"red beans."
At dusk.
Red Bean, who was happily replenishing her sugar, was startled by Orochimaru's sudden voice from behind.
"Teacher! Girls shouldn't be scared all the time!"
"You'll age very quickly!"
Hongdou's face was full of displeasure.
"You'll lose me sooner or later if you keep going like this, teacher!"
Orochimaru was speechless.
I'll lose you sooner or later...
Is this considered a threat?
Utterly foolish.
"Haruko is hungry, go and buy her something to eat."
Still smiling, Orochimaru said softly.
Like a good teacher who cares a lot about his students.
"Okay..."
Hongdou, who often ran errands, was already used to it. She just muttered something and then moved her bottom and set off.
"Honestly, I don't even know who the senior sister is."
It's been three months.
Haruko officially became his junior sister.
Hongdou's daily routine now includes running errands to buy meals.
But Red Bean doesn't mind the trouble.
On the contrary, watching Haruko wolf down her food, she felt a sense of "I raised this girl"...
I found it very useful.
They easily found the meatball shop.
With the year's worth of food money given to her by Orochimaru-sensei, Anko skillfully ordered three servings of dumplings, then dashed back home in a flash.
Knock knock knock!
"Haruko, come out for dinner!"
"Hold on."
A clear, melodious, yet somewhat weak voice came from inside the room.
Soon after, Qingchuan, whose face was a little pale but who still maintained a smile, opened the door.
"Here, your favorite super sweet meatballs."
Hongdou handed over the meatballs, but her expression showed some heartache.
"The teacher must have bullied you a lot today... Sigh."
"Being too talented isn't always a good thing."
A sigh.
While cursing Orochimaru in her heart, Anko also felt sorry for her junior sister.
But mostly, I feel fortunate.
Orochimaru's methods of educating Haruko were clearly completely different from those of educating her.
For her, it was just a few ninja hand seals and the principles behind their use.
Then, I would occasionally check on their progress in cultivation.
As for Haruko...
That's absolutely insane real combat training!
God knows what this girl, who always has a smile on her face, went through in those three months...
Every time Hongdou came over, there was no color in her junior sister's face.
That's the complexion you get after extreme fatigue and exhaustion.
Anko interprets this as Haruko's ninjutsu being incompatible with her teacher's.
Therefore, this is the only way to train...
"Thanks, Senior Sister Hongdou."
Qingchuan maintained his smile.
He took the meatballs, saw off the red bean, and then returned to the house.
And then...
He collapsed onto the ground with a thud!
Orochimaru... I'll kill you sooner or later!
The smile gradually turned sinister.
Qingchuan gritted his teeth in anger!
That's too ruthless.
It's one thing if they don't know how to cherish women.
Orochimaru showed absolutely no mercy, even to a child!
Three months.
The only thing Qingchuan does every morning is basically fight Orochimaru!
Yes, it was a bloodbath.
If you're not careful, you'll at least suffer a fracture!
Orochimaru is truly ruthless.
Perhaps he sensed that his time in Konoha was running out.
They are doing everything they can to squeeze out Qingchuan's potential.
One big meatball at a time.
The excessive sugar content allowed Qingchuan's physical strength to recover rapidly.
With the added smile and reply buff, the feeling of exhaustion that had been plaguing my body receded like a receding tide.
"About...at this pace."
"In about three more months, I should be able to get the three-tomoe jade."
In the system panel, the side quest completion rate has reached 60%.
Double magatama.
After three months of frequent Shikai releases and constant mental cleansing, the Shikai duration reached its maximum of one minute, and the double tomoe arrived as scheduled.
Still in the beginner stage.
But for a six-year-old to achieve this is already quite outrageous.
No, seven years old.
Ten days ago, Aokawa celebrated his birthday after a three-hour battle with Orochimaru.
This is his first birthday since arriving in the ninja world.
As a birthday gift to himself, he successfully used his Shikai to leave a mark on Orochimaru's face.
That feeling...
That was awesome!
"I wonder how Weasel is doing..."
"Obito, that guy, should be reliable, right?"
Chewing on a meatball, Qingchuan muttered.
...
"Your movements are too slow."
"The village has taken notice of the situation here, so you'd better speed things up."
In the dimly lit laboratory, the half-mummy Danzo frowned as he looked at Orochimaru, who appeared to be working at the operating table.
"If all else fails, let's take a break and lay low for a while."
"The Third Hokage has been putting a lot of pressure on me lately. Root has been targeted. It's not too late to continue after this period."
If it weren't for that arm, which was entirely synthesized from Wood Release cells.
Danzo would not have supported Orochimaru's research in this way.
That arm gave him hope.
I see... the hope that the First Hokage's Wood Release will reappear!
The Nine-Tails' rampage had a huge impact on Konoha.
A weapon like a tailed beast must have a sturdy tool to firmly restrain it.
At least, it's more robust than the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan.
However, the current Jinchūriki is still young, and the Eight Trigrams Seal is still at its peak.
It's not too late to pause for a month or two before resuming research.
"I know that once this study is over, I will be more conservative as appropriate."
Orochimaru replied without turning his head.
His tone suggested he was somewhat distracted.
"You can decide for yourself."
Danzo nodded in satisfaction, then turned and left without lingering.
Although the working relationship between the two is somewhat delicate.
But Orochimaru's talent is undeniable.
Orochimaru's research on Wood Release cells is indeed authoritative.
"Angry, disgusted."
"Is this feeling because I was frightened...?"
After Danzo left.
Orochimaru, who was standing in front of the operating table, suddenly stopped what he was doing and muttered to himself.
He suddenly remembered what Hongdou had said earlier...
"It seems that Haruko's emotions are similar to those of ordinary girls."
"interesting..."
Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue, his face full of interest.
Research continues.
But what he's researching is perhaps only known to him...*