Naruto: Orochimaru's Disciple

Chapter 185 - 186

Chapter 185: Orochimaru: My Teacher Is Really Getting Worse as He Gets Older

Of course, there was also real fear of the Uchiha.

Even in decline, the Uchiha were still a terrifying clan. Who, without serious strength, would dare covet their eyes?

And it was not just the Uchiha. Every other bloodline clan was watching too.

If Konoha could treat the Uchiha like this today, who was to say the Hyuga would not be next tomorrow? What about the Ino Shika Cho families?

That was exactly why, even if Danzo wanted to carry out the night of extermination, he needed Itachi to take the blame. Otherwise, it would tear at the village's unity. And the Third Hokage would never sit back and allow it.

Kenichi hummed a tune as he headed to his teacher's laboratory.

The moment he stepped inside, though, he froze slightly.

Orochimaru had returned to his original form.

Kenichi felt a faint, instinctive discomfort. His teacher had been walking around looking like a blond little girl before, and now he looked like this again. The whiplash was hard to ignore.

"Kenichi," Orochimaru said, eyes narrowing. His tone turned serious. "You came at the right time. I have something to show you."

Kenichi was curious, but he did not interrupt. He simply walked over.

"Look at this." Orochimaru handed him a document.

Kenichi took it and scanned the pages. It was a cooperation letter sent from Konoha.

It was long. Very long. And judging by the handwriting and tone, it had been written by Hiruzen himself.

The opening was filled with concern for Orochimaru and for Kenichi. Then it rolled smoothly into the Will of Fire, once again praising its righteousness and necessity, as if the paper itself might burst into flames from the sincerity.

Then Hiruzen casually mentioned recent events in the village, commented on Orochimaru's old home, even described some scenery.

Kenichi did not understand the point at first, but the mocking curve at the corner of Orochimaru's mouth made the meaning obvious.

Then Kenichi's eyes landed on a section that mentioned him.

"Your apprentice Kenichi's house is still well preserved by the village. People come every day to clean it and take care of the plants on his windowsill, just like before," Kenichi read aloud.

Now he understood exactly why his teacher was smiling like that.

This was Hiruzen's handwriting. First he praised Orochimaru and Kenichi, then he carefully avoided bringing up their past mistakes, and instead started reminiscing.

It was terrifying.

Kenichi knew a rule of life.

If someone you barely talk to suddenly reaches out after years of silence and starts chatting about the good old days, there is a very high chance they want to borrow money. Or they are about to get married.

He had lived this.

An old classmate, someone he spoke to maybe once or twice a year after graduation, suddenly started messaging him nonstop about university life. Kenichi played along for a bit, until the classmate sighed dramatically about how hard things had been lately.

Then came the real request.

A loan.

Fifty thousand.