To ensure Uzuki Ruri could keep up with this squad and not be left behind—and so her family could escape the fate of becoming just another unremarkable minor clan in the future, much like the Utatane or Mitokado clans—the Uzuki Clan would exert all their strength and stake their heritage on her support.
With her Konoha-Style Swordsmanship already showing considerable skill and having mastered several Water Style and Lightning Style Ninjutsu with impressive power and practicality, she had indeed kept pace with the team for now. She was far from being a burden and provided significant utility in battle.
At least in this sparring match, without Uzuki Ruri acting as a distraction, Sarutobi Enjun would have been no match for Uchiha Gen.
By the edge of the training ground, Orochimaru's snake-like eyes watched Uchiha Gen's fluid, dragon-like movements, utterly perplexed.
Something's not right. The Sharingan alone shouldn't be enough to cause such a massive improvement.
This is bad. Could Jiraiya's teaching ability really be that strong? To have such a massive improvement with just a little guidance in less than a day?
Is Jiraiya really a genius in the field of teaching?
Orochimaru slowly shook his head, dismissing the thought.
Jiraiya might truly be a teaching genius, yet it was also highly unlikely that Jiraiya was a teaching genius.
Regarding his teammate, Orochimaru believed few people in the world understood him better than himself. If Jiraiya were to teach, he might do it well, certainly being meticulous to the extreme. Given enough time, he could ensure a ninja's baseline and slowly uncover a genius's potential bit by bit. But for him to guide a ninja in a short time and cause such rapid improvement—that was simply impossible.
Especially since that ninja is my student; everything that needed to be pointed out has already been addressed.
In that case...
"The Uchiha Clan's heritage is indeed unfathomable."
Orochimaru turned his gaze to the ancient-looking ninja sword in Uchiha Gen's hand.
With Gen's mission income, he couldn't afford a blade like that. No, even Orochimaru himself would have to put in quite an effort to acquire such a high-quality, antique ninja sword.
This sword could only have been given by the Uchiha Clan's higher-ups. Orochimaru, as well as the Third Hokage who kept a watchful eye on Gen, knew that the boy was very close to the Great Elder.
Since that man had acted as a moderate ever since being saved by Tobirama Senju in the past, and Gen's displayed mindset hadn't deviated from their expectations, they hadn't intervened much. After all, they needed Uchiha Gen to hold a certain position within his clan in the future to influence the Uchiha and mediate conflicts.
From this proficient Uchiha-Style Swordsmanship and this ninja sword, it was clear that the Uchiha Clan had put significant effort into Gen's development. Seen this way, his rapid progress after awakening the Sharingan most likely had everything to do with the Uchiha Clan's hidden resources. Only this explanation could account for Uchiha Gen's recent breakthrough, which had suddenly left his two teammates behind.
Just as Orochimaru was observing how Uchiha Gen handled the pincer attack from his teammates, a figure wearing a mask and dark clothes appeared beside him using the Body Flicker Technique.
"There is a temporary top-secret mission from Lord Third for the Orochimaru Squad."
The Anbu ninja sharply handed the mission scroll to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he saw the code markings on the scroll. A top-secret, high-level temporary mission... In this squad, aside from Orochimaru himself, the other three—even Uchiha Gen—were still far from the standard for executing such a task. Why was the mission urgently sent here?
Orochimaru unrolled the scroll, and after reading its contents, he asked the Anbu ninja, "What time?"
"In half an hour, at the Senju Ancestral Home."
"Go back and report. We will be there shortly."
Orochimaru tucked the mission scroll into his sleeve. The content of the mission was actually quite simple: guard duty.
Because the Nine-Tails Sealing Transfer Ceremony was about to take place.
Soon, the three sparring in the training ground were called to a halt by Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sensei, what happened?"
Looking at his two out-of-breath teammates, Uchiha Gen took the initiative to ask.
"The Sandaime has ordered a temporary top-secret mission, A-rank. Let's go. Since it's only A-rank, we're likely just guards."
Orochimaru waved his hand.
This mission was essentially foolproof; no accidents were expected to occur. If one did, it would have a catastrophic impact on all of Konoha. For every ninja village, the handover of a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki is of paramount importance, second only to the succession of the Kage.
For this reason, the mission was extremely sensitive, with a secrecy level reaching top-secret. Aside from the Third Hokage and a few key decision-makers, no one knew the timing or specific details. Even someone like Orochimaru, who was being groomed as part of the next generation of Konoha's core and was a potential candidate for future Hokage, was not qualified to know in advance. He only received notice thirty minutes before it began.
"An A-rank mission!"
Sarutobi Enjun's eyes immediately lit up.
"Are we finally going to perform a high-level mission?"
"A temporary A-rank mission? Orochimaru-sensei, I'm afraid our squad's average quality doesn't meet the standards for a mission of this level. So this mission is..."
Uchiha Gen said hesitantly.
Orochimaru nodded. "It is quite special. The location is the Senju Old Residence, where we will act as guards to ensure the Tailed Beast Transfer Ceremony is completed smoothly. We received this mission temporarily because I am the Sandaime's disciple and you are my students; we are all trustworthy members in the Sandaime's eyes."
A look of realization appeared on Sarutobi Enjun's face. He was, after all, the son of the Third Hokage and knew a bit about such matters. Uzuki Ruri, however, looked confused. As a ninja from a small clan where only one or two Jonin held things together, Uzuki Ruri knew very little about Tailed Beasts.
Seeing Uzuki Ruri's expression, Orochimaru immediately explained.
"Tailed Beasts are extremely important strategic weapons for every ninja village, sealed within the bodies of each generation's Jinchuriki. The Tailed Beast belonging to our Konoha is the most powerful one, the Nine-Tails, but its power is also the hardest to control. It is currently sealed within the first-generation Jinchuriki, Lady Mito. She is Tsunade's grandmother and the wife of the First Hokage. Now, as her lifespan nears its end, her body can no longer bear the erosion of the Tailed Beast's power, so it must be transferred."
"So today is both the Nine-Tails Sealing Transfer Ceremony and the final day of Lady Mito's life."