Kaoru sat beside Sugeru in the infirmary, casually leaning back in his chair. The preliminary exams were over, but unfortunately, Sugeru never got the chance to fight. His injuries had been too severe, and the medic-nin refused to clear him for battle.

“This is the lamest way to get disqualified,” Sugeru chuckled, however, there was a hint of regret in his eyes. “And to make it worse, every time Akito sees me, he starts bawling and apologizing like it’s his fault. It’s so annoying—I swear, the second I can move properly, I’m smacking him upside the head.”

Kaoru smirked, grabbing an apple from the small stand next to the bed. “Don’t stress about it. Our village doesn’t really care about ranks from this exam anyway. The main goal was to show our strength, not collect titles.” He took a big, exaggerated bite of the apple.

“Oi! Akane brought me those,” Sugeru protested, narrowing his eyes.

Kaoru, relishing the moment, took an even bigger bite. “No wonder it tastes so good.”

“You *sshole,” Sugeru muttered, though he was laughing.

Kaoru just grinned and walked toward the trash bin to toss the core. “So, how long are they keeping you in here?” he asked over his shoulder.

“They said I can leave tomorrow, but no training for a whole week.” Sugeru sighed, creeping regret and sadness coming back into his voice.

“Stop sulking. Look at it this way—you’ve got more time to pester you-know-who.” Kaoru shot him a smug look.

Sugeru’s face immediately turned red. “Shut up.”

Kaoru laughed, heading for the door. “Well, I’d love to stay and keep making your life miserable, but I have training to do. Can’t have Maki saving me again.”

Sugeru grinned. “Yeah, you better. Otherwise, I’ll be the one entertaining you in the infirmary next time.”

“Whatever, I’m still stronger than any of you.” Kaoru waved him off, whistling as he walked away.

Sugeru, still flustered, looked around for something to throw. Unfortunately, the softest thing within reach was his pillow, which he angrily chucked at the door—missing by a mile.

<<<>>>

Kaoru walked through the streets of Konoha after wrapping up his training session. His body ached, but it was the good kind of exhaustion. He had a plan—first, he needed to buy soldier pills.

Soldier pills were small, high-calorie nutritional supplements designed for shinobi. They provided a temporary boost in stamina and chakra recovery, allowing a ninja to fight for hours without tiring. However, once the effects wore off, they led to severe exhaustion. While invaluable in prolonged battles, they weren’t a substitute for real rest and could be dangerous if overused.

Kaoru had a training regimen in mind—train for 72 hours nonstop, then spend the next 24 hours either recovering through sleep or studying in the library to refine his techniques and strategies.

[Every time I tried focusing on taijutsu and kenjutsu, something felt off, so I’d switch to ninjutsu soon after. I kept telling myself I was just pacing my progress, but now I realize—I was comparing my ability to learn water-based techniques to everything else. The moment I struggled with close combat, I’d retreat to water manipulation to make myself feel better.]

Kaoru had spent the last few days analyzing his weaknesses, and with Maki’s blunt input, it became obvious—he sucked at close combat. Despite Shin’s training improving his fundamentals, he had never taken them to the next level.

[My main focus will never be taijutsu, but I need to at least be competent. And while Suijingan has a potential to be broken-level strong, that won’t happen unless my chakra reserves reach an absurd level. Until my chakra core is at least a decent size, I need versatility and for that, i must improve my kenjutsu and taijutsu. Even when my chakra does grow, these will still complement my style.]

Kaoru planned to spend the next week, the time before the final exam, researching strong shinobi and their fighting styles, looking for things he could adapt to his own. Konoha’s library was significantly larger than Takimura’s, and he had access to almost everything except scrolls containing jutsus or sensitive documents. His goal was to develop a solid fighting style and fully commit to kenjutsu and taijutsu once he returned home.

Soldier pills were a crucial part of his plan. His current stamina and chakra reserves simply weren’t enough to sustain the kind of intense training he had in mind—not without taking far longer to see results. With the right use of soldier pills, he could push past his limits and accelerate his growth.

Takimura didn’t have these pills, so Kaoru planned to buy a large supply while he had the chance. But he had to delay that for now, most of his funds were reserved for his master plan. At the moment Kaoru was going to buy just few pills to test them.

As he searched for a shop that might sell them, Kaoru suddenly froze mid-step. Standing just ahead, moving through the crowd like a snake through grass, was the last person he wanted to see.

Orochimaru.

The legendary Sannin was instantly recognizable. Pale skin, golden snake-like eyes, and long black hair gave him an almost inhuman presence. He spoke with a slow, eerie drawl, his words deliberate and often unsettling. Though respected as one of Konoha’s most brilliant shinobi, rumors of his darker experiments were always lurking beneath his polished reputation.

Kaoru quickly debated turning around, but it was too late. Orochimaru had already noticed him.

“Ah… Kaoru-kun.” Just the fact that he knew Kaoru’s name sent a chill down his spine. “Wandering the streets alone at this hour?”

Kaoru had no intention of answering directly, so he opted for polite deflection. “I’m honored that a legendary Sannin knows my name,” he said with a respectful bow. “I can already say I’ve accomplished something in my short life.”

Orochimaru chuckled, clearly amused by the bootlicking kid. His expression was unsettlingly kind, like a saint indulging a child. “How charming,” he mused. “But surely, you must have some purpose for being out. How can I help you, Kaoru-kun? Where are you headed?”

Kaoru quickly put on his best polite-but-busy expression. “Just running an errand, Lord Orochimaru. I need to pick up a few things before heading back.”

Orochimaru’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “Errands, hmm? And what is it you’re looking for?”

Kaoru hesitated. He didn’t want to tell him, but lying outright to someone like Orochimaru was dangerous. “Just supplies for training,” he answered carefully.

Orochimaru tilted his head slightly. “Training, you say? That wouldn’t happen to include soldier pills, would it?”

Kaoru internally cursed his luck. Of course, someone like Orochimaru would find it easy to deduct such stuff. “Yes, actually. I heard they can help with stamina during prolonged battles, and I wanted to try them out.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Orochimaru chuckled softly. “Ah, a wise decision. But you won’t find high-quality soldier pills in these common shops. Most of what they sell here are weaker versions, designed more for civilians than true shinobi.”

Kaoru nodded along, pretending to be interested while trying to figure out a way to escape this conversation. “I see… but even a weaker version should help, right? I don’t need anything extreme.”

Orochimaru’s golden eyes gleamed. “Perhaps… but wouldn’t you rather have the best? I have access to much more effective variations, crafted with precision. If you’re serious about improving, I’d be happy to provide you with some.”

Kaoru forced himself to smile. “That’s generous, Lord Orochimaru, but I wouldn’t want to take advantage of your kindness. I can manage with the shop-bought versions.”

Orochimaru’s smirk didn’t fade. “Nonsense. I always enjoy helping promising young shinobi.” He took a step closer, voice smooth as silk. “Why don’t you accompany me? I can show you something far more useful than mere soldier pills.”

Kaoru swallowed the urge to bolt. [Yeah, thats a hard no] he thought. He was screaming HEEEELP! Internally. He needed to deflect, fast.

“That sounds incredible, but I’m actually on a tight schedule,” Kaoru said. “Maki is expecting me back soon, and if I keep her waiting, well…” He let out a nervous chuckle. “You know how older sisters can be.”

Orochimaru’s expression didn’t change, but he seemed to consider this. “Maki, hmm? Yes, I’ve heard about her. Protective, isn’t she?”

Kaoru nodded quickly. “Very. If she finds out I disappeared with someone, she’ll tear the village apart looking for me.”

Orochimaru studied him for a moment longer, then finally chuckled. “Ah, family bonds. So troublesome, yet so… grounding.” He glanced toward the street ahead. “Very well, Kaoru-kun. But should you ever wish for real strength, my offer remains.”

Kaoru bowed slightly. “Thank you for the offer, Lord Orochimaru. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away at a steady pace, he found it very difficult to resist the urge to run.

[Yeah, definitely. I’m sure you already know Hiruzen is onto you. Wouldn’t be surprised if you were planning to make me your next lab rat.]

Once he was a safe distance away, he let out a slow breath, shaking his head. [That was way too close. I need to avoid that snake. While Maki is strong, she’s nowhere near his level.]

Now, back to finding those soldier pills.

<<<>>>

“Old man, are you planning to stay hidden all night?”

From the darkness, Hiruzen stepped forward. There was a trace of something deeper in his expression—pain, regret, maybe even sorrow.

“Orochimaru,” he said, voice heavy with warning. “Don’t cause trouble for Konoha. Leave the examinees alone.”

Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, a mockery of innocence playing on his face. “Trouble? I was merely offering guidance. Isn’t that what Konoha stands for? Nurturing the next generation—regardless of where they come from?”

Hiruzen didn’t respond. He simply held Orochimaru’s gaze for a long moment before turning away, walking off into the night. His presence had served its purpose—a reminder that he was watching. That Orochimaru wasn’t free to do as he pleased.

Orochimaru’s smirk widened as he watched his former teacher disappear into the shadows. [I knew you were watching.] His fingers twitched at his side. [Otherwise, why would I let such a fascinating specimen walk away?]

His smile lingered as he turned and continued down the street, his footsteps eerily silent. [No matter. Perhaps another opportunity will present itself…]

Neither Kaoru nor Orochimaru knew if they’d meet each other again…

<<<>>>

An Oinin shinobi appeared in a blur, bowing briefly before delivering his report.

"Another team engaged with Kiri shinobi. Fortunately, there were no members of the Seven Swordsmen involved, and our side had both Akura and Tenma." With his duty fulfilled as he handed the scroll, he vanished just as swiftly.

Suiren sat at her desk, flipping through the growing pile of reports—each one detailing yet another sighting or skirmish with Kirigakure forces. Her expression remained unreadable, but the weight of the situation was clear.

"Meruem, we need more strong shinobi," she said as she flipped through yet another report. "The new generation is talented, but it will take at least five years before they can make a real difference. We need reinforcements now—shinobi who are not only loyal but also powerful."

Meruem leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping against the table in thought. "I know someone who could drastically improve our situation… but convincing him is another matter entirely," he admitted. "The Six-Tails Jinchūriki. Utakata."

Suiren’s gaze lifted from the reports.

"He despises Kirigakure and Yagura’s rule," Meruem continued. "But that doesn’t mean he’ll side with us. I have no idea how we could persuade him."

Suiren considered this for a moment before standing. "We have to try. Even if he refuses, establishing a connection with him is worth the effort. I’ll have Tenma begin searching for him immediately."

She stepped toward the entrance, pausing just before leaving. "It’s also time we reach out to the other clans suffering under Yagura’s rule. They should be able to see clearly who their true enemy is by now."

Without another word, she exited, leaving Meruem alone with the reports.

<<<>>>

Kaoru, having just purchased his soldier pills, strolled through Konoha’s streets with a satisfied grin. He still had an hour to kill before meeting Maki, so when he passed by a blacksmith’s shop, curiosity got the better of him.

[Maybe I’ll find a weapon that interests me,] he thought, pushing open the door.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes widened. Rows of polished weapons gleamed under the soft glow of the forge’s light.

[Wow, you’d never find this kind of quality in Takimura,] Kaoru thought as he admired the craftsmanship.

Truthfully, he had no idea how to judge a weapon’s quality—he never even had a weapon, after all. But at the very least, he could tell what looked cool and what didn’t.

Takimura’s own blacksmiths that Akura and Baki brought in, the Durinu Clan, had only recently set up shop. But they refused to sell anything yet, claiming they wouldn’t release weapons until they had enough stock and were fully confident in their craftsmanship. Kaoru recalled an incident where an impatient shinobi protested after his commission was denied, only to be met with the furious scolding of a Durinu blacksmith.

"If your weapon breaks in a fight and you die, that blood will be on my hands," the blacksmith had shouted. "We don’t sell anything that hasn’t been thoroughly tested!"

That kind of dedication was admirable, but for now, Kaoru was left with no choice but to browse elsewhere.

As he wandered through the shop, he found himself particularly drawn to the daggers—sleek, well-crafted, and with intricate designs etched into their hilts. He admired their beauty, though he doubted they were the right fit for him.

His thoughts were interrupted by the deep, gravelly voice of the shopkeeper.

"Looking for something specific, young man?"

Kaoru turned to see an older man with a long, unkempt beard and rough, calloused hands—clearly someone who had spent decades working the forge.

"Not really," Kaoru admitted. "I’m just trying to figure out what kind of weapon suits me best."

The shopkeeper studied him for a moment before nodding. "Come with me. I’ll show you something."

Kaoru followed him toward a section displaying various swords, daggers, and scimitars. However, before they even reached their destination, Kaoru suddenly stopped in his tracks. His eyes locked onto three weapons displayed on a stand in the corner—

A glaive, a trident, and a spear.

[That’s it,] Kaoru thought, frozen in place. [That’s what I’ve been looking for.]

For the first time, he saw a weapon that not only suited him now but could also be a perfect fit for his future.

**

A/N -

Which weapon do you think Kaoru was talking about?

I just want to thank you all for the amazing ideas you’ve shared in the comments. You’re helping shape the story alongside me, and I couldn’t be more grateful!

Btw, I’m thinking of starting a Discord server for Azure Awakening!

Would you guys be interested? It’d be a place to chat about the story, share theories, get updates, and maybe even some sneak peeks!

Character Notes:

Kaoru – Lightbulb Moment - "Wait… why have I never thought of this before? This is perfect!"

Orochimaru – Recruiter - "Ah, Kaoru-kun… you truly are an interesting specimen. Such a shame you insist on resisting."

**