Hiruzen Sarutobi unconsciously let out a sigh of relief when Tanya first shook her head.
Good.
At least there was finally something this little monster couldn’t instantly master.
Yet before that relief could fully settle, Tanya nodded.
The Third Hokage froze.
“…You learned it?”
His voice carried a hint of disbelief.
Tanya shook her head again.
“No, Hokage-sama.”
“I learned the hand seal sequence, chakra circulation method, elemental transformations, and the coordination process between the clones.”
She paused.
“But my current chakra reserves are insufficient to actually perform it.”
The answer was calm and matter-of-fact.
After all, she had only recently begun refining chakra.
Even with the extraordinary computational power of the Nine-Five Jewel, she couldn’t create chakra from nothing.
The consecutive use of the Great Fireball Technique and her modified version of the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet had already consumed most of her reserves.
The Five Release: Great Combo Technique required multiple Shadow Clones and simultaneous manipulation of five chakra natures.
For her current body, it was impossible.
At least for now.
Hiruzen opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
The technique had taken years to develop.
Years.
And now a three-year-old child was calmly explaining that the only thing preventing her from using it was insufficient chakra.
The Hokage suddenly felt a headache coming on.
“…This technique is one of the most difficult composite ninjutsu in Konoha.”
He stopped halfway through the sentence.
Because he had just realized something.
The moment Tanya’s chakra reserves reached the necessary level—
She would actually be capable of using it.
The realization was absurd.
And terrifying.
And exciting.
All at once.
For a brief moment, Hiruzen even considered taking on another disciple personally.
His thoughts drifted toward his three students.
Tsunade.
Jiraiya.
Orochimaru.
Among them, Jiraiya was probably the one whose personality resembled his own the most.
Unfortunately, ever since the war ended, Jiraiya had disappeared to travel the world.
Claiming he was searching for the Child of Prophecy.
The thought immediately irritated Hiruzen.
There were countless talented children in Konoha.
Countless people who needed guidance.
Yet Jiraiya had run off chasing prophecies.
The old Hokage still remembered their conversation.
“Teacher, you don’t understand.”
“I need to find the child who will bring peace to the world.”
At the time, Hiruzen had nearly exploded.
In his opinion, Konoha needed Jiraiya far more than some vague prophecy.
Knowing Jiraiya’s personality, Hiruzen strongly suspected that “intelligence gathering” and “research” occupied far more of his schedule than any actual search for destiny.
Just as he was lost in thought—
A cold voice interrupted him.
“Sensei.”
“It seems you’ve found an interesting child.”
The voice was calm.
Almost emotionless.
Hiruzen immediately recognized it.
Orochimaru.
Standing not far away, the pale-faced shinobi watched the scene quietly.
His golden snake-like eyes never left Tanya.
Unlike most people, he wasn’t looking at her performance.
More specifically—
The strange golden glow that had appeared whenever she analyzed a technique.
Hiruzen’s expression softened slightly.
“Orochimaru.”
“You’ve arrived.”
The joy he felt moments ago diminished somewhat.
Recent years had not been kind to his student.
Ever since the deaths of Nawaki and Dan, Orochimaru had changed.
The once brilliant prodigy had become increasingly withdrawn.
Increasingly obsessed with death.
Increasingly detached.
The change worried Hiruzen greatly.
“What do you think of her?”
Orochimaru approached slowly.
His gaze remained fixed on Tanya.
“Her talent is the greatest I’ve ever seen.”
His answer came without hesitation.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
“You summoned me because of her?”
He had actually arrived some time ago.
Long enough to witness every demonstration.
Long enough to observe Tanya’s eyes turning gold whenever she entered that strange analytical state.
An unknown eye-related ability.
An unknown Bloodline Limit.
At least, that was his current assumption.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Meanwhile, Tanya quietly observed him.
Pale skin.
Snake-like eyes.
An unnaturally calm demeanor.
The man radiated danger.
Not overt hostility.
But danger nonetheless.
This is Orochimaru.
One of the Legendary Sannin.
Even in the future, his name would remain famous throughout the shinobi world.
The fact that Hiruzen had called him here could only mean one thing.
The Hokage had already made a decision.
As if to confirm her thoughts, Hiruzen spoke.
“Orochimaru.”
His voice became serious.
“At the moment, there is only one person in Konoha capable of teaching this child properly.”
The implication was obvious.
Orochimaru instinctively wanted to refuse.
The memories returned immediately.
Nawaki’s smile.
Dan’s advice.
Tsunade’s tears.
The battlefield.
The corpses.
The endless funerals.
Peace was temporary.
War always returned.
It always did.
He knew that better than anyone.
If he accepted a disciple—
What then?
Would he simply watch another gifted child die?
Would he witness another tragedy?
Would history repeat itself?
The hesitation appeared plainly on his face.
Hiruzen immediately noticed.
His expression hardened.
“Orochimaru.”
“Do you truly intend to continue like this?”
His student stiffened.
The Hokage stepped forward.
“Look at yourself.”
“You’ve lost all vitality.”
His eyes locked onto Orochimaru’s.
“Will you continue drowning in despair forever?”
The words struck harder than any attack.
Among all his disciples, Orochimaru had always been the one Hiruzen valued most.
His intelligence.
His talent.
His potential.
Everything pointed toward greatness.
In Hiruzen’s eyes, Orochimaru had once been the most suitable candidate to become the Fourth Hokage.
Even now, he still hoped his student could recover.
Tanya was not merely an opportunity for the child.
She was an opportunity for Orochimaru as well.
For several moments, silence filled the lakeside.
Then Orochimaru slowly looked at Tanya.
The strange girl stared back at him calmly.
There was something familiar about her.
Not her personality.
Not her appearance.
Her eyes.
The way she viewed the world.
The detached rationality hidden beneath the surface.
Gradually, the resistance within him weakened.
Perhaps…
Perhaps teaching this child wouldn’t be so bad.
The decision was made.
Orochimaru lowered his gaze toward Tanya.
His voice was quieter than before.
“Tanya.”
“Would you be willing to become my disciple?”
Finally.
Tanya’s heart leapt.
She had been waiting for this exact moment.
Without the slightest hesitation, she bowed immediately.
“Disciple Tanya greets Master.”
From her perspective, the benefits were enormous.
Resources.
Protection.
Knowledge.
Status.
Most importantly, she would now become part of the Hokage’s direct lineage.
In the current Konoha, that provided tremendous security.
For the first time in quite a while, a faint smile appeared on Orochimaru’s face.
A genuine one.
Though small, it was real.
“Very well.”
He nodded.
Then turned toward Hiruzen.
“Sensei.”
“I’ll take Tanya with me.”
He bowed slightly.
Then gestured for Tanya to follow.
Without delay, Tanya stepped after him.
Before leaving, however, she still stopped and respectfully bowed toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage watched their departing figures.
For a long moment, he remained silent.
Then he sighed.
Perhaps this decision would change both of their futures.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the two figures disappear into the distance, sighed, and decided that he would reward himself by peeping into the women’s bathhouse for one minute with his crystal ball after handling some official business.
This was also to check if there were any spies from enemy villages in Konoha.