"Alright, I'll take my leave now. See you at school the day after tomorrow, Yusuke." Renzou, having enjoyed the hospitality, stood by the door, with Yusuke and Shisui seeing him off.
"Okay, understood," Yusuke nodded. Neither of them felt any apprehension about the upcoming graduation exam. Ultimately, it was just a test to become a Genin. With Renzou and Yusuke's current abilities, they could likely hold their own against a Chūnin, making the Genin exam a mere formality.
"Then I'll be going too, Brother Renzou, Brother Yusuke. Goodbye," Shisui said, waving as he reached the intersection.
"Be careful on your way," Yusuke called out.
"See you in two days, Shisui," Renzou added. The three parted ways after their farewells.
Walking along, Renzou reflected that the issue of insufficient training time had been resolved with the Thunder Tiger clan. The next step was steady progress, preparing for the significant conflicts looming in the near future.
It was currently Konoha Year 44, and the Third Great Ninja War was roughly two years away, set to erupt around Konoha Year 47. After the recovery periods following the First and Second Ninja Wars, the pent-up aggression and hatred of the major villages would inevitably turn towards the fertile and temperate Land of Fire.
The catalyst for the Third War would be the disappearance of Sunagakure's Third Kazekage, a Kage-level figure. Leadership of the Sand Village would then fall to the elder Chiyo, whose personal vendetta against Konoha, stemming from the death of her son and daughter-in-law at the hands of Konoha's White Fang, would intertwine with national grievances. With Konoha having also lost the White Fang, the old and new scores would lead to a localized war between Sand and Leaf, which would then draw in other ninja villages, igniting the full-scale Third Great Ninja War.
Renzou mentally cataloged the famous ninja and iconic battles of that era:
Konohagakure: The Battle of Kannabi Bridge (Team Minato vs. Hidden Stone), the Aburame Clan vs. the Kamizuru Clan, the Hyuga Brothers' Stand. Notable figures included Fugaku Uchiha, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Minato Namikaze (the Yellow Flash), and Might Dai. Significant sacrifices included Obito Uchiha (initially believed dead) and Might Dai.
Kirigakure: Battles against Konoha's forces (involving the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist) and the internal strife of the Bloody Mist era. Notable figures included the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist and a young Zabuza Momochi. Many Kiri shinobi perished during this time.
Sunagakure: Battles against Hidden Stone (featuring the further Fourth Kazekage) and Pakura's battles. Famous fighters included the further Fourth Kazekage (Rasa), Chiyo and Ebizō, and Pakura. Pakura's betrayal and sacrifice by her own village was a significant event.
Kumogakure: Skirmishes between the Raikage's forces and Konoha (involving the Third Raikage), and the presence of fighters like Dodai and possibly Blue B. The Third Raikage's near-death stand was a notable event.
Iwagakure: The Iwa vs. Konoha conflict at Kannabi Bridge and battles involving the Explosion Corps. Ōnoki (the Third Tsuchikage) and the Explosion Corps were prominent. Many Stone shinobi fell in large-scale battles.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Renzou raised his arm, looking at Obanai Iguro, who was coiled around his wrist, and murmured, "There's just one more piece of the puzzle. I hope this goes well…" He gently touched Obanai Iguro's head. "Lead the way, Obanai Iguro. We're going to find Orochimaru."
Obanai Iguro responded by extending his head and pointing in a specific direction – towards Hokage Rock. Renzou's eyes narrowed slightly. The first time he'd met Orochimaru, the Sannin had been wearing a sterile-looking lab coat, likely taking a break from his experiments. Orochimaru's labs were typically underground, and the one Renzou remembered was located behind Hokage Rock, accessible from the surrounding forest. Finding a less-traveled path, Renzou began to run towards their initial meeting place.
Soon, standing before the imposing Hokage Rock, Renzou gazed into the dark and foreboding jungle, a shiver running down his spine. Typical Orochimaru,he thought. Lowering his head, he noticed Obanai Iguro had slithered off his wrist and onto the ground. The snake moved forward a meter, then turned back, its head raised, indicating for Renzou to follow. Renzou nodded and followed Obanai Iguro into the dense foliage. Here, the trees choked out the sunlight, and the occasional roar of unseen beasts echoed through the undergrowth. Renzou felt this place could rival the Forest of Death during the Chūnin Exams.
After a few minutes of winding through the dense vegetation, the weeds reached Renzou's knees. He carefully placed Obanai Iguro on his shoulders to guide him. "Is it here?" Renzou crouched beside a tree trunk, observing a seemingly ordinary mound on the slope below. He couldn't discern anything unusual about it. Jumping down, Renzou approached the mound. Obanai Iguro slid off his shoulders again, moved to the slope, nudged the mound with its tail, and then turned its head, flicking its tongue towards Renzou.
"Hmm?" Renzou squatted down, placing his hands where Obanai Iguro had touched, and began to feel around. Suddenly, his fingers brushed against something cold, and he instinctively pressed down.
"Boom!"
It felt as if he'd triggered something significant. The "slope" in front of him began to rise slowly. Abruptly, a pair of massive eyes opened on the rising earth, and large chunks of soil cascaded down its sides. As the last of the earth fell away, the true form of the "Slope Anaconda" was revealed. Renzou gripped his kunai tightly, Obanai Iguro now perched on his shoulders, his gaze fixed solemnly on the colossal serpent before him. Its earth-yellow scales stretched across a body nearly ten meters long, as thick as a bucket. Cold, reptilian eyes stared at the two "intruders," its forked tongue tasting the air. While bracing for a potential fight, Renzou couldn't help but think of a phrase from his past life: Good heavens, I thought there'd be people or traps, not a giant snake gatekeeper. Truly Orochimaru's style.
"Haha, I thought it might be you, but it is indeed you, Renzou." A chilling voice echoed from behind the massive snake. As the serpent slowly shifted aside, the figure behind it became visible.
"Lord Orochimaru, please forgive my intrusion," Renzou said, bowing slightly to convey his respect, while inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. Given the giant snake's power, a direct confrontation would have been troublesome. I'm here for "scientific study," not a brawl.
"No need for apologies, Renzou-kun. You likely came to me with a matter to discuss. Come in, then." Orochimaru still wore the pristine white lab coat from their first encounter, suggesting he'd been in the midst of an experiment.
"Understood, Orochimaru-sama." Renzou carefully skirted around the massive snake and followed Orochimaru towards it. He noticed a hidden doorway in the earth where the snake had been coiled. No wonder I couldn't find this place before. The snake was effectively concealing the entrance. Once they both entered, the giant anaconda coiled back up, closed its eyes, and resumed its silent vigil.
The hidden door closed behind them. Renzou followed Orochimaru, his eyes curiously taking in the dimly lit passage ahead. Steps descended into the earth, with lights hanging on the walls, casting an eerie glow.
"It seems you've been taking good care of the little one," Orochimaru remarked, glancing back at Renzou, his gaze briefly settling on Obanai Iguro. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Thanks to you, Orochimaru-sama. I get along very well with Obanai Iguro."
"That is good." As they spoke, they traversed the underground passage. Orochimaru turned, his smile widening slightly.
"Renzou-kun, welcome to my laboratory."
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End of Chapter 31