Naruto: The Clanless Prince

Sora was undergoing rigorous training under Orochimaru at the underground base.

Orochimaru's training was unlike that of any other teacher. It demanded intense effort right from the start, pushing students to prepare themselves both mentally and physically.

At first glance, the tasks seemed manageable—you might think you could handle them with ease. But as the training continued, the real difficulty revealed itself. It wasn't just challenging; it became a gruelling test of both body and mind, often leaving Sora feeling as though there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

However, there was no denying Orochimaru's exceptional teaching ability. His training methods were meticulous and tailored to his student's strengths and weaknesses. If Sora showed any shortcomings, Orochimaru immediately pointed them out and focused on strengthening those areas.

Still, Sora couldn't help but wish Orochimaru would summon fewer snakes.

Nearly a month had passed since Sora began training in the underground base. Ordinary snakes were no longer a threat to him. Now, in addition to the weights strapped to his body, the snakes he faced were far more dangerous—they were from Ryūchi Cave, imbued with chakra and far stronger than any ordinary snakes.

These snakes often overwhelmed Sora, forcing him to push himself even harder to adapt.

During this time, Sora had also learned the Shadow Clone Technique—not the A-rank Forbidden Technique, Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, but the standard Shadow Clone Jutsu. Unfortunately, he could only create a single clone.

Inspired by Naruto, Sora attempted to use the Shadow Clone to accelerate his training.

It didn't go well.

When the clone dispersed, its memories and physical exhaustion were transferred back to Sora. The doubled fatigue hit him like a ton of bricks, nearly causing him to collapse. It was a brutal experience that left him questioning whether he might die from overexertion.

Even then, the fatigue wasn't as intense as when the system simulated the Breath of Thunder technique using his body. Just thinking about that memory made Sora shudder.

Realizing the limitations, Sora now used his Shadow Clone for a different purpose—studying ninjutsu theory. When the clone dispelled, its knowledge was transferred to him, allowing him to save time without doubling his physical burden.

Each day, Sora pushed himself to his limits, exhausting both his physical strength and chakra reserves.

Orochimaru, however, provided a special solution to help him recover. Every evening, Sora drank a glass of the nutrient-rich liquid Orochimaru had developed.

"This is a nutrient solution I created," Orochimaru had explained. "It replenishes your body's nutrients and eliminates fatigue."

Thanks to this elixir, Sora could recover completely overnight. Each morning, he woke up refreshed and ready to tackle another gruelling day.

Today was different, though. Orochimaru wasn't in the base. Before leaving in the morning, he gave a simple instruction: "Train by yourself."

Even in Orochimaru's absence, Sora didn't slack off. His motivation wasn't to impress Orochimaru—it was for his own growth.

The morning's training passed quickly. Afterwards, Sora removed the weights strapped to his body, wiped the sweat from his face, and prepared to take a short break before starting his afternoon ninjutsu training.

Since Orochimaru usually handled the cooking, Sora's role was solely to focus on his training. But with Orochimaru away, Sora had to prepare his own lunch.

Deciding on udon noodles, Sora began gathering ingredients in the kitchen. Just as he was about to start cooking, Orochimaru unexpectedly returned.

Orochimaru donned his ninja attire and said to Sora, "I've taken on a C-rank mission for you. We're heading out immediately."

Sora, startled, put down the green vegetables he was preparing as side dishes. "Huh? So sudden?"

Leaning casually against the doorframe with his arms crossed, Orochimaru replied, "That's enough preparation. This C-rank mission involves exterminating a group of bandits. It's time to see the results of your training this past month."

Sora shook the water off his hands and said, "Understood. Let me grab my sword."

Before he could leave, Orochimaru tossed something toward him. Sora caught it and found it was a ninja tool bag. Opening it, he saw five kunai, some shuriken, and a few explosive tags neatly arranged inside.

"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama," Sora said sincerely as he strapped the tool bag to his waist.

As someone who couldn't afford such expensive items—especially explosive tags, which cost several times more than kunai—Sora felt both grateful and slightly embarrassed. He was already eating, sleeping, and living at Orochimaru's expense, and now Orochimaru had also provided him with these essential tools.

After taking his katana, Sora followed Orochimaru out of Konoha.

It had been years since Sora had last left the village, and the experience left him feeling momentarily dazed. Memories of his parents came rushing back, filling him with a quiet sadness. They had been loving and supportive, and the four happy years he had spent with them remained some of his most cherished memories.

If it weren't for those years, Sora thought, I might not have survived in this merciless ninja world. Without hope or purpose, I would have become nothing more than a lifeless shell.

But because he had experienced happiness, Sora now fought not just for himself but also for Uzumaki Kushina and for a better future.

"What's on your mind?" Orochimaru asked, his sharp instincts picking up on Sora's sombre mood.

Taking a deep breath, Sora forced a smile. "Nothing. I was thinking… this is my first time leaving the village since returning to Konoha. I'm a little excited."

Orochimaru glanced at him and chuckled. "Is that so…"

Of course, Orochimaru wasn't fooled. He could tell Sora wasn't excited—he was reminiscing. Since Kushina was still alive and well, Orochimaru deduced that Sora's thoughts must have been about his parents.

The mission's destination was in Tenchi Country, a small nation bordering the Land of Fire. Unlike the major nations, Tenchi Country lacked a ninja village.

The daimyō of Tenchi Country had been negligent, allowing banditry to run rampant. This particular C-rank mission involved eliminating a group of bandits who had pillaged and destroyed multiple villages in the area.

Standing atop a mountain overlooking the bandit-occupied village below, Sora and Orochimaru surveyed the scene. The village was in ruins, with smoke rising from the charred remains of houses. Corpses littered the streets—men, women, children, and elders alike. The bandits had left no survivors.

The sound of raucous laughter and shouting drifted up from the village. The bandits were gathered in the central square, holding a celebration.

Orochimaru spoke, his tone calm but firm. "Your task is to kill all the bandits in this village. However, you are not allowed to use Thunder Breath. You may rely on your swordsmanship, taijutsu, ninjutsu, and Sharingan. Do you understand?"

Sora nodded solemnly. "Understood."

"Then begin."

With a quick use of the Body Flicker Technique, Sora vanished.

Sora infiltrated the village alone. Carefully and silently, he explored the area, confirming the number of enemies. The devastation left by the bandits was horrifying—every house was filled with the remains of villagers, slaughtered without mercy.

The bandits were all gathered in the central field, celebrating their gruesome achievements. This worked to Sora's advantage, as it was far easier to deal with them in one place.

After a bit of preparation, Sora approached the gathering point, staying hidden in the shadows.

The bandits, drunk on stolen alcohol, were revelling in their loot, which had been piled in the centre of the square. The blood of their victims had dried on their clothes, staining them dark red and brown. They laughed and bragged loudly, recounting how many people they had killed and the methods they had used.

From his ninja tool bag, Sora pulled out a kunai. His grip tightened as he gazed at the celebrating bandits, his Sharingan glowing faintly. His murderous intent was palpable.

The time to strike had come.

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