"Orochimaru!"
Walking on the street, having just finished purchasing supplies and preparing to return to his secret hideout for further research in ninjutsu, Orochimaru was halted by a familiar voice coming from behind.
There was a bit of joy in his heart, but his face maintained a cold expression as Orochimaru turned around to look behind him.
Not far from Orochimaru stood a young man with white hair, his face full of smiles, waving enthusiastically at him.
The one who called Orochimaru wasn't anyone else but his teammate and good friend, Jiraiya.
Approaching quickly, Jiraiya walked up to Orochimaru's side, lifting his right hand and warmly placing it on Orochimaru's shoulder.
Showing a look of disdain, Orochimaru swiftly brushed off Jiraiya's right hand.
"What's up?"
Facing Orochimaru's somewhat indifferent question, Jiraiya wasn't at all angry. He was used to this guy's aloof attitude.
"I heard from Sarutobi-sensei that he's found a student for you!" Leaning to the right, Jiraiya smiled, curiously asking Orochimaru.
Nodding faintly, Orochimaru once again raised his hand, pushing Jiraiya's face away.
"A child from the Shimura clan, Elder Danzo's nephew!" Orochimaru briefly replied.
"I've heard about this little brat. They say he's an unprecedented genius." Jiraiya, never really fond of geniuses, added a bit of teasing to his words, "I wonder who's the more talented one between you, the former genius, and the Shimura clan's genius?"
"Boring!" Coldly responded, Orochimaru, still thinking about his own research. After speaking, he turned directly and prepared to leave.
"Hey hey! Orochimaru, don't go!" Jiraiya called out, following after.
"What's your opinion on this genius student of yours? Excited to be a teacher for the first time?" Chasing after Orochimaru, Jiraiya asked eagerly.
Sighing, Orochimaru stopped his steps again, somewhat hesitantly and lacking in confidence, "Jiraiya, Sarutobi-sensei asked me to take this child as a favor. I actually didn't want to agree."
"You don't like that kid? Is this what they call 'like repels like'? One genius can't stand another?" Jiraiya joked.
"No, I just don't know if I'm currently qualified to be a decent teacher." Orochimaru hesitated a bit, lacking confidence.
Hearing his friend's words, Jiraiya restrained the smile on his face, reached out and patted Orochimaru's shoulder, encouraging him sincerely, "It's alright, you're a true genius. You'll surely become an excellent teacher."
Facing Jiraiya's encouragement, Orochimaru felt much better, showing a faint smile on his face.
"Of course, you fool!"
"Darn it, Orochimaru, you jerk!"
Looking at the furious Jiraiya, Orochimaru smiled even happier.
"Darn it!"
"Bang!"
"Ah!"
While Jiraiya was yelling, he suddenly got attacked and painfully held his head.
Seeing the rapidly swelling lump on Jiraiya's head, Orochimaru couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Tsunade was becoming more and more dangerous.
Muttering in his mind, Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade standing behind Jiraiya.
"Are you done with your hospital work?" Orochimaru initiated the conversation.
"Of course not, I sneaked out." Tsunade replied nonchalantly.
Orochimaru had no words for Tsunade's attitude, silently sighing in his heart.
"Tsunade! You violent woman!" Jiraiya, finally recovering from the pain, held his head in his hands and stood up, glaring angrily at Tsunade.
"Who asked you to shout loudly on the street? It was annoying, idiot!" Tsunade crossed her arms, unapologetically scolding.
"So violent, no wonder no one wants you!" Rubbing his head, Jiraiya muttered softly.
"What did you say?" Tsunade showed a threatening expression, clenching her fist and squeezing it with force, producing a cracking sound.
Quickly pulling himself away from Tsunade, Jiraiya moved to Orochimaru's other side.
"Everyone's watching. Don't make a scene." Orochimaru skillfully intervened.
"Hmph!" Tsunade snorted, loosening her clenched fist.
As Tsunade moved, Orochimaru and Jiraiya both breathed a sigh of relief in unison.
"You guys were just talking about something?" After the commotion subsided, Tsunade curiously asked.
"Orochimaru's taking on a student!" Before Orochimaru could speak, Jiraiya popped his head out and preemptively said.
"Taking on a student?"
As Orochimaru expected, upon hearing Jiraiya's words, Tsunade's eyes lit up, revealing a gossipy expression.
"Who? Who is it? Which family's kid?"
"The Shimura clan's, Elder Danzo's nephew." Orochimaru replied.
"Danzo's nephew?" Tsunade showed a disdainful expression, directed not at Kizaru but at Danzo!
It wasn't Kizaru that Tsunade disdained, but Danzo!
Regarding this friend of Sarutobi-sensei, the disciple of her own grandfather, Tsunade had never quite liked Danzo. She disliked Danzo's traditional, conservative nature, as well as his cunning and ruthless personality and his way of doing things.
"If the Shimura clan's kid has a personality like Danzo's..." Thinking to this point, Tsunade shivered and looked at Orochimaru with a sympathetic expression.
Facing Tsunade's gaze, Orochimaru guessed her thoughts.
"I've seen the data on that child, and he's very different from Elder Danzo."
"That kid from the Shimura clan has become quite famous in the village recently. It's said he's an unprecedented genius, showing potential like the First Hokage." Jiraiya added.
"Potential like the First Hokage?" Tsunade showed an interested expression that quickly turned into disdain. "It's probably Danzo again, that sneaky person trying to boost his own lineage. Shameless!"
Always poking his head out, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade's disgusted face, then at Orochimaru's calm expression. Suddenly, an idea emerged in his mind.
"How about we go and test if that kid's really that strong? Let's see if he's as good as the rumors say!" Jiraiya said with a curious and gossipy tone.
"Boring." Orochimaru didn't want to get involved and responded calmly.
Tsunade's reaction was opposite to Orochimaru's. She was very intrigued by Jiraiya's suggestion.
Potential like the First Hokage!
As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Tsunade was very concerned about this evaluation.
"I think Jiraiya's suggestion is good. Orochimaru, let's go and see!" Tsunade looked at Orochimaru, showing a dramatic expression of eagerness.
Sighing again, facing the expectations of his two friends, Orochimaru could only nod in agreement.
"Very well." After saying this, Orochimaru was worried that the two might go overboard and added, "But behave yourselves, don't be too excessive."
Patting Orochimaru's shoulder forcefully, almost knocking the breath out of him, Tsunade laughed heartily and said, "Don't worry, with this princess here, nothing will go wrong."
"It's precisely because you're here that things tend to go wrong." Jiraiya muttered under his breath.
"What did you say, Jiraiya!" Tsunade heard Jiraiya's mutter and shouted angrily.
"I said, let's get going!" After saying this, Jiraiya, who valued his life, used Body Flicker Jutsu and ran off into the distance.
"Darn it, stop right there!" Tsunade yelled and chased after him.
Watching the two unreliable teammates and friends running off into the distance, Orochimaru could only silently follow after them.