A strange silence hung in the air.
The leaves of the forest trembled slightly, caught in the aftermath of the pressure that had just washed through the area.
The Sound Four remained on their knees, each of them drenched in cold sweat, breathing heavily, their minds still reeling from the overwhelming pressure they had just endured.
But before they could even gather their thoughts or rise to their feet, the leaf rustled again.
Whoosh!
Two figures emerged out of the shadows, materializing right in front of the mysterious stranger.
One was tall, with pale skin and snake-like eyes that gleamed with curiosity and mischief. His very presence gave off a dangerous allure — it was Orochimaru.
Standing calmly beside him was a boy no older than sixteen or seventeen.
He had long, snow-white hair that flowed freely down to his lower back, and pale skin that looked almost porcelain under the faint sunlight that filtered through the trees. His eyes were a chilling sea green, calm but distant, and the way he carried himself was silent, like a blade waiting to be unsheathed.
He wore a bone-white kimono-style outfit, accented with lavender belts wrapped tightly around his waist. The sleeves of his robe were loose, draping around his arms, and a thick rope-like purple sash was tied at the back, knotted with precision. On his bare feet, thin sandals padded silently against the forest floor. His most distinct feature was the unusual, almost eerie elegance of his body—his frame was thin, nearly frail-looking—but the atmosphere around him screamed danger.
This was Kimimaro, Orochimaru's most loyal and prized subordinate, a warrior born with a cursed body and a deadly gift—the ability to manipulate his own bones like weapons.
A Kekkei Genkai of the Kaguya Clan, long believed to be extinct.
He stood like a silent sentinel, his hands folded in front of him, eyes fixed on the stranger with sharp interest.
Orochimaru smiled, his serpentine tongue flicking out momentarily as he spoke, "No need to look for me… I'm already here."
The mysterious person chuckled from under the hood of his cloak, the sound echoing gently in the quiet forest.
"Finally," He said. "You're a hard man to meet, Orochimaru."
A teasing edge laced his words, but his voice carried an unnatural calm, as though he wasn't fazed by the man standing in front of him—one of the Legendary Sannin. In fact, he sounded amused.
Orochimaru smirked, glancing at the four still kneeling Sound members. "Hmm… Doesn't seem that hard. You've already made quite a mess of my subordinates."
The hooded figure gave a low chuckle, then tilted his head slightly. "That's not on me. They were just far too arrogant. I told them to call you out… They didn't listen."
His voice was deep but youthful, as if he was still in his teens. Yet it carried the weight of someone who had seen far more than a normal boy ever should.
Orochimaru narrowed his snake-like eyes as he studied him.
"I'll be sure to… discipline them later," He said, his voice cold and smooth like poison. "Now then—who are you, and what business do you have with me?"
The mysterious figure raised a brow under the hood.
"Ah," He said, slapping his forehead lightly in mock realization. "Where are my manners? I almost forgot the introduction."
He reached up, fingers gripping the edges of the cloak's hood.
And in one smooth motion, the hood was thrown back, revealing his face.
Fwwsh!
Bright blonde hair, spiked wildly in every direction. Sharp blue eyes, glowing faintly with an odd glint of power and mischief. Three whisker-like marks were carved softly into each cheek. A smirk danced on his lips as he stared straight at Orochimaru without a shred of fear.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki," He said. "You must be familiar with my parents."
The forest stood still.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Orochimaru blinked.
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, finally, the corners of Orochimaru's mouth twitched upward.
"Uzumaki… Naruto… Oh… oh my…" He muttered in surprise. "Minato's boy… and Kushina's child…"
He tilted his head, clearly amused. "You… you shouldn't be here. Not someone like you. Does the Hokage know you're out talking to the enemy?"
Naruto rolled his eyes and grinned.
"That old man?" He said with a scoff. "No. And let's keep it that way."
Kimimaro, still standing quietly by Orochimaru's side, finally spoke.
"You wear no forehead protector," He said in a soft tone. "And yet, you're strong. What do you want with Lord Orochimaru?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the boy.
"I like your manners," He said, pointing a finger at Kimimaro. "But you're not wrong to be cautious."
He looked back at Orochimaru and grinned wider.
"I came here to make a deal," He said.
Orochimaru's interest peaked.
"A deal?" He asked, his voice low. "With the son of Konoha's Fourth Hokage? I must admit, I'm very curious… what sort of deal?"
Naruto folded his arms. "Let's just say the future's about to get very messy. And I want to make it a bit more chaotic."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"And what role do you want me to play in this chaos?" He asked, eyes narrowing with glee.
Naruto smirked. "The same as you were planning. The destruction of Konoha's leadership. Specifically…"
He raised one finger. "The death of Hiruzen Sarutobi."
That caught Orochimaru's attention.
A slow, twisted grin spread across the snake Sannin's face.
"Oh?" He purred. "So young… and already so cruel. That old man raised you, didn't he?"
Naruto's eyes dimmed slightly.
"He raised the image of me he wanted," Naruto said calmly. "Not who I am. He used me… lied to me… kept things from me like the truth of everything."
Orochimaru nodded slowly. "So, revenge…"
Naruto shook his head. "No. It's not just revenge. I don't hate Sarutobi… but I can't let him continue either. He's a relic. This world needs to change. And for that change to happen, he has to go."
Orochimaru studied him carefully, then let out a low chuckle. "You remind me of someone… but you're different. You're way bolder and smarter."
He turned slightly.
"Kimimaro," He said. "What do you think of our guest?"
Kimimaro paused, then answered. "He's dangerous."
"Smart boy." Naruto smiled. "Well, this was a nice conversation… but I think we should continue it somewhere more private."
Orochimaru licked his lips excitedly and signaled him to follow him. "Oh, please... I want to hear more details about the plan."
Naruto grinned and followed him, walking behind him.
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