A week might seem like a short time, but under Orochimaru's focused and rigorous training, all three students—Amano Ren, Kuki Yukina, and Hokushinya—could feel their strength rapidly improving. Each had already mastered several practical ninjutsu techniques. The results they achieved in just one week were impressive—not only because of their solid foundations but also due to Orochimaru's expert guidance. This was the true value of a seasoned team leader: someone who could accelerate the growth of freshly graduated academy students at an astonishing pace.
Of course, progress also depended heavily on individual talent.
Hokushinya was introverted by nature, but deep inside, he had a strong, burning determination. Over the past week, his training volume matched that of Kuki Yukina's, yet his improvement lagged far behind. And when compared to Amano Ren, who had subjected himself to an even more brutal training regimen, the gap was even more disheartening.
The world isn't fair.
Most people are destined from birth. No matter how much effort they put in, it's a comforting illusion to believe that hard work alone can match innate talent. Some people are simply born with extraordinary gifts—and others can only watch, envious, unable to catch up.
Seeing Amano Ren and Kuki Yukina pulling ahead of him, Hokushinya became deeply discouraged. The disparity between them had always existed, even back in the Ninja Academy, but under Orochimaru's guidance, the gap had become even starker—so much so that it pained him.
Why, after training just as hard, did the results fall so short compared to Amano Ren and Yukina?
That frustration simmered inside Hokushinya, but to his credit, he didn't slack off. He completed every task Orochimaru assigned, because he knew—if he didn't—he might be dropped from the team before they even carried out their first mission.
Kuki Yukina, though a kunoichi, possessed talent that rivaled even the most promising male shinobi. She combined the fine-tuned chakra control typical of female ninja with the stamina and strength of their male counterparts. There was no doubt: she was a genius. If nothing unexpected happened, Orochimaru believed she had the potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Sannin one day.
But...
While Yukina's growth surprised Orochimaru, it was Amano Ren who truly left him astonished.
When Amano demonstrated a stable and refined control of his chakra, Orochimaru immediately tested his elemental affinity. The results: Lightning, Wind, and Fire.
It wasn't the possession of three chakra natures that impressed Orochimaru the most. What did, was how Amano could reproduce a jutsu after seeing Orochimaru demonstrate the hand seals only once. Even though his first attempt was clumsy and the technique weak, the fact that he could use it at all on his first try was nothing short of remarkable. With practice, mastery seemed inevitable.
After recognizing Amano's raw potential, Orochimaru maintained his usual cold demeanor on the outside. But internally, he felt deeply validated for his decision to take the boy under his wing.
That rainy day when he first laid eyes on Amano, he had sensed something—something monumental. The boy, he believed, would one day grow into a towering tree that reached the heavens.
On the final night of training…
Amano Ren was still pushing through his high-intensity workout. Because of his unique physical condition, his training far exceeded what Yukina or Hokushinya could imagine. While Hokushinya might have noticed Amano's brilliance, he had completely overlooked Amano's relentless effort.
Late at night, in the courtyard beneath an ancient tree, the boy moved like a machine—repeating the same heavy-lifting motion with a massive stone barbell. In the glow of the moonlight, only his labored breathing echoed in the silence.
"Your first mission starts tomorrow. You'd better conserve your energy and get into the right state of mind."
The raspy, cold voice came from the corridor connecting the house to the garden.
Amano abruptly stopped mid-lift, exhaled sharply, then slowly lowered the barbell to the ground. He turned his head to look at the tall figure standing in the shadows.
"I'm well aware of my physical limits," Amano said. He hadn't stopped because of Orochimaru's warning—rather, he believed that setting down the weights before speaking was a form of respect.
Orochimaru's eyes briefly gleamed as he watched Amano, recalling the boy's unique physiology. "Good," he replied simply, then turned and walked toward his bedroom without another word.
As Orochimaru vanished from sight, Amano resumed his repetitive training as if nothing had interrupted him.
Ever since learning that food energy could quickly restore his physical fatigue, Amano had trained like a madman—never concerned about potential injury from overexertion.
Fewer than ten people in the Hidden Leaf Village knew about Amano's unusual condition. Among those who didn't know were the members of the Akimichi Clan. While Amano's body couldn't convert food energy into chakra like the Akimichi could, he could still use it to recover his physical condition. This detail, the Third Hokage believed, might lead the Akimichi to take an unusual interest—so it was best they never learned about it.
But Amano believed there was more to his body than just rapid physical recovery.
As time went on, his control over bodily coordination had sharpened remarkably. He couldn't fully articulate it, but he had a gut feeling—this body he inhabited since arriving in this world possessed far more potential than met the eye.
After finishing his training, Amano washed up, devoured a large meal, and then went to bed without delay.
The Next Morning…
As the first rays of dawn lit up the room, Amano Ren sprang out of bed, stretched his limbs, and twisted his neck with a satisfying pop.
Despite the daily intense training, his body showed no signs of wear or fatigue. In fact, each morning he woke up feeling even more refreshed and energized than the day before.
"I wonder what our first mission will be…"
Without waiting for Orochimaru, Amano left early and headed straight to their designated meeting spot.
When he arrived at the familiar training grounds, morning mist still clung to the air. He leaned casually against one of the wooden pillars and closed his eyes, resting lightly.
"Morning, Amano," came a voice some time later.
It was Hokushinya, the second to arrive. He greeted Amano instinctively upon seeing him already there.
"Morning," Amano replied, giving a small nod without opening his eyes.
Hokushinya glanced around, noting that Orochimaru and Yukina hadn't arrived yet, and crouched down beside Amano.
Moments later, Kuki Yukina appeared, slightly out of breath—and behind her, Orochimaru emerged as well.
True to his straightforward style, Orochimaru wasted no time.
"Our next assignment is a C-rank mission. Your objective: eliminate a band of raiders. I'll explain the details on the way. Let's move."
He turned and walked toward the village gates without waiting for a reply.
Eliminate raiders…
That meant this mission would involve killing.
With unspoken thoughts churning in his mind, Amano followed Orochimaru toward the gates. The sentries at the entrance gave the group a passing glance as they exited the Hidden Leaf Village.
This was Amano's first time stepping outside the village since arriving over three years ago. While it might seem strange to outsiders that someone would remain confined to the village for so long, it was perfectly normal—because the world beyond was dangerous. Amano had known this early on.
Despite being his first time out in years, Amano didn't feel much excitement. Instead, he focused on listening to Orochimaru's briefing.
The mission was commissioned by a riverside village nestled between mountains and water, located more than 200 li (approx. 100 kilometers) from Konoha. This peaceful village, made up entirely of civilians, hadn't been a target for enemy shinobi—after all, the Land of Fire wasn't a warfront.
But recently, a group of bandits had appeared, setting up camp in the mountains and regularly raiding the village. They killed, stole, and treated the villagers like livestock. Rather than wiping the village out in one swoop, the bandits had kept them alive—just barely—like cattle being raised for slaughter.
Eventually, unable to endure the suffering any longer, the villagers sent a young man to Konoha to request aid.
Orochimaru had taken the mission without hesitation. The reason was simple: for shinobi, killing was just another part of life. But every journey had a first step.
And for Amano Ren and his teammates, this mission would be their first drop of blood in the long road of being a ninja.