January 1st marked the start of another new year.
This year felt different to Natsuki.
First, he and Nonō had moved into the Senju clan residence.
During the New Year, there were Tsunade, Kushina, and Nawaki around as well, making it much livelier than previous years.
Second, the Second Shinobi World War had ended less than two weeks ago.
When Natsuki, Nonō, and the others went out shopping, the Konoha villagers they t were extrely enthusiastic toward him.
He could even get discounts or free items when buying things.
As for Konoha's shinobi, they no longer dared to call him by na directly. They would all add the respectful suffix sama.
Although Natsuki was not yet an adult, his achievents in the Second Shinobi World War were far too frightening.
They could no longer treat him as a junior.
"Sensei, we're here!"
Before Nawaki even entered the house, he shouted loudly.
Hearing his voice, Orochimaru walked to the entrance and opened the door.
"Sensei, Happy New Year!"
Nawaki, Natsuki, and Nonō said in unison.
"Happy New Year."
A faint smile appeared on Orochimaru's face.
For soone like him, who rarely showed his emotions, this was already extrely rare.
"Co in."
Orochimaru turned and walked toward the living room.
Natsuki closed the door behind him, then went to the living room with Nawaki and Nonō. They sat down on the sofa.
"Sensei, these are the gifts we bought for you."
Nawaki took out a summoning storage scroll and said, "Rember to take a look when you have ti."
After putting away the scroll, Orochimaru asked, "Do you know Ryūchi Cave?"
"Sensei, are you going to let us beco contractors of Ryūchi Cave?"
Nawaki imdiately beca excited and said, "I've been looking forward to this for a long ti!"
"Ryūchi Cave is one of the Three Great Sacred Lands of summoning beasts. Many powerful snakes live there."
Seeing that Nawaki had already ignored Orochimaru's question, Natsuki answered in his place.
"Correct."
Orochimaru nodded and said, "I once entered Ryūchi Cave by chance and beca one of its contractors."
After saying that, he took out a massive contract scroll.
"Natsuki, Nawaki, write your nas on this first."
Orochimaru opened the contract scroll and said, "Nonō, you are a dical shinobi. The summoning beasts of Shikkotsu Forest are more suitable for you."
Nonō was not surprised when she heard that.
In essence, she was Tsunade's student, not Orochimaru's.
"What are your views on summoning beasts?"
Orochimaru asked as he watched them sign their nas.
"They're our friends."
Nawaki imdiately answered.
"Partners."
Natsuki put down the pen and said.
"What both of you said can be considered correct, but the summoning beasts of Ryūchi Cave are not like that."
Orochimaru said in a deep voice, "Their attitude toward contractors is one of indifference. If necessary, they may even kill them directly."
"Huh?"
A stunned expression appeared on Nawaki's face.
He had never expected there to be such savage summoning beasts.
Natsuki was not surprised because he had seen the original work.
"Then should I still summon them during battle?"
Nawaki scratched his head and asked in confusion.
"You can summon them, but you need to choose carefully."
Orochimaru explained, "For example, there is a summoning beast in Ryūchi Cave called Manda. Unless you have no other choice, do not summon him."
"Why?"
Nawaki asked subconsciously.
"His personality is arrogant. If you want to make him fight, you need to prepare sacrifices for him."
Orochimaru paused and said, "The sacrifices he wants are living people."
"???"
Nawaki's face was filled with question marks.
What did he an by sacrifices being living people?
Why did Ryūchi Cave's summoning beasts sound so evil?
Natsuki thought of Manda's fate in the original work.
Uchiha Sasuke used him as a shield, causing him to die in Deidara's self-destruction.
In the entire shinobi world, only the summoning beasts and contractors of Ryūchi Cave had mutual killing instead of mutual affection.
"Nawaki, although you have beco a contractor of Ryūchi Cave, I suggest you wait until you beco a Jonin before going there."
Orochimaru continued, "When the ti cos, you can use strength to subdue so snakes and make them fight for you."
"Yes, Sensei."
Nawaki nodded.
After hearing how vicious Manda was, he naturally would not recklessly run off to Ryūchi Cave.
"The sa applies to training in Sage Mode. You must be cautious."
Orochimaru reminded him.
"What is Sage Mode? Why do we need to be cautious?"
Nawaki hurriedly asked.
"You can understand Sage Mode as a secret technique unique to the Three Great Sacred Lands. After learning it, it can enhance ninjutsu and taijutsu."
Orochimaru answered, "But it is extrely difficult to train. If you fail and your strength is insufficient, you will be eaten by the Three Snake Princesses."
"Eaten?"
Nawaki could not help clicking his tongue. "Ryūchi Cave sounds really dangerous."
"The Three Snake Princesses are high-ranking mbers of Ryūchi Cave. Without Jonin-level strength, it is very difficult to escape from them."
Orochimaru paused and said, "There's no need for you to rush. Natsuki can try training in it, but he also needs to make full preparations."
"I'll go after so ti."
Natsuki said without hesitation.
Although he did not know whether he had the talent to train in Sage Mode, there was a high chance he did not.
Since that was the case, going there would only be asking for suffering.
It would be better to wait until he unlocked the Sage Mode of the Jiraiya Template before going.
"Sensei, did you succeed in training Sage Mode?"
Nawaki asked curiously.
"No."
Orochimaru shook his head and said, "Among the three of us, only Jiraiya has so talent for it."
"It's that difficult?"
Nawaki widened his eyes and said, "Then I probably won't be able to learn it either."
In his view, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were already among the most talented shinobi in the shinobi world.
If two of the three could not learn Sage Mode, then the number of shinobi in the entire shinobi world who could learn it probably would not exceed five.
"When your strength is sufficient, you can go and try."
Orochimaru did not hold too much hope for Nawaki and Natsuki.
After all, learning Sage Mode was far too difficult.
But what if they could?
If they could master Sage Mode, their strength could be said to improve by leaps and bounds.
"Natsuki, co with ."
Orochimaru stood up and said, "Nawaki, Nonō, the two of you stay here and wait for us."
Nawaki wanted to say sothing but hesitated. In the end, he suppressed his curiosity and did not ask.
Natsuki also found it strange.
He followed behind Orochimaru and soon arrived at the underground laboratory.
"Sensei, what are you researching?"
Natsuki raised a brow and could not help asking.
In the original work, Orochimaru researched many things, but without exception, they all involved human experintation, sothing Konoha did not allow.
For example, the Wood Release experint and cloning technology.
There was also the body replacent experint for the Living Corpse Reincarnation.
However, the current Orochimaru had not fallen into darkness yet. Logically speaking, he should not be conducting such experints.
But theory was theory.
What if Orochimaru still went down the sa path as he had in the original work?
"The First Hokage-sama's cells."
Orochimaru asked in return, "Do you know about the Wood Release experint Konoha once conducted?"
Natsuki's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
This was bad.
Was Orochimaru going to cooperate with Danzō again and carry out the Wood Release experint?
In the original work, the Wood Release experint they conducted could be described as severely harming the innocent, leading to the deaths of many infants.
In the end, only Yamato survived and inherited Wood Release.
Orochimaru was also discovered because of this matter and defected from Konoha.
"I heard Tsunade-sensei ntion it. The Wood Release experint was ant to recreate Wood Release."
Natsuki asked in confusion, "Sensei, do you also want to recreate Wood Release?"
"I had already given up, but so ti ago, I suddenly realized sothing."
As Orochimaru spoke, he took out a bottle of Red Healing Potion.
Natsuki could not help being stunned. He vaguely grasped sothing in his mind.
"The reason the Wood Release experint failed is because the First Hokage-sama's cells possess extrely strong vitality."
Orochimaru continued, "After his cells are transplanted, they quickly erode the host, ultimately causing the host's death."
Natsuki nodded slightly.
In the original work, the only shinobi who survived a direct transplant of Hashirama's cells was Yamato.
Others, such as Uchiha Obito, also had Hashirama's cells transplanted, but the cells he received were not the original version.
Of course, Uchiha Madara was an exception.
"Your Red Healing Potion contains the First Hokage-sama's cells."
Orochimaru's eyes shone as he said, "Logically speaking, after drinking it, erosion should occur, but it does not."
"I see."
Natsuki understood.
Orochimaru wanted to study the Red Healing Potion to eliminate the erosion caused by Hashirama's cells toward the host.
If he truly succeeded, recreating Wood Release would no longer be impossible.
At the sa ti, Natsuki also relaxed.
Orochimaru had not fallen into darkness, nor had he cooperated with Danzō.
If he was only researching the Red Healing Potion, then it would not be as cruel and immoral as the Wood Release experint in the original work.
"If Sensei can recreate Wood Release, Konoha will definitely rise to another level."
Natsuki ca back to himself and said.
But he knew there was so exaggeration in those words.
Whether it was Orochimaru or the other Konoha shinobi, all of them had been shocked by Senju Hashirama's strength and had forgotten one thing.
What was strong was Senju Hashirama, not Wood Release.
With Hashirama's strength, no matter what release he used, he could still have beco the God of Shinobi.
This could be seen from Yamato's performance in the original work.
Although he possessed Wood Release, his strength was only that of a Jonin. He was nowhere near the invincible Senju Hashirama.
"Let's not talk about uncertain matters yet."
Orochimaru shook his head and said, "Now that the Shinobi World War has ended, I have so free ti for the mont, so I want to give it a try."
Even Konoha had failed despite using the strength of the entire village, so he was not confident either.
However, with the precedent of the Red Healing Potion, he believed there was a certain chance of success.
"I'm telling you this because you are the inventor of the Red Healing Potion."
Orochimaru added, "If I encounter related problems, I will ask you then."
"Alright."
Natsuki actually did not understand the Red Healing Potion very well.
After all, the formula had been given by the system.
But since Orochimaru had said this much, he could not refuse.
"Sensei."
Natsuki suddenly thought of sothing and took out a ninjutsu scroll, saying, "This is the Konoha Six Powers I created."
He had already taught Tsunade, Nawaki, and the others, so he naturally could not treat Orochimaru unfairly.
The reason he had not given it to him before was because Orochimaru had been the battlefield commander and had no ti to learn the Konoha Six Powers.
"The Konoha Six Powers currently only have four techniques."
Natsuki added, "But I have included another taijutsu called Armant Haki."
Orochimaru did not refuse and accepted the ninjutsu scroll.
He had a dream of learning every ninjutsu in the shinobi world, so the ninjutsu Natsuki created was naturally included.
Moreover, he had seen the Konoha Six Powers before. They were indeed excellent taijutsu.
As for Armant Haki, he did not know its effect, but since Natsuki had included it, it was definitely not bad.
After the two finished talking, they returned to the living room.
Today was New Year's, so experints and research could be set aside for the ti being.
The four master and students sat together, eating while watching television and chatting.
After lunch, Natsuki and the other two finally said goodbye and left.
Seven days passed quickly.
The New Year holiday ended, and it was ti to work.
Early in the morning, Natsuki heard a knock at the door.
He changed his clothes, went to the entrance, and opened the door.
"Nawaki, why are you here so early today?"
Natsuki asked in confusion.
"Aren't you going to work at ANBU today?"
Nawaki chuckled and said, "I'm going too."
"You joined ANBU?"
Natsuki froze for a mont and asked, "How co I didn't know?"
"I didn't join. I'm just curious about ANBU and want to go with you to take a look."
Nawaki explained.
"There's nothing interesting about a place like ANBU."
Natsuki said indifferently, "If you want to go, then go."
"Who told you and my sister to both disagree with joining ANBU?"
Nawaki tugged at the corner of his mouth and said with so dissatisfaction.
"Your most urgent task right now is to beco stronger as quickly as possible. Joining ANBU would only waste your ti."
Natsuki looked at him and said, "Besides, joining ANBU doesn't an I won't do missions with you."
"I know. You've already said it twice."
Nawaki looked around and asked, "It looks like you all just got up. Why don't you co to my house for breakfast?"
"Then I'll go call Nonō."
Natsuki nodded in agreent.
He went to Nonō's room and knocked on the door.
A mont later, the door opened.
Nonō appeared in her pajamas.
Her pajamas were very loose, looking like a short dress on her.
The hem stopped at her thighs, revealing her long, slender legs.
Because she had just woken up, she was still sowhat dazed, making her look rather adorable.
"Change your clothes. We're going to Tsunade-sensei's house for breakfast."
Natsuki chuckled and said.
Nonō turned around, walked to the wardrobe, and began taking off her clothes with her back facing him.
A flash of white entered Natsuki's eyes, and he quickly closed the door.
He could not help shaking his head.
The two of them were too familiar with each other, causing Nonō to have less and less sense of boundaries, or rather, she was completely unguarded around him.
After breakfast, Natsuki and Nawaki walked toward the ANBU base.
Nonō went with Tsunade to Shikkotsu Forest.
She successfully beca a contractor of Shikkotsu Forest.
Among the Three Great Sacred Lands of summoning beasts, Shikkotsu Forest was the most special.
Ryūchi Cave had a group of snakes, Mount Myōboku had a group of toads, but Shikkotsu Forest had only one slug.
The slug, also known as the so-called Slug Sage, was truly nad Katsuyu.
Her personality was extrely gentle, and her strength was also powerful. She could be called the most dutiful summoning beast.
Natsuki was not worried at all that Nonō would encounter any danger.
Mount Myōboku was relatively safe as well.
The most dangerous one was Ryūchi Cave.
The two soon arrived at the ANBU base.
"Natsuki-sama."
When the ANBU shinobi guarding the entrance saw Natsuki, he took the initiative to greet him.
The matter of Natsuki becoming captain of ANBU's Fourth Division had already been announced to all ANBU mbers.
"Where is my office?"
Natsuki guessed the reason and asked directly.
"Fourth floor, first room."
The ANBU shinobi answered.
Natsuki nodded and walked into the ANBU building.
"You really look impressive."
Nawaki sighed.
In his impression, ANBU shinobi had always been extrely mysterious and powerful. In front of ordinary shinobi, they seed superior.
"When you beco a Jonin, you'll be even more impressive."
Natsuki glanced at him and said with a smile.
The two went up to the fourth floor and found an ANBU shinobi already waiting there.
"Natsuki-sama."
The ANBU shinobi introduced himself, "I am Haru, responsible for explaining the Fourth Division's situation to you."
Natsuki rembered that there was indeed an ANBU shinobi nad Haru in the original work.
The reason he rembered was because she wore a distinctive frog mask.
Natsuki walked into his office.
It was a very ordinary office with nothing special, only a desk.
"Natsuki-sama."
Haru picked up a docunt from the desk and handed it to him, saying, "This is the roster of the four squads in the Fourth Division."
ANBU was divided into four divisions.
Each division had seventeen people, one division captain and four squads, aning four shinobi teams.
Natsuki opened the docunt and began reading.
As expected of ANBU, the four squads had six Jonin, two Tokubetsu Jonin, and eight Chunin.
But that was normal.
ANBU answered directly to the Hokage, and the missions they accepted all ca from the Hokage. They were all high-difficulty missions.
A shinobi without strength would only be throwing their life away by joining ANBU.
Under normal circumstances, ANBU would hide their nas and carry out missions while wearing ANBU masks and using code nas.
However, Natsuki was a division captain, so he had the authority to know the true identities of his subordinates.
Among the six Jonin, quite a few ca from shinobi clans, such as the Abura clan.
"Natsuki-sama."
Haru reminded him again, "There is another docunt. It is about ANBU's external mbers."
Natsuki could not help being surprised.
In the original work, there had been no ntion of ANBU having external personnel.
He accepted the second docunt and began reading.
After a few glances, he suddenly understood.
The so-called external mbers were undercover shinobi Konoha had sent to the major shinobi villages. They were in direct contact with ANBU.
Aside from them, there were also people who provided intelligence to ANBU, many of whom were not shinobi.
Natsuki nodded slightly.
This was more in line with ANBU's role as an intelligence departnt.
After all, each division only had seventeen people, and the entire ANBU had only around seventy people.
If seventy people were responsible for understanding the situation in all the major shinobi villages, how busy would they be?
With external mbers, it made much more sense.
"First, contact Konoha's heavy prison and confirm which Agakure shinobi can act as our insiders."
After finishing the docunts, Natsuki spoke.
He planned to use surrendered Agakure shinobi to control Agakure.
After all, ANBU's manpower was limited.
Now that Hanzō was dead, there would definitely be Agakure shinobi who knew how to judge the situation.
"Second, have the Fourth Division's six Jonin gather at the ANBU training ground at one in the afternoon."
Natsuki smiled and said, "I want to et them."
(To be continued.)
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