Orochimaru had come specifically to apologize for his reckless behavior yesterday, but Night Maple didn't show.
"This youngster is far too interesting!" Orochimaru's eyes glittered, a sudden urge rising in him to snatch the boy away and dissect him.
Uzumaki Mito shot Orochimaru a look and said darkly, "Sarutobi, I know you once wanted to pour the village's strength into reviving the First's Wood Release through research, but that path has proven wrong and been sealed away. Don't repeat what happened last night."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "Yes, my lady. I've already warned Orochimaru. He recognizes his mistake and will never repeat it."
With a smile that didn't reach his eyes, Orochimaru said, "Lady Mito, I won't do that again."
Next time, I'll go all out, take Night Maple down in an instant, and give him no chance to fight back!
For now, the priority is to get Night Maple reassigned out of Konoha.
A good opportunity is right here—the Cloud needs someone reliable and capable to infiltrate.
If I can recommend Night Maple to enter Kumogakure, I'll have my chance.
"Shall I go to his place? Maybe he forgot?"
Orochimaru suggested.
"The old me and Kushina will do."
Uzumaki Mito snorted.
Sarutobi Hiruzen mused, "My lady, let's go together and see what's going on."
...
Night Maple hadn't expected that after standing Sarutobi up, Sarutobi would come to him.
"Hm?"
Night Maple sprang up from bed and looked out the window at Uzumaki Mito, Kushina, the Third Hokage, and the scientist Orochimaru walking his way.
He'd just been training ninjutsu in his imagination.
Night Maple had tested different methods and discovered that being a salted fish wasn't simple: lying in bed and training in his mind produced the greatest improvement in ninjutsu.
So he'd been "training" in bed just now.
Of course, to Lady Mito, the Third, and Orochimaru, Night Maple was just slacking off and sleeping.
The Third couldn't help scolding, "On a fine morning like this, instead of training and improving your strength, you're sleeping—what a waste of precious time!"
Uzumaki Mito snorted, "Isn't it because he was exhausted last night? He's only just resting now."
Orochimaru merely smiled and said nothing.
Kushina, seeing Night Maple sitting up in bed, waved sharply.
Night Maple jumped straight out the window.
"Kushina, my lady, Lord Third, Orochimaru-kun—good morning."
He said it with a yawn.
He glanced at the fusion rate of the Hashirama Senju character card—nice, already 5.3%.
Both the Flying Thunder God Technique and Impure World Reincarnation had risen to level 2, and his understanding had deepened.
It might well be that, for these two forbidden techniques, Night Maple is now the most proficient in the shinobi world.
After all, the originator of Flying Thunder God—the Second—has passed, and Minato hasn't learned it yet.
As for Impure World Reincarnation, judging by how well-behaved Orochimaru looked beside the Third, he probably hadn't yet carried out those deranged experiments of later years.
So in terms of experience with a forbidden technique like Edo Tensei, Orochimaru might actually be behind Night Maple.
Seeing his teacher remain silent, Orochimaru snorted, "Night Maple, are you ignoring the Hokage's words now? You were told to be at the Hokage's office at 9 a.m.—do you know what time it is?"
Before Night Maple could answer, Lady Mito asked kindly, "Night Maple, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"My lady, I rested fine last night. Mainly, I have no clock here—lying in bed, I didn't notice how fast time passed."
Then Night Maple looked to the Third. "Lord Third, what's the matter? If there's nothing urgent, I'll go back to sleep."
The corner of Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched. Night Maple's laziness was wasting talent.
And he really didn't put Sarutobi in his eyes.
He'd never seen a youngster treat him like this.
"Ahem. Orochimaru, apologize to Night Maple first."
Orochimaru glanced at Night Maple, stepped forward, and bowed. "Night Maple-kun, my apologies for the trouble last night."
Night Maple waved it off. "No problem."
Seeing Night Maple's magnanimity, the Third's goodwill toward him rose again—at least the young man had a broad heart.
"Night Maple, here's the situation: after high-level review, your performance in last night's rescue was outstanding. We've decided to waive the chūnin exam and promote you directly!"
"Effective immediately, you are a chūnin!"
In Sarutobi's mind, the expected scene was Night Maple smiling and gladly accepting.
Instead, Night Maple said, "I refuse! Genin suits me just fine. I, Night Maple, will never be promoted to chūnin!"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Just then, the system interface popped up in Night Maple's mind again.
[Ding, in view of the host's current situation, three options are granted!]
[Option One: Happily accept the chūnin title and become Konoha's rising star! Reward: C-rank ninjutsu—Manipulating Windmill Triple Blades.]
[Option Two: Refuse the waiver and opt to take the chūnin exams! Reward: B-rank taijutsu—Spiked Human Bullet Tank.]
[Option Three: Flatly refuse the chūnin title—genin is great. I, Night Maple, will never be promoted to chūnin! Reward: Hashirama Senju character card fusion speed ×10; A-rank ninjutsu—Lightning Release: Chidori.]
Night Maple's eyes lit up!
Was there even a choice to make?