
That failure would eventually drive him into an obsession with forbidden research, culminating in his attack on Konoha years later.
“Yes, Orochimaru-sensei!” From this day forward, they would call him Sensei, no longer merely a superior officer.
Muzan had officially become part of the Hokage’s faction.
And not just any member, he was one of its brightest rising stars.
After all, both Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru were candidates for Hokage.
Before the Yellow Flash became famous throughout the ninja world, those two had carried Konoha on their shoulders.
As Sakumo’s son, Orochimaru’s disciple, and the strongest member of Konoha’s new generation…
If nothing unexpected happened, there was a genuine possibility that Muzan could one day become the Fifth Hokage.
Provided his father didn’t commit suicide…
Provided Orochimaru never betrayed Konoha…
The road ahead was still long.
No one doubted Orochimaru’s ability as a teacher.
In the future, he would train the Sound Four and countless other powerful shinobi.
His skill at nurturing talent spoke for itself.
Muzan’s fundamentals were already exceptionally solid.
He had trained his chakra control since childhood and possessed an enormous chakra reserve.
His weakness lay elsewhere.
He lacked decisive offensive techniques.
The fact that he had needed an explosive tag just to defeat the giant snake was proof enough.
“Whether it’s taijutsu…” “Or the Hatake Clan’s inherited swordsmanship…” “Neither will improve you very much from this point onward.” “You possess all five chakra natures.” “So from now on…” “I’ll teach you every kind of ninjutsu.” “Even forbidden techniques.” While immersing himself in scientific research, Orochimaru had already developed numerous forbidden techniques capable of altering the human body.
As for Anko and Mari, their training focused primarily on chakra control.
Tree climbing.
Water walking.
A standard but effective foundation.
Orochimaru also skipped the usual D-rank village chores.
Rather than wasting time pulling weeds for “experience,” he believed a few dangerous missions were far more valuable.
Bang!
Muzan devoted nearly all of his time to learning new ninjutsu and constantly fighting different opponents.
To strengthen Konoha’s next generation as quickly as possible, Orochimaru chose a far more dangerous path.
He intended to expose them to the darkness of the ninja world ahead of schedule.
“Starting tomorrow…” “We’ll be leaving the village to carry out a C-rank mission.” “Prepare yourselves.” “Because there’s a chance we’ll encounter enemy shinobi.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Hidden_Quill Thank you so much for reading!