It wasn't until the first class was nearly over that a distinctive, raspy voice echoed through the room.
"Class One, follow me."
Orochimaru stood at the classroom door, his presence alone chilling the air. The moment he appeared, silence fell over the students. His aura carried a weight no ordinary shinobi could ever hope to match.
Today, Orochimaru had abandoned his usual flowing kimono, instead donning a dark ninja outfit with a standard Jonin vest layered on top. The change only made him look sharper and far more imposing.
His serpent-like golden eyes briefly swept over Nishimura before he turned away and walked out.
Hayashi and his companions immediately rose to their feet. After a quick farewell to Kushina and Minato, the three hurried after their teacher.
But Orochimaru's pace quickened, forcing them to push harder to keep up.
For Hayashi, this speed was hardly an issue. Nawaki, skilled in taijutsu, managed to match the pace though with some effort. Mikoto, however, was beginning to struggle.
Their chase carried them through the village and soon toward the great gates of Konoha. Hayashi silently sighed with relief, believing that Orochimaru would slow down there and give Mikoto and Nawaki a chance to rest.
Yet Orochimaru showed no such mercy.
Without warning, a scroll appeared in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it at the wall beside the gate guard, embedding it deep into the stone.
The move was precise, flawless—and unnecessarily intimidating.
The guards stared, dumbfounded, as the four of them rushed through the gate without pause.
"Who do they think they are, acting so arrogant?" muttered a young Chunin indignantly.
"Quiet, fool," the older guard beside him hissed. "That's Orochimaru. His teacher is the Hokage himself. Do you want to lose your post?"
The younger one clicked his tongue in frustration but said no more.
Beyond the gates, Orochimaru led them eastward. Their figures blurred, moving at speeds most eyes could not follow.
A faint glance from Orochimaru's golden eyes swept over the three trailing behind him.
"Not bad."
Hayashi still ran with ease, while Mikoto and Nawaki, though sweating and breathing harder, kept pace admirably. It was proof of how far they had grown in the past three years.
What caught Orochimaru's attention most was Mikoto. Once frail and lacking stamina, she now showed surprising resilience. He recalled pointing out her weakness years ago—and it seemed she had taken his words to heart.
His lips curled into a thin, unsettling smile. His tongue flicked across them.
"Interesting. So many promising talents gathered together. What kind of storm will you stir up, Hayashi? I'll be watching closely."
With that thought, he accelerated again.
Hours passed beneath the sun as their journey stretched on. Though Hayashi remained composed, Mikoto began to falter, and Nawaki's breathing grew ragged.
Finally, Orochimaru slowed, judging their limits reached.
The group's pace decreased until, at last, Orochimaru raised his hand.
"Stop."
The moment he did, Nawaki collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
"I… can't… move anymore. Even if you kill me, I'm not running another step," he groaned.
Hayashi could only sigh at his dramatic words.
Mikoto, though nearly as exhausted, forced herself upright, unwilling to show weakness in front of Hayashi.
"Here, drink this," Hayashi said, offering her his water flask.
Nawaki reached out with hope in his eyes, but neither of them paid him any attention.
"Rest here," Orochimaru ordered, his hoarse voice calm yet commanding.
Nawaki quickly pulled out some rations from his pouch, tearing into them desperately. But before he could take a bite, Orochimaru's lips curled in a sinister smile.
"Nawaki, you'd better throw that away. I poisoned it earlier."
Nawaki froze, his expression blank.
"This forest has plenty of animals and fresh water," Orochimaru continued. "From now on, you'll need to secure your own supplies. And remember, that includes food for me as well."
His golden eyes gleamed with amusement.
"So hurry up and hunt something. I'm hungry, and I'd like grilled meat tonight."
____
Send Power stones 🥀
Advanced chapters are available on patreon
Patreon.com/Zphyr