A clearing in the forest of Konoha Village.
Nara Haruki stood beneath a tree, his mind still reeling from Orochimaru's unexpected visit two days ago. The memory was vivid: Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin and a future Hokage candidate, personally came to see Haruki's parents with a request to take him on as a disciple.
It wasn't just an offer to be a team leader after graduation. This was something far more serious—a master-disciple relationship. When a shinobi of Orochimaru's status made such a formal request, and with the approval of the Third Hokage, it was an unmistakable sign of how much he valued Haruki.
This wasn't something one could simply decline without consequence. Unless Haruki's family was willing to offend someone like Orochimaru, there was no turning back. The Nara clan, pragmatic and wise, knew this well. His father, Nara Shikakichi, had no choice but to accept.
Today was their first meeting as student and master.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the forest. A girl, no older than eight or nine, leapt from a tree branch and landed beside Haruki. Her attire marked her as a Genin—forehead protector, mesh armor, and a confidence that belied her age.
"You're from the Nara clan?" she asked, eyeing his clothing.
Before Haruki could respond, a chillingly familiar voice echoed nearby.
"It's good that you're both here."
Orochimaru stepped out of the shadows, his arrival as quiet as it was unnerving.
"Orochimaru-sensei!"
Both children called out. The girl's voice was filled with giddy admiration, while Haruki's was subdued and wary.
He instinctively edged away from her. Her boundless excitement identified her almost immediately.
Mitarashi Anko. The only known disciple to survive Orochimaru's eventual defection from the village. Though not known for any great accomplishments, she had inherited the Ryuchi Cave summoning contract—a sign of Orochimaru's recognition.
"Introduce yourselves," Orochimaru instructed, his serpentine gaze flicking between them. "I am Orochimaru, your future team leader. I like learning all the ninjutsu in the world. I hate the talentless and the hopelessly foolish."
"I'll go first! My name is Mitarashi Anko, ten years old. I'll graduate soon and I want to be a powerful ninja like Orochimaru-sensei! I don't hate anyone in particular!"
"Nara Haruki. I'm six. Still a student at the Academy. I like research and hate anything unrelated to it."
"Before I teach you," Orochimaru said, "I need to test your abilities. Use any means necessary. Try to take this bell from me. Think of it as a battle to the death."
He raised a finger. A small bell jingled lightly before he dropped it. Using his foot, he drew a circle around himself. "I won't leave this circle."
"And if we fail?" Anko asked, clearly brimming with anticipation.
"Then you fail the test," Orochimaru said, his voice tinged with menace. "And you will be punished."
He raised a scroll from his sleeve. As he made hand signs, a puff of smoke exploded and revealed a massive scroll nearly as tall as he was.
"This is the Ryuchi Cave summoning contract. If you succeed, or impress me, I'll write your names on it."
Anko trembled in excitement. A personal summon? From Orochimaru? Haruki was equally intrigued. Even a glimpse of the Ryuchi Cave secrets was enough to ignite his curiosity.
"Let's begin," Orochimaru said, casting the scroll aside and preparing himself.
Haruki and Anko didn't charge immediately. They vanished into the forest instead.
"Are you trying to get a surprise attack in? Or gauge your partner's skills?" Orochimaru murmured, amused.
"You know any shadow techniques?" Anko asked once they were out of sight.
Haruki nodded.
"Great. You assist with your clan's jutsu. I'll go in as the main attacker. If we work together, maybe we can distract him long enough to grab the bell."
"No offense," Haruki replied, "but we don't know each other. We'll just trip over ourselves. A better plan would be to divide the attack into steps. If we each follow the plan exactly, we can compensate for the lack of coordination."
"You think that'll work?"
"Only once. He'll see through it immediately afterward."
They discussed simple hand signals and movements before circling back to the clearing.
Haruki hid in the trees while Anko prepared her jutsu.
Si—Chen—Mao—Yin!
"Dragon Fire Technique!"
A fiery column erupted from the forest, striking Orochimaru's location. He countered with a swirling wall of water. As steam exploded around him, the area was blanketed in fog.
Anko used the opportunity to split into a shadow clone. Both versions dashed toward Orochimaru, eyes locked on the bell.
At the same time, Haruki's shadow technique slithered along the ground like a serpent, reaching toward Orochimaru.
As the mist cleared, Haruki's shadow caught Orochimaru's own. The real Anko leapt forward to grab the bell, while the clone attacked.
Orochimaru felt a momentary numbness. Anko's fingers grazed the bell.
Then a snake coiled up from beneath her feet, binding her. The clone vanished in a puff of smoke. The moment was over.
Haruki wasn't done.
He formed hand signs in a blur. A black curtain rose from the ground, wrapping around Orochimaru in a dome of shadow.
"Shadow Coffin," Haruki said quietly.
It faded quickly, but not before drawing blood.
"Fascinating technique," Orochimaru murmured, eyes gleaming. "Not one I've seen from the Nara clan."
Haruki, pale and exhausted, raised his hand. The bell dangled between his fingers.
"I have the bell, Orochimaru-sensei."
"A decoy ninjutsu... a distraction to cut the bell free... and a shadow seam technique to retrieve it. Impressive." Orochimaru smiled, eyes shifting to Anko. "Was she part of your plan, too?"