As the sun dipped below the horizon, a carriage rolled slowly along a winding mountain path surrounded by thick trees.
Orochimaru, dressed neatly in a fresh kimono, guided the reins at the front.
Sitting inside the carriage, Hayashi couldn't help but wonder—was Orochimaru obsessed with kimonos? Why did he always wear them, even on missions?
He began analyzing his teacher's strange habits.
Ninjas rarely wore kimonos unless it was for formality. Could it be that Orochimaru had been single for so long that his fascination had twisted into something... eccentric? Maybe he had become so used to the sight that he ended up turning himself into a woman just to see one more often?
The more Hayashi thought about it, the more unsettlingly plausible it sounded. He shuddered.
Next to him, Uchiha Mikoto sat quietly, her gaze soft and thoughtful as she watched him think.
At the back of the carriage sat Nawaki, his messy blond hair catching the fading sunlight. Compared to the others, his looks were rather ordinary—an average face among two prodigies and a Sannin.
Right now, he was crouched with his back turned, counting his gold bars for what must have been the tenth time. After confirming the number, he stuffed them carefully into his underwear and sighed in satisfaction.
"We can finally go back to Konoha!" he said with an eager grin.
Everyone's expression softened at that.
Hayashi stretched out lazily, his body relaxed against the gentle rocking of the carriage.
After resting a night in Roguetown, they were now on their return journey to the Hidden Leaf. This time, unlike their hurried trip before, they took a slower route by carriage—each of them was still recovering from injuries.
As for Roguetown itself, Konoha would send another team to handle the aftermath. That wasn't their concern anymore.
"Everyone has worked hard these past few days," Orochimaru said softly, a faint smile on his lips. Now that they had left the danger zone, his sharp expression eased. From the moment this mission began, he had remained constantly alert, always keeping an eye on the safety of his students.
Nawaki rubbed his palms together excitedly. "When I get back, I'm buying a hundred manga books—all about action and romance! My collection's coming back, baby!"
Hayashi raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Tsunade-srnsei sell all your hidden stash the last time you went on a mission?"
Nawaki groaned. "Yeah, she called it 'decluttering.'"
Orochimaru's golden eyes glinted with amusement. "Nawaki, before you left for this mission, Tsunade gave you specific conditions. You haven't forgotten them already, have you?"
"I forgot them eight hundred years ago," he said proudly.
Orochimaru's smile turned faintly dangerous. "She said seventy percent of your mission reward must be handed to her for safekeeping—to support you in your old age."
"I'm nine! What old age?" Nawaki cried. "If I give it to her, it'll vanish overnight!"
Hayashi sighed. "Don't complain. I have to give her twenty percent myself."
Tsunade's gambling habits were well-known. She always said even a mosquito was still meat.
Orochimaru suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong, Orochimaru-sensei?" Hayashi asked, noticing the sudden shift.
"It seems a message from Konoha has arrived," he said.
Cutting his thumb, Orochimaru made a quick hand seal. "Summoning Technique."
A small crimson snake appeared with a puff of smoke. It looked around briefly before spitting out a scroll covered in mucus.
Hayashi's stomach churned. He'd never get used to that.
Unbothered, Orochimaru picked up the scroll and casually wiped it on Nawaki's backpack before unrolling it.
"Hey! That's from the Land of Hot Water! I paid for the shipping!" Nawaki complained.
Ignoring him, Orochimaru scanned the contents silently.
The letter they had found earlier in Roguetown had been passed to Konoha. It contained an order from a supposed leader instructing his subordinates to transport collected wealth to reinforce the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain—where a small gold mine had been discovered.
The signature at the bottom read: Hanzo of the Salamander.
Hayashi frowned. Something didn't add up. Any experienced ninja knew that confidential letters were destroyed after reading. Leaving one behind was suspicious.
Besides, that gold mine lay within the Land of Fire's borders. Would Hanzo really be bold enough to provoke Konoha like that? Unless he had gone mad.
To Hayashi, it screamed "trap." But decisions like that weren't his to make.
Konoha wasn't his to command. Despite all the talk of them being the "next generation," no one had actually offered him any leadership. He was still a genin—a small piece on the board.
Orochimaru folded the scroll neatly, saying nothing. None of the others dared to ask questions. Ninja etiquette was clear: never inquire about information beyond your clearance.
Hayashi leaned back, finding a comfortable position as the carriage rattled along. The rhythmic shaking made his eyes feel heavy.
He smiled faintly. "I could get used to this feeling."
Orochimaru turned, his golden eyes meeting Hayashi's. "Hayashi, is your body really alright?"
Hayashi waved a hand with a confident grin. "A man can't admit he's down. I'm fine, Sensei. Just a scratch."
Orochimaru nodded. "Good. I was worried for a moment."
Hayashi blinked. Concern? From Orochimaru? That was new.
The carriage rolled onward. Soon, a fork in the road came into view. To the right lay the direct path to Konoha.
Yet Orochimaru turned left.
Hayashi frowned. "Sensei, are we lost? This isn't the way home."
"That's correct," Orochimaru replied calmly. "A new order from Konoha. We're to investigate the gold mine immediately."
Hayashi sat up straight. "But I'm injured!"
Orochimaru glanced back with a smirk. "I asked if you were alright. You said you were completely fine."
Hayashi clutched his chest dramatically. "Ah, my wound! It hurts so much all of a sudden, Sensei!"
Orochimaru sighed. "Relax. Tsunade's team is nearby. We'll meet up with them. She'll heal you herself."
He smirked faintly. "She also mentioned wanting to test her new Slug Healing Technique. It's supposed to be... invigorating. Care to try it?"
Hayashi's face went pale. "...I'll pass."
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