NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: 6
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"Guys, how does it taste?"
Seeing the three of them finish eating, Kenichi stepped forward and asked at the right moment.
"Boss, your ramen is the best I've ever had!"
Jiraiya gave Kenichi a big thumbs up without hesitation.
"Especially the cold noodles—I've never had anything like them before. Who knew noodles could be made this way? It's really amazing!"
Kenichi smiled, narrowing his eyes.
"You're too kind."
He then turned to Orochimaru.
"So, what do you think of our store's new product?"
Orochimaru analyzed the dish objectively.
"It has a unique flavor—a mix of sweet and sour, very refreshing and great for hot summer days."
"But personally," he added, "I'm not a fan of cold food. Still, the taste was enjoyable."
Kenichi nodded thoughtfully.
"Oh, I see! You don't like cold dishes. I'll prepare a special ramen flavor for you next time!"
Orochimaru was a little surprised.
"You're constantly innovating?"
Kenichi grinned.
"As long as there are customers, there will always be new flavors!"
"Interesting. Then I'll look forward to your next dish, boss."
With that, Orochimaru paid the bill, and the three young shinobi waved goodbye and left.
Watching them walk away, Kenichi felt a wave of emotion.
"The future Sannin…"
He had always admired Jiraiya, who would later become one of the greatest shinobi and a hero of the ninja world.
And, of course, Tsunade—a future Hokage, medical legend, and gambler.
But, among the three, the one Kenichi respected most was Orochimaru.
Not because of his future infamy, but because he was a pure scientist.
Orochimaru never lost sight of his goal.
Whether studying immortality or redefining his path after his downfall, he always pushed forward.
He never let prophecies define his life. He faced Konoha's darkness head-on instead of running away.
"He's not just a villain—he's a visionary."
Kenichi shook his head.
"But enough about that. The ninja world is heading toward chaos… and I have my own path to follow."
The Ninja World War was imminent.
With Hashirama gone, Tobirama Senju had taken over as Second Hokage.
Unlike his warm-hearted brother, Tobirama was more pragmatic and strict.
He had a strong sense of duty, but lacked the charisma and tolerance to unite Konoha the way Hashirama did.
His treatment of the Uchiha clan only worsened their situation, planting the seeds for future disaster.
His disciples—especially certain individuals—would continue his policies, pushing Konoha toward an inevitable Uchiha rebellion.
"Konoha's golden age is fading."
But Kenichi wasn't concerned.
"I'm just a businessman. As long as I expand my ramen empire, I'll be fine."
When war broke out, shinobi would need food. If his business grew large enough, he could even supply rations to ninja villages.
"If I do this right, I might even be able to challenge Teuchi in the future!"
Chuckling at his ambitious thoughts, Kenichi closed the shop for the night and returned home.
That evening, Kenichi set a plate of roasted chicken on the table, waiting for his special guest.
Even though he had already formed a contract, maintaining good relations with his summoned clan was important.
"Summon contracts don't guarantee loyalty."
For example, in the original series, Manda (the snake summon) hated Orochimaru and only obeyed in exchange for sacrifices.
And even in Mount Myōboku, only certain toads responded to Naruto's summons.
If he wanted a reliable bond, he had to build trust.
Just as Kenichi was about to put the roast chicken away, a paw pressed down on it.
"Where do you think you're taking my dinner, little doll?"
Kenichi turned, seeing the familiar golden-furred weasel smirking at him.
"Ryome-san, you finally came."
Huang Ryome, pipe in hand, exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"It took a while, but the elders of my clan finally reached a decision."
Kenichi straightened up.
"So… did they agree to teach me Sage Jutsu?"
Huang Ryome nodded.
"Yes. But—you have a long road ahead."
Huang Ryome glanced at Kenichi, his eyes sharp.
"Your foundation is too weak. You may have sealed away your chakra, but your control is still inadequate."
Kenichi smirked.
"Then let's fix that."
He formed a quick hand seal and pressed a palm to his chest.
"Release!"
Instantly, the chakra seal unraveled, and a vast surge of chakra erupted from his body.
Huang Ryome's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh? Interesting. You sealed your own chakra?"
Kenichi grinned.
"Yup. It lets me hide my strength when necessary."
The weasel exhaled another puff of smoke and chuckled.
"Not bad. Since you already have this level of chakra, we can skip the basics and go straight to Sage Jutsu training."
Huang Ryome then explained the Sage Jutsu of the Weasel Clan.
Unlike the Sage Jutsu of Mount Myōboku or Ryūchi Cave, their method had no risk of turning to stone or losing oneself to nature's power.
Instead, their technique was about achieving a state of harmony—
Becoming one with nature, rather than forcing nature to adapt to you.
It was a slow, gradual process, and unlike other Sage Jutsu, failure didn't mean death.
However, there was one major drawback—
It took an incredibly long time.
For most people, even with talent, it could take a lifetime to master.
Kenichi listened carefully.
"So, this is a time-intensive method… But with my immortal body, I have all the time in the world."
Huang Ryome smirked.
"Normally, I'd tell you not to expect results in this lifetime. But… you have a special physique."
"If you train hard, you just might succeed before your natural lifespan ends."
Kenichi grinned confidently.
"My lifespan isn't an issue. Just teach me everything!"
Huang Ryome laughed.
"Alright, then let's begin."
As the weasel continued his lesson, Kenichi slowly closed his eyes, reaching out to sense the energy of nature.
At first, it was difficult—like trying to listen to a whisper in a storm.
But then…
He started to feel something.
Something vast, flowing, and alive.
End of the Chapter.
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