From Naruto onwards, I've become a dreamer.

Chapter 457 Sequence 9: The Apprentice

Sasuke was filled with deep self-blame for failing to bring Naruto back.

Since waking up after being in a coma for three days in Konoha Hospital, her mind has been filled with that day, Naruto's cold face, and his resolute farewell.

She wondered if she could bring Naruto back if she were stronger.

But unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in the world.

Just as Sasuke was overwhelmed by feelings of self-blame, guilt, and regret, the window of the ward was suddenly opened.

A tall man, wearing a headband with the character "oil" on it, with long, unruly white hair flowing down like a lion's, dressed in a red jacket, and with two lines of paint on his eyes, squatted down by the windowsill, gazing at her with deep eyes: "You are Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Who are you?"

Sasuke snapped out of his initial daze and looked at the strangely dressed man who had suddenly barged into the ward, asking him a question.

Unexpectedly, this sentence seemed to trigger a key word, and the tall man leaped into the room, wearing wooden clogs, shaking his head and dancing a strange dance.

"Good question, listen carefully!"

The man's voice rose and fell in a dramatic, theatrical way, as he shouted with exaggerated gestures, "I am the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, known throughout the east, west, north, and south, one of the famous Legendary Sannin, the White-Haired Child, the Toad Messenger, Lord Jiraiya!"

"."

Uchiha Sasuke remained silent for a full half minute.

Jiraiya held the same pose for half a minute, until it stiffened slightly, and he smirked, "Hey, little girl, at least give me some reaction!"

"You are the legendary Sannin, Lord Jiraiya?" Sasuke Uchiha's eyes were filled with doubt.

"Hey, hey, hey, what kind of look is that? Are you doubting the Toad Sage?!" Jiraiya was immediately enraged, angrily saying, "Standing in front of you is none other than the genuine Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya!"

Sasuke Uchiha's eye twitched slightly. Could this unreliable guy really be the legendary Sannin?

"Tsk, what an annoying brat."

Embarrassed, Jiraiya could only abandon his flamboyant posture and cough twice: "Let's get down to business. Kakashi wants you to leave the village with me to carry out a mission."

"Let me? Why?" Sasuke was very confused.

She knew very well how capable she was and how could she be qualified to carry out a mission with the Sannin.

"It's called a mission, but actually it's to guide your spiritual practice."

Jiraiya cut to the chase, looking at the dejected Sasuke, and said, "Actually, you and I are quite similar. I also wanted to bring Orochimaru back, but unfortunately I failed. So, I hope you can succeed and bring Naruto back from Orochimaru."

"you"

Sasuke was slightly taken aback, his eyes reddening and moistening.

"How is it?"

Jiraiya grinned and said, "Want to come with me? My training is very rigorous, you know!"

Sasuke wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, bit his lip, and nodded firmly: "Yes, please, Lord Jiraiya!"

Sound Village, a secret experimental base.

After Naruto emerged from the barrel, he followed Orochimaru to the base.

The base is filled with a complex network of tunnels, resembling the intestines of some living creature. The walls are engraved with countless mysterious runes, which cause the internal structure of the base to undergo drastic changes at regular intervals. Without specific guidance, it is easy to get lost inside.

After resting for three days, Naruto finally couldn't hold back any longer and went to Orochimaru's room, demanding, "Orochimaru, when are you going to tell me the truth you promised me?"

Orochimaru's room was very large, containing a lot of experimental equipment and human subjects used for experiments.

Seeing Naruto barge into the room, Orochimaru wasn't angry. He remained focused on the experiment before him and said calmly, "At least not now, Naruto-kun. Your power is too weak. The truth will only be a disaster for you."

"So when do you plan to teach me cultivation?"

Naruto was eager; he had come to Orochimaru's side in pursuit of power and the truth.

But he found it hard to accept that these three days were wasted.

"Hehe, no need to rush, Naruto-kun."

Orochimaru put down the experimental equipment in his hand, turned to look at Naruto, and smiled, "Before you officially begin your training, you are still lacking one thing."

"What is it?" Naruto asked, puzzled.

"They're here."

At this moment, Orochimaru stood up from his chair and looked towards the door.

A figure stepped into the room, and by the light of the candle on the wall, Naruto could see who it was.

The man was probably around eighty or ninety years old. His forehead was covered with wrinkles, as weathered as mountains and rivers, but his bright eyes shone with a sharp light. He was still very robust, wearing a floral shirt and wooden clogs, as if he were on vacation.

"Where is what I asked for?"

Orochimaru looked at the man and asked with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

"It took me a lot of effort to get this here," the mysterious old man said, tossing a box over.

Orochimaru reached out and took the box, opened it slightly, and after seeing what was inside, he smiled with satisfaction: "Not bad, very fresh, this is exactly what I wanted."

"Your price is too low; you need to increase it."

The mysterious old man rubbed his hands together, and said with some anticipation.

"Can."

Orochimaru picked up a vial of reagent from the table filled with experimental equipment and tossed it over: "After taking it, it will cause continuous bad luck for one hour. The stuff extracted from the Fate Path should be enough to offset this."

"Great, great, I like this stuff."

The mysterious old man stuffed the test tube into his clothes, his face beaming with smiles: "If there's another good thing like this next time, remember to come find me again."

Then, the old man glanced at Naruto beside him, seemingly casually, before turning and leaving the room.

"Who is that person?" Naruto asked, frowning in confusion.

"It doesn't matter, he's just a mercenary."

Orochimaru slowly approached Naruto and handed him the box: "This is the power I promised you. Take what's inside. You will become a pitiful person who is constantly and madly pursued, but you will also completely transcend being mortal and embark on a great path."

Naruto took the box, somewhat bewildered yet expectant, and opened the lid.

Inside the box was a fat, white worm that emitted a faint fluorescent glow.

"What...what is this thing?!"

Naruto felt a bit nauseous and looked at Orochimaru.

"Power, this is the power you desire."

Orochimaru said calmly, "This worm is a creature of extraordinary nature, possessing extraordinary characteristics extracted after its death. You don't need to know what extraordinary characteristics are; just understand this: eat it, and you will gain power and embark on the path to godhood!"

"Power. The Divine Path"

Naruto stared at the nauseating, bloated white worm, took a deep breath, and then, without hesitation, swallowed the worm whole.

"From now on."

Orochimaru, observing Naruto with his spiritual vision, smiled as he watched him digest the extraordinary ability: "You are no longer a ninja, but a Sequence 9 of the Gate Path, a scholar!"

(End of this chapter)