Chapter 164:
Nawaki, who had recently been promoted to Chunin, was visibly impatient.
He was the only one on his team to achieve this rank, a source of pride for him, and that pride was starting to go to his head. Like any young shinobi who'd tasted early success, he was getting a bit overconfident.
"So, you're eager to go to the battlefield?" Orochimaru asked, not bothering to look back as he continued walking.
The battlefield… Orochimaru knew all too well that even Jonin-level ninja were just pawns there, easily cut down if they weren't cautious. From what he could tell, Nawaki's current strength would leave him with a 70% chance of dying on the front lines.
"Of course!" Nawaki replied, practically vibrating with excitement. "My dream is to become Hokage! If I don't go to the battlefield and earn some achievements, how else am I supposed to make that happen?"
"Hokage, huh?" Orochimaru paused, then turned to glance at the enthusiastic boy. "It's good to have a goal, but remember, you have to take things one step at a time."
"Come on, sensei! I've already mastered my basics! I'm a Chunin now!" Nawaki puffed out his chest. "I bet it won't be long before I can beat one of your clones…"
He continued talking excitedly, his aspirations growing with each sentence.
"Soon, I'll be able to surpass my sister, then you, and then… eventually surpass my grandfather and become the greatest Hokage ever!"