Orochimaru's Lab –
In Orochimaru's hidden laboratory—a place where the stench of blood and chemicals mixed within damp stone walls—silence reigned, heavy with tension.
The wet, cold stone walls echoed with soft footsteps. In the center of the room, yellowish light from reagent tubes flickered like dying candle flames.
Standing beneath the pale glow was a man with an eerie aura, his pale skin almost luminescent. His long black hair draped like serpents, and his yellow eyes gleamed with disturbing delight.
Orochimaru.
He looked thoroughly pleased, his lips curling into a twisted smile, like someone who had just uncovered a crucial piece of a maddening puzzle.
He flicked out his tongue and licked his pale lips, savoring the sweet taste of discovery. Then, his gaze turned toward two small children near the doorway.
Kimimaro—a white-haired boy with the composure of a young soldier, stood like a statue. Behind him, Jūgo, a ginger-haired boy with wide, anxious eyes, clenched his fists at his sides, trembling slightly as he tried to hide the fear radiating off him in the face of Orochimaru's suffocating presence.
"Good work, Kimimaro…" Orochimaru's voice was soft, but slithered like venom. "You may return to your quarters now."
Kimimaro bowed deeply. "Yes, Lord Orochimaru," he answered politely, then turned and exited without looking back.
As the door closed, Orochimaru's full attention turned to Jūgo. His stare was that of a predator sizing up prey. He approached slowly, each step measured and deliberate.
"Your name is Jūgo, correct?" he asked, his tone sugar-sweet but poisonous.
Jūgo only nodded faintly, his eyes cast down.
"No need to be afraid… From now on, this will be your home." Orochimaru's smile widened. "You'll live here… in great comfort."
But Jūgo knew—Orochimaru's definition of "comfort" was nothing like his own.
In that chamber stood two beings—one the experimenter, the other raw material. Jūgo was merely untapped potential, a subject for Orochimaru's experiments. The boy's body, capable of absorbing and channeling natural energy instinctively, was a biological miracle.
Orochimaru moved closer, placing a hand on Jūgo's shoulder. His smile didn't waver.
"Relax... From now on, we'll be… very close."
Inside, Orochimaru laughed with glee.
'Finally… the perfect Cursed Seal. With this boy's power… my work will reach its apex.'
Jūgo could only stand there, frozen, in front of a monster.
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Since Naruto's fourth birthday, not much had changed in Kushina's daily life.
She remained diligent in her roles: as a shinobi, a teacher, and above all, a mother. In the midst of her missions and responsibilities, her heart stayed warm—especially whenever she saw Naruto's boundless energy each morning.
She would wake early to prepare breakfast, making sure her son started the day with a full stomach and a smile.
After that, she would meet her three students—Team Kushina, now thirteen years old—who were entering a critical phase of their journey: preparing for the Chūnin Exams.
Their missions, like most Genin teams, were classified as C-Rank: escorting wealthy merchants, civil officials, or delivering sensitive documents. These missions rarely involved professional ninja enemies, but still demanded caution and sharp judgment.
Unlike Team 7's infamous early run-in with Zabuza, Team Kushina had only faced bandits and hired thugs so far.
Yet Kushina never took it easy.
To her, Genin must be trained beyond the minimum.
Kotetsu Hagane, spirited and physically gifted, was steered toward heavy weaponry. After much trial and error, Kushina found axes more suited to him than swords or hammers. Inspired by a long-forgotten concept art of a pink-haired kunoichi wielding a massive weapon, she gave him a golden axe. Kotetsu began developing a hybrid style of swift and heavy attacks.
Izumo Kamizuki, the opposite of Kotetsu, specialized in chakra control and strategy. Kushina honed his control and helped him evolve his Starch Syrup Capturing Field technique into more versatile forms: whips, nets, and even tentacle-like extensions.
The first time he showed her the transparent, agile tentacles, Kushina blushed faintly.
'Don't think weird thoughts…' she whispered to herself while clearing her throat.
Still, she couldn't deny the potential. She simply patted Izumo's shoulder and encouraged further development.
Natsu Hyuga, a serious girl with dark green short hair, was a special case. Initially unsure how to train a Hyuga, Kushina was granted special permission from Hiashi and Hizashi—still indebted to her for a past incident involving Hinata and Denmaru.
Natsu now trained with Main Branch techniques: Jūken, Hakkeshō Kaiten, and even started Hakke Rokujūyon Shō—rare for a Branch family member. Her growth reminded Kushina of her own younger days.
In raw power, Natsu might be slightly stronger than Neji during the Chūnin arc. With Kushina's guidance, her battlefield IQ rivaled that of a Tokubetsu Jōnin.
That afternoon, as the sun began to set, Kushina leaned against a great tree, sipping warm tea as she watched her students from afar.
Kotetsu shattered logs with his axe. Izumo tested the range of his syrup tendrils. Natsu refined her attacks with her Byakugan active.
A soft smile played on Kushina's lips.
'They've grown so much… I'm proud of them.' she thought, munching on a dango she brought from home.