#29 - Konoha White Fang returns, Orochimaru's interest in Seiji

Kiyoshi saw a familiar face.

Tsunade.

She seemed to be helping someone with a diagnosis.

Shizune, who looked to be about Kiyoshi's age, was also with her.

"Kiyoshi."

A white-haired boy with messy hair walked out from behind the wooden door, approaching the wooden fence in front of the yard.

"I came to see why you took a day off today."

Kiyoshi made an excuse.

"It's nothing."

Kakashi's voice was much colder, and there were blood vessels in the whites of his eyes.

"Kakashi, since your friend is calling for you, let him in."

A voice came from inside the house.

"Yes, Father."

Kakashi stepped aside.

"Come in, Kiyoshi."

"Excuse me."

Kiyoshi followed Kakashi and pushed the door open.

There were many people in the house.

Tsunade, Shizune, Orochimaru.

Two of the Sannin were there.

Furthest inside sat a silver-white haired man with a ponytail, his body wrapped in many bandages, with blood faintly seeping out, staining the bandages red.

"Lord Sakumo."

Kiyoshi said with a respectful expression.

He also greeted Tsunade and Orochimaru respectfully.

"Long time no see, Lady Tsunade."

"Oh, it's you, the Uchiha brat."

Tsunade turned her head, her eyes slightly narrowed.

This kid's talent in taijutsu is even better than she thought.

It's only been this long, and he already has a physique that is considered strong among his peers.

"I am Kakashi's father. You are friends, so there is no need to be so reserved."

Sakumo Hatake revealed a smile.

One could tell that Sakumo Hatake was a gentle person.

No wonder he created the 'Thousand Years of Death' technique to prank enemies, and even passed it on to Kakashi.

"Heh heh, Uchiha..."

Orochimaru licked his lips, with purple markings on both sides of his nose and earrings hanging from his earlobes.

He had heard about Kiyoshi Uchiha from Danzo.

Orochimaru glanced back at Tsunade, who was helping Sakumo Hatake with his diagnosis, and then looked at Kiyoshi.

"How do you feel about coming to Konoha?"

Orochimaru asked.

Among foreigners who had entered the Ninja Academy and were qualified to become ninjas, there were only Kiyoshi Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki.

One came from the Land of Lightning, and the other from the Land of Whirlpools, which had already been destroyed.

"Lord Orochimaru, after coming to Konoha, I realized there are so many ninjutsu to learn. If I have the opportunity, I want to learn more ninjutsu."

Kiyoshi said.

In the small village on the edge of the Land of Lightning, Kiyoshi didn't have so many ninjutsu to learn, not even the Three Body Technique.

In this world where the strong are respected, only strength can allow one to survive countless disturbances.

"Is that so."

Orochimaru was quite surprised by Kiyoshi's answer.

He thought Kiyoshi would praise the superior conditions of Konoha like other children, saying that Konoha's moon was rounder than the Land of Lightning's moon, and the air was sweeter, and things like that.

After all, Kiyoshi's life and past were worlds apart.

"Heh heh... unfortunately, everyone's energy is limited, and the number of ninjutsu one can learn in a lifetime is very few."

Orochimaru seemed to sigh.

Learn more ninjutsu?

He himself had the same idea.

But human life is limited.

"So I want to live longer. Only with a longer lifespan can I learn more things."

Kiyoshi's statement surprised everyone.

You see, birth, old age, sickness, and death are natural laws, and must not be violated.

However, everyone, more or less, has thought about living longer.

But few people will continue to believe it so firmly.

Everyone present felt that Kiyoshi had not yet grown up and was talking nonsense.

Just like children like to clamor about becoming Hokage.

"What does a child know? When people are supposed to die, it's best to let nature take its course. Living too long is not a good thing."

Tsunade waved her hand, instructing Shizune to put away these medical instruments.

Shizune stepped forward and took out a sealing scroll to seal them all away.

Tsunade's and everyone else's reactions flashed before Kiyoshi's eyes one by one.

In the ninja world, even though technology is constantly developing and changing with each passing day.

Most people's thinking is very conservative or even pedantic.

After thousands of years of development, even Naruto, who wanted to bring peace to the ninja world, never thought of abolishing the daimyo system, the nominal rulers of everyone.

Instead, he bowed his head and became a subject.

Even the Hyuga clan's feudal and cruel 'Caged Bird Curse Seal' system, which treated people as slaves, was not abolished, and was still implemented under Naruto's nose.

Living longer... even eternal life, almost no one thinks about it.

Only one person is different.

Kiyoshi could feel Orochimaru looking at him, that sharp gaze like a viper.

"...No, Tsunade, he's very interesting."

Orochimaru had never before discovered someone who shared his idea of 'eternal life'.

After that, Orochimaru asked Kiyoshi several questions one after another, and Kiyoshi answered them one by one.

"That Orochimaru..."

Tsunade frowned slightly. The usually reliable Orochimaru was actually chatting with a little kid who wasn't even a genin about some unreliable issues.

They came this time with important matters.

"Sakumo, you should rest and recover well. Don't pay attention to some of the harsh voices in the village."

Tsunade said.

With Sakumo Hatake's strength, he could only choose between this mission and his companions, which shows how dangerous the mission was.

"Okay."

Although Sakumo Hatake looked a little haggard, he still responded with a smile to Tsunade's comfort.

"This is not Father's fault at all! Those who don't value their companions are not worthy of being called ninjas."

Kakashi said.

Since his father returned yesterday afternoon, the village has been filled with voices condemning his father today.

"Alright, Kakashi, it's my fault. A ninja who fails to carry out a mission deserves to be condemned."

Sakumo Hatake's smile faded, and he said in a deep voice.

Kakashi wanted to say more, but Sakumo Hatake said again:

"Go out and play with your friend. Next, I want to talk to Tsunade and Orochimaru about something."

"...Yes, Father."

Kakashi lowered his head.

He didn't understand, what exactly was his father's fault?

Why did even his father think he was at fault?

Kiyoshi heard this and knew that he was being given the order to leave, so he followed Kakashi out.

It wasn't until he was completely out the door that Kiyoshi felt Orochimaru's gaze disappear.

"Orochimaru should have remembered me."

Kiyoshi thought to himself.

The reason he said those words just now was to make a deeper impression on Orochimaru, to get on Orochimaru's line.

Like poisonous snakes, accompanied by danger, there are also opportunities.

The time for the outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War is getting shorter and shorter. It is best to improve one's strength or obtain a good life-saving ninjutsu.

Orochimaru is Konoha's best scientist, and he also has a lot of forbidden knowledge.

His life-saving ability is also maxed out. He has died several times, but he just can't die, with all kinds of resurrections.

In this regard, even Yakushi Nonou is not as good.

Moreover, Orochimaru has rich human body experience, and even has information on 'Curse Marks' and 'Sage Techniques'.

As for the other channels to obtain Sage Techniques.

Tsunade won't accept him.

Jiraiya only accepts the child of prophecy.

If you want to obtain Sage Chakra, you can only start with Orochimaru.

In future Otsutsuki invasions, without Sage Techniques or Taijutsu, you can't deal damage at all!

Moreover, Sage Techniques do not only amplify ninjutsu, they also... amplify the physical body.