"Pardon the intrusion, anyone home?"
Jiraiya strode boldly into the small courtyard with Sora still in tow. Seeing no one around, he helped himself straight into the house.
His eyes quickly locked onto the stack of manuscripts on the table. He picked one up, skimmed a few lines, and was instantly hooked. His expression turned a strange mix of excitement… and something vaguely pervy.
Not until he had finished reading every single page did he finally let out a long sigh of satisfaction.
"So, you're the one who wrote these, huh?" Jiraiya turned to the still-dizzy Habu Sora.
"Uh, "
"No need to pretend. I'm a ninja. I can tell. There's only evidence of one person living here, and these manuscripts were clearly written this morning," Jiraiya said confidently.
"…Fine, you got me. I'll drop the act. I am the genius child novelist. Cards on the table."
If he was already busted, might as well own it.
What's a barefoot kid got to fear from someone with shoes on?
"If you were writing kids' stories, I might believe you. But you're writing stuff like…" Jiraiya held up a manuscript titled The Tale of Little Ninja Kyouka, and his voice trailed into disbelief.
"You're just a kid, how the hell are you writing something like this so well? I, the great Toad Sage, have been gathering… research material since I was six, from bathhouses across the Land of Fire to tea shops and inns, and even I haven't written something this captivating!"
Under Jiraiya's burning gaze, Sora simply raised his head with an air of unfathomable mystery.
"What can I say? Writing takes talent. You either get it, or you don't. No amount of research will teach someone who lacks the touch."
Jiraiya blinked at the kid's smug attitude, realizing this might be trickier than expected.
"Then tell me, O genius writer, what is that special touch?"
Sora narrowed his eyes. "Ah, but such secrets can't be shared so easily. Unless…"
"Unless what?" Jiraiya leaned in eagerly.
"Unless… you agree to take me on as your disciple."
Sora finally revealed his real goal, looking up at him with bright, hopeful eyes.
One of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya the Toad Sage!
In the entire Naruto universe, there wasn't a teacher with a higher success rate. Becoming his student would practically guarantee a smooth path to strength.
"Take you as a disciple? No can do. I, the Toad Sage Jiraiya, bear the destiny of guiding the Child of Prophecy. I can't just take in students randomly," Jiraiya refused outright without hesitation.
"No way…"
"Nope."
Sora's heart sank.
Why is it that other transmigrators can latch onto Jiraiya's leg so easily, and I can't even get a toe in?
"You're from the Habu family, right? Your parents died in the Second Great Ninja War?" Jiraiya asked, having noted the nameplate at the house's entrance earlier.
"Yes."
Jiraiya smiled, then said, "I've got another offer for you, tell me your secret to writing, and I'll help find you a teacher."
"Someone else? You're not just going to hand me off to some background extra, are you?"
"Background extra? Tch. I promise, whoever I find will be just as powerful as I am."
Just as powerful?!
Sora's eyes lit up. That could only mean another Sannin!
Orochimaru would never casually take in some stranger as a student with his personality, so the only possibility was Tsunade-hime.
The Strength of a Hundred Seal, Creation Rebirth, Monstrous Strength… Sora was already picturing himself mastering all those powerful jutsu.
"Deal."
Without hesitation, Sora slapped his small hand into Jiraiya's big one, afraid the man might change his mind.
"The secret of writing can't be explained in just a few sentences, though. Take me to the teacher first."
"Fair enough."
Jiraiya scooped up the stack of manuscripts and tucked them into his shirt without asking. "I'm taking these with me for further… research."
"Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Ram! Summoning Jutsu!"
Jiraiya bit his thumb, ran through a rapid string of hand seals, then slapped his hand on the ground.
POOF!
A cloud of smoke erupted, and a massive red toad, over two meters tall with a scroll around its neck and the kanji for "Loyalty" on its chest, appeared beneath him.
It was Gamaton, from Mount Myōboku.
"Hop on, kid."
With massive bounds that cleared dozens of meters per leap, Gamaton carried them swiftly through the village. In just a few minutes, they arrived at their destination.
"So this is Lady Tsunade's residence? Why's it feel so… deserted?"
The compound was huge, its courtyard alone dwarfed the average home. But it was oddly barren, with only a few training tools lying around and no plants or signs of life.
Jiraiya dismissed the summon and led Sora directly inside. Before he could get a good look around, a loud shout from Jiraiya froze him to the core.
"Orochimaru! I'm here!"
Sora broke out in cold sweat.
The room felt like it had dropped to freezing temperatures.
Wait… what?!
Tsunade? What happened to Tsunade?! Why is it the cold-blooded, snake-eyed, morally bankrupt Orochimaru?!
Panic surged in his heart. This was Orochimaru, after all!
At that moment, Sora was seriously considering revealing the Gate-Gate Fruit just to escape with an air door.
"What do you want, Jiraiya?"
A cold, raspy voice echoed, and a shadow emerged in front of them.
Long black hair, deathly pale skin, snake-like golden eyes, and dark purple eye shadow stretching to his nose, Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, had arrived.
"Ah!"
Sora nearly fell over in shock.
"Hahaha, don't be so tense, kid."
Jiraiya burst into laughter, then turned to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, this kid hopes to train under your guidance."
WHEN DID I EVER SAY THAT?!
Sora screamed inside. I never agreed to this! I want out! Far away from this snake freak!
Please reject me! Please don't waste your precious time on a humble civilian like me! Go pursue immortality or something!
His heart was in chaos, but he didn't dare say a word aloud. He forced himself to keep a straight face as he met Orochimaru's gaze.
To his horror, Orochimaru didn't refuse.
Instead, he stared at Sora intently, his snake-like eyes unblinking, studying every inch of his face.
Sora felt like his skin was crawling, but he dared not move.
"What was your father's name?" Orochimaru asked in a flat, emotionless tone.
"H-Habu Harano," Sora replied, startled. The question caught him off guard, and he stuttered slightly.
What's this got to do with my original body's father?
He didn't remember much, just that Harano was an ordinary chūnin with no notable history.
"This child will stay with me," Orochimaru said at last.
"…Got it."
Jiraiya knew this was his cue to leave. Without delay, he turned to Sora and said cheerfully, "Don't forget, you still owe me the secret to your writing techniques!"
Then, poof!
He vanished without waiting for a reply.
You're just going to leave?!
DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE HERE!!
Left facing Orochimaru by himself, Sora's fear multiplied. He didn't even know how to stand properly anymore.
This was one of the most ruthless, unpredictable, and ambitious villains in the entire Naruto story, the first real big boss of the series.
Even if he looked calm now, who could say whether he wouldn't decide the next second to dissect Sora for an experiment?
"I can tell your body is very tense. No need to be nervous… Sora-kun."
To Sora's shock, Orochimaru actually gave him a faintly warm smile.
"Your father, Harano-kun, was once under my command. On the battlefield, he shielded me from a blade. Before he passed, he mentioned your name… and asked me to look after you."
<150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter>