Orochimaru's sudden appearance instantly tightened the atmosphere.
Uchiha Yusuke glanced at him calmly.
"Orochimaru… I didn't expect to run into you here."
The name of one of the Legendary Sannin was intimidating—
but Yusuke did not overreact.
On the surface, Orochimaru looked like Danzō's "cleanup crew," sent to erase the survivors.
But Yusuke understood Orochimaru's nature.
Like himself, Orochimaru was a man driven by personal ambition.
Without profit, he would never travel this far just to do Danzō a favor.
Danzō and Orochimaru did have dealings—
but it was cooperation, not loyalty.
Behind Yusuke, Nono and Kabuto felt as if death itself had descended.
If Danzō had truly sent Orochimaru as final insurance…
their situation bordered on hopeless.
Orochimaru, however, appeared relaxed.
He studied Yusuke's composed expression—
and a greedy glint flickered in his golden, slit-pupiled eyes.
He had witnessed Uchiha talent before leaving Konoha.
Even Itachi—fresh out of the Academy—had stunned him with shuriken mastery.
And beyond forbidden techniques…
Orochimaru had always been obsessed with powerful bloodlines.
He pursued immortality for one reason:
To master all jutsu, and through that mastery, uncover the truth of the world.
From a scientific perspective—
Orochimaru was undeniably brilliant.
The problem lay in his methods.
Influenced by Danzō and long accustomed to operating in darkness,
he no longer hesitated to cross moral lines.
Yusuke had no illusions about the world's brutality—
but ruthlessness toward enemies was different from dissecting innocents out of curiosity.
Orochimaru slowly licked the corner of his mouth with his long tongue.
His voice was low and chilling.
"Yusuke-kun…"
"You would make a very fine… vessel."
"Should I take your body while I have the chance?"
Yusuke's gaze sharpened.
"Orochimaru."
"Whatever you pursue is your business."
"But if you lay a hand on the Uchiha clan…"
"I will make sure you never see tomorrow's sun."
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"So sharp-tongued."
"Just as expected of the 'Flame Demon' who shook the shinobi world."
"But…"
"I truly am interested in an Uchiha body."
As he spoke, killing intent surged outward.
Kabuto nearly suffocated.
Even the experienced Nono broke into cold sweat.
This was the oppressive pressure of a true Kage-level shinobi.
Terrifying.
Yet Yusuke remained calm, as if the air around him carried no weight at all.
"Orochimaru."
"You intend to fight me here?"
Orochimaru's expression remained unreadable.
"I'm curious."
"How far have you advanced these past years, Yusuke-kun?"
Yusuke revealed his three-tomoe Sharingan.
A razor-edged killing intent rose to meet Orochimaru's.
"Orochimaru."
"Don't play with fire."
The moment Orochimaru felt that pressure, his smile thinned.
Two Kage-level monsters stood facing each other.
Silent.
Suffocating.
Orochimaru hesitated.
He desired Yusuke as a vessel—
but he was not certain he could win.
Yusuke had defeated the Fourth Raikage and captured Killer B.
That was not the achievement of a weak man.
And Orochimaru's Edo Tensei was not yet perfected.
A direct clash would be risky.
Still—
Yusuke's confidence bordered on arrogance.
So Orochimaru chose to test him.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
His arm shot forward.
Massive serpents burst forth, coiling around Yusuke's body.
BOOM—
Fire Release Chakra Mode ignited.
Yusuke's body transformed into raging flame, reducing the snakes to ash instantly.
Before the remains touched the ground—
Orochimaru's neck extended grotesquely.
His head lunged forward like a striking serpent.
"Your elemental body is unusual…"
"But not impossible to counter."
"Cursed Seal Binding."
His fangs sank into Yusuke's neck.
Black markings spread outward.
Orochimaru smiled, explaining almost leisurely:
"A sealing curse that restricts movement."
"It suppresses elemental transformation effectively."
"So much arrogance… and this is all you have?"
"Yusuke-kun… you're finished."
Yusuke's expression did not change.
"Is that so?"
"Orochimaru…"
"You should examine your own situation first."
Orochimaru's pupils tightened.
A chilling sensation crawled up his spine.
"…What?"
"Don't tell me—"
Yusuke's voice remained calm and cold.
"What a shame, Orochimaru."
"A legendary Sannin…"
"Caught by your own binding jutsu."
Orochimaru finally understood.
"…Genjutsu?"
"When did it begin?"
Yusuke answered plainly.
"The moment you first looked into my Sharingan."
"You were already inside my illusion."
Orochimaru froze.
Then the shock in his eyes shifted into fascination.
"To think I would be trapped by my own paralysis technique…"
"What extraordinary ocular power…"
"Magnificent…"
He attempted to resist.
Yusuke did not give him the chance.
A flash of steel—
Yusuke's blade pressed against Orochimaru's throat.
"I will warn you once more."
"Do not touch the Uchiha."
Orochimaru's expression darkened.
Cold sweat formed at his temples.
He could not move.
Blade at his throat—
prey on the cutting board.
If Yusuke wished, one breath would end him.
Regret flickered across Orochimaru's eyes.
Had he known Yusuke was this dangerous…
he would not have provoked him so recklessly.
Wasn't it better to remain in a laboratory and pursue truth?
Why insist on playing predator in the wild?
Yusuke studied him like a specimen.
"So…"
"How should I deal with you?"
"Keep you alive…"
"…or kill you now?"
Orochimaru's eyes sharpened.
Then, after a brief pause, he played his card.
"I possess information about Danzō."
"I believe you will find it… interesting."
The moment Danzō's name surfaced—
Yusuke's blade halted.
Orochimaru pressed further.
"I have had certain collaborations with Danzō. You already know this."
"I can provide some of his secrets."
"I even possess a map marking his hidden bases."
Following the hint, Yusuke located a concealed scroll within Orochimaru's sleeve.
He skimmed it.
Detailed information.
Precise locations.
Sensitive facilities.
Exactly as promised.
A faint smile curved across Yusuke's lips.
With this, dismantling Danzō would become far easier.
He had only intended to teach Orochimaru a lesson—
yet gained a valuable prize instead.
Yusuke stepped forward, about to release the restraint—
but Orochimaru moved.
His voice returned, low and serpentine.
"Heh… the curse has loosened."
"Yusuke-kun… we will meet again."
A smoke bomb detonated.
When the haze cleared—
Orochimaru had vanished.
Yusuke exhaled slowly.
Orochimaru was still a Kage-level existence.
If he chose to flee, very few could stop him.
Then—
Nono's scream pierced the night.
"Kabuto!"
"Where is Kabuto?!"
Yusuke's brows knit.
Orochimaru had taken Kabuto during the chaos.
So that was his true purpose.
From the beginning—
Orochimaru had come for Kabuto.
Nono stood devastated.
Five years apart—
finally reunited—
only to be separated again.
Kabuto had barely escaped Danzō's tiger's den…
only to fall into Orochimaru's serpent's jaws.
Cruel.
Yusuke stepped closer, voice steady.
"Do not panic."
"Based on what I know of Orochimaru…"
"He will not kill that child."
Nono's breathing steadied slightly.
If Kabuto still lived—
there was hope.
Without Yusuke tonight—
this reunion would have ended in blood.
Nono lowered her head slightly.
"…Yusuke-sama."
"What are your orders?"
Yusuke smiled faintly.
"No need for tension."
"Your undercover mission is over."
"Return to the orphanage and rest."
"When I require you, I will send word."
Nono stared, stunned.
Mission… over?
Return home?
Since when did Konoha's Hokage Advisor speak with such consideration?
Yusuke placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You have suffered enough."
"That is Konoha's fault."
"The age of Danzō's darkness is ending."
Nono's eyes reddened.
Even as a seasoned spy, she could not suppress her emotion.
She had waited too long for such words.
The orphanage was her true home.
When Danzō first coerced her, she still believed faintly in Hiruzen's protection—
but after years in Iwagakure, no rescue ever came.
Danzō had offered "hope" too—
but it was nothing more than deception.
When the rabbit is secured, the hounds are boiled.
When the birds are gone, the bow is stored away.
People risked their lives for Root—
and Danzō intended to erase them from the start.
His repayment was colder than Hiruzen's silence.
Orochimaru's Hideout
Orochimaru carried Kabuto deep into the wilderness.
Soon they arrived at a hidden facility.
Glass jars.
Strange instruments.
Books stacked like an ocean.
Kabuto stared in disbelief.
Orochimaru's voice echoed behind him.
"This is my private laboratory."
"No one knows of its existence."
"You are the first guest."
Kabuto swallowed.
"Orochimaru-sama…"
"Why bring me here?"
Orochimaru sat upon a stone stool and smiled.
"You possess a strong thirst for knowledge."
"That is admirable."
"Humans are always curious about the unknown."
"You are intelligent."
"Would you like to become my assistant… and help uncover mysteries no one else can?"
Kabuto shook his head.
He wanted only to return to the director.
Orochimaru did not grow angry.
He spoke patiently, like a serpent whispering temptation.
"I collect specimens. Conduct experiments. Verify results."
"I accumulate knowledge and power."
"Until I can reconstruct a perfect version of myself."
"Do you not wish to understand the truth of this world?"
"Come with me."
His research had advanced far.
He believed he would eventually succeed.
To reshape the world—
that was Orochimaru's ambition.
A scientist's dream—
was rarely understood by ordinary people.
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