Orochimaru suggested that Sora accept the position of Genin leader and explained his reasoning.
After listening, Sora became serious.
Orochimaru was right.
Even if he found Karin's mother, why would Konoha choose her over Uzumaki Kushina, who had already been trained?
Sora had oversimplified things. He had always assumed that finding Karin's mother would automatically resolve the issue of Kushina's status as the Nine Tails' jinchūriki.
Now, he realized it wasn't that simple.
Sora nodded.
"I understand, Teacher Orochimaru. I'll lead a team of Genin."
Orochimaru nodded, seemingly unsurprised.
"I knew you would agree after I explained, so I've already informed Teacher Sarutobi in advance. You won't need to lead a full three-man squad—just a single Genin. But that Genin must be your disciple."
"Disciple..." Sora murmured.
A disciple wasn't just a subordinate. He would have to personally teach them real techniques and ensure their growth.
However, aside from Wind Style, Orochimaru had taught him a variety of escape techniques, which were more than enough for training someone.
Sora gave a firm nod.
"I understand, Orochimaru. I'll choose a Genin as my disciple."
"Good. Three Genin could be a burden to you, but one disciple might not be. Choose carefully when the time comes." Orochimaru's voice carried a hint of amusement. "When do you plan to leave?"
"I'm leaving for Konoha now."
"Alright." Orochimaru retrieved a scroll and tossed it to Sora.
"This is the latest report on the situation in the Land of Hot Water. Deliver it to Teacher Sarutobi for me."
Sora caught the scroll and nodded.
"I will. Orochimaru, I'm heading out."
"Go."
After returning to his room, Sora grabbed the backpack he had prepared earlier that morning and left the camp.
Not long into his journey, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Sora!"
Sora turned around and instantly felt annoyed.
That unmistakable yellow hair—it was, of course, Namikaze Minato.
In the blink of an eye, Minato appeared beside him.
Sora sighed, pulling at the corner of his mouth.
"You really don't let up. Don't tell me you're here to see me off."
Minato gave a bright, cheerful smile.
"No, didn't I tell you before? I'm also heading back to Konoha. And since you're leaving today too, I figured we could travel together. Good to have a companion, right?"
Sora clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Namikaze Minato, let me ask you something. Are you a sissy or something? Do you really need a companion just to go back to Konoha?"
Minato's expression stiffened for a moment before he let out a helpless sigh.
"It's impossible to get a kind word out of you, isn't it?"
Ignoring him, Sora turned away and kept walking.
Minato, unfazed, simply followed behind him.
And so, the two of them travelled toward Konoha together.
For the rest of the journey, neither of them spoke. They simply focused on their own pace.
Four Days Later
Thanks to Sora's fast travel speed, he only needed one more day to reach Konoha.
Sora was eager to see Uzumaki Kushina as soon as possible.
Determined to return to Konoha quickly, he planned to travel overnight, using the cover of darkness to speed up his journey.
Just as he was about to set off, Namikaze Minato suddenly spoke.
"Sora, if I had chosen to help Kushina back then, would we have become companions?"
Sora looked at him in confusion.
Minato's gaze was sincere as he continued, "That seems to be the only real conflict between us.
I didn't realize Kushina was so important to you at the time.
Honestly… I regretted it afterwards.
If I had stopped them from bullying Kushina back then, maybe we could have been good friends now."
Sora remained expressionless for a moment before a mocking smirk appeared on his face.
"No, Namikaze Minato. Even without that incident, we wouldn't have become friends.
We are too different.
And, if anything, I still would have preferred that you didn't help Kushina."
Minato frowned.
"Why?
Jiraiya-sensei and Orochimaru-sensei have completely opposite personalities, but they still become comrades who trust each other in their lives.
Why can't we?"
Sora shook his head.
"That's an idealistic way of thinking.
The difference between us and Jiraiya-sensei and Orochimaru-sensei is simple—I hate you, Namikaze Minato.
From the bottom of my heart."
Minato's brows furrowed.
"Why do you hate me?
If you hate someone, there must be a reason."
Sora scoffed.
"And what would change if I told you?
Some things aren't meant to be forced.
We're just two people who happen to live in the same village, nothing more."
With that, Sora picked up his backpack and continued walking.
Minato stood still, watching Sora's retreating back, unable to fully understand.
After a long silence, he sighed.
"Jiraiya-sensei… it looks like I really can't become friends with Sora."
The Next Day
Because Sora travelled through the night, he arrived in Konoha by noon the following day.
However, instead of going to see Uzumaki Kushina right away, he headed straight for the Hokage Building.
First, he needed to deliver the scroll Orochimaru had entrusted to him.
He also had to retrieve his appointment letter for his mission to the Land of Grass.
Reaching the Hokage's office, Sora knocked on the door.
A voice from inside responded.
"Come in."
Sora opened the door and stepped inside.
To his surprise, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't alone.
Another man, about the same age as the Hokage, stood in the office.
He had brown hair with neatly trimmed sideburns, narrow eyes filled with a calculating glint, and a deep fork-shaped scar on his chin.
His face was lined with heavy wrinkles, and his expression carried an air of cold detachment, exuding a sinister, scheming presence.
Despite this being his first time meeting the man, Sora instantly recognized him.
Hokage's advisor.
Leader of Root.
Shimura Danzō.
Without hesitation, Sora greeted them respectfully.
"Hokage-sama. Danzō-sama."
Hiruzen's serious expression softened upon seeing him.
"Ah, Sora.
It's been a while. You've grown a lot."
Taking a puff from his pipe, Hiruzen smiled.
"I've been keeping an eye on your progress in the Land of Hot Water.
You've performed admirably in battle against the Kumogakure shinobi, completing several high-difficulty missions."
Sora, accustomed to such formalities, responded with measured flattery.
"It's all thanks to Orochimaru-sensei's teachings and your trust, Hokage-sama, that I've been able to grow this much."
Hiruzen nodded in approval.
It was hard to believe that the boy who had once been overlooked and disliked by many had now become a highly capable shinobi.
Even in the face of Konoha's ongoing struggles, young talents like Sora, Namikaze Minato, and the next generation of Ino-Shika-Chō were beginning to shine.
With them, Hiruzen felt a renewed sense of confidence in the battles that lay ahead.
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