At the Senju residence.
Just as Nawaki was about to crawl back to his room and collapse into bed, he was dragged into another room by Hyūga Ming.
"Big brother… what is it?" Nawaki yawned heavily.
After three straight days of brutal training, his eyelids were practically fighting to stay open.
Hyūga Ming didn't answer right away.
Instead, he raised his hand.
Resting in his palm was a bronze-colored bracer, faintly gleaming. It covered the palm and wrist—simple, sturdy, and clearly well-made.
"This is for you."
Nawaki blinked.
"…I don't really like wearing bracers. They mess with my Monster Strength."
"For normal bracers, sure," Hyūga Ming said calmly, tossing it over.
"This one's different. It boosts strength—and it won't interfere with your chakra."
It was his spare [Bandit's Right Bracer].
Keeping it in his inventory was a waste. Throwing it away felt wrong.
Nawaki hesitated, then put it on and clenched his fist.
Chakra surged.
To his shock, chakra began flowing out of the bracer, synchronizing with his own. The chakra density around his hand jumped noticeably—at least twenty percent.
"…Is this a ninja tool?" Nawaki asked, eyes wide.
"Yeah," Hyūga Ming nodded.
"One I made myself. No one else has one. It's yours."
Only he could farm bandits.
Which meant only he could get this kind of gear.
Calling it "self-made" wasn't even a lie.
The ninja world had plenty of strange tools—one modest bracer wouldn't raise eyebrows.
If anything, people would probably be disappointed it only did this much.
"Thank you, big brother!" Nawaki said, gripping his fist tightly, eyes misting over.
Like he'd just been entrusted with something incredibly important.
"Don't show it to anyone," Hyūga Ming reminded him.
"I'll get you something better later."
Equipment like this would only increase in number.
Anything he didn't need could go to his people—or be sold.
"I won't tell anyone," Nawaki said seriously.
"Not even my sister."
A man's promise.
…Honestly, it wasn't that serious.
Hyūga Ming waved him out and finally collapsed onto his bed.
These past three days, he'd barely slept—constantly hunting beasts, searching for chakra creatures.
Plenty of animals.
Not a single new ninja beast.
Unfortunate.
The next morning—
BANG!
The door was kicked open.
"Get up!"
Tsunade strode in.
Hyūga Ming was already dressed and waiting.
"Tsunade-sensei."
She looked him over.
She was wearing armor today.
Hyūga Ming wore traditional Hyūga attire, forehead protector pulled low to hide the Caged Bird Seal.
Tsunade's stance on him was clear:
He was her medical apprentice—nothing more.
She wouldn't teach him combat techniques outside medical ninjutsu.
And Hyūga Ming never asked.
Mostly because he didn't like owing favors.
After all—if one day they became enemies, turning someone who taught you into a "monster drop" felt… awkward.
A player faced with something that drops loot doesn't have much conscience.
Even without HP bars, if it drops items—it's a mob.
"Three advanced skills… and a dungeon scroll…"
Hyūga Ming's thoughts drifted for half a second.
Tsunade suddenly stiffened.
For an instant, she felt a vague sense of danger—
Not killing intent.
Just… something unsettling.
It came from Hyūga Ming.
"…Let's go," he said brightly, smiling like an innocent kid.
Tsunade frowned slightly, then dismissed the feeling.
Probably nothing.
Downstairs, the house was quiet.
Nawaki and Kushina had already gone to the Academy.
Mito Uzumaki rarely left her room these days.
Tsunade grabbed two slices of bread from the table and tossed them over.
"Eat on the way. We'll be traveling all day."
"Thank you, sensei."
They left the Senju estate together.
Their meeting point was a small plaza near Konoha's main gate.
Standing there already was Orochimaru.
He wore gray armor, posture relaxed. Three supply packs lay at his feet.
"You're here," he said, smiling.
This was Orochimaru before the darkness.
Still refined. Still curious.
Not yet cold.
Hyūga Ming couldn't help but wonder—
If Nawaki survived…
Would Orochimaru still become that man?
Maybe not.
Soon, two more figures arrived at a run.
Hyūga Hiashi and Hyūga Hizashi.
"Tsunade-sama. Orochimaru-sama."
They bowed respectfully.
Neither Tsunade nor Orochimaru was at their peak yet—but both were already among Konoha's elite.
And both were Hiruzen's disciples.
That alone demanded respect.
The brothers glanced at Hyūga Ming.
Complex expressions.
Their father's punishment for Hyūga Ming hadn't been severe.
The real goal was simple—
Make Hyūga Hiashi truly subdue him.
A bodyguard willing to die wasn't created through threats.
Even branch family members had to obey willingly.
Resentment—even a little—could get Hiashi killed.
But Hyūga Ming?
Oil and salt—completely impervious.
He didn't even acknowledge them.
In their eyes, that was courting death.
Hyūga Ming, meanwhile, didn't spare them a glance.
Trying to condition a player using noble clan psychology?
That was genuinely funny.
Tsunade and Orochimaru both sensed the tension.
Orochimaru spoke first.
"Your mission is to escort supplies into the Land of Rain and establish a defensive line there."
"The Land of Rain…" Hyūga Ming narrowed his eyes.
"Oh?" Orochimaru glanced at him with interest.
"Interested, Ming-kun?"
Compared to the obedient Hyūga brothers, this rebellious one fascinated him more.
Since Konoha's founding, there had never been another Hyūga who openly resisted the Main House.
"A little," Hyūga Ming replied cheerfully.
Thankfully, this was early Orochimaru.
If it were the future version…
He might actually be nervous.
Not about body-snatching—
Branch family bodies weren't worth the effort.
But being dissected as "experimental material"?
That was a concern.
Still—
The Land of Rain held something important.
Something only Rain ninja could drop.
The key to breaking the Caged Bird Seal.
But he'd need to reach Level 18 first.
"Hopefully," Orochimaru said softly, smiling,
"the Land of Rain won't disappoint you."
Tsunade cut in sharply.
"Gear up. We move out."
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