The next morning.
On the balcony of a Konoha building—where Tian Yuan and Anko had met Orochimaru yesterday, and where he said they would gather.
"Tian Yuan, we finally get to go on our mission!" Anko gushed.
"Anko, didn't you sleep last night?" Tian Yuan noted her dark circles.
"What? A mission's a major step in life, Tian Yuan." Anko replied.
"Don't worry. The first tasks won't be too hard—just finding pets, helping villagers, I hear." Tian Yuan thought for a moment.
"No way." Anko's eyes widened. She'd hoped to spar with other ninja.
A pale-faced man appeared beside them, his slender eyes cool and distant—Tian Yuan's new mentor, Orochimaru. Beside him stood another equally aloof figure. Confidence or arrogance?
"This is Uchiha Juken, a clan prodigy who joins our squad." Orochimaru introduced the newcomer.
"Uchiha Juken." Tian Yuan felt pity for the young Uchiha, delivered into Orochimaru's sway—he'd conducted human experiments for years. Perhaps Orochimaru dreamed of becoming Hokage, but the third Great Ninja War would see the Golden Flash rise to Fourth Hokage.
"You're Tian Yuan, right? I heard you defeated Chunin. Perhaps we can spar sometime." Juken stepped forward. Older by over a decade, he no doubt matched Chunin strength.
"Sure." Tian Yuan shrugged—he wasn't Naruto, and Juken wasn't Sasuke. No bond there.
"Are all Uchiha like that?" Anko frowned, recalling how Uchiha Kiga had challenged Tian Yuan at graduation—then been silenced by his prowess.
Orochimaru watched them, lips curving slightly.
"Off to pick up our mission, then." Orochimaru beckoned.
"Yes, Teacher Orochimaru." They nodded, vanishing in a flash.
Their first tasks—to be received at the Hokage's office—were as Tian Yuan expected: basic village assignments, nothing major.
Over a month later, on another balcony.
Tian Yuan lay basking in the sun, utterly relaxed. Their missions had been embarrassingly easy.
"Tian Yuan, when do we get a tougher mission? I'm bored to death." Anko complained, tired of pet-capture duties.
"Soon. We'll have something new." Tian Yuan sat up. "Someone's coming."
"Mm." Anko looked. Uchiha Juken appeared.
"Teacher Orochimaru awaits at the Hokage's office. Let's fetch today's assignment." Juken announced.
"Let's go, Anko." Tian Yuan patted his trousers and sprinted toward the office.
"You're here—let's go." Orochimaru nodded to his three "disciples."
Just then, Tian Yuan halted. He'd detected a video signal—this time a High-Definition fragment. His eyes brightened: HD fragments always held better treasures.
"Seems to be in the Hokage's office," he hesitated, then smiled.
"Oho, Tian Yuan?" Orochimaru paused, pleased by Tian Yuan's stop. He'd long known Tian Yuan was a rare genius—without any kekkei genkai, he'd pushed every skill to its age's limit.
"Nothing, Teacher." Tian Yuan fell in step.
Ten minutes later, something unexpected happened:
"Old man Hokage—these missions are dull. Can we have something fun?" Tian Yuan quipped inside the Hokage's office, addressing Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Hiruzen blinked—he'd never experienced such candor. Orochimaru, standing by, could only hide a wry smile and a forehead vein. Tian Yuan's talk of "losing himself on the path of destiny" was now routine.
"Master Hiruzen, may I take Tian Yuan out?" Orochimaru said wearily.
"Right." Hiruzen recovered. "I have a C-rank mission—escort a merchant. If you're willing, it's yours."
"Truly?" Anko brightened.
"We accept, Hokage-sama." Orochimaru bowed.
They left at once—after Tian Yuan finished receiving his HD fragment—and made their way to the forest outside Konoha.
"Dragon Ball footage!" Tian Yuan exclaimed at the clip's contents, surprise and delight shining in his eyes.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。