Chapter 62 – Hiruzen's Dark Sense of Humor
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Brilliant golden chains erupted from behind Yami, lashing forward like living creatures. In an instant, they coiled tightly around Orochimaru, binding him from every angle.
Strange sealing runes shimmered along the chains' surface. They did not merely restrain the body—they forcibly suppressed the flow of chakra itself.
Orochimaru's serpentine pupils contracted sharply.
For the first time since the battle began, genuine shock crossed his face.
From the initial ninjutsu exchanges, to the explosive pressure of the Eight Gates, to deliberately allowing himself to be caught in genjutsu—only to reverse the situation with Flying Thunder God and seal the target—
Each layer had been calculated.
Each step interlocked with the next.
The precision was chilling.
For a moment, the only sound in the training ground was the clinking rattle of chains tightening.
Yami stood behind Orochimaru, deliberately panting as though he had exhausted himself.
As if that final maneuver had taken everything he had.
"Orochimaru-sama…"
He began quietly—
Before he could finish, the scene twisted.
The bound "Orochimaru" suddenly curved his lips into an eerie smile.
"Flying Thunder God combined with Uzumaki sealing techniques… impressive. However—"
Crack.
The restrained body split apart like a shedding serpent's skin.
The outer layer peeled away, sloughing off in a grotesque husk.
From within emerged an entirely uninjured Orochimaru.
It was the infamous Serpent-Style Substitution Technique.
"You actually forced me to use that technique."
His tone was almost pleased.
Orochimaru stood several meters away, lightly dusting off his sleeve.
The curiosity in his golden, slit-like pupils had deepened into something far more intense.
Though his expression remained calm, his heartbeat had subtly quickened.
The chakra suppression from those chains moments ago had been far more dangerous than he had allowed himself to show.
---
Inside the Hokage's Office
Within the crystal ball, the image of the training ground gradually blurred.
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a slow ring of smoke, a trace of mischievous amusement tugging at his lips.
"I deliberately didn't tell Orochimaru about the Flying Thunder God… I wonder if I managed to startle my outstanding disciple."
He muttered to himself. The smile faded slightly, replaced by quiet astonishment at Yami's combat intellect.
To weave Flying Thunder God so seamlessly into battle—
to execute a flawless loop from baiting the enemy to securing a near-fatal counter—
That level of tactical instinct exceeded even his expectations.
Fortunately, Orochimaru had lived up to his reputation.
If he had truly been caught off guard and lost face, that would have been troublesome.
Hiruzen slowly rotated his pipe between his fingers, gaze turning contemplative.
"Still… Danzō's suspicions aren't entirely baseless."
His brow creased faintly.
"That kind of calculation… where did it come from?"
---
Back at the Training Ground
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Orochimaru adjusted his sleeve once more, studying Yami as though examining a rare specimen.
"The assessment ends here."
His hoarse voice carried unconcealed excitement.
"Your performance… was quite the surprise."
He emphasized the word surprise.
Yami relaxed his combat stance.
"Thank you for the instruction."
"Instruction?"
A low chuckle escaped Orochimaru's throat.
"It seems sensei has assigned me a most interesting disciple."
He turned his gaze toward Nawaki, who was still wide-eyed in shock.
"Nawaki, you will increase your training. That display was unworthy of the Senju name."
Nawaki opened his mouth to protest—but under Orochimaru's cold stare, he swallowed his words and lowered his head.
"From now on, you will train ninjutsu counter-release."
Orochimaru formed a seal and created a shadow clone.
"Until your chakra is exhausted, no dinner."
Watching Nawaki scramble frantically under the clone's relentless assault, Orochimaru returned his attention to Yami.
"Flying Thunder God…"
He murmured softly, tongue brushing faintly across his lips.
"The Second Hokage's space-time forbidden technique… I didn't expect anyone else to master it."
Yami understood immediately.
Hiruzen had intentionally withheld that information.
The Third Hokage truly was a fox who enjoyed watching the play unfold.
"I was merely fortunate enough to grasp a fragment of it."
Yami replied modestly, while discreetly observing Orochimaru's reaction.
"A fragment?"
A soft, ambiguous laugh.
"To use Flying Thunder God so proficiently in real combat… that is far beyond a fragment."
Orochimaru stepped closer, lowering his voice so only Yami could hear.
"It seems sensei has entrusted me with quite the remarkable student… Namikaze Yami."
The implication beneath those words made Yami's heart tighten slightly.
Orochimaru had clearly realized this "assignment" as supervising jōnin carried deeper intentions.
"I am only an ordinary chūnin, Orochimaru-sama."
"Ordinary?"
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"A so-called 'ordinary' chūnin who wields Flying Thunder God, the Eight Gates, and Adamantine Sealing Chains simultaneously?"
His golden eyes narrowed.
"I am becoming more and more interested in you, Yami. I very much look forward to our… teacher-student relationship."
The undertone in that sentence was unmistakable.
To attract Orochimaru's interest was rarely a blessing.
"I look forward to learning from you as well, Orochimaru-sama."
Yami's tone was impeccable.
"Coincidentally," Orochimaru continued, voice lengthening thoughtfully, "I have been conducting research on bloodline limits. I am currently lacking certain experimental materials. If you are interested…"
Yami immediately cut in before the implication could develop further.
"I would be honored to serve as your assistant. I've always had an interest in such research."
Better to stand beside the scalpel than beneath it.
Orochimaru naturally detected the refusal hidden within the offer, yet he did not mind.
As for the assistant role—since his current research was still in its early stages—there was no harm in allowing participation.
He did not give a direct answer.
Instead, his voice deepened.
"This world is filled with ignorance and folly. Only by pursuing the truth of life can one touch eternity."
With that, both he and his shadow clone dissolved into smoke, leaving behind only a quiet instruction:
"Training resumes tomorrow."
---
Yami watched the space where Orochimaru had vanished, eyes thoughtful.
Nearby, Nawaki had finally drained his chakra dry and staggered to his feet, brushing dust from his clothes.
"Big bro, don't mind him. Sensei's always like that—mysterious and dramatic."
Pulled from his thoughts, Yami shook his head lightly, returning to his usual composure.
"Let's go. I'll treat you to ramen."
Yet inwardly, his thoughts continued to churn.
Orochimaru was both the strongest umbrella of protection he could stand beneath—
and the most dangerous partner he could ever choose.
Perhaps… this was what made life interesting.
Wasn't it?