Uchiha Feiyu ultimately accepted Orochimaru's offer and became his disciple.
Of course… calling him a "disciple" was almost misleading.
His strength was already comparable to Orochimaru's. In many ways, he was less a student and more an ally—a partner whose achievements naturally reflected back onto his new teacher.
After all, if Feiyu shone, then Orochimaru, as his master, shone as well.
And Feiyu's current combat power would greatly bolster Orochimaru's chances in the future struggle for the Hokage seat.
Don't let anyone claim Orochimaru had no interest in becoming Hokage and only wanted to do research. Second Hokage Tobirama Senju had managed both—running a village while still pushing the boundaries of ninjutsu and producing inventions no worse than Orochimaru's.
Having a Great Village backing your research was an enormous advantage. Otherwise, after defecting, Orochimaru wouldn't have needed to rely on Danzō, nor build the entire Sound Village infrastructure just to continue his work.
Of course, Feiyu didn't actually believe Orochimaru would ever succeed in becoming Hokage. Everyone knew perfectly well:
Konoha didn't choose their Hokage based on merit.
They chose the Hokage based on whether he listened to the Third.
Still, using this opportunity to squeeze some benefits out of Orochimaru?
Very worthwhile.
After officially becoming Orochimaru's disciple, the Sannin didn't hold back. He immediately handed Feiyu two jutsu:
Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique
Summoning: Rashōmon
Neither was an S-rank forbidden technique, but both were extremely practical.
Orochimaru's substitution technique was considered the pinnacle version of all Body Replacement Techniques—costly in chakra, but able to nullify otherwise fatal injuries.
As for Rashōmon, it was a rare defensive summoning barrier strong enough to withstand a Tailed Beast Bomb. Compared to regular Water or Earth defensive techniques, it was on an entirely different level.
Having received his new jutsu, Feiyu returned to his training grounds and immediately began practicing.
The next day, news arrived:
Sunagakure had formally surrendered.
"Tch, that fast? Guess Sand isn't as stubborn as rumors say."
Feiyu stared at the intelligence scroll, disappointment written all over his face.
If they had fought just one more major battle… his sacrificial black mist Gains could have easily surpassed a thousand.
As for souls, Feiyu was beginning to notice the limits of Soulbinding Marshal. Controlling six or seven hundred souls was already putting strain on him. If he continued absorbing more, he would have to release older souls.
He had already started doing so—once a weak soul's skills were fully digested, he simply released it. Ordinary souls were no longer of any real use.
Going forward, Feiyu intended to only harvest souls of at least special jōnin level.
Orochimaru, listening to Feiyu complaining like a disappointed butcher whose livestock escaped, simply chuckled.
He had accepted Feiyu as a disciple, but he still found the boy's personality troublesome.
Cowardly, ruthless, and now fond of bullying the weak?
How did a village built on the "Will of Fire" produce something like this?
"No matter what, now that Sand has surrendered, most of our forces can return home," Orochimaru said. "It's been a long time since I've seen my laboratory in Konoha. Feiyu-kun, don't you want to go back?"
Feiyu didn't care much about returning to the village, but the end of the war was still worth celebrating. Life in Konoha was undeniably more comfortable than life in the military camps.
…
In Konoha, the Third Hokage looked at the formal surrender document and exhaled deeply, a smile forming.
"Sunagakure has been defeated. Orochimaru did very well."
"And that Uchiha Feiyu… I never expected that brat to be so strong. It seems Sakumo's legacy continues."
"Don't forget," Danzō interjected coldly, "he's still an Uchiha. He may become a threat."
Hiruzen glanced at him.
"Oh? And what do you propose, Danzō? Recruit him into your Root? I recall you claiming you didn't need such a shinobi."
Danzō's expression darkened. How was he supposed to know the boy's talent would reach this level?
"And even if you wanted him," Hiruzen continued lightly, "do you really think someone like him would join Root? Feel free to try convincing him yourself."
With Feiyu's personality, if Konoha ever tried to use him as cannon fodder, he would defect the next morning without hesitation.
Shinobi like him were the worst headache for Hiruzen—jaded veterans in their thirties who had nothing to lose often acted like that.
But Feiyu was young, and his mind was sharp. He couldn't be manipulated. He couldn't be guilted. He had no attachments. He had no loyalty to ideology.
Normally, by the time someone reached Feiyu's level of emotional independence, they had already become entrenched jōnin with families.
A young prodigy this resistant to indoctrination?
Extremely rare.
"Forget it," Danzō muttered. "His personality makes him unsuitable for Root anyway. But Hiruzen, you need to keep an eye on him."
Danzō knew forcing someone with Feiyu's strength and independence into Root was a fantasy.
But his ingrained distrust toward the Uchiha made him push anyway.
"As long as he's an Uchiha, he's dangerous."
"Relax," Hiruzen waved dismissively. "I understand his temperament. He'll never be fit for major responsibility, but at least he has no ambition."
He spoke casually—
Until Danzō added:
"He's also Orochimaru's disciple now."
Hiruzen froze for a moment.
Then slowly shook his head.
"It's fine. Orochimaru is my disciple. I trust his judgment."
He said the words calmly.
But a thorn had lodged in his heart.
Some Uchiha could be integrated into Konoha's ideological system—like Obito or Kagami—loyal believers in the Will of Fire.
Feiyu was not one of them.
He had no allegiance to the clan, nor belief in the village's ideology.
And now:
He was strong.
He was independent.
He was trained by Orochimaru.
And in the future…
He might very well interfere with the Hokage succession.
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