As one of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru was naturally afforded a private and relatively quiet room. Kenichi Ryujin, his young disciple, had the privilege of accompanying him.
However, this temporary stability would not last. Orochimaru's inevitable defection from Konoha meant Kenichi would soon have to plan his own course of action. Remaining in the village was an option, but it would make him a prime target for Danzo's schemes. On the other hand, following Orochimaru into exile carried its own risks. Once a shinobi defected, returning was nearly impossible. Though Konoha appeared weak now, its foundation remained strong.
"Teacher, today I feel that the most critical aspects of our experiment to focus on are…" Kenichi stated his observations with sincerity, completely ignoring the sizzling grilled meat Orochimaru was preparing.
Orochimaru listened without reaction, his serpentine gaze unreadable. Kenichi couldn't tell whether his insights aligned with Orochimaru's expectations, but he pressed on, determined to express his conclusions with clarity.
When Kenichi finally finished speaking, Orochimaru set down his chopsticks, signaling a pause in their discussion.
"Let's eat first. We can continue this conversation on our way back."
Hearing this, Kenichi felt a wave of relief wash over him. It seemed he had passed Orochimaru's unspoken test this time. His meticulous observations, supplemented by knowledge from his previous life, had likely earned his mentor's approval.
Relaxing slightly, Kenichi began to enjoy the expertly grilled meat, prepared with the signature seasoning of the Akimichi clan. Their culinary skills were renowned, and their grilled meat sauce was nothing short of a masterpiece. He couldn't help but think that even in his past life, the finest barbecue he had tasted paled in comparison.
After their meal, Kenichi followed Orochimaru out of the restaurant. As they exited, his attention was drawn to a familiar trio entering: Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and a silent, white-haired boy—Kakashi Hatake.
Minato, ever polite and composed, greeted Orochimaru with respect. Kenichi's gaze flickered to Kakashi, whose downcast expression and rigid posture betrayed his internal turmoil. The weight of recent events still loomed over him—Obito's presumed death and the tragedy surrounding Rin.
Kenichi sighed inwardly.
"What a cruel fate. One comrade manipulated into becoming a pawn, another girl caught in a sinister plot, and Kakashi himself forced to deliver the final blow. A genius ninja plagued by misfortune."
Kakashi's life had been an endless series of losses. The son of Sakumo Hatake, once a great hero, only to watch his father's reputation crumble under the weight of dishonor, leading to his suicide. Despite excelling as a shinobi and serving under Minato Namikaze, fate had not been kind. His teammate, Obito, was believed dead. Rin's death only deepened his suffering, leaving him to grapple with unbearable guilt.
And the cruelest twist of all? Obito had not perished. Instead, he had resurfaced years later, not as a friend, but as the architect behind Minato and Kushina's demise. Kakashi's life seemed forever entangled in loss and regret.
Even in his later years, he never truly escaped his solitude. In the quiet moments between battles, his only solace lay within the pages of Jiraiya's infamous 'Icha Icha' novels—hardly a substitute for companionship, but a distraction nonetheless.
Kenichi sighed once more. There was nothing he could do about it. Some fates, it seemed, were written in tragedy.
After all, he couldn't tell Kakashi that Obito hadn't died, but had become a major villain, right?
"Oh my, is this little Ryujin?" Just as Kenichi Ryujin was contemplating his predicament, he felt himself being enveloped in a warm embrace. The unexpected physical contact made him tense, and the scent that accompanied it made his face flush slightly.
It was Kushina Uzumaki. This woman had no sense of personal space. Still, being hugged by her gave Kenichi some new insights into her character.
"Yes, this is my disciple, Kenichi Ryujin. A promising student." Orochimaru's smooth voice cut through the moment as he gently but firmly extricated Kenichi from Kushina's grasp.
Kushina had always been fond of children. Kenichi wondered if she and Minato had plans for a child of their own yet. His gaze flickered toward her stomach momentarily, a thought crossing his mind about the future legacy of the Uzumaki and Namikaze clans.
"Lord Orochimaru's student must be a talented ninja. This is my disciple, Kakashi Hatake." Minato Namikaze's warm smile made him seem like the sun personified as he proudly introduced his student.
Then, without much warning, he nudged Kakashi toward Kenichi in an almost forceful manner, leaving Kenichi momentarily speechless. No wonder his teacher had always claimed that he and Minato Namikaze didn't quite see eye to eye. The man was just… too enthusiastic. Even Orochimaru, who could maintain his composure in nearly any situation, seemed slightly put off by Minato's overbearing friendliness.
Kakashi Hatake, in contrast, stared at Kenichi with his signature deadpan expression—his single visible eye dull and unreadable. Kenichi's gaze lingered momentarily on the Sharingan Kakashi had inherited from Obito, still in its Three-Tomoe form. He knew that the Uchiha clan had strong opinions about a non-Uchiha wielding their kekkei genkai, but there wasn't much they could do about it now.
Kenichi didn't particularly want to linger in this awkward social interaction, but Minato had other plans. He persistently pushed for further conversation and even invited Orochimaru to join them for a meal, despite the legendary Sannin's visible reluctance. Naturally, the burden of entertaining the enthusiastic Namikaze fell squarely on Kenichi's shoulders.
He supposed he didn't mind too much. He was in his growth period, after all, and as the saying went, a growing boy could eat his guardian out of house and home. If Minato was willing to foot the bill, he wouldn't complain.
The only real issue was Kakashi's lack of conversational input. Throughout the meal, the silver-haired boy responded only with brief monosyllabic sounds—'Mm,' 'Ah,' and 'Oh.' If he added 'I'm going to take a bath' at the end, Kenichi thought he might as well be a character straight out of a shoujo drama.
"Kenichi, do you have any friends in Konoha?" Kushina suddenly asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Kenichi hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. He had known some children back in the orphanage, but after Orochimaru had taken an interest in him, he had lost touch with them.
A bad premonition settled in his gut.
"Then, if you don't mind, would you be willing to be friends with Kakashi?" Kushina leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so only Kenichi could hear.
Minato, however, clearly had heard. His smile was all too knowing, making Kenichi feel as though this had been a setup from the beginning.
And just like that, his unease was validated. Did the world abide by Murphy's Law?
Frankly, Kenichi had no desire to agree. Friendship wasn't something that could be forced, and Kakashi wasn't exactly the easiest person to connect with.
However, considering that his teacher, Orochimaru, would eventually defect, Kenichi had to start planning his future. Having connections in the village might prove useful one day.
So, despite his initial resistance, he gave a small nod.
Not that it mattered much—Kakashi would be joining the Anbu soon. In a few years, they probably wouldn't even cross paths again.