The roar of the crowd still echoed in my ears as I left the Chunin Exams arena, my victory over Neji Hyuga cementing my name among Konohagakure's rising stars. The village was a whirlwind of celebration, its streets packed with spectators and shinobi, but beneath the surface, a darker current stirred. I moved through the throng, my hood low to conceal my four eyes—a trait I was born with—my towering frame, over six feet and rippling with chakra-enhanced muscle, parting the crowd like a blade. My modifications pulsed with power: a second heart amplified my chakra flow; expanded lungs fueled endurance that let me outlast any foe. My physique, sculpted for dominance like Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen, was a weapon forged for my goals—power, control, freedom. The exams had been a stage, showcasing my skills—Dismantle, Cleave, Mirror Mirage Technique, genjutsu, and medical ninjutsu—while advancing my dual paths: joining Sasuke's defection to Orochimaru for Snake Sage Mode's serpentine power and securing Tsunade's mentorship for her Yin Seal and medical expertise. But the finals had also exposed me to Konoha's scrutiny—Hiruzen, Danzo, Kakashi—and now, a new threat loomed: the invasion of Konoha by Orochimaru's forces and the Sand.
My gamer instincts, honed by Baldur's Gate and Warhammer 40,000, sensed a plot twist. Orochimaru's presence during the Forest of Death, his Curse Seal on Sasuke, and his cryptic offer to me were pieces of a larger game. The Sound Four were close, Sasuke's defection imminent, and I was ready to follow, drawn by Snake Sage Mode's promise of venomous chakra, viper-like agility, and regeneration. Yet, Tsunade's approval after my match with Neji was a step toward her Yin Seal, a chakra reservoir that could fuel my ultimate technique, the Malevolent Shrine. The invasion would be chaos—a perfect cover to slip Konoha's leash and pursue my ambitions.
The invasion began mid-festival, as the finals' excitement peaked. Gaara's match with Sasuke, interrupted by Kakashi, resumed in the arena, but the air grew heavy with unnatural chakra. A genjutsu swept the stands, lulling spectators into sleep, and explosions rocked the village as Sound and Sand shinobi attacked. Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, faced Hiruzen on a rooftop, their battle shaking the sky. Team Seven was scattered—Naruto chasing Gaara with Shikamaru's team, Sasuke pursuing them, Kakashi rallying defenses. I stayed near the arena, my senses sharpened by my modified body, tracking the Sound Four's chakra signatures. They were here, Orochimaru's elite, and their presence meant Sasuke's defection was unfolding.
A Sound shinobi—a hulking figure with bone-like protrusions—charged me, his chakra laced with killing intent. I dodged, my enhanced reflexes letting me weave through his strikes, and wove a Mirror Mirage Technique. Ten illusory clones surrounded him, their footsteps and gestures—shifting stances, twitching hands—so lifelike he swung wildly, hitting air. I tapped his chest with Cleave, the contact-based technique leaving a shallow cut that sent him staggering. My second heart kept my chakra steady, my lungs fueling long bursts of speed. A shadow genjutsu, inspired by Shikamaru, froze him, his body rigid as I knocked him out with a precise strike.
The village was a battlefield. Flames licked the rooftops, screams pierced the air, and Konoha's shinobi fought desperately. I moved through the chaos, my towering frame intimidating foes before a fight began. A Sand puppeteer attacked, their scorpion-like construct launching poisoned needles. I countered with Dismantle, its invisible chakra blades slicing the puppet's strings, and used a confusion genjutsu, inspired by Ino, to flood their senses with flickering images—me in a dozen places. They faltered, and I closed the distance, Cleave cracking their puppet's core, forcing a retreat.
Amid the fighting, I spotted Tsunade, her strength shattering a Sound shinobi's barrier with a single punch. She was a force, her Yin Seal glowing, her medical ninjutsu saving lives mid-battle. I joined her, using my own medical skills to stabilize a wounded chunin, channeling chakra to close his gashes. "Not bad, kid," she grunted, her eyes sharp. "Stick with me, and you'll learn to do more than patch-ups."
"I'm ready," I said, my voice steady. Her mentorship was closer, the Yin Seal within reach. I practiced in stolen moments, channeling chakra to my forehead, the diamond pattern holding for minutes now, storing a growing reserve. My medical ninjutsu let me regenerate bone and muscle, a foundation for Snake Sage Mode's healing.
The Sound Four found me near the village gates, their chakra cold and predatory. Kidomaru, with his spider-like limbs, led them, his eyes glinting. "Archon," he said, his voice a hiss. "The master wants you. The Uchiha's leaving tonight. Come, or die."
I met his gaze, my four eyes hidden but unyielding. "I'm coming. But I'm no one's pawn."
He smirked, gesturing to the others—Jirobo, Sakon, Tayuya. "Prove it. Follow us, and survive."
Sasuke was nearby, his Curse Seal flaring as he fought off Konoha's pursuit. I moved to join him, but a Konoha jounin—Asuma Sarutobi—blocked my path, his chakra blades gleaming. "Archon, stand down," he said, his voice firm. "You're not leaving."
In Baldur's Gate, betrayal was a calculated risk. I wove a Mirror Mirage Technique, ten clones surrounding Asuma, their illusions hypnotic. He countered, his blades slicing through them, but my confusion genjutsu disoriented him, images flickering in his mind. I darted past, my speed a blur, and tapped his arm with Cleave, the cut shallow but enough to slow him. "Sorry," I muttered, slipping into the shadows.
I caught up with Sasuke and the Sound Four outside the village, the forest cloaked in night. Sasuke's eyes burned with resolve, his Curse Seal pulsing. "You made it," he said, his voice low. "Let's go."
The Sound Four led us through the woods, their loyalty to Orochimaru absolute. I stayed alert, my senses tracking their chakra, my modified body ready for betrayal. Snake Sage Mode was my goal—its venomous chakra, viper-like reflexes, and regeneration a perfect fit for my ambitions. I'd practiced sensing natural energy, my second heart and lungs handling the strain, and mimicked sage effects, infusing a kunai with stinging chakra that corroded bark. The Ryuchi Cave awaited, and I'd conquer its trials.
But Tsunade's path wasn't abandoned. Her Yin Seal and medical ninjutsu were key to mastering my body, and I'd return to Konoha one day, claiming her knowledge. The invasion had shown her strength, and I'd prove myself worthy of her mentorship. My Yin Seal practice was improving, the chakra reservoir growing, and my medical skills could now regenerate organs, a synergy with sage mode's healing.
As we fled, Konoha's pursuit faded, but Naruto's chakra flared in the distance, chasing Sasuke. The Sound Four smirked, ready to intercept, but I stayed focused. Orochimaru's lair was ahead, a dungeon promising power and danger. The invasion had shattered Konoha's peace, Hiruzen's death a shock I'd felt even in the chaos. Danzo's shadow would tighten, Kakashi's suspicions deepen, but I was Archon, a gamer reborn, playing a long game. Snake Sage Mode and the Yin Seal were my endgame, and this defection was the next move in a path no shinobi could stop.