"What should we do now? How are we supposed to catch animals at a time like this?" Nawaki muttered, clearly frustrated.
He had come into the mission thinking it would be simple. That was why he had packed plenty of soldier pills and dry rations, only to discover they were completely useless under Orochimaru's conditions. Worse still, he had never actually hunted before.
Hayashi thought for a moment, then narrowed his eyes. "Let's split up into three groups and try on our own first. If no one succeeds, we'll regroup here."
Mikoto, silent for a few seconds, gave a small nod. "Alright."
Outvoted two to one, Nawaki reluctantly agreed.
The three split off, each heading in a different direction.
---
After running for a while, Hayashi stopped beneath the branches of a large tree. He scanned his surroundings carefully. Twilight had already begun to settle, and under the dense canopy, the light was dim, visibility low. A perfect environment for traps.
From the moment Orochimaru had led them straight into this "mission," Hayashi had suspected something.
The Third Hokage might have called this a mission, but in reality, it was clearly a survival exercise. Normally, a Jonin instructor would begin by gathering their team at a training ground, speaking about their goals, hobbies, and teamwork, maybe even starting with a bell test or a shared meal to build camaraderie.
But Orochimaru had done none of that. Instead, he forced them to run long distances, forbade the use of soldier pills and rations, and demanded they hunt for their own food.
If Hayashi failed to recognize the pattern, he would be too careless to call himself a shinobi of Konoha. This was Orochimaru's way of testing them—sharpening their survival instincts.
That was why Hayashi suggested splitting up. Survival wasn't just about strength, but awareness and adaptability.
He wasn't worried about Mikoto. She had trained under Orochimaru for years and was quick to react. The only real concern was Nawaki, who was far too reckless.
After hesitating a moment, Hayashi bit his finger. "Summoning Jutsu."
With a puff of smoke, a one-meter-long white snake appeared, slithering up his body until it draped around his neck.
This was a summon he had gained after Orochimaru gave him the contract. The snake was exceptionally skilled in detection and scouting, though her personality left much to be desired.
The snake flicked her tongue and nuzzled close. "Little Hayashi, it's only been one night. Did you miss me?"
Hayashi stiffened, trying to hide his discomfort. Of all the summons he could have drawn, he ended up with this eccentric creature.
"Dabai, help me scan the area," he ordered quickly. "Look for any signs of traps or prey."
But Dabai only brushed against his ear. "Is that all you have to say to me?"
Hayashi sighed. "Fine, fine. If you do a good job, I'll introduce you to Nawaki later. He's… lively, strong, comes from a good family. You'll like him."
The snake hissed, unimpressed, but finally complied.
"There's an explosive tag under your right foot," she warned.
Hayashi immediately shifted to the side.
"Careful. Grass pile to your left has a kunai trap aimed at you."
Her instructions kept coming, and Hayashi had to move constantly to avoid one hidden danger after another.
"...You really don't hold back, do you, Orochimaru-sensei," Hayashi muttered with a strained smile.
Just then, a deafening boom shook the forest.
"Argh! Orochimaru, you bastard, I'll kill you!" Nawaki's voice echoed in the distance, full of outrage.
Hayashi could only pinch the bridge of his nose. "Nawaki, you idiot…"
---
Half an hour later, Hayashi dragged back the massive body of a wild boar. Mikoto returned as well, carrying a captured chicken.
As for Nawaki, at first there was no sign of him. When Hayashi looked closer, he finally noticed a dark figure crouched by the fire.
At first glance, he nearly thought it was a charred corpse. But when he got closer, he realized it was indeed Nawaki—burned black, his clothes tattered, his hair frizzled.
Hayashi let out a low whistle. "That's… a look."
Orochimaru sat by the flames, his golden eyes reflecting the firelight.
"Nawaki, if this had been a real battlefield, you'd already be dead from that trap," he said calmly.
His gaze swept over the three of them. "Raw strength matters, but what's more important is the will and ability to survive. You may not learn many ninjutsu from me, but I will teach you the instincts necessary to live through missions and battlefields. That is worth more than power alone."
The three young shinobi exchanged glances, the lesson sinking in.
---