"Orochimaru, so you're here after all!"
In the cemetery, Orochimaru, who had been kneeling in front of a tombstone lost in thought, slightly raised his head, sensing movement behind him.
"Huh? Kirito-kun?" He recognized the newcomer and slowly stood up, "Is there something you need from me?"
Kirito, accompanied by Uchiha Nen, came running over, panting heavily.
"Orochimaru, we're sort of friends, aren't we? No need to be so formal." Kirito waved his hand magnanimously, "From now on, drop the honorifics when you talk to me."
Orochimaru was slightly taken aback. Being of common birth with a gloomy disposition, he hardly had any friends at school, let alone children from prestigious clans like the Uchiha.
But Uchiha Kirigaya was different. This guy didn't have the slightest arrogance of a noble-born, being extremely easygoing in demeanor and speaking without any airs. Combined with his delicate features and a head of purple hair even more beautiful than a girl's, he was incredibly popular in class.
As a result, he got along with everyone, and Orochimaru was also one of his 'default' friends.
"Sure, Kirigaya, what did you want to talk about?"
Kirigaya pulled Uchiha Nen from behind him and presented him. "Today, I want to introduce you to a new friend—this is Uchiha Nen. He'll be enrolling next year, and I think you two will have a lot in common."
Another child from the Uchiha clan, huh... Orochimaru's gaze fell upon Nen, deep in thought.
At the same time, Nen was also sizing up Orochimaru before him.
The child was dressed in white, with a pale complexion, long black hair, and narrow eyes, looking very delicate. Just by his appearance, one could tell he was an extremely introverted person.
"H-hello, my name is Uchiha Nen." Summoning his courage, Nen extended his small hand toward Orochimaru, just as Kirigaya had taught him. "N-nice to meet you... Please take care of me..."
Orochimaru froze for a moment before belatedly extending his hand. Though the other's gaze kept darting away, he could still detect a trace of timid insecurity in Nen's eyes.
It was a reflection of his former self.
"Hello, my name is Orochimaru."
Under Kirito's approving gaze, the two children's hands clasped together.
The trio made their way back to the village center. Orochimaru and Nen were both taciturn individuals, but with Kirito acting as the social glue, the atmosphere never turned awkward.
Most children are simple-hearted and never dislike making friends, especially unique ones like Nen and Orochimaru, who secretly yearned for companions. Thus, they quickly grew close.
"Orochimaru, that Wind Release technique you demonstrated during training the other day still fascinates me. Could you show us again?" Kirito patted Nen's back. "This guy here is really eager to get stronger."
"Ninjutsu?" Orochimaru pondered for a moment before nodding. "I could, but first, we need to find a training ground."
With that, the group changed course midway and entered the Konoha Forest, where there was a secluded training ground. According to Orochimaru, the place was largely unmonitored, and even Nen could sneak in—it could serve as their secret base from then on.
The group made their way through layers of trees and down a path overgrown with branches, finally arriving at a somewhat rundown training ground.
Though simple, the area was extremely spacious, fully equipped with targets for throwing practice, wooden posts for training, and other such apparatus.
Nen's eyes sparkled with excitement as he couldn't help but fondle his shuriken—today was absolutely the happiest day of his life.
"Alright, this spot will do."
Orochimaru motioned for the two to step aside, then began forming hand seals with meticulous precision:
"Rabbit, Rooster, Rat, Dragon, Rooster."
Nen watched intently as Orochimaru concluded with the 'Rooster' seal, then extended one hand forward flatly.
"Wind Style: Turbulent Air Dance!"
A sudden breeze swept before them, making branches sway wildly and leaves tremble in unison.
Orochimaru took a slight breath and explained, "This is a ninjutsu scroll my father left me. When mastered to its full potential, it can summon a fierce gale that renders all shuriken aimed at the user ineffective."
"Hehe, let me show off my skills too!"
Kirito rolled up his sleeves and swiftly formed hand seals, "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Summoning all his strength, his face turned red with effort as he opened his mouth toward the empty field.
"Huff."
A cluster of crimson flames bloomed like a fleeting night-blooming cereus, no larger than a watermelon, yet it caused the surrounding air temperature to rise slightly.
"This is the first ninjutsu my sister taught me," Kirito panted heavily, proudly placing his hands on his hips with a hint of smugness.
"So amazing..." Nen stared in awe, a flash of deep envy flickering in his eyes before sudden melancholy washed over him. What had his father... ever left for him?
At that moment, Orochimaru approached and lightly tapped his shoulder. "If Nen-kun wishes to learn, I'd be more than happy to teach you," he offered.
"That's right, same here." Kirito laughed as he wrapped an arm around Nen's neck, then suddenly changed the subject, "But first, we need to confirm your chakra nature. You're an Uchiha, so you definitely have the Fire Release attribute. The question is whether you can learn Orochimaru's Wind Release techniques."
"That is indeed a question. Testing chakra nature requires chakra paper..." Orochimaru stroked his chin, "Although you'll be enrolling next year, given your eagerness to grow stronger, I might be able to find a way to get you some chakra paper..."
"Then thank you both!" Nen bowed politely, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "If I can master these jutsu, I'll definitely become a powerful shinobi!"
Orochimaru sighed, "I don't mean to discourage you, but in my opinion, these jutsu are hardly anything special."
"Why?"
"My father's Wind Release could effortlessly slice through boulders, yet he still perished in war." Orochimaru's eyes lowered. "If there exists a ninjutsu that renders one invulnerable, transcending the boundaries of life, aging, and sickness to achieve... immortality, that would be the truly powerful technique!"
At that moment, an invisible ripple spread out, sweeping across the training field like a gentle breeze.
The three little ones perked up their ears simultaneously as the breeze carried faint murmurs to them:
"What kind of move was that?"
It was a slightly deep voice. The moment they heard it, Kirito and Nen exchanged glances, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
"Don't be nervous, just a simple barrier technique. It can mask our presence to the greatest extent and weaken the wind. You don't want Konoha to know we're fighting here, do you?" The response came from a young man's voice.
"Hmph, you don't really think this is just a simple spar, do you?"
"Sorry, but in my eyes this doesn't even count as a warm-up."
"How arrogant."
Orochimaru immediately grabbed both their hands and quietly crouched down, hiding in the thick undergrowth.
Kirito cautiously tapped Orochimaru's shoulder while raising both hands to gesture 'retreat.'
Orochimaru shook his head cautiously, gesturing for the two to look eastward, then drew a finger slowly across his throat.
The thought was so tense this time, carefully prying open a gap to peer in the direction Orochimaru indicated.
Through the trees several dozen meters away, two figures locked in confrontation could faintly be seen.
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