CH_185-188

"Understood, Inoshishi-kun."

If not for the mask, Tōji would've rolled his eyes at Natchi.

He also sighed inwardly—such a clean-looking young man. 『The name 'Inoshishi' really does have a way of sticking to me.』

The mission center normally wouldn't disclose who took what mission—but Anbu personnel were the exception. The Anbu had privileges and could check the mission status of chūnin and genin at any time. For missions below B-rank, even if a jōnin was carrying them out, the details could still be shared.

On the second floor of the mission center, Tōji and Natchi learned that Anko had taken a mission to babysit for a wealthy merchant visiting Konoha on business. The two immediately set off for the merchant's residence.

Along the way, Natchi couldn't help but mutter quietly, "Babysitting? That really doesn't seem like a mission Anko would take. Even if the pay is high."

Tōji lowered his voice in reply. "Don't run your mouth—let's find her first. According to the mission center's records, that residence was rented. Three months upfront, and it's already been over two."

Soon, they arrived near the impressive estate. Tōji and Natchi just hid far off in a large tree, quietly observing.

The estate's backyard had a garden the size of a soccer field.

Three children, aged four to eight, were chasing each other around the garden, while Anko sat idly on a swing chair to the side, a look of resignation on her face.

"A cushy job like this—you can only get it with connections. If we went looking for missions, we'd probably only get stuck cleaning riverbeds or chasing cats and walking dogs." Tōji shared this sour observation with Natchi.

"Good thing we joined the Anbu, then." Natchi always looked on the bright side.

"Alright—I'll keep watching. You go home and rest for half a day. Remember to come relieve me after dinner, and bring my meal. I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow." Tōji didn't say more and sent Natchi off.

…

Several days passed—calm and uneventful, with no sudden developments.

Natchi always showed up on time with dinner for two to relieve Tōji. And Tōji always ate dinner with Natchi, waiting until he figured his parents were probably asleep before heading home.

Every night back home, Tōji dove straight into ninjutsu training.

Since the scrolls Minato gave him contained most of the Water Release and Earth Release jutsu Tōji had already learned, Tōji prioritized those—starting them over from scratch, one by one.

Each detail of these streamlined, improved jutsu could boost Tōji's strength. More importantly, adopting this mindset of improved jutsu would help him face new jutsu in the future. And once his chakra reserves reached "one Kakashi," it was even possible he could go toe-to-toe with Kakashi in ninjutsu skill.

As for the other newly acquired jutsu, Tōji would first carefully memorize them and practice the hand seals over and over.

The number of seals per jutsu was small—that was the hallmark of the improved versions. But Minato was generous—he gave plenty of jutsu, even if they were all common ones.

Even Tōji hadn't expected this. He'd only named a few jutsu, and Minato had packaged up a massive bundle of low-level Water and Earth Release techniques.

Aside from the two Tōji had specifically mentioned, there were no other high-level jutsu. Not a single secret technique either.

So with so many new jutsu suddenly appearing, Tōji needed to memorize them quickly and save the practical training for when he had time.

Minato was willing to lend Tōji this whole pile—but Tōji had to learn them in time! The moment Tōji left the village on a mission, the scrolls had to be returned. The sealing technique scroll Minato had privately slipped him was the only exception.

Tōji, of course, wasn't going to worry about that scroll for now.

And so, every night, Tōji would study for half the night while it was quiet, sleep the other half, and once awake, bring breakfast to relieve Natchi.

186

Tōji's understanding of ninjutsu was improving rapidly without him even realizing it.

But days like these were never meant to last.

One evening, six days later, Anko finally couldn't take it anymore.

Just as Tōji and Natchi were eating dinner, preparing to switch shifts, she came charging over with Body Flicker, furious.

"You two peeping toms—what are you doing watching me every single day?!" Anko stood with her hands on her hips, glaring down at Tōji and Natchi from where she hung upside-down in front of them.

Tōji looked up—Anko had used chakra through the soles of her shoes to stick to the underside of a thick branch.

Her purple hair dangled downward, and the bead pendant around her neck swayed back and forth. "Don't think just because you're Anbu, I'm scared of you!"

Tōji and Natchi exchanged a glance through their masks, a little awkward.

Tōji quickly explained, "Anko-senpai, this is Lord Hokage's order—we're just following commands. And we're not peeping or spying—we're protecting you."

Natchi chimed in quickly, "Please believe us!"

Anko furrowed her brow. She wasn't an unreasonable little girl—she'd just been unable to get her hands on mitarashi dango for days, and it was getting on her nerves. She was taking it out on these two Anbu. "Hmph—I don't need your protection. I'm Mitarashi Anko!"

Just as she was about to leave, Anko stopped. "Wait—you're not using me to keep an eye on Orochimaru-sensei, are you?"

Tōji hadn't expected Anko to be so blunt. "Normally we shouldn't tell you our Anbu mission. But there's no hiding it. We're assigned to protect Lord Orochimaru and you, Anko-senpai, until you safely reach the border."

"Anko-senpai—please don't make things difficult for us." Natchi sounded a little unconfident—after all, Anko had a reputation for fearing nothing and no one.

"Agree to one condition, and I'll let it go. That is…" Tōji wasn't surprised Anko could recognize them—they were relatively familiar with each other.

"I've been bored to death doing these low-level missions lately. Once I'm done with this stretch, you two are going to spar with me." Anko's lips curled upward slightly.

"Uh… we wouldn't dare refuse." Tōji and Natchi shrugged helplessly, just to keep their mission running smoothly.

"At least you know how to read the room." Anko's angry expression had long since vanished. "Sensei informed me—we leave in three days. You two better be ready."

After that little episode, Anko went back to watching the kids at the merchant's residence, while Tōji and Natchi continued taking turns feeding mosquitoes outside the estate…

Three days passed in a flash. The day of departure arrived.

In the morning, sunlight fell softly on Konoha's streets. Tōji and Natchi, in full Anbu gear, arrived early at the meeting spot they'd agreed on.

Anko hadn't given Tōji and the others false information. From a distance, Anko and Orochimaru soon appeared at Konoha's main gate.

Orochimaru still carried that inscrutable air, his eyes holding an unfathomable gleam.

"Let's go." Orochimaru said softly to Anko, then glanced back at the roof of a house near Konoha's main gate.

The two groups moved separately, quickly heading toward the border.

Throughout the entire day, Orochimaru did nothing out of the ordinary. Anko, following behind him, was unusually obedient—head down, focused on the road.

At night, they each ate dry rations.

Tōji had Natchi sleep the first half of the night while he continued watching Orochimaru. Natchi didn't stand on ceremony—displaying the fine qualities of a shinobi, he sat down against a tree trunk and slept, though not deeply.

Before long, Orochimaru—several dozen meters away—made a gesture in Tōji and Natchi's direction.

『Is that… Orochimaru asking me to come over?』 Though Tōji had expected Orochimaru to know he and Natchi were following, he hadn't imagined Orochimaru would make actual contact with them…

187

Tōji's understanding of ninjutsu was improving rapidly without him even realizing it.

But days like these were never meant to last.

One evening, six days later, Anko finally couldn't take it anymore.

Just as Tōji and Natchi were eating dinner, preparing to switch shifts, she came charging over with Body Flicker, furious.

"You two peeping toms—what are you doing watching me every single day?!" Anko stood with her hands on her hips, glaring down at Tōji and Natchi from where she hung upside-down in front of them.

Tōji looked up—Anko had used chakra through the soles of her shoes to stick to the underside of a thick branch.

Her purple hair dangled downward, and the bead pendant around her neck swayed back and forth. "Don't think just because you're Anbu, I'm scared of you!"

Tōji and Natchi exchanged a glance through their masks, a little awkward.

Tōji quickly explained, "Anko-senpai, this is Lord Hokage's order—we're just following commands. And we're not peeping or spying—we're protecting you."

Natchi chimed in quickly, "Please believe us!"

Anko furrowed her brow. She wasn't an unreasonable little girl—she'd just been unable to get her hands on mitarashi dango for days, and it was getting on her nerves. She was taking it out on these two Anbu. "Hmph—I don't need your protection. I'm Mitarashi Anko!"

Just as she was about to leave, Anko stopped. "Wait—you're not using me to keep an eye on Orochimaru-sensei, are you?"

Tōji hadn't expected Anko to be so blunt. "Normally we shouldn't tell you our Anbu mission. But there's no hiding it. We're assigned to protect Lord Orochimaru and you, Anko-senpai, until you safely reach the border."

"Anko-senpai—please don't make things difficult for us." Natchi sounded a little unconfident—after all, Anko had a reputation for fearing nothing and no one.

"Agree to one condition, and I'll let it go. That is…" Tōji wasn't surprised Anko could recognize them—they were relatively familiar with each other.

"I've been bored to death doing these low-level missions lately. Once I'm done with this stretch, you two are going to spar with me." Anko's lips curled upward slightly.

"Uh… we wouldn't dare refuse." Tōji and Natchi shrugged helplessly, just to keep their mission running smoothly.

"At least you know how to read the room." Anko's angry expression had long since vanished. "Sensei informed me—we leave in three days. You two better be ready."

After that little episode, Anko went back to watching the kids at the merchant's residence, while Tōji and Natchi continued taking turns feeding mosquitoes outside the estate…

Three days passed in a flash. The day of departure arrived.

In the morning, sunlight fell softly on Konoha's streets. Tōji and Natchi, in full Anbu gear, arrived early at the meeting spot they'd agreed on.

Anko hadn't given Tōji and the others false information. From a distance, Anko and Orochimaru soon appeared at Konoha's main gate.

Orochimaru still carried that inscrutable air, his eyes holding an unfathomable gleam.

"Let's go." Orochimaru said softly to Anko, then glanced back at the roof of a house near Konoha's main gate.

The two groups moved separately, quickly heading toward the border.

Throughout the entire day, Orochimaru did nothing out of the ordinary. Anko, following behind him, was unusually obedient—head down, focused on the road.

At night, they each ate dry rations.

Tōji had Natchi sleep the first half of the night while he continued watching Orochimaru. Natchi didn't stand on ceremony—displaying the fine qualities of a shinobi, he sat down against a tree trunk and slept, though not deeply.

Before long, Orochimaru—several dozen meters away—made a gesture in Tōji and Natchi's direction.

『Is that… Orochimaru asking me to come over?』 Though Tōji had expected Orochimaru to know he and Natchi were following, he hadn't imagined Orochimaru would make actual contact with them…

188

Tōji was incredibly anxious, but circumstances were against him—he had no choice but to approach Orochimaru.

"Lord Orochimaru." Tōji bowed respectfully.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing Tōji up. "Kid—you're Tōji-kun, aren't you? Minato sent you two to follow me—afraid I'd run off?"

Tōji's heart tightened. He quickly explained, "Lord Hokage only asked us to protect you and Anko-senpai. And only as far as the Land of Fire's border."

Orochimaru sneered. "Hmph—protection? I don't need two brats to protect me."

Tōji was silent for a moment, then gathered his courage. "Lord Orochimaru, Lord Hokage trusts you greatly. We will complete our mission."

Orochimaru's expression shifted unpredictably. After a moment, he spoke slowly. "Fine—I won't make things difficult for you. I can tell you honestly—this time I'm just taking a casual trip to Kirigakure, to see what interesting things are happening. Just as I agreed with Minato."

Seeing that Orochimaru had more to say, Tōji didn't dare interrupt. He continued waiting nervously and obediently…

"I called you over because I want to make a deal with you." The mockery on Orochimaru's face grew more pronounced. That chillingly long tongue licked the corner of his mouth. "What Minato said that day—do you really think I believed it?"

"Of course, whether I believe it or not isn't the point. What I want to tell you now is—I heard from that fool Tenchi that you originally intended to trade something with me. You just changed your mind later." Orochimaru's snake-like pupils glinted coldly in the night.

"Minato—he really is a good choice. Even sensei chose him." As he said this, Tōji felt an almost tangible cold radiating from Orochimaru.

In the sweltering summer night, Tōji broke into a cold sweat from that chill. "Lord Orochimaru…"

Hearing Tōji's pleading cry, Orochimaru withdrew his killing intent. "Tōji-kun—let's make a deal." The words sounded like a discussion, but they were an irresistible command.

"My curiosity tells me you must have some kind of secret. But don't worry—I promised Minato I wouldn't harm you two brats." Orochimaru looked at Tōji's frightened eyes and gave a sinister smile, his tone shifting to one of temptation. "I definitely have something you want, don't I?"

"Yes… yes, that's right!" Tōji fought through boundless fear and immense pressure, struggling to speak fluently. "You are one of the Legendary Sannin, known for your intelligence and composure. Rumors say you possess all kinds of mysterious, unfathomable abilities…"

"So what do you want?" Orochimaru didn't wait for Tōji to finish his slow flattery—he was a practical man.

Tōji swallowed. He didn't know whether he should say "the power of immortality" or "the power of resurrection"—but this brief moment didn't allow him to think of a perfect answer.

"Death… and… rebirth!" Tōji said, word by word, matching the rhythm of his own heavy breathing.

"Oh~?" Orochimaru looked like he'd seen something interesting. His extended tongue licked his lips repeatedly—clearly he was excited. "What makes you think I have the power of resurrection…? And what's your bargaining chip?"

"Direction!" Tōji pulled out his final bit of confidence. His voice wasn't loud, but this time it was full of resolve—no longer trembling. "I'm not certain you already possess the power to resurrect people. But I'm confident that one day you'll need that power. I hope I happen to be one of the beneficiaries of that power."

"…" The forest was so quiet that even the insects and birds seemed far away.

"Hehehe—interesting!" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly.