"Write a post-battle summary and submit it later." Orochimaru was applying medicine to Ryujin Kenichi, but his tone carried a hint of satisfaction.
Ryujin Kenichi lay on the ground, his body aching all over, completely unwilling to speak, only able to nod with difficulty. His entire body felt as if it had been broken into pieces.
Though Orochimaru didn't aim to kill him, his hits were excruciating. Kenichi felt as though his bones were being crushed beneath him.
"But... at least... I managed to land a few scratches on the teacher." Kenichi slowly climbed to his feet, using a tree for support, a small smile appearing on his face as he noticed the bloodstains on Orochimaru's arm.
Before, he couldn't even make his teacher flinch, but now, he had actually caused some damage. This was, perhaps, a form of growth.
The thought of writing a battle summary after every sparring session, however, was less appealing.
"Kenichi, you don't need to come to the lab tomorrow. I'm giving you the day off." Orochimaru's voice held an unexpected warmth as he regarded his disciple with satisfaction. Kenichi had potential and skill, especially in the realm of experiments. Orochimaru was beginning to worry less about him.
"Eh? Teacher, you...?" Kenichi blinked, momentarily stunned. A day off? That was rare. Orochimaru was usually too absorbed in his experiments to offer a break.
Kenichi briefly wondered if his teacher might be feeling unwell or perhaps needed to tend to something else. After all, tomorrow marked the start of the new month, a busy time for Konoha Hospital. His teacher could be planning to do something there.
"Yes." Orochimaru smiled, clearly pleased with Kenichi's sharpness. "You've figured it out."
After applying the final layer of medicine, Orochimaru hurried off. There were preparations to be made for the next day.
After taking a few moments to rest and ease his sore muscles, Kenichi began to make his way home. He still needed to write the battle summary and continue refining his new ninjutsu.
The most significant takeaway from today's battle was a new development in his ninjutsu. He had some fresh ideas now that could improve his technique.
"By the way, no lab work tomorrow..." Kenichi thought to himself. What should he do instead? Rest at home? That felt a bit unusual, especially considering how routine his life with Orochimaru had become.
The next morning, in Konoha Hospital, Orochimaru greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi with a pleasant smile.
"Ah, Orochimaru, are you here for a check-up as well?" Sarutobi, who had retired from the Hokage position, took a puff from his pipe and eyed his former student with some surprise.
It had been a while since Orochimaru visited him—ever since he had supported Minato Namikaze's rise to the position of the Fourth Hokage. The two hadn't spoken much after that, and Orochimaru's absence from the Hokage's office had always made Sarutobi uneasy.
Though he didn't openly show it, Sarutobi's thoughts were conflicted as he observed his former pupil's demeanor. He knew Orochimaru had grown distant, and although they were still both in Konoha, the nature of their relationship had changed. Orochimaru's connection with Danzo and his increasingly unorthodox behavior raised suspicion. However, Sarutobi couldn't help but feel some measure of nostalgia as he looked at his former student, even if he couldn't quite shake his wariness.
"Yes," Orochimaru replied smoothly, a smile never leaving his face. "I've been feeling a bit off lately, so I thought I'd come in for a check-up."
Sarutobi continued to smoke, eyeing his former student carefully. The atmosphere between them felt oddly tense. "Well," Sarutobi said after a long pause, "it's not healthy to stay in a shadow for too long. People need sunlight. Look at me. I'm feeling quite energetic."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as he nodded in agreement, his smile softening. "Yes, teacher. But big trees need the support of their roots to grow."
The corridor fell into a heavy silence as both men stood there, the unspoken tension hanging in the air.
Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in silence, the tension palpable in the air. Beside Hiruzen, Enma, the Monkey King, scratched his head, looking at his old friend in confusion. There had always been something off between his former student and his old sensei, but Enma couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. It was as if a storm was brewing, but the clouds hadn't yet gathered.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep puff from his cigarette, his irritation evident. There was something about Orochimaru—something that felt wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He had known his former student too well. Orochimaru had once been a promising young ninja, full of potential, but now...
"Teacher, you really should smoke less," Orochimaru said with feigned concern, his tone almost sickly sweet. "After all, you're getting old."
The words were almost too kind, yet the smile on Orochimaru's face made Hiruzen feel uneasy. It was a smile that didn't reach the eyes—one of those smiles you couldn't trust. Even a snake could smile, but it was still a snake.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a chill run through him, his discomfort growing. His student, his once-proud pupil, now made him feel like he was standing on the edge of something dark. Enma, noticing Hiruzen's unease, spoke up.
"Hiruzen…" Enma's voice was low, filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
Hiruzen shook his head, trying to shake off the feeling. "I'm fine," he replied, but his eyes instinctively went to his shoulder where Orochimaru had placed his hand earlier. There was no mark, no visible sign of anything strange, yet the sense of foreboding lingered in his chest like a dark cloud he couldn't dispel.
Enma sighed. "I always told you to quit smoking," he muttered, waving his hand in front of his nose. "It's bad for your health, especially in a place like this."
Hiruzen smiled softly, though the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's a hospital. The chakra in the air from the Mystical Palm Technique might be messing with you," he explained, taking another puff. It helped him think, or at least that's what he told himself. The smoke seemed to clear his mind, even though the anxiety gnawing at his insides didn't seem to go away.
Despite his efforts to calm himself, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Orochimaru hadn't used any jutsu, hadn't left any chakra mark on his body. Perhaps it was just his imagination running wild.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, as smooth as ever, found his target: Ryujin Kenichi. The young man was practicing alongside Might Guy, who was doing his usual intense workout routine. Seeing Kenichi in action made Orochimaru smile, the pride of a teacher for a talented student.
"Teacher!" Ryujin Kenichi straightened up immediately upon noticing Orochimaru. Might Guy, who had been in the middle of a handstand, also stopped and saluted with a grin. Despite his exuberance, he was aware of Orochimaru's status as one of the legendary Sannin.
Orochimaru gave them both a curt nod before turning his attention to Kenichi. "Kenichi," he said, his voice smooth and warm, almost too warm. "How about some barbecue?"
Kenichi's face lit up. "Of course, Teacher!" he exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Sorry, Might Guy, I have to go now."
Might Guy smiled widely and waved them off. "No problem, Kenichi! Enjoy your barbecue!" His mind was already elsewhere, thinking about the next intense training session he'd undergo in a few hours.
Ryujin Kenichi didn't particularly care about the barbecue—he knew full well why Orochimaru had invited him out. Today wasn't about food. It was about witnessing something much more... interesting. He had a good idea of what his teacher was planning. And it was going to be a spectacle he wouldn't soon forget.