Tatee gazed at Dosuke. "Are you leaving the hospital tomorrow?"
Dosuke nodded. "My wound is nearly healed. Tsunade-sensei forbade me from using the Mystical Palm Technique. If she had not, I would have healed it by now."
"Oh," Tatee said. Her clogs tapped softly, then slowed. "Then I will not need to wake early to make your lunch."
"Sister Tatee," Dosuke said, noticing her gloom, "if it is no trouble, you can cook at my house."
Tatee's eyes sparkled. "Is that okay? Will people talk?"
"No, do not worry," Dosuke said. "I live alone. No one will care, if you do not mind."
"Alright, it is settled!" Tatee grinned. Her clogs tapped loudly again. "I will come when I can and make your lunch."
They chatted and laughed, soon reaching the Hyuga clan's land.
Tatee entered, clutching a giant teddy bear prize. It pressed against her small body, hiding her shape. Her white feet moved carefully in clogs as she headed home.
Dosuke smiled at her back, then turned to go.
"Hey, commoner!" A Hyuga chunin blocked his path. "You think you can court a Hyuga girl?"
"Hyuga kids do not marry outsiders, even branch ones," another ninja sneered.
"Stay away from our clan, boy," the first warned.
Dosuke's fists tightened. Anger surged. * They blocked me at the gate, too, * he thought. He had only wanted to escort Tatee home. The guards had barred him for not being Hyuga.
He swallowed his rage, turned, and walked away.
"Running already?" the chunin mocked. "A genin eyeing Hyuga?"
* Ignore them, * Dosuke thought. He hurried home.
Click. Dosuke flicked the light switch. Dim light filled his small house. Dust covered the table and windowsill.
He grabbed a rag and water, cleaning the simple home. When it gleamed, he sat on the bed. "This is why you are liked," he muttered, starting to refine chakra.
Soon, he stood. * I cannot focus, * he thought. * Tatee. Those Hyuga ninjas. * He fixed his clothes, locked the door, and used Water Style.
Shua, shua, shua. Dosuke leaped across village roofs, reaching the Death Forest training ground.
No Maitekai. * He must be on a mission, * Dosuke thought. Friends rarely met since ninja school.
Water coated his fist. He struck a wooden stake. * Too weak, * he thought. Even as Tsunade's student, known at Konoha Hospital, he was nothing to clans like Hyuga or Uchiha. Only Sannin-level power could earn their respect.
Dosuke hit the stake repeatedly. * I must grow stronger, * he thought.
An hour later, he collapsed, sweating and gasping. "I am not even afraid of death now," he panted. "What else can scare me?"
"Dosuke-kun, are you venting?" A cold voice slithered through the shadows.
Dosuke froze. Fear gripped him, like a predator's gaze. He turned, leaning against the stake, and faced the voice.
Orochimaru stood in the open, half-hidden by darkness. Dosuke's heart raced. "Orochimaru-sama, why are you here?"
"I was walking," Orochimaru rasped. "I heard noise and came to see."
His tongue flicked out, then back. * A Sannin strolling here at night? * Dosuke thought. * Doubtful. *
"What angers you, Dosuke-kun?" Orochimaru asked.
"Nothing, Orochimaru-sama," Dosuke said. "This mission showed my limits. I want to train harder."
"I heard about your mission," Orochimaru said. "Most chunin, even Jonin, could not match you. Your chakra-blocking discovery, though strict, is impressive. You are a genius."
"It is not that great," Dosuke said. "I am just lucky."
"Luck needs strength to work," Orochimaru said. "Class divides never fade." His eyes glinted. "If you need help, come to me. Tsunade and I are old teammates."
Dosuke stared. Orochimaru's cloak swayed in the night breeze, like a snake poised to strike.
A young girl ran up. "Master, look what I caught!" She held a black-and-white viper to Orochimaru. Its triangular head hissed, fangs flashing in the moonlight.
"Pretty, right?" she said. "I want it as a necklace." She draped the snake around her neck.
Dosuke's skin prickled.