On the balcony, Kakashi Hatake let out a sigh.
"Doichi, calm down. With me there, I can keep him safe."
It was the first time he had seen Kimoto Doichi this emotional.
Doichi shook his head.
"You? How many comrades have died beside you?"
"Anbu shinobi may accept that fate… but I don't want him walking that path."
"I want him to live in the light. To become someone who protects the village—and can live freely."
Kakashi fell silent.
Those words reminded him of Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara.
Old wounds.
Still unhealed.
"He's different," Kakashi said quietly.
"I don't want to use him as a tool. I want him to grow."
"If a mission is too dangerous, I won't bring him."
He had already compromised.
But Doichi still refused.
"No."
"I won't let him risk his life before he can protect himself."
After a long silence—
Kakashi spoke again.
"Then let's make a deal."
"When he becomes strong enough to defeat you… I'll take him on missions."
Doichi thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
To outsiders, this agreement would sound absurd.
Orion was just a fresh graduate—
And Doichi was a jōnin.
But both of them knew—
With Orion's talent…
It wasn't impossible.
The Next Day
After completing another D-rank mission—
Orion mastered tree climbing, another chakra control technique.
Under his pressure, Yamata Jumoku and Motoya Tako trained hard—
But their progress was slow.
Their talent simply couldn't match his.
Night — The Ambush
On his way home—
Orion suddenly stopped in the middle of a dark street.
No one was there.
No sound.
No movement.
But—
His instincts screamed danger.
He turned slightly—
Preparing to change route—
When suddenly—
WHOOSH—!
Dozens of kunai and shuriken tore through the air toward him.
"Not good!"
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—!
In that instant—
Orion's eyes sharpened.
His body vanished.
The weapons struck the wall behind him—
Sparks flying—
Embedding deep into solid stone.
The force was terrifying.
If those had hit him—
He would've been torn apart instantly.
A few meters away, Orion reappeared.
He glanced back—
And inhaled sharply.
"…That would've killed me."
High above, hidden in a tree—
The attacker was even more shocked.
"That speed… that's basically Body Flicker Technique level."
"And he figured it out on the spot?"
Orion hadn't learned it—
He simply replicated the principle:
Concentrating chakra in his feet—
Bursting forward instantly.
Back on the street—
Orion drew a kunai.
His mind raced.
I can't stay here.
That attack alone proves he's far stronger than me.
He didn't plan to fight.
He couldn't.
No real combat jutsu.
Limited experience.
This was a losing battle.
The street fell silent again.
Only the cold night wind remained.
No lights.
No movement.
Just darkness.
Orion focused.
He had already sensed the attacker's general position.
He couldn't afford to move recklessly.
Not now.
Suddenly—
A surge of chakra appeared behind him.
"Fast—!"
Before he could fully react—
The enemy was already there.
But this time—
Orion didn't try to escape.
He knew—
Running again would get him killed.
In a split second—
He turned—
And delivered a sweeping kick.
BOOM—!
The figure exploded into smoke.
"A clone!"
Too late.
A voice echoed—
"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld."
Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld
The ground beneath Orion collapsed—
Turning into thick mud.
His legs sank instantly.
Then deeper—
Waist level—
And still sinking.
The suction was powerful.
Dragging him down.
Orion's expression darkened.
This is bad…
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