Chapter 38: Orochimaru

The girl's words didn't help with the analysis at all; instead they made my thoughts even more chaotic.

Shui Men still wanted to keep asking something, but Qimu Chao, who had been standing silently behind him, blocked him.

Since extracting Caiqian Leiguang's memories yielded nothing, Qimu Chao gave up digging deeper into the commission's hidden details; after all, as long as Caiqian Xingzi doesn't die, protecting her for a month and then taking the money and leaving is enough—why bother caring so much?

But Shui Men still couldn't quite let go of this matter in his heart.

Even asking her or directly reading her memories probably wouldn't yield any useful information; just by looking at her, it's clear she doesn't know any of the inner details.

After leaving Caiqian Xingzi's room, Qimu Chao walked ahead, hands clasped over his head, and without turning said to Shui Men, "Just as you said before, we only need to complete the mission, right? Caiqian's family matters have nothing to do with us."

That kind of talk... huh, sounds like you've become a more qualified ninja than I am.

Hearing Qimu Chao's words, Bofeng Shuimen laughed, "But as your partner, I have to say this: although we are ninja, we are first and foremost human, not tools that can be casually commanded by others; we have our own will."

We can make our own choices during the mission based on our will, even if that might cause the mission to fail.

If, while completing the mission, you were captured by the enemy, I would definitely prioritize rescuing you; the mission's success would be secondary.

After all, a failed mission can be compensated for in other ways, but when a person dies, they're truly dead; I don't know any technique that can revive others.

If every ninja simply obeyed their employer and completed missions at will, there would be no need for the various ninja clans and ninja villages in this world.

Bofeng Shuimen spoke earnestly, and Qimu Chao listened attentively.

His words reminded Qimu Chao of his father, Qimu Shuomao, a man who devoted his whole life to the village yet would, out of his own will, conceal things from the village for his son.

That man, when faced with a teammate being kidnapped during a mission, would likely prioritize rescuing the teammate, even if it meant the mission failed.

After finishing that remark, Shui Men stopped, noticing Qimu Chao leaning against the wall with an inexplicable smile that made Shui Men feel uneasy, "What? Is there something on my face?"

"No, just some thoughts. Since you want to, go ahead and do it; after all, you're the team leader," Qimu Chao opened the door, "Want to take a stroll on the island?"

"Hey, I said we could make choices based on our will during the mission, but your will is way too lax."

Hearing Qimu Chao, Shui Men was somewhat helpless, "Miss Caiqian was just being polite, saying we don't need to worry about her now, but if we actually go out to stroll and someone tries to assassinate us while we're shopping, what do we do?"

"There are plenty of ways, aren't there? Don't you have a summoned beast? Summon one to stay in the room, and when trouble arises, have it reverse‑summon you back."

Qimu Chao shrugged, "If that doesn't work, each of us can leave a Shadow Clone Jutsu as insurance; that would solve it, right?"

The Second Hokage would cry if he heard his technique being used like that.

Shui Men shook his head while mercilessly ribbing, his hand never stopping, and instantly summoned a red toad no taller than half a meter, with a pair of windshields on its head.

"Yo, Shui Men, is there anything you need my help with? Hmm? Is this your new partner? Hello, I'm Hama Xiaojie."

The red Hama Xiaojie that emerged from the smoke first raised a front paw to greet Shui Men, and upon seeing Qimu Chao, extended that same paw toward Qimu Chao.

Qimu Chao shook his paw, then smiled and introduced himself, "Hello, I'm Qimu Chao."

"Qimu? Oh, you must be the son of Bai Ya Qimu Shuomao that Jiraiya mentioned, right? Hello, hello."

Hearing Qimu Chao's introduction, Hama Xiaojie thumped his left paw with his right, adopting a look of sudden realization.

Really, thank you, Hama Xiaojie; this time our mission is to protect the safety of the girl living next door.

Looking at Hama Xiaojie, Shui Men said a bit apologetically.

"So?"

"Me and A Chao are about to go out for a stroll, so please, when trouble arises, use reverse‑summoning to bring me back; I'm counting on you."

With both hands clasped, Shui Men wore an apologetic smile.

"Huh?"

Hama Xiaojie clearly was encountering such a request for the first time; can a guard mission work like this?

Thinking it over, it does seem possible.

"We'll also leave a Shadow Clone Jutsu in the room, so you don't need to worry too much."

Qimu Chao, while releasing a Shadow Clone Jutsu, added,

Is this a matter of worry?

Hama Xiaojie internally grumbled, but it wasn't a big deal, so he waved his front paw, "Go, go, and remember to come back early."

After bidding farewell to Hama Xiaojie, the two left the inn and wandered around Yucha Island.

However, when they reached near a shop, Shui Men suddenly froze in place.

Qimu Chao followed his gaze forward and saw a man with long hair, ear pendants, a pale complexion, and a decidedly cold demeanor—was this someone Shui Men knew?

"Lord Orochimaru?"

The voice beside him, Shui Men, was filled with disbelief: "Is that you, Lord Orochimaru?"

"Hmm? So it's you, Shui Men."

A rather cold, slightly hoarse and neutral voice sounded; Orochimaru turned his head toward Shui Men and said, "And... oh? Qimu Chao? So the old man directly assigned you to me, huh."

Orochimaru, whose name Qimu Chao had heard from his father, is the man called one of the Legendary Sannin alongside Jiraiya and Gongshou, and a student of the Third Hokage.

Before the crossing, Qimu Chao often saw Orochimaru's name in video editing comment sections, but most people called him "Snake Aunt", saying he possessed core technology and later cloned a son with his own genes, acting as both father and mother.

Logically, encountering such a person in the Naruto world is truly rare.

But hearing his earlier "so that's how it is", what does that actually mean?