Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 21 - Class Assignment is Not Separation

The wooden sword unexpectedly struck Orochimaru's form with a sharp crack—an unexpected hit. But Kazane's instincts flared, warning him that something wasn't right.

Instead of pressing the attack, he immediately twisted his body and slashed behind him.

Boom!

A cloud of smoke erupted from where Orochimaru had stood. A substitution technique.

Kazane's eyes flicked to the kunai he had knocked away earlier, now lying innocently on the ground.

A split second later, it shifted.

The metal darkened and expanded, flesh and fabric forming from it in an instant. Orochimaru emerged from the transformation, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.

'That trick again.'

"Winding Evil Serpent."

The Sannin barely spoke the words before the ground beneath them split apart. From the earth, a massive snake lunged forward, its thick, scaled body twisting with unnatural agility as it shot toward Kazane, aiming to wrap around him and send him flying.

But instead of being thrown, Kazane barely budged.

The moment the snake's body coiled around his waist, the creature jerked to a sudden stop. Its head whipped back in confusion, hissing as it strained to lift its prey.

It couldn't.

The sheer weight Kazane carried—three hundred kilograms—kept him firmly rooted to the ground. His very presence left deep imprints in the soil beneath him.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting…"

Kazane didn't give him time to analyze further.

"Two-Sword Style! Hawk Wave!"

With a sharp exhale, he gripped his swords tightly and swung downward. The wooden blades darkened, dense black Haki surging along their lengths, an undeniable sign of his increasing mastery over it.

The air itself seemed to split apart under the sheer force of the strike. A razor-sharp shockwave tore toward Orochimaru, cutting through the wind like a hunting falcon.

But Orochimaru was no fool.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

His hands flickered through a rapid sequence of seals, and in the next instant, the ground in front of him surged upward. A thick barrier of stone rose between them, shielding him from the impact.

The moment the shockwave struck, the wall cracked violently, fractures splitting across its surface. Debris exploded outward, the force behind Kazane's attack more than enough to shatter most defenses.

But Orochimaru was already gone.

The Sannin reappeared several meters away, his body dissolving from view in a blur of motion—the unmistakable afterimage of the Body Flicker Technique.

Kazane exhaled, his grip on his swords unwavering as he prepared for the next exchange.

But Orochimaru did not attack.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly, a smirk curling at the edges of his lips.

"Alright, that's enough. Kazane-kun, your strength has truly exceeded my expectations."

His voice was calm, as though the entire fight had merely been a passing curiosity.

"Let's meet again next time."

And with those words, he vanished.

Kazane remained still for a long moment, listening to the silence left in Orochimaru's wake.

His body remained tense, his senses heightened, waiting for even the faintest trace of a return attack.

None came.

After several seconds, he exhaled deeply, lowering his swords.

The battle had ended abruptly, but Kazane understood why.

He hadn't won.

Not even close.

Orochimaru had ended the fight on his own terms, not because he was losing, but because he had no reason to continue.

This wasn't a test of victory or defeat—it had been an assessment.

Kazane had lasted as long as he did not because he was truly on equal footing with Orochimaru, but because the Sannin had no prior knowledge of his abilities, while Kazane had plenty of knowledge about his opponent. That gap in information had given him an advantage.

But if the fight had dragged on, the result would have been inevitable.

He would have lost.

And he doubted Orochimaru had even shown a fraction of his real power.

Kazane clenched his jaw.

His instincts told him that this was far from the last time he would cross paths with the Sannin. Orochimaru had been testing him, studying him. And now, he had gained an interest in him.

That was dangerous.

He didn't know what the man's true motives were, but he knew one thing for certain.

Orochimaru was watching him now... Which is quite disturbing.

Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside. There was no point dwelling on it. The only way to keep himself out of reach of men like Orochimaru was simple.

He needed to get stronger.

Stronger than ever.

If his power reached a level where not even Orochimaru could touch him, then none of this would matter.

Taking a deep breath, Kazane adjusted his stance and turned back to the iron target he had been striking before the interruption.

And then, without hesitation, he raised his sword and continued his training.

---

The next day.

Konohagakure – Ninja Academy

Time passed quickly, and graduation was now just around the corner.

In the familiar classroom of the Ninja Academy, students sat anxiously at their desks, waiting for their squad assignments. Today, their futures as shinobi would be determined. Some whispered among themselves, voicing their hopes and speculations, while others sat in silence, steeling themselves for whatever lay ahead.

Kazane, seated near the window, rested his chin on his hand as he listened to the lively chatter around him. He wasn't particularly nervous, but a certain unease lingered in the back of his mind.

"Kazane, I wonder if we'll end up on the same team."

A soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.

Beside him, Kurenai Yuhi leaned forward on her desk, her hands supporting her chin as she glanced at him expectantly. Her crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"I heard that Lord Orochimaru and Jonin Minato will both be taking students. If we could join Minato-sensei's team, that would be amazing. We'd get to train alongside Kakashi and go on missions together!"

At the mention of Minato, the Yellow Flash of Konoha, Kurenai's voice carried a hint of admiration. Minato was known for both his terrifying speed in battle and his gentle, approachable nature.

Kazane hummed in thought. "Orochimaru is leading a team too?"

Hearing that, an odd feeling settled in his chest.

Something about it didn't sit right with him.

He wasn't opposed to having a strong mentor, but the idea of being under Orochimaru's direct supervision made him uneasy. The Sannin had already taken an interest in him, and that alone was enough to be wary of.

"If I could be in the same squad as you, that'd be great," he continued, glancing at Kurenai. "But I heard that your father, Jonin Yuhi Shinku, will also be mentoring a team. I doubt he'd let me join his squad."

At his words, Kurenai sighed and pouted slightly. "If my father insists, then I guess we won't be in the same squad… That sucks."

Kazane could understand her disappointment, but he wasn't too surprised. Yuhi Shinku had never been particularly fond of him. Expecting him to willingly take Kazane under his wing was unrealistic.

"If only I could be on Minato-sensei's team…"

A dreamy voice interrupted their conversation.

Kazane turned to see Rin Nohara sitting nearby, her hands clasped together, eyes sparkling with admiration. A soft blush dusted her cheeks as she murmured, lost in thought.

"He's so gentle and kind…"

Kazane arched a brow. It seemed Minato's Little Sun reputation had spread far beyond his skill as a shinobi—especially among the village's girls.

"If it's you, Rin, there's a good chance you'll end up in Minato-sensei's squad," Kazane said casually.

Rin gasped, eyes widening with excitement. "Really?! Kazane, do you really think so? That would be amazing!"

Her enthusiasm drew a few chuckles from the students nearby, but before Kazane could respond, a voice cut through the air.

"Kazane, you bastard! What are you talking about with Rin?"

A loud stomp followed, and Uchiha Obito appeared beside them, his face twisted in frustration.

His dark eyes darted between Kazane and Rin, suspicion evident in his gaze. Seeing Rin blush while talking to Kazane sent a surge of panic through him.

Kazane sighed internally. Here we go…

Obito was already wary of him, but now? Now he looked downright desperate.

Kazane had always been aware that his sharp features and reputation as the academy's top student made him stand out, but it seemed they also made him a rival in Obito's eyes.

Still, he wasn't the type to provoke unnecessary conflict.

"We were just discussing the squad assignments," Kazane said calmly. "You and Rin will probably be in Minato-sensei's team."

At those words, Obito froze. His tense expression melted into pure joy as realization struck.

"With Rin? Haha! Together with Rin!"

He didn't even acknowledge Kazane anymore.

His mind had already taken off, running wild with fantasies. What would their first mission be like? Would they train together? Eat lunch together? Maybe—just maybe—one day, Rin would cheer for him in battle.

Kazane watched the emotions flash across Obito's face—nervousness, excitement, then something strangely serious.

Was he… already planning their future family?

Kazane shook his head. Hopeless.

'At this rate, you won't be winning over Rin anytime soon.'

Before anyone could say more, the door slid open.

A Jonin squad leader stepped inside, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered students.

The classroom fell silent.

Everyone sat up straighter, holding their breath as the first names were called.

"Hyuga Kazekaze, Koda Saburo, Amada Tenten—come with me."

Three students stood, exchanging nervous glances before following the Jonin out of the room.

The process repeated several times, each name called marking another shift in the classroom's atmosphere. Some students whispered excitedly upon hearing their teammates; others looked crushed upon realizing they wouldn't be grouped with their friends.

Then, another Jonin entered.

Yuhi Shinku.

Kazane felt Kurenai tense beside him.

Her father's sharp eyes swept over the room, lingering briefly on Kazane before moving on.

"Kurenai Yuhi, Morino Ichiki—come with me."

Kurenai sighed in disappointment, already knowing this was coming.

She cast Kazane a small, apologetic look before standing up and walking toward her father.

Before he left, Yuhi Shinku's gaze flicked to Kazane once more. There was no malice in his expression, but there was no warmth either. Just silent disapproval.

The message was clear.

He had no intention of mentoring him.

Kazane didn't react. He had expected this.

As Kurenai disappeared through the door, he leaned back in his seat and exhaled.

Now, it was just a matter of waiting.

His name hadn't been called yet.

Which meant one thing.

His assignment was still undecided.

Would he be placed under Minato? Orochimaru?

Or was there another path waiting for him?

No matter what, he was ready.