The next day, Hikaru Kinoshita and Minato Namikaze walked together.
As they strolled along the path to the Ninja Academy, an unexpected guest appeared.
"Orochimaru-sama?"
"Oh, you recognize me?"
Orochimaru wore a Jonin uniform. His shoulder-length black hair framed a pale, androgynous face, with brown eyes and purple magatama earrings dangling from his ears.
This was the new type of bloodline teacher had mentioned able to freely stretch and manipulate the body.
Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi had shared information about Hikaru Kinoshita with Orochimaru yesterday, he had taken a keen interest.
A boy with the same flexibility as his own Body Modification Technique, and ambitious enough to learn all ninjutsu? Orochimaru had to study him.
Now, they were ten meters apart. With a swift motion, Orochimaru extended his neck and lunged toward Hikaru.
Orochimaru's eyes burned with excitement, and he flicked his tongue out like a snake.
Hikaru froze for a moment, then instinctively leaned back, stretching his own neck five meters in response.
Seeing this, Orochimaru grew even more thrilled, flicking his tongue in and out like a serpent, determined to lock eyes with Hikaru.
Hikaru dodged constantly, fearful of being bitten.
"Impressive!"
Minato, observing, thought it looked like two serpents in a dance bodies still, but necks weaving like living snakes.
After a short chase, Orochimaru realized Hikaru's neck was even more flexible than his own. He said, "Hikaru, why are you afraid? We are of the same kind."
Hikaru frowned. Same kind? He was rubber, not a snake. "I'm rubber. What are you?"
"I am a snake!"
"Can you do the Triple Serpent Dance? (ﾟOﾟ)" Hikaru whistled, producing a strange, rhythmic melody from his mouth.
"Wooo… wooo…"
The moment the melody played, Orochimaru felt an itch along his neck and couldn't resist swaying slightly.
Seeing that it worked, Hikaru whistled even harder, moving his neck in rhythm.
Perhaps it was the power of the Serpent Dance, or perhaps Orochimaru was a born dancer. Soon, he found himself moving to the beat.
"Wooo… wooo…"
Hikaru's neck swayed left and right, Orochimaru mirrored him, and together they formed undulating waves. As they drew closer, their movements twisted together in a spiral dance.
"Impressive!"
Minato clapped from the side, reminding them, "That… sounds great, but we're going to be late. Maybe we should continue tonight?"
The melody stopped abruptly. Hikaru retracted his neck, and Orochimaru withdrew his jutsu.
Plop…
Minato sighed. "(︶︿︶) =凸"
Hikaru blinked. "ヽ（・＿・;)ノ"
Orochimaru raised his hands in a shrug. "ㄟ(▔,▔)ㄏ"
"Um… could you let go of me?" Hikaru asked, awkwardly.
At that moment, their necks were tangled, and Orochimaru just wanted to break free, too embarrassed to speak. This was pure awkwardness a black history moment.
But their necks were intertwined, impossible to separate.
Finally, Minato guided Hikaru out like threading a needle and sprinted off.
"Goodbye, Orochimaru-sama."
Watching Hikaru's feet dangle as he flew, Orochimaru thought of Jiraiya and smiled faintly. This meeting had been truly unusual.
"Teacher, I will take this apprentice," Orochimaru said to himself.
At this time, Orochimaru had not yet taken Shinju Senju as a disciple. If Hikaru agreed, he would become Orochimaru's first and foremost student.
In the classroom, students whispered among themselves.
Kazuya Kinoshita stood at the podium but didn't intervene, keeping an eye on the time. For many, this was the best part of childhood.
A trace of helplessness flickered in Kazuya's eyes. At the Ninja Academy, students who fail to develop chakra within six months are assigned to regular classes. Those with low talent go to the middle class. Few commoners ever successfully develop chakra.
Geniuses are even rarer only Kazuya's two brothers fit the bill.
"All right, class. Let's continue chakra training. I'll demonstrate first. Raise your hands if you have questions."
Suddenly, a loud clatter interrupted Kazuya. Turning, he saw his two younger brothers, and anger flickered in his eyes.
"Sorry, teacher," Minato bowed, setting down Hikaru.
"Hm?"
Kazuya felt chakra radiating from Minato. A smile flickered across his face. Then he noticed Hikaru's sleepy, dazed eyes. Not a trace of ninja discipline in him.
His expression twisted into a roar. "Who made you late? Run a hundred laps on the field! ╰（‵□′）╯"
"Hi!" Hikaru was still dizzy as Minato grabbed him again.
Kazuya didn't pursue them further. Since they could already manifest chakra, formal class instruction was unnecessary.
It was time for intense training. "Don't blame your brother. This is for your own good. ( ^_^)／"
Kazuya's lips curved into a mischievous smile. The students shivered in unison, thinking: Teacher is terrifying!
On the training field:
"Hikaru, teacher said a hundred laps. Let's do this."
Minato adjusted his breathing and started running slowly.
"Wait for me, Minato."
Hikaru caught up, took the lead, and gradually accelerated.
Soon, Minato's breathing grew ragged. Hikaru taught him a breathing technique from his previous life: three short, one long; two short, one long.
"Control the rhythm. A ninja must never let his breathing falter."
Hikaru had learned this in the gym of his past life, after spending 2,000 coins on training. Not standard professional training, but it worked.
At fifty laps, their path was blocked.
"Hmph, kid, not bad. I, Shigeru Uchiha, acknowledge you."
Shigeru Uchiha crossed his arms, chin raised proudly. This stance was said to be the signature posture of the ancestor, Uchiha Madara a way to fully display Uchiha dominance.
It was also the ideal stance for recruiting underlings.
Shigeru was planning to take these two kids as subordinates. When he married Mikoto, they'd be his groomsmen.
But the two ignored him, running straight past, leaving Shigeru flustered in the wind.
Then Hikaru called out, "Want to run laps? Join us."
"Interesting… you want to test my skills? Fine. I'll show you Uchiha strength."
Shigeru sprinted to catch up. "How many laps have you done? I will catch up. The Uchiha never take advantage of others."
"No need. The duel has just begun, right, Minato?"
Hikaru's eyes burned with determination. He thought: I haven't sought you out, yet you come to me. Uchiha, you red-eyed fools I'll teach you a lesson.
If he wanted to become Hokage, he needed allies. This Uchiha could be one of them. And he didn't have to lift a finger fish would bite the hook themselves.
"Hmm!"
"Interesting. Then let's go. Last place buys dinner," Shigeru said.
"Hmph! ヽ(○^㉨^)ﾉ♪"
Hikaru's eyes glimmered with determination. He would win and show this arrogant brat the harshness of reality.
"Hmm? (´◑д◐｀)" Minato's eyes burned with fire. Losing was not an option or he might literally lose a kidney.
They exchanged a glance, each sensing the other's resolve.
"Listen, Minato. It's time to start…"
"Let's go…"