As Orochimaru looked into those black eyes without a trace of dislike or distance, Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru felt a spark of curiosity and closeness rise in him. It was strange that the approval Orochimaru once craved now appeared before him, yet Orochimaru felt an unexpected calm. He was simply curious why the Sasuke Uchiha in front of him was unlike others, and Orochimaru also felt a bit of goodwill toward this first classmate who reached out to him.
Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru pressed down the emotions rolling in his chest, and a calm smile appeared on his face. "My name is Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru," Orochimaru said clearly and steadily. "I am glad to be classmates with you, Sasuke Uchiha."
"Just call me Sasuke Uchiha. I can call you..." Sasuke Uchiha smiled even wider and was about to say more.
At that moment, the classroom door was pushed open again. A middle-aged man with a scar running across the bridge of his nose walked in, his gentle face carrying the steady authority unique to a teacher. It was Iruka Umino.
His arrival instantly drew in the relaxed noise of the classroom, and the students returned to their seats and sat up straight. Iruka swept his steady gaze across the classroom, his eyes passing over each student before stopping by the window on the blond child. "Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru..."
Deep in his eyes flashed complicated feelings, scrutiny mixed with heaviness, and beneath that a trace of suppressed hatred. He had long known from Hiruzen Sarutobi that Orochimaru would be Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru's teacher, and he had been told of Orochimaru's true identity and the duty to guide him correctly. Yet when Iruka actually saw Orochimaru before him, Iruka felt his heart tighten hard.
His parents had died in the Nine-Tails Incident, and the pain and hatred brought by that disaster were burned into his memory like brands. The child before him was the vessel carrying that true culprit. Even though reason told him that Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru was innocent and had done nothing wrong, the pain and hatred from his memories still grew like thorns in his heart, making it almost impossible to keep his calm expression.
"Hm?"
Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru, who had turned to Sasuke Uchiha, keenly sensed Iruka's gaze and looked up. Recently Orochimaru had noticed his strength growing and his awareness of his surroundings becoming sharper. That heavy look from Iruka lasted only a moment, yet it felt solid as it landed on him.
"This new teacher..." Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru felt a strong intuition rise. "Does Orochimaru hate me too?"
From Iruka's eyes, Orochimaru sensed hatred, but also a trace of struggle. By then, Iruka had already pressed down his thoughts and put on a warm, professional smile again. He stopped looking at Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru, turned to the podium, picked up the chalk, and wrote his name on the blackboard with a Swish Swish Swish sound.
"Hello, everyone."
Iruka turned to face the class, wearing a gentle smile and speaking clearly and steadily. "I am your teacher, Iruka Umino. From today on, I will be responsible for teaching you all." His gaze swept the class again, his tone light and encouraging. "Since this is our first meeting, to help everyone get to know each other, please come up and introduce yourselves."
"You can talk about your name, things you dislike, things you like, or your future dreams." He paused and looked at the students with encouragement. "So, who would like to be the first to introduce themselves?"
As soon as Orochimaru finished speaking, Sasuke Uchiha stood up. He walked to the podium calmly, faced the class, and spoke with a bright smile. "Hello, everyone. I am Sasuke Uchiha, from the Uchiha clan grounds."
"I like making friends, and I like the feeling of working hard and improving together." His eyes swept the classroom. "I dislike people who think too highly of themselves." "And my dream is to become a Hiruzen Sarutobi Hokage."
As his words fell, a low stir rose among the students. Liking to make friends was common, and becoming a Hiruzen Sarutobi Hokage was the dream of many children in Konoha, but hearing such words from someone of the Uchiha clan grounds was different.
Shikamaru Nara, slumped over his desk, slowly raised his head and looked at Sasuke Uchiha on the podium with a raised brow. Sasuke Uchiha paused slightly and spoke frankly.
"I know everyone is aware of what happened between Akatsuki and the Uchiha clan grounds, and you have heard about the Uchiha Clan's past ways." He nodded calmly. "I admit that the Uchiha clan grounds falling to its current state was partly due to our own Arrogance and isolation."
"So..." Sasuke Uchiha's voice suddenly rose. "I hope to correct the mistakes of the Uchiha clan grounds' past. I also hope to become true companions and friends with all of you." "I hope that through my own efforts, I can earn everyone's recognition, become a Hiruzen Sarutobi Hokage, and make the Uchiha clan grounds great again."
"Thank you, everyone."
With that, Sasuke Uchiha bowed slightly and walked down from the podium. After a brief silence, the classroom erupted into enthusiastic applause, and many girls looked at him with bright eyes. His honesty, self reflection, and determination to change and fit in clearly won over many classmates.
In Sealing Space, watching the completely different Sasuke Uchiha, Yunshiki Otsutsuki could not help but twitch the corner of his eye. In fact, before the Uchiha massacre in the original story, Sasuke had been cheerful as a child, even more lively than Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru. Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru had not been cheerful as a child, and gentleness suited him better.
What surprised Yunshiki was that after that night, Sasuke's personality had not changed much, only gaining a more utilitarian edge. He wondered if Shisui Uchiha had said or done something to Sasuke Uchiha. Perhaps to preserve the Uchiha clan grounds and restore its greatness, Orochimaru had swung from one extreme to another.
Next, the students went up one after another, many of them familiar faces. Introductions echoed through the classroom, full of simple likes, dislikes, and dreams. Laughter and small reactions rose and fell as each student spoke.
In the end, only Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru remained. Iruka's gaze fell on him again, still carrying a trace of complexity. Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the podium under the curious and calm gazes of his classmates.
Looking at those unfamiliar faces that held no rejection, Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru now understood what kind of class this was. At his teacher's suggestion, Orochimaru had read the history of the Shinobi World and Konoha. He knew those familiar surnames belonged to major ninja clans of Konoha, and if there was an elite class in this grade, this was it.
That meant everyone here likely knew who Orochimaru was and knew he was not the rumored Guai thing. That was why they did not fear or reject him. With that thought, Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru cleared his throat and smiled calmly.
"Hello, everyone. I am Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru." "I like cooking, reading, and raising cats. I like people who care about me and accept me."
He paused slightly, thinking, then spoke frankly. "As for things I dislike... there really are none." "My dream is to live a peaceful and stable life with the people I care about. If possible, I hope to become friends with everyone."
There were no grand vows or shocking goals, just a simple and sincere wish. The classroom fell quiet for a moment, and Shikamaru Nara showed a trace of approval as Orochimaru raised his hands to clap. Before Orochimaru could, Sasuke Uchiha clapped first, and the applause quickly grew warm.
Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru's eyes flickered as Orochimaru nodded to Sasuke Uchiha and walked back down. The classroom had tiered seating, with three students to a desk. When Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru returned to his seat, the two classmates who had seemed hesitant leaned over.
"Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru, is it okay to call you that?" A boy without any Uchiha clan crest grinned. "My name is Chiba Ryosuke. You can call me Ryosuke. Please take care of me."
"Ryosuke, please take care of me too," Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru replied with a smile. He then looked at the other desk mate.
She was a girl with unusual black and red mixed hair and wore a pair of plain brown framed glasses. "Hello, Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru," she greeted him with a smile. "My name is Karin Uzumaki. Please take care of me."
For some reason, Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru felt a sense of closeness toward the newly met Karin Uzumaki. On the podium, Iruka watched him from afar, his feelings complicated. He knew well how he was treated in Konoha.
The ugly faces and vicious curses whispered in secret could chill even him as a jinchuriki. Yet in such an environment, Gaara, feared and rejected by countless people, showed no resentment or hatred. He showed only an unbelievable gentleness and calm, and a simple longing for an ordinary peaceful life.
Iruka let out a deep breath and made a quiet decision in his heart. No matter how sensitive Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru's identity was, or how terrifying the power sealed within him might be, Orochimaru was still just a student and an innocent child. As his teacher, Iruka had to face him fairly and guide him, because that was his duty.
As the applause faded, Iruka stepped forward with his steady smile, his gaze sweeping the class and pausing briefly on Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru. The complexity in his eyes had mostly faded, replaced by a firm calm belonging to a teacher. "Very good. Everyone's introductions were excellent. Now, we will begin our formal lessons."
He explained the subjects for the term, from field survival and reconnaissance to Taijutsu basics and Chakra theory. When Iruka reached the end, his tone grew more serious as he mentioned the inheritance and understanding of the Will of the Land of Fire. He explained that the first lesson would usually be taught by the headmaster Hiruzen Sarutobi, but due to his busy duties, Iruka would teach it instead.
He wrote a line on the board with a Swish Swish Swish sound. "Where leaves dance, fire lives on."
Iruka began to recount the history of Konoha, the ideals proposed by Hashirama Senju, and how Hiruzen Sarutobi through the ages had protected Konoha. He spoke of protection, sacrifice, and inheritance. Below the podium, Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru sat by the window, appearing attentive while his mind had already sunk into the Sealing Space.
He had already studied the history of the Shinobi World and Konoha. With Yunshiki, history and learning from the past had been his earliest lessons. "Teacher," Orochimaru asked in the Sealing Space, looking up at Yunshiki sitting atop the Nine-Tails. "Is it okay for the Kunoichi Academy to mix Konoha history with the Will of the Land of Fire like this?"
"Any idea, no matter how noble it sounds, must be examined within its historical context," Yunshiki Otsutsuki replied calmly. "Hashirama Senju founded Konoha and ended the Warring States era, and his achievements are undeniable." "But in its inheritance, has the Will of the Land of Fire been given too much idealization, overlooking human complexity and the cruelty of reality?"
"Where is the boundary of protection? How should the value of sacrifice be measured?" He looked at Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru. "These are things you must think about yourself."
He opened his eyes and said evenly, "Do not blindly accept any implanted belief. Use your own eyes to see and your own heart to judge. Make the choice you believe is right, and be willing to bear all its consequences, good or bad."
Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru nodded with partial understanding and sat at a table. "Teacher, what are we studying today? Can I watch TV after class?" Orochimaru asked eagerly.
Yunshiki did not answer. He raised a hand and manifested books from memory, stacking them into a small mountain before Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru. "These..." Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru blinked. "Are these also books from other worlds?"
By other worlds, Orochimaru meant other planets. From the Nine-Tails, Orochimaru knew his teacher was powerful and from beyond this world. So Orochimaru felt no surprise at unfamiliar books or films. The Yamato race that could travel the universe naturally knew civilizations beyond the Shinobi World.
"Yes, like the books you read before," Yunshiki said coolly. "They come from a world without powers like Chakra and has basically achieved peace." "The cognition level of the Shinobi World is too low. They have power but do not know how to use it, a bunch of fools no different from this fox."
"Cough." The Nine-Tails coughed in symbolic protest. Yunshiki ignored it. "Read all of these first. Understand the world and the essence of power, then I will teach you how to control it."
Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru nodded obediently and picked up the top book. On the first page, Orochimaru saw a line. "Someone asked: how should one repay resentment with kindness?"
"If resentment is repaid with kindness, how should kindness be repaid? Therefore, repay wrongdoing with fairness, and repay kindness with kindness."
At that moment, Yunshiki Otsutsuki looked at Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru, sensing the Uzumaki bloodline about to awaken, and narrowed his eyes slightly. He offered little direct guidance, believing that wisdom gained through books was the greatest guidance. Anyone with normal understanding would not think the current path of the Shinobi World was correct, and Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru would come to the same conclusion.
Meanwhile, at the border port of the Land of Demons, dark clouds pressed low over the sky. Amegakure hammered the sea as strong winds lashed the harbor, flags pulled tight and ships creaked at anchor. A long, whale-like flute sound pierced the stormy night, and a massive shadow rolled in from the sea.
It was a giant ship painted the same color as the storm. On deck, Yunchuan Hyuga and Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in black raincoats, watching the distant smoke and fire. They both realized that this Five Kage Summit would not go smoothly from the moment they entered the Land of Demons.
"Let's go," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "First, we find the shrine maiden and see what is happening." Yunchuan Hyuga held out his hand to the rain, sensing the distant aura. "That presence similar to the Great Hollow... is it the demon of the Land of Demons? Besides the Five Kage, Uzumaki Uzumaki Orochimaru and Obito Uchiha are here too."
How did all these people end up together in the Land of Demons?