Chapter 9: Naruto's First Encounter with Orochimaru

In the midst of this pointless discussion, a person who would normally command attention sat silently in the corner. Orochimaru’s eyes were lowered, his face cloaked in shadows, his emotions inscrutable. To the other shinobi present, this was a matter of life and death; but to Orochimaru, it was all just noise and commotion.

"So dull, endlessly dull. Their vision is so limited," Orochimaru mused inwardly. He felt that if the shinobi continued to be entangled in these petty quarrels, when would they ever make true progress? This stagnation left him deeply dissatisfied and regretful.

He failed to notice that, in another corner of the meeting room, an Anbu-masked ninja with blood-red Sharingan eyes flashed a similar expression.

After the meeting, Orochimaru had intended to return to his research facility to continue his studies into the mysteries of immortality.

"Hmm? What’s happening there?" Orochimaru noticed a masked, silver-haired ninja together with Naruto.

"If I recall, that’s Hatake, isn’t it? Kakashi Hatake, son of the late Sakuun Hatake," Orochimaru murmured, stroking his pallid chin. "I remember he was also one of Minato’s protégés..."

"The Anbu assigned to protect the Jinchuriki rarely interfere in their lives, do they?"

"So why is Hatake appearing before Minato’s son in his Anbu persona?"

"Could it be that he wants to personally watch over his teacher’s child?"

Curiosity piqued, Orochimaru drifted closer, intent on discovering what Kakashi and Naruto were up to.

"Hatake is a clever man; surely he knows the consequences of getting close to Minato’s son. He’s of age now, experienced. He ought to have come to terms with the tragedy that befell his own father."

"I wonder what it is about Minato’s son that draws him in, enough to let him momentarily forget the tragedy of Sakuun Hatake..."

Orochimaru followed from a distance, almost unconsciously employing the tracking and surveillance techniques befitting a top-tier shinobi—at least, Kakashi did not appear to notice.

He trailed them out to the edge of the village, to a forest clearing near the river where shinobi often trained. There, the two finally stopped.

Naruto, of course, was aware that a powerful presence was following them—someone even stronger than the silver-haired figure before him. Yet he didn’t seem to mind.

"You said you want to learn spirit mechanics?"

Naruto looked up at Kakashi.

Kakashi’s face was hidden behind his Anbu mask, making his expression unreadable. Yet from his breathing and heartbeat, Naruto could sense his emotions.

Kakashi nodded. "Yes. I want to learn your technique—what you call spirit mechanics."

He pressed a hand over his left eye. "I want to reclaim the technique that made my father famous, but my body is currently hindered for certain reasons. Perhaps this method will help me overcome those limitations."

Ever since Naruto began creating the core of his universal mechanical arm, he had never concealed anything from Kakashi, even deliberately demonstrating the core’s effects and uses. Through his senses, he could feel chakra surging rapidly within Kakashi, all flowing toward his left eye.

Naruto had no intention of prying into Kakashi’s secrets, but he did use this as leverage to draw Kakashi closer. For instance, he would hint that spirit mechanics could, to some extent, serve as a substitute for chakra.

Sure enough, Kakashi had sought him out.

"Sure!" Naruto beamed, his childlike face lighting up as he nodded seriously. "I can teach you how to use spirit mechanics! And I can even make you a power core. But I do have a condition."

"What condition?" Kakashi, without realizing it, spoke with a hint of urgency. "Whether it’s money, ninjutsu, or knowledge—anything, I can—"

"No need for any of that," Naruto shook his head. "Just tell me your name."

"My name?" Both Kakashi and Orochimaru, observing from afar, were surprised.

They could not understand why anyone would treat something so trivial as a bargaining chip.

Naruto grinned mischievously. "Aren’t we friends now? Isn’t it only right for friends to exchange names?"

Fool, Orochimaru scoffed inwardly, not noticing the slight upturn of his own mouth.

After a moment’s silence, Kakashi sighed and removed his mask.

"Kakashi," he said. "My name is Kakashi Hatake."

Half an hour later.

"Remember this place! This is where your strength comes from! And the rhythm of your breathing too!"

At this moment, little Naruto, feigning the air of an old master, strode back and forth beside Kakashi with his hands behind his back, giving earnest instructions.

"Listen, the key to training in spirit mechanics is discovery! Discovering your own way of perceiving and utilizing the matter and energy around you!"

"Use this breathing technique to let your chakra flow! At the same time, calm your mind! Only then will you sense the most subtle, natural changes in the matter and energy nearby!"

"Does this kind of training really work?" Orochimaru did not interrupt, but watched with curiosity, using his own mnemonic techniques to record every word Naruto said.

"Focus on the point of strength I indicated! Keep the breathing rhythm steady!"

Naruto, hands clasped behind him, stood beside Kakashi, who now sat cross-legged on the ground, guiding him.

Kakashi followed a unique breathing pattern.

Unbeknownst to him, a current of energy seeped from his temple, wrapping around him and undulating in time with his breath.

From a distance, Orochimaru observed that with each breath Kakashi took, minute particles near him pulsed in rhythm.

Iron sand, perhaps? Could it be that Minato’s child had developed a training method for magnet release?

No, that’s not it—the phenomenon only resembles magnet release on the surface. The core is fundamentally different, and its potential far exceeds that of magnet release!

And this is a three-year-old child! To have created something like this!

This boy’s talent far surpasses even his father’s!

How interesting, truly interesting. With him in Konoha, things will never be dull. Unless, of course, the monotony of Konoha ends up suffocating him, making him dull as well.

Orochimaru mused to himself.

Naruto was clearly aware of what was happening around Kakashi. It was only natural: everyone, upon first learning spirit mechanics, would experience something similar.

The challenge was not in discovering spirit mechanics, but in learning how to wield this energy for oneself.

And, for a beginner, how to become as adept as Naruto—a seasoned combat engineer—able to achieve the greatest miracles with the smallest amount of spirit energy.