This news made sense and the boy accepted them. His mind went into overdrive showing him all the grizzly ways he could die, because he was a valuable asset now. His heart raced as more and more implications dawned on him. It wasn’t enough that he had a tailed beast sought after by the akatsuki in the future. It wasn't enough that he had to adapt to a completely new battle style and warfare. It wasn’t enough that he was being hunted by a mysterious entity that had managed to kill the boy before. Now he also had not one but two of the most powerful Doujutsu in the shinobi world. Doujutsu that can be acquired directly from him even if he was unwilling. Doubt filled him. He was certainly born special, specially cursed.He was born of the unholy union of two very closed clans, making him and his sister unholy abominations, that either need to be brought under control or killed if that is not possible. It was no wonder he and his were orphans, no wonder he transmigrated to this body that had died. The little girl he called sister, she had the same eyes as him, the same curse of being a target. How could he manage to protect her, since there was little chance of him protecting his own life. Sure he was born gifted, but as an outsider he is also not one step, even ten steps, he was behind a hundred steps. He barely knew how to project his chakra onto chakra paper, yet in a few years he would have to fight gods like Itachi and Kisame, not to mention the Rinnegan. Of course that would only be an issue if he lived that long.

“I need a moment.” He said as he sat down. Diving into his thoughts.

“Fuck! Okay let’s take it one step at a time, no need to think about killing gods, when I can’t even walk. Obvious first step is to get stronger, but that is a long term goal. What I need to do right now is figure out trustworthy people, who is on whose side.”

He looked around the room, Curious gazes looked back. Ino showed concern. Anko was thoughtful, Yui and Akari were confused and Orochimaru looked at him curiously, patiently waiting for his next move.

“I was gonna surprise with my Byakugan, but he surprised me instead. Nonetheless I think I can trust this version of Orochimaru at least to some degree. If not I think I would already be strapped to a medical table and dissected, no trouble for someone of his level to explain a few kids disappearances, even if Anko would take a hit to her rep, pretty sure she would accept Oro’s decision. A modicum of trust to both of them. Ino is a strange case because of the influence of the eldritch creature, she is also just a kid, not understanding the implications. The other teammates of mine also seem lost in what this means, so they can be trusted to an extent, but they can be turned later. Anko, my sexy teacher, seems to accept this and her allegiance is obvious. So far Orochimaru seems to be apathetic, perhaps only curious but not an enemy, and that is good enough. That woman, Yuki, seems to genuinely love me, but Shinobi are trained in the art of lies, it’s just that I see no benefit for her so far to keep a charade like that. I would need to spend more time with her to determine her goals, and definitely not because she coddles me in her bed in the nude. Definitely. Fuck, man I was looking forward to learning the water clone explosion jutsu, that shit is so cool, but now I have to focus on my best options and water chakra nature is not one of them. So I need to come up with a training plan. As well as properly categorise what is acceptable level progression for someone like me. So I can keep appearances and stay hidden for as long as possible as I get stronger.”

“So, Orochimaru-sama, how close am I to ending up on a table and being dissected?” Asked the boy after determining his next move.

“Oh, so very close, boy.” Drawled Orochimaru in answer.

“That’s great. Anyway I can convince you to help me out with some privacy seals, around my house too?”

“Oh isn’t that interesting and smart for a child, I was under the impression all children were stupid. I can be convinced if you give me a vial of your blood, and your sister’s.” Offered Orochimaru.

“Deal! You got vials around here?” He immediately exclaims and asks. After exchanging the items, Anko speaks up.

“Alright, I think it’s time for everyone to go home. We meet at training ground 11 at 11 tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

Everyone leaves Anko’s house and notices it is a few hours past noon. They separate to go their own ways, but Ino sticks to Ryoshi.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“I am sorry, Ino-chan. We are kind of stuck together eh?” Suddenly Ryoshi said after walking for a few minutes.

“Hm. It wasn’t your fault. You even protected us that night too and when I went into your head, you still tried.” Answered Ino.

“It’s only been a couple of hours actually, but how do you feel about this situation?” Further questioned Ryoshi.

“A bit annoyed, because I have to change my life plans. I would have to leave Sasuke-kun to Sakura. Grr, that makes me mad.” She said, gritting her teeth cutely.

“But I also feel excited and strangely free, my life plans are gone in a puff and feels like a weight has gone off my shoulders at the same time.” She continued.

“Well, the issue is, we don’t know how long we can separate for. That would determine how drastic the changes to our lives would be. Also this time could change in the future, we just don’t know. If we can’t separate for the night, there is absolutely no way I am moving in with your parents, just putting it out there.”

“Huh? Why not? My parents are awesome.” Ino declared.

“Well your father will probably murder me in my sleep and with the amount of secrets I have, getting adopted into a clan of mind readers is a bad idea.” Answered the boy. He felt so awkward, chatting with a young girl he didn’t know and had nothing in common with. Everything said between them felt like it was forced through mud. He didn’t know how to make it better. After all, he had basically taken her away from her life, rather abruptly. The silence extended further making the awkwardness worse.

“I think it would be best if we prepared for me to live with you.” Ino said, somewhat shyly. She wasn’t a shy person, but this was a bit too much even for her outgoing personality.

“We should go through my place before we get to yours.” She continued.

“Okay. No worries. Lead the way.” Said Ryoshi, trying his best to sound nonchalant and unbothered.

When they reached the flower shop, Ino greeted her dad and disappeared upstairs and left Ryoshi on the shop floor. As she yelled.

“Mom! I’m home. Need some help!” Of course Inoichi was manning the clerk's desk at that moment.

“Hello, sir.” Ryoshi started awkwardly.

“No need to be so tense, kiddo. I was there both times, and it seems like you did her a favour. How she turned out compared to Fuu, is a miracle.” Said Inoichi, evidently reading the boy and trying to come to amenable terms in their relationship.

“I see.” Ryoshi was surprised by his words, but he instantly felt better. Surprisingly so in fact he thought Inoichi might be using some mind jutsu on him. He knew his mind was safe though, so he just related it to the charisma of the older man. He was after all an expert head shrink.

“Well, feel free to visit, I think it would be good for my sister to have an adult around.” Said Ryoshi, extending an invitation. “Also bring some food, me and my sister can’t cook at all.” Added Ryoshi trying to lighten the conversation.

“Hehe, don’t worry about that. Ino loves to cook.” The older man smiled gently. The boy and the blonde man waited in comfortable silence until Ino came back with her luggage ready to depart. Said her goodbyes and left for Ryoshi’s hovel in the woods.

When they finally reached it. Ryoshi groaned.

“Urgh. I really want to take a nap.”

“Why don’t you then?” Asked Ino.

“I need to train. Come on, let's spar. See what you can do.”

Shinry did not pay much attention to the class. Last night's ordeal brought the girls closer and Ino had not shown up to class today. So she was worried of course and also still scared to bother with class. She looked around to see Hinata and Sakura show concern as well, for the missing kunoichi. What she remembered most was the man that had taken over her brother’s body. She felt conflicted still, was her brother really dead and this was someone else, or some kind of trauma. But the man had proved his words true, that look last night was determined, calm and focused, like an experienced shinobi, even though he called himself a soldier. Compared to herself which was frozen in fear and hadn’t even tried to help her friend. He was years ahead like he had said, he was sixty something years. She had been thinking about the scene all day, another reason she couldn’t focus on her lessons. Not only did he burst in without hesitation to help as soon as someone screamed. Decisions he had made, the first strike to the spine, effectively instantly winning the fight, then to grab him and pull him away from the reach of girls. When the man still had resisted, he asked Hinata to use Gentle Fist, no not asked, commanded. So he could kill him. It was so far away from how her brother would have acted, she had to accept that he was dead and now another used his body. For some reason he still cared about her and that was all the family she had left and she was glad she was not alone.

“Shinry.” A voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

“Come on, class is over, stop dozing off.” Said Naruto.

“Let’s play tag.” He continued.

“No, I’m gonna go check on Ino.” Answered Shinry as she collected her stuff and got up to leave. Hinata and Sakura followed after her. Once they reached the Yamanaka flower shop, they were informed that Ino was with Shinry’s brother and they would explain why. So they all rushed towards Shinry’s house in the forest.

“Ah, my sister and her friends are coming. I guess more wood for the fire.” He said, smirking.

“Can’t we take a break!? We have been going at it for a while, I’m beat.” Shouted Ino, with ragged breathing clearly exhausted.

“You can rest while we talk. They are probably curious about today. But then we continue, we got a lot of catching up to do. If this is all they teach you at the academy my sister will need some extracurricular training as well.”

“What do you mean!? You graduated, you should know what they teach there. You meanie.” Ino responded.

“Oh, I forgot. You don’t know that I lost my memories 3 months ago.” Smirked Ryoshi as he explained, waiting for the shock in her eyes.