Kiyoshi saw a familiar face.
Tsunade.
She seemed to be helping someone with a diagnosis.
Shizune, who looked to be about Kiyoshi's age, was also with her.
"Kiyoshi."
A white-haired boy with messy hair walked out from behind the wooden door, approaching the wooden fence in front of the yard.
"I came to see why you took a day off today." Kiyoshi made an excuse.
"It's nothing."
Kakashi's voice was much colder, and prominent blood vessels could be seen in the whites of his eyes.
"Kakashi, since your friend is calling for you, let him in."
A voice came from inside the house.
"Yes, Father."
Kakashi stepped aside.
"Come in, Kiyoshi."
"Excuse me."
Kiyoshi followed Kakashi and pushed the door open.
There were many people in the house.
Tsunade, Shizune, Orochimaru.
Two of the Sannin were there.
Furthest inside sat a silver-white haired man with a ponytail.
His body was wrapped in many bandages, with blood faintly seeping out, staining the bandages red.
"Sakumo-sama."
Kiyoshi said with a respectful expression.
He also greeted Tsunade and Orochimaru respectfully.
"Long time no see, Tsunade-sama."
"Oh, it's you, the Uchiha brat."
Tsunade turned her head, and her eyes slightly narrowed.
This kid's talent in taijutsu is even better than she had thought.
It's only been this long, and he already has a physique that is considered strong among his peers.
"I am Kakashi's father. You are his friend, so there is no need to be so reserved." Sakumo revealed a smile and said.
One could tell that Sakumo was a gentle person.
No wonder he had created the Thousand Years of Death to prank enemies, and even passed it on to Kakashi.
"Heh heh, Uchiha..."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
He had heard about Kiyoshi from Danzo.
Orochimaru glanced back at Tsunade, who was helping Sakumo with his diagnosis, and then looked at Kiyoshi.
"How do you feel about coming to Konoha?" Orochimaru asked.
Among outsiders who had entered Ninja school and were qualified to become ninjas, there were only Kiyoshi and Kushina.
One came from the Land of Lightning, and the other from the Uzumaki country, which had already been destroyed.
"Orochimaru-sama, after coming to Konoha, I realized that there are many ninjutsu to learn. If I have the opportunity, I want to learn more ninjutsu." Kiyoshi said.
In the small village on the edge of the Land of Lightning, Kiyoshi didn't have many ninjutsu to learn, not even the Three Basic Techniques within his reach.
In this world where the strong are respected, only strength can allow one to survive countless disturbances.
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru was quite surprised by Kiyoshi's answer.
He had thought Kiyoshi would praise the superior conditions of Konoha like other children, saying that Konoha's moon was rounder than the Land of Lightning's moon, and the air was sweeter, and things like that.
After all, Kiyoshi's current and past life were worlds apart.
Orochimaru said, "Heh heh... unfortunately, one's energy is limited, and the number of ninjutsu one can learn in a lifetime is very few."
Orochimaru seemed to sigh.
Learn more ninjutsu?
He himself had the same idea. But human life is limited.
Kiyoshi said, "So I want to live longer. Only with a longer lifespan can I learn more things."
Kiyoshi's statement surprised everyone.
You see, birth, old age, sickness, and death are natural laws, and must not be violated.
However, everyone, more or less, has thought about living longer. But few people continue to believe it so firmly.
Everyone present felt that Kiyoshi had not yet grown up and was just talking nonsense.
It was like how children like to clamor about becoming Hokage.
Tsunade said, "What does a child know? When people are supposed to die, it's best to let nature take its course. Living too long is not a good thing."
Tsunade waved her hand, instructing Shizune to put away the medical instruments.
Shizune stepped forward and took out a sealing scroll to seal them all away.
Tsunade's and everyone else's reactions flashed before Kiyoshi's eyes one by one.
In the ninja world, even though technology is constantly developing and changing with each passing day, most people's thinking is very conservative or even pedantic.
After thousands of years of development, even Naruto, who wanted to bring peace to the ninja world, never thought of abolishing the daimyo system, the nominal rulers of everyone.
Instead, he bowed his head and became a subject.
Even the Hyuga clan's feudal and cruel Caged Bird Cursed Seal system, which treated people as slaves, was not abolished, and was still implemented under Naruto's nose.
Living longer... even eternal life, almost no one thinks about it.
Only one person is different.
Kiyoshi could feel Orochimaru looking at him, with a sharp gaze like that of a viper.
Orochimaru said, "...No, Tsunade, he's very interesting."
Orochimaru had never before discovered someone who shared his idea of eternal life.
After that, Orochimaru asked Kiyoshi several questions one after another, and Kiyoshi answered them one by one.
"That Orochimaru..."
Tsunade frowned slightly.
The usually cold Orochimaru was actually chatting with a little kid who wasn't even a genin about some unreliable issues.
They had come here for important matters.
"Sakumo, you should rest and recover well. Don't pay attention to some of the harsh voices in the village." Tsunade said.
Even with Sakumo's strength, he had to make a choice between this mission and his companions, which shows how dangerous the mission was.
"Okay."
Although Sakumo looked a little haggard, he still responded with a smile to Tsunade's comfort.
"This is not father's fault at all! Those who don't value their companions are not worthy of being called ninjas." Kakashi said.
Since his father had returned yesterday afternoon, the village had been filled with voices condemning his father today.
"Alright, Kakashi, it's my fault. A ninja who fails to carry out a mission deserves to be condemned."
Sakumo's smile faded, and he said in a deep voice.
Kakashi wanted to say more, but Sakumo said again, "Go out and play with your friend. Next, I want to talk to Tsunade and Orochimaru about something."
"...Yes, Father."
Kakashi lowered his head.
He didn't understand, what exactly was his father's fault?
Why did even his father think he was at fault?
Hearing this, Kiyoshi knew that he was being given the order to leave, so he followed Kakashi out.
It wasn't until he was completely out the door that Kiyoshi felt Orochimaru's gaze disappear.
'Orochimaru should have a lasting impression of me.' Kiyoshi thought to himself.
The reason he had said those words just now was because he wanted to make a deeper impression on Orochimaru.
Poisonous snakes are accompanied by both danger and opportunities.
If you get bit, you will be in a world of trouble but if you can get your hands on their venom, you will make a fortune.
The Third Great Ninja War is getting closer and closer. It is best to become stronger or obtain a good life-saving ninjutsu.
Orochimaru is Konoha's best scientist, and he also has a lot of forbidden knowledge.
His life-saving ability is nearly maxed out. He has died several times, but he hasn't truly died, thanks to all kinds of resurrection methods.
In this regard, even Nono is not as good.
Moreover, Orochimaru has rich experience with the human body, and even has information on Curse Marks and Senjutsu.
As for the other channels to obtain Senjutsu?
Tsunade won't accept him.
Jiraiya only accepts the child of prophecy.
If he wants to learn Sage Mode, he can only start with Orochimaru.
In future Otsutsuki invasions, without Sage Arts or Taijutsu, he won't be able to deal any damage at all.
Moreover, Sage Arts do not only amplify ninjutsu, they also... amplify the physical body.