Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 22 - Orochimaru-Sensei

"You've all waited long enough. Nohara Rin, Uchiha Obito, come with me."

At last, Namikaze Minato arrived, stepping into the classroom with his usual calm yet commanding presence. Just as it had unfolded in the original timeline, he had come to take his students.

For Rin, who had spent the entire morning stealing hopeful glances toward the classroom door, this moment was everything she had wished for. Her hands clenched in excitement as her long-awaited dream came true—she would be on a team with her little sun.

For Obito, it was just as exhilarating.

His dream of standing beside Rin had finally come to fruition. As he followed Minato, his mind raced ahead into the future—training sessions together, sparring side by side, watching the sunset after missions.

He had waited so long, and at last, it had become reality.

But what Obito didn't know was that he was about to meet his lifelong rival—Hatake Kakashi. And Kakashi would soon teach him a harsh truth: that sometimes, no matter how hard you work, one cool guy can overshadow all your efforts.

It was an unspoken law of the world—one that Obito would come to resent deeply.

As the rest of the students gradually left, only one remained sitting in the classroom.

Kazane.

He sighed, resting his elbow on his desk as he stared at the empty seats around him.

"So it's really happening after all…"

Kurenai had mentioned that Orochimaru would be taking a team. And now, with no one else left, it was clear. There was no escaping it—he was going to be Orochimaru's student.

The thought left him conflicted.

Orochimaru was undoubtedly a powerful mentor, one of the legendary Sannin. But he was also unpredictable. Dangerous. If there was one person Kazane wanted to avoid unnecessary entanglements with, it was him.

But reality rarely cared for personal preferences.

"Kazane-kun, we meet again."

A voice, both smooth and chilling, slithered through the room.

Kazane straightened as Orochimaru entered, his golden eyes gleaming with something unreadable.

Even though Kazane had hoped to avoid him, it was clear that the Sannin was pleased with the outcome.

"Orochimaru-sama, I never expected you to be my team's jonin leader."

Now that the decision was final, there was no point in resisting.

In truth, Kazane could see the benefits of this arrangement. Orochimaru was a formidable warrior, a man whose skills in ninjutsu, strategy, and intelligence were unmatched. With the Third Great Ninja War looming, he would undoubtedly play a major role on the battlefield.

If Kazane wanted to grow stronger quickly, this was an opportunity he couldn't ignore.

"Come with me, Kazane-kun."

Orochimaru didn't need to say more. The simple command carried an air of inevitability.

Kazane followed him, walking through the quiet streets of Konoha, toward the forested outskirts of the village. The atmosphere changed as they moved—civilization fading behind them, replaced by towering trees and dense vegetation.

Eventually, they arrived at a secluded grove hidden deep within the mountains.

The air here was unnaturally still.

No birds chirped. No insects buzzed.

It was as if every living creature had sensed an ominous presence and fled.

A dead silence settled around them.

"Kazane-kun, you've truly piqued my interest."

Orochimaru turned to him, a faint smile curving his lips. It wasn't a warm expression—more like the satisfied look of a scientist studying a promising specimen.

"But don't worry. Lord Sakumo once did me a great favor, so I have no intention of harming you."

He tilted his head slightly, watching Kazane's reaction.

"Yesterday was merely a test of your abilities."

Kazane remained silent. He had suspected as much. Orochimaru was the type to probe, to push boundaries and observe reactions. If Kazane had shown weakness or fear, perhaps their dynamic would have shifted entirely.

"Speaking of which, your strength is beyond my expectations," Orochimaru continued. "You're already on par with most jonin. But if we're talking about raw physical power—without ninjutsu—not even Tsunade can compare to you."

The statement was bold, but Orochimaru's tone carried no exaggeration. It was a simple, calculated observation.

"I'm very curious… how exactly did you train?"

For the first time since arriving in the clearing, Kazane spoke.

"I was simply born with a greater appetite than most people," he said calmly. "My body naturally strengthens over time. Also, I improve very quickly when training in taijutsu—any style, any technique. It might just be an inborn talent."

Orochimaru's expression remained unreadable, but there was a glint of something deeper in his gaze—intrigue, amusement, maybe even greed.

"Kazane-kun, you truly have a remarkable gift."

His tone was laced with something sinister, but Kazane didn't waver.

"That black aura on your weapon…"

Orochimaru's eyes flicked toward the wooden sword strapped to Kazane's waist.

"Was that developed through training, or is it a bloodline limit?"

"That black aura manifests naturally as my body strengthens," Kazane answered. "I call it Haki. It wraps around weapons to reinforce their durability and power. Perhaps it really is a bloodline limit."

The best lies were the ones that contained the truth.

In the world of shinobi, anything unexplained could be attributed to a bloodline limit. There were countless rare abilities scattered across the clans—some known, some yet to be discovered. No one would question it if a new one emerged.

"A bloodline limit, huh? It certainly suits you—almost as if it was made for you," Orochimaru mused, "But I imagine there must be a limit to how much it can enhance your weapons. You'll need a proper ninja blade. Here, take this Kusanagi sword—it should help you greatly."

To Orochimaru, a bloodline limit that merely increased weapon strength was of little significance. He had seen countless shinobi with extraordinary abilities, and while Kazane's skill intrigued him, he knew there had to be something more. The boy was hiding something.

Then again, didn't everyone have their own secrets?

At the moment, Orochimaru had greater priorities—immortality and the seat of Hokage. Kazane's potential, whatever it was, would be useful. He needed him to grow stronger, to become a valuable asset.

Without hesitation, Orochimaru parted his lips and, with a sickening wet sound, spat out a sealed scroll.

Kazane's fingers twitched slightly as he watched the unsettling display. Even though he had heard about Orochimaru's bizarre abilities, witnessing them firsthand was an entirely different experience.

Forming a single hand seal, Orochimaru activated the scroll.

Poof!

A cloud of smoke billowed up before quickly dispersing, revealing a long, sheathed sword lying on the ground.

Orochimaru picked up the weapon with a deliberate motion and held it out.

"This is a Kusanagi sword," he said, offering it to Kazane.

Kazane reached out and took the weapon, feeling its weight settle in his hand. The grip was smooth, the balance flawless. Even without drawing it, he could tell—it was a finely crafted blade, far superior to the wooden sword he had used until now.

The Kusanagi was forged from one of the hardest known materials in the world—the same material used in Sakumo Hatake's legendary short sword. Though Orochimaru possessed multiple Kusanagi blades, they remained rare and highly valuable. Among all ninja swords, this was one of the finest.

"A Kusanagi sword?" Kazane finally spoke, tilting his head slightly. "Orochimaru-sensei, I can't thank you enough. I was just in need of a proper weapon."

He meant what he said, though part of him still found the situation unsettling. Orochimaru had just spit out his new sword. That alone was enough to make his lips twitch in silent exasperation.

Still, he composed himself and carefully unsheathed the blade. The polished steel gleamed under the faint light filtering through the trees. He gave it a few light swings, testing the weight and sharpness.

It cut through the air effortlessly.

Kazane had only just acknowledged Orochimaru as his mentor, and yet he had already received such a precious weapon. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

This was just the beginning.

Orochimaru had plenty of other treasures waiting to be uncovered.

"Come," Orochimaru said, his voice smooth as ever. "Let's go to my lab. I want to run some tests… see if there are any hidden treasures within your body."

Kazane's grip on the Kusanagi sword tightened slightly.

'Tests?'

Fortunately, he had expected this.

Though Orochimaru showed little personal interest in his supposed bloodline limit, he still wanted to understand its full potential. No doubt, he was already thinking of ways to utilize it.

Without waiting for a response, Orochimaru turned and began walking.

Kazane exhaled silently and followed.

The journey was silent, the two moving swiftly through the dense foliage. Before long, they reached the outskirts of Konoha, far from prying eyes. Orochimaru came to a halt before a seemingly ordinary mountain wall.

Then, without a word, he formed a hand seal.

The rock face rumbled. Slowly, a hidden entrance shifted open, revealing a passage leading underground.

Kazane had suspected that Orochimaru had secret bases scattered throughout the village, but seeing one up close was another matter. As he stepped inside, the air grew noticeably colder, the atmosphere shifting into something darker.

Dim lighting cast long shadows along the stone walls, illuminating rows of shelves filled with sealed jars. Their contents were… disturbing.

Preserved human and animal organs floated in a strange liquid, their pale, distorted forms barely visible through the glass. Severed limbs, some undoubtedly human, others belonging to creatures Kazane didn't recognize, lined the walls. Some specimens twitched unnaturally, as if still clinging to life.

The sharp, sterile scent of medical chemicals hung thick in the air.

Even though Kazane had taken lives before—had once sliced a Mist ninja clean in half—this room was unsettling in an entirely different way.

His gaze flickered across the grotesque collection before finally settling on Orochimaru, who was watching him with keen interest then asked in a sinister tone.

"Kazane-kun, do you find this place... unappealing?"