Summer mornings came quickly, sunlight spilling in early.
But inside this small one-room apartment, the two figures standing there felt strangely cold.
Because of the height difference, the man stood quietly, looking down at the boy. The vertical pupils in his eyes did not hide his interest.
The boy, on the other hand, looked dull on the surface but impatient inside as he met the man's gaze.
One tall, one small—an odd sight.
Their auras were completely different.
One was cold and sinister.
The other was gentle and scholarly.
Yet… they were also very similar.
Deep in both their eyes burned the same kind of lonely pride.
This was the first meeting of two scientists.
"Good reaction."
Orochimaru slightly restrained the interest in his eyes, and his aura softened.
He had witnessed yesterday's fight.
The boy's performance surprised him—decisive, ruthless, leaving no room.
So much like himself!
But…
If that were all, it would not have excited Orochimaru—who always put his own interests first—this much.
What truly made him almost unable to control himself was the jutsu the boy used!
He recognized those hand seals.
A C-rank Wind Release. When the boy formed the seals, there was nothing special about them.
But what he released…
Was a Water-Release-like technique with terrifying killing power!
What did that mean?
It meant that this five-year-old boy had, by himself, optimized an existing jutsu!
It meant that in this vast ninja world, Orochimaru… was not alone.
People may get used to loneliness, but they never fall in love with it.
Snakes, too, live in groups…
Except for that man, no one had ever understood why he was so obsessed with ninjutsu research.
And now, after silently observing the boy all night, Orochimaru suddenly felt he had found a companion.
Every expression the boy showed during his late-night research felt familiar to him.
"Jingyan-kun… would you like to become my… disciple?"
"Jingyan-kun"—a very polite form of address.
Orochimaru had even used honorifics.
That meant he had acknowledged the boy, even though the boy's current strength was insignificant in his eyes.
As the Third Hokage's once-proudest disciple, Orochimaru had excellent manners.
Even toward enemies—if he acknowledged them, he would give them his own form of respect.
Let alone this boy…
"The Ninja Academy can't teach you much. I believe you won't waste time on meaningless things either…"
Orochimaru said this openly.
But Jingyan's brows were tightly furrowed.
Orochimaru's sudden appearance did not catch him off guard.
On the contrary—after confirming it was Orochimaru, he even felt it was "only natural."
Anything this man did… was normal.
Including this.
Looks like yesterday's impulse really cost him…
He beat up a few brats, gained some proficiency points, and got a big white snake.
Regret it?
A little.
If he had known this would happen, he would've let Obito get beaten—
It wouldn't affect him becoming a final boss anyway.
Looking at Orochimaru, whose eyes were now filled with curiosity, Jingyan felt speechless.
This… was probably Orochimaru's gentlest side.
"What are you hesitating about… Jingyan-kun?"
Seeing Jingyan not answer, even looking a little dazed, Orochimaru finally asked.
He couldn't understand—what was there to hesitate about?
He was one of the Legendary Sannin.
In all of Konoha, aside from that man and his teacher and teammates, no one could match his fame.
To receive his invitation was something countless people dreamed of!
Yet although confused, Orochimaru was not impatient.
The boy's habit of thinking deeply was something he had noticed overnight—and appreciated.
He was just curious.
What exactly was this five-year-old boy, who shared the same pursuit as him, hesitating about?
"Do you want the honest answer?" Jingyan finally spoke.
But his expression… was rather strange.
"Of course," Orochimaru spread his hands. "But to me, everyone except those I trust speaks lies."
With that single sentence, he quietly tried to recruit Jingyan again.
"Sorry… I'm hesitating about how to reject you."
"Orochimaru-san."
Jingyan really wanted to roll his eyes, but reason told him—
Better not.
That would hurt… in more ways than one.
"The Ninja Academy really can't teach me much, that's true. But the problem is…"
"What can you teach me?"
Immortality technique? Edo Tensei? Eight-Headed Serpent?
Sorry—wrong profession.
He studied physics and chemistry, not biotechnology.
And besides…
If it was just about knowledge reserves—
In the entire ninja world, who could compare to him?
The smile on Orochimaru's face slowly vanished.
Only now did he finally find a flaw in the boy.
A flaw he knew very well… and had often been warned about.
Arrogance.
How long had it been…
How long had no one dared to speak to him like this?
The gentleness vanished.
Cold killing intent flooded the room!
At this moment, the sinister Orochimaru finally revealed his true face.
Cold. Evil. Predatory.
Only one thought remained in his mind—
If he couldn't have him, then he would destroy him.
But…
If he really did that…
Would there ever be someone in this world who truly understood him again?
Orochimaru wasn't sure.
"My invitation will always stand."
The killing intent slowly withdrew. His voice was still hoarse.
"Jingyan-kun… if you ever get tired of the Uchiha…"
"Come find me anytime."
"After all, such a narrow clan may not understand people like us."
T/N:
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