After separating from Kushina, Yasu returned to Orochimaru's base.
He entered and found his teacher was already packing things in the base.
Seeing him return, Orochimaru put down what he was holding, a hint of a smile appearing on his lips as he teasingly asked: "Not going to stay with Kushina a little longer?"
Yasu's face turned slightly red: "Konoha hasn't been very safe lately, so I sent her home early."
Orochimaru continued packing, then casually asked: "Is that so? Have you made a decision yet?"
Yasu asked in confusion: "Decision?"
Orochimaru replied: "I guess you probably already know what Kushina's purpose in coming to Konoha is. You don't have any other friends, and the main reason you're working so hard to become stronger is probably for her, right?"
"Konoha wants Kushina to become the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki. Judging by your attitude towards Lady Mito, I think you should be very resistant to this decision. After all, I am your teacher, and I can guess what you're thinking."
"So, you have to make a choice. Are you going to let Kushina become the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, or are you going to find a way to prevent her from becoming one? You must make a decision early. Lady Mito's health is deteriorating day by day. If things reach the point of no return, even if you resist this decision, you won't be able to change anything."
Yasu stared at Orochimaru silently for a long time.
Orochimaru seemed not to notice his gaze and continued packing.
After a long while, Yasu finally opened his mouth and asked faintly: "Teacher Orochimaru, I don't understand. You know that one day I will leave Konoha, a place I see as a cage. Why are you still trying so hard to train me? Clearly, the day I leave Konoha, you and I might become enemies."
Orochimaru looked at him and chuckled: "Yasu, I thought you would understand me."
Yasu's breathing hitched.
Indeed, he knew Orochimaru's future path.
But he really couldn't understand the current Orochimaru. Logically, Orochimaru now is working so hard for Konoha and offering advice. In his opinion, the current Orochimaru should be loyal to Konoha.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes looked at him and said: "For me, things like the Will of Fire are not important and can be abandoned at any time. Because in my opinion, these things will restrain me, making it impossible for me to do some things freely."
"A person's life is too short. Being timid because of these things is a waste of one's time. But these things can't be abandoned just like that. Whether it's me or you, we need an identity to survive in this ninja world, don't we?"
Yasu asked: "Then... Teacher Orochimaru, will you help me?"
Orochimaru shook his head: "I can tell you clearly that if it's just as a teacher and student, no. But if you can offer benefits that can move me, then we can cooperate as partners."
A smile appeared on the corner of Yasu's mouth: "Then I can also tell you clearly that I have already made my choice and have already thought of a solution. I also hope that in the future, I can cooperate with teacher Orochimaru as a partner."
Orochimaru said with a smile: "Then I look forward to that day. However, Kushina is very important to Konoha as the candidate for the second Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki. I am very curious about what method you have thought of?"
Yasu's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Lady Mito is still alive, and Kushina is only a candidate for a backup container. Konoha values her special physique as a member of the Uzumaki clan as a backup container. Sometimes, having one more backup container from the Uzumaki clan isn't a bad thing, is it?"
Orochimaru asked in surprise: "Oh? It seems you have found a member of the Uzumaki clan who was lost abroad."
Yasu shook his head: "No, I haven't found them yet, but I have clues. I believe that if I look carefully, I will be able to find them."
Orochimaru suddenly asked: "Then what if you can't find them?"
Yasu pondered for a while, then replied with a serious expression: "Then it depends on my strength at that time."
Orochimaru looked at him, unable to stop the smile on his face: "You really are decisive, Yasu."
Yasu said in a deep voice: "But I believe that kind of moment won't come so soon. I still have time. I just need to improve my strength now. As for the future, I will naturally know how things will develop in the future, and by then, I will definitely think of more ways."
Orochimaru agreed: "That's right. The greater your strength, the more choices you will have."
"Yasu, you are very smart, and your strength is getting stronger and stronger. The memories of those three Cloud Ninja have been analyzed. Two are Special Jonin, and one is Jonin. And those three ninjas who disguised themselves as pirates are spies sent by Hidden Mist to investigate the Land of Fire. They have also confessed."
"With such achievements, not surprisingly, from tomorrow onwards, you will become a Chunin. If it weren't because it's not wartime now, you might already be a Special Jonin or Jonin."
Yasu didn't feel surprised that he could become a Chunin.
Because he planned to capture those three Hidden Mist spies alive and bring back the heads of the three Cloud Ninja in order to be promoted.
"Alright, rest well tonight. After going to the battlefield in the Land of Hot Water, there won't be time to rest well."
"Yes, teacher Orochimaru."
Yasu then bid farewell to Orochimaru and returned to his room.
Lying on the bed, he recalled the conversation he had with Orochimaru earlier.
His conversation with him could be considered a small showdown.
He is now very sure that Orochimaru is about to start researching the art of immortality by any means necessary.
In that case, he doesn't need to worry about Orochimaru even more.
It can be said that he and his teacher are now on the same rope.
The next day.
Before dawn, Yasu and Orochimaru went to see Hiruzen. As expected, Hiruzen awarded him the title of Chunin.
After Hiruzen gave Orochimaru a few instructions, Yasu and Orochimaru went to the Konoha gate to prepare to leave the Land of Fire and head to the Land of Hot Water.
At the Konoha gate, Yasu saw someone he expected but didn't anticipate.
Kushina Uzumaki.
He instantly walked up to her and rubbed her cheeks, which were slightly red from the morning cold.
"Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"
"I can't sleep when I think about you going outside of the Land of Fire for a long time, and I also want to see you off."
"Don't worry about me, and I will write letters and have my summon bring them to you. When you miss me, you can also have it bring the letters to me."
Kushina stretched out her little finger: "Then let's make a promise!"
Yasu looked at her little finger and smiled slightly then hooked his finger with hers: "Alright, it's a promise!"
After he bid farewell to Kushina, he and Orochimaru set off for the battlefield in the Land of Hot Water.
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