Gekko Chizan didn't care how Orochimaru reacted. If he wanted to become his disciple, then a proper offering was a must—otherwise, it'd be a loss on his part.
Besides, Orochimaru was currently one of the central pillars of Konohagakure. For the sake of face, could he really refuse?
"Hehehehe... fine, I'll take you as my disciple."
"As for that gift you mentioned... come with me."
With that, Orochimaru turned and leapt off the rooftop, heading out of the academy grounds.
Gekko Chizan's lips curved into a faint grin. Only a fool would turn down free gains. Even if the other party was Orochimaru, when it came to stealthy growth, Chizan was the true expert.
"You two go back to class. Class is over."
Leaving those words behind, Gekko Chizan also flashed off the rooftop, following closely behind Orochimaru.
...
Orochimaru's residence wasn't located in the village center. He was a man obsessed with both Ninjutsu and science.
In pursuit of a quiet environment, he had moved his home and lab to the outskirts of the village.
It was a house surrounded by trees, not very large, and exuded a gloomy atmosphere.
Around the house, a few snakes could faintly be seen flicking their tongues—clearly Orochimaru's guard snakes.
"Welcome, Chizan-kun."
"I must say, ever since I moved here, very few people ever come to visit."
Orochimaru walked into the house on his own. The pitch-black interior was slightly brightened by his white robe.
"Tsk tsk, Orochimaru-sama, should I say you truly live up to your title?"
"If I had to live in a place like this, I'd lose my mind."
Gekko Chizan spoke in an easygoing tone.
On the way here, he had already marked the area with Flying Thunder God seals as an escape route, so he wasn't too worried.
"Hehehe, geniuses are always solitary beings, aren't they?"
"This is your welcoming gift."
"From today onward, you're my disciple."
Orochimaru casually pulled out two scrolls from a nearby box.
One had the character for "Nin," the other for "Snake."
The moment Gekko Chizan saw the scrolls, his eyes lit up instantly.
"Nin" clearly stood for Ninjutsu. As for "Snake," it might be a summoning technique—or maybe another kind of Ninjutsu.
"Oh? Ah, Sensei, please accept this humble bow!"
"No need for such formality between us, right?"
With a wide grin, Gekko Chizan bowed a full ninety degrees, swiftly snatching the two scrolls from Orochimaru's hands.
Orochimaru watched him with a calm smile, unfazed by his antics.
"Chizan-kun, what's your opinion on Kekkei Genkai?"
Orochimaru asked casually, eyeing the visibly excited Gekko Chizan holding the scrolls.
"Not much," Chizan replied offhandedly. "They're not really that useful."
"Sensei, you see, I also have a Kekkei Genkai, and so what?"
"Other than intel gathering, what else can I even do with it?"
That was the honest truth. Transparent Release was good for spying and ambushes, but beyond that, it didn't offer much practical use.
"Hehehe, but isn't that a gift in itself? Without Transparent Release, you wouldn't have been able to blatantly spy on the Scroll of Seals, now would you?"
Heh. Here we go again. No matter what they said, Gekko Chizan would never admit it!
"You're joking, Sensei. I really didn't do that."
Orochimaru gave a faint smile and didn't press further.
He had come to observe Gekko Chizan at the request of his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Hatake Sakumo.
Initially, he had just intended to check the boy out, but Gekko Chizan's displayed talent had truly caught his attention.
That's what made him change his mind and formally take him in as a disciple—
To better observe him. Hehehe...
"That's enough for today. Remember the location. Be here first thing tomorrow."
"As my disciple, assisting me in experiments is part of the job."
Gekko Chizan's smile froze slightly.
Why did that sound so much like Orochimaru intended to use him as a test subject...
Suddenly, he thought of Anko Mitarashi. Wasn't she Orochimaru's "true" disciple? And didn't she end up as a cursed seal experiment?
Though Chizan wasn't all that concerned about cursed seals—after all, they were just a defective version of Sage Mode—he was confident he could handle it.
Especially since his system continuously granted him attributes.
Just now, when he received the scrolls...
He'd somehow learned a new Ninjutsu on the spot...
It was just that—he didn't quite like it.
Substitution Technique: Mud Clone Form...
It was actually pretty useful. It just didn't look very nice. After all, who liked turning into a pile of sludge?
Well... Orochimaru might.
"Got it, Sensei! I'll be here bright and early tomorrow!"
With that, Gekko Chizan gave a cheerful farewell bow, then activated Flying Thunder God and instantly teleported away.
That move genuinely amused Orochimaru.
"Hehehe, very cautious, aren't you? Left a marker in the village, huh?"
"Flying Thunder God Technique... hehehehe..."
For some reason, as he said those words, Orochimaru's face twisted with a hint of disdain.
...
After leaving Orochimaru's place, Gekko Chizan didn't go home.
Instead, he used Flying Thunder God to teleport directly in front of a friend.
"Oh? Chizan, what brings you here?"
"Wait—when did you leave a marker on me?!"
The speaker was none other than Minato Namikaze, who was currently training diligently in a clearing.
Yes—he was deep in the so-called path of "training!"
Standing in front of him was a white-haired man—his sensei, Jiraiya.
"Well well! Chizan, what brings you here?"
"Got new reference material for me?"
To Jiraiya, Gekko Chizan was like a walking archive—an endless stream of inspiration. Jiraiya was genuinely envious.
"Relax, relax, Minato. Don't worry about the marker."
"I've got good news to share."
"I've taken on a sensei."
Yes—Gekko Chizan had teleported all this way just to brag to Minato Namikaze.
After all, Minato always went on about his teacher.
Every other sentence was: My sensei said this... my senseir said that... It really got on Chizan's nerves.
Now that he had a sensei of his own, who was afraid of who?
"Oh? Chizan, you've taken on a sensei?"
"Who's the unlucky soul?"
Jiraiya burst out laughing. He knew Gekko Chizan well.
This kid was a sensei at slacking off and goofing around—but ask him to train seriously, and it was like asking for his life.
"Jiraiya-sama, my sensei is none other than your fellow Sannin—Orochimaru-sama."
Gekko Chizan grinned mischievously as he looked at the two.
Neither of them had expected Gekko Chizan to take Orochimaru as his sensei. They stood frozen for a moment.
"Minato, remember the bet we made back then?"
"If I found a sensei, what were you supposed to do again?"
Seeing the teasing look on Gekko Chizan's face, Minato suddenly shivered.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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