A Few Years Ago…
The forest was quiet.
The sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, scattering golden rays across the ground. The chirping of birds and the rustling of small creatures scurrying through the bushes created a peaceful, almost dreamlike ambiance.
It was the kind of tranquility one rarely found in the shinobi world.
But peace never lasted long in a place touched by Orochimaru.
A figure strolled down the worn dirt path, hidden beneath a long, dark cloak. His head was slightly tilted up as if admiring the dancing shadows cast by the trees. The robe he wore was thick, concealing his frame completely.
Even his face was obscured by the hood that draped over his head like a curtain of mystery.
His footsteps were quiet but confident.
He paused.
Fwoosh!
Bang!
Four shadows burst from the foliage with blinding speed, landing in front of him in a semi-circle formation.
The forest wind shifted with their arrival, and the calm atmosphere instantly turned heavy.
Even the birds went silent.
"That's far enough."
The voice came from the front—a youth with a wicked grin and a cocky expression.
They were the Sound Four.
The four of them were the loyal subordinates of Orochimaru. His most trusted bodyguards and his personal enforcers.
Standing at the forefront was Sakon. He was a rather tall and lean male, with a wild look in his eyes. His pale skin gave him an almost ghostly appearance, and his face was marred by two long purple tattoos that ran down from his eyes to his jaw.
He wore a lavender one-shouldered tunic with a jagged hem, the Sound Village insignia on his belt, and loose black shinobi pants.
His most terrifying trait, however, was Ukon, his twin brother who shared his body. A second face occasionally shifted from Sakon's shoulder, blinking with eerie synchronization.
They were a terrifying duo—able to disassemble and reassemble their bodies on a molecular level.
To Sakon's right stood Kidomaru. He had a unique body structure. Muscular and towering, his arms were unnaturally long, and his third eye rested in the center of his forehead like a grotesque jewel. His skin had a tan hue, and his dark spiky hair was pulled into a tied ponytail.
He wore a sleeveless shirt and arm wrappings, with a golden spider web-patterned vest strapped to his back.
But what stood out most were his six arms. He actually possessed six arms.
A twisted smile curled on his face as he licked his lips—always calculating, always watching.
He specialized in long-range attacks and summoned weaponry made from golden spider silk, secreted from his own body.
On the left side stood Jirobo, the brute of the group. He was the largest among the group, a tank of a man. A stocky, muscular man with a square jaw and small, fierce eyes. His head was shaved bald save for a single knot of hair tied into a topknot.
His clothing was simple—a brown flak jacket over a dark shirt, reinforced leggings, and weighted sandals. He looked bored, unimpressed by the cloaked figure in front of them. But his fingers twitched.
Jirobo loved crushing things—rocks, trees, and occasionally skulls. His strength was monstrous, and his Earth Release techniques made him a fortress in battle.
Finally, off to the side with a hand on her hip was Tayuya, the only girl among them. With long, wild pink hair tied into four ponytails and a flute resting by her side, she looked as if she could care less. Her crimson eyes burned with annoyance, and her snarl showed she wasn't in the mood for games.
Her outfit was ragged and battle-worn—a beige tunic, black leggings, and wrappings on her arms.
She was the most foul-mouthed of the group, but her Genjutsu abilities using her flute were dangerously effective. She rolled her eyes at the cloaked figure.
"Oi! You lost or what?" She snapped, crossing her arms.
The figure did not respond.
Sakon took a step forward, sneering. "You picked the wrong forest to stroll through, old man. Do you even know where you are?"
The cloaked figure tilted his head slightly. His voice was calm, smooth, and almost amused.
"I do. That's why I'm here."
Kidomaru narrowed his eyes. "Then you must be dumber than you look."
"I came to meet your master," The man continued, undeterred. His voice echoed faintly in the still air. "Tell Orochimaru to come out."
Sakon snorted. "You don't just meet Lord Orochimaru. Who the hell do you think you are?"
The figure chuckled. "You think I came all this way to see your dumb faces? Don't waste my time. Just go and call him."
The four exchanged glances. They weren't sure if this man was crazy, overconfident, or both.
But he was alone with no visible weapons.
There was also no potential sign of an ally.
So, he came off as either suicidal… or terrifying.
Sakon cracked his neck. "Still talking big… even now. Then die with some dignity, old man."
Suddenly, a thunderclap of silence fell.
BOOM!
The air twisted, the earth groaned, and the forest around them shivered.
Leaves were ripped from trees and the dust lifted off the forest floor. The trees bent as if caught in a violent windstorm, even though there was none.
An invisible pressure exploded outward from the cloaked figure. It was as if the world itself was rejecting his presence.
Conqueror's Haki.
The very essence of supreme will.
The Sound Four froze.
Their muscles refused to move and their knees trembled with their hands twitching.
TWHUMP!
Jirobo dropped to one knee, panting heavily.
"Wh... What is this!?" Kidomaru grunted, his third eye snapping wide open in panic.
Sakon's lips quivered. Ukon tried to force their body upright, but it was no use.
Tayuya's flute clattered to the ground. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
"T-this pressure…! What kind of monster…!?"
The mysterious figure's presence crushed the area.
It was neither chakra nor ninjutsu.
It was pure, refined willpower.
A killing intent so strong it was like drowning in the ocean while fire raged above.
The four of them were elite shinobi—Orochimaru's personal bodyguards.
And yet, all of them were kneeling.
Their minds screamed at them to rise, to fight, to resist. But their bodies refused.
The cloaked figure slowly walked forward, every step sending small cracks through the earth beneath him. His boots echoed ominously across the forest floor.
Step... Step... Step...
He stopped just a few feet away.
"Call him." His voice was soft… but it hit like a hammer. "Tell Orochimaru I'm here."
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