Hokage: Immortal, I Open Unlimited Eight Gates

"Really? Hahaha."

Faced with Chiba's explanation, Nawaki could only give an awkward laugh.

Orochimaru looked at his student, a trace of helplessness flashing across his face.

He had advised Nawaki countless times to stop being so reckless, but it seemed one reminder from Chiba was far more effective than all of Orochimaru's previous attempts.

"Alright, now that you know the details of the mission, let's pick up the pace and get moving."

With that, Orochimaru leaped onto the branches of the roadside trees and began moving through the forest canopy.

Chiba and Nawaki followed without hesitation, jumping onto the branches to keep pace.

Orochimaru deliberately maintained a moderate speed to accommodate the two inexperienced rookies who hadn't even graduated from the ninja academy. However, an hour into their journey, he noticed something unusual.

Nawaki was breathing heavily, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. In stark contrast, Chiba appeared completely composed, his breathing steady and not a drop of sweat visible on him.

Intrigued but choosing not to comment, Orochimaru descended from the treetops and landed on the path below.

Seeing this, the two young ninja quickly followed.

Orochimaru glanced at them and said, "Here's your first lesson. Always conserve your energy during a mission. Exhausting yourself early on will get you killed if you encounter the enemy."

Nawaki and Chiba nodded in unison, absorbing the advice.

Though it was basic knowledge, their teachers in the academy hadn't emphasized it enough—likely because both students had been asleep during those particular lessons.

Two days later, the group arrived at the border of the Land of Rice Fields.

Orochimaru stopped and pointed ahead. "The Land of Rice Fields is just beyond this point. We'll rest in the small town up ahead tonight, and tomorrow we'll meet with the Daimyo to discuss the mission details."

"Finally!" Nawaki exclaimed, his face lighting up with relief. "Two days of traveling have been exhausting!"

Chiba was also pleased. While he wasn't physically fatigued, going two days without a proper bath had left him feeling uncomfortable.

By the time the trio entered the town, the sun had set, and the streets were bathed in the warm glow of streetlights.

The town bustled with activity—people laughing and chatting as they walked arm-in-arm, and shopkeepers calling out to potential customers.

As Chiba observed the surroundings, he noted that most of the establishments were izakayas or custom shops. Scantily clad hostesses stood outside the latter, beckoning passersby with enticing offers.

"Welcome, dear guests! We're offering a special discount today!" one called out seductively.

Perhaps it was due to Orochimaru wearing his Konoha ninja vest, but none of the hostesses dared to approach them.

While Orochimaru strode forward, unaffected, Nawaki's face turned as red as a tomato.

Having grown up in Konoha, he had never encountered such a lively—or risqué—scene. Though Konoha had its share of custom shops, he had never visited one.

Noticing Nawaki's discomfort, Chiba couldn't resist teasing him. "Nawaki, keep it together. We're still kids, and we can't violate the three principles of ninja conduct."

Nawaki, flustered, retorted, "I'm a proper ninja! I'd never make such a stupid mistake!"

Despite his defiant words, Nawaki couldn't help recalling something Jiraiya had once told him:

"The custom shops are the most fun places in the ninja world. They've got the friendliest ladies and the finest sake."

Nawaki had nearly gone with Jiraiya to visit a custom shop in Konoha once, but their plan was thwarted when Tsunade found out. The aftermath wasn't pretty—Jiraiya spent three days bedridden, and Nawaki himself had received a thorough beating.

"Sure, sure," Chiba replied, smirking. "I was just reminding you. No need to get so worked up, Nawaki."

"Hmph," Nawaki huffed, deciding to ignore Chiba's teasing.

Sensing that Nawaki was no longer in the mood to banter, Chiba let the matter drop.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru, who had been silent, found himself reminiscing about his earlier missions with Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Back then, Tsunade would immediately head to the nearest izakaya upon reaching a town, stocking up on sake before making a beeline for the local gambling house.

Jiraiya, on the other hand, would wait until Tsunade left before sneaking into a custom shop.

Of the three of them, Orochimaru had always been the most focused. He found no interest in gambling or custom shops, preferring to conserve his energy for the mission.

Soon, the trio arrived at a modest hotel.

Orochimaru turned to his companions. "We'll stay here tonight. Go to your rooms to freshen up, and then meet me in the lobby for dinner."

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama," Nawaki and Chiba responded in unison.

After a quick shower, the three regrouped in the hotel lobby. Without wasting any time, Orochimaru led them to a nearby barbecue restaurant.

Once seated, Orochimaru smiled at the two young ninja. "Order whatever you like. I'm treating you tonight."

"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama!" Nawaki said, his face lighting up with excitement.

"Thank you, sensei," Chiba added, a bit surprised by Orochimaru's generosity.

He hadn't expected Orochimaru to not only cover their accommodations but also treat them to dinner.

It seemed that the current Orochimaru was far from the sinister figure he would later become. With no human experiments to fund and no partnerships with Danzo, Orochimaru still had plenty of disposable income.

Taking full advantage of the offer, Chiba flagged down the waitress.

Pointing at the menu, he said, "I'll have everything on here—except for these three dishes."

The waitress, initially focused on jotting down his order, froze mid-note.

"Sir, are you sure you want to order that much? We have a policy of no refunds for unfinished food."

Before Chiba could respond, Orochimaru interjected, "Don't worry about it. Chiba-kun has quite the appetite."

Reassured, the waitress nodded. "Very well, please wait a moment. I'll bring your food shortly."

With that, she hurried off, leaving Chiba to smirk at Nawaki.

"Prepare yourself, Nawaki. Tonight's going to be a feast."