"Corruption? Darkness?"
Orochimaru's voice slithered through the tense air like a serpent in the grass, echoing his observations with eerie calm.
"Nawaki, you must accept the diversity of the human heart.
Some people are kind. Some are cruel. That's a fact of life — unchangeable. The misdeeds of the wicked are inevitable.
Some use dark methods to reach noble ends... while others use noble means to mask dark intentions.
There are things that appear righteous, yet conceal shadows. And things that seem vile… but strive toward the light.
Nothing is absolutely right or wrong — you must consider the phase in which it exists."
His words left the two young ninja from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans utterly bewildered.
But Nawaki nodded, solemn. What Orochimaru-sensei says is true… even if I can't accept it.
Why? Why can't everyone in the village just work together to make things better? Why must there always be darkness?
Pushing the thoughts aside, Nawaki knelt and pressed his fingers to the ground. He activated the Senju Sensory Secret Technique, feeling for minute tremors beneath the earth.
"Enemy attack! Behind the boulder at one o'clock — someone's hiding!"
He surged forward without hesitation, his two teammates following fast behind.
As the de facto squad leader, Nawaki would never let his comrades take unnecessary risks.
The most dangerous spot — I'll handle it myself. No matter who my teammates are, this is my resolve as someone who dreams of becoming Hokage.
Sounds of battle erupted behind the boulder.
Orochimaru approached at his own unhurried pace.
Seconds later, the noise ceased.
Nawaki emerged, dragging the corpse of an Iwagakure ninja.
"Sensei, there is a scouting unit nearby."
"Mm. You take command — eliminate them."
The three students scattered to fulfill their mission while Orochimaru continued his slow march forward.
With Nawaki's current strength, ordinary Iwa-nin were no match.
Only in the presence of jōnin — or elite jōnin — would Orochimaru intervene.
The second Iwa-nin was sneakier, burrowing underground using the Earth Style: Hidden Fish in Earth Technique.
But even that couldn't fool Nawaki. The vibrations below the surface gave it away.
Yako, deep underground, pretended not to notice the pursuing Nawaki. Only when he was near did Yako leap out and Body Flicker toward the trap.
Yellow Dog Unit Captain had prepared a devious ambush one kilometer ahead, far enough to stay out of Orochimaru's sensory range.
All Yako had to do was lure the target in.
A narrow ravine appeared ahead, its entrance masked by a curve behind stacked stones.
And past the curve… the trap waited.
Yako heard slicing air behind him — turned and deflected three shuriken with his kunai.
Nawaki appeared instantly, driving a fist toward Yako's face.
Yako raised an arm in defense.
A crushing force exploded into his elbow.
The Senju style… brutal and overwhelming.
And this kid hasn't even taken the Chūnin Exams yet?!
Nawaki, too, was surprised.
This guy's body is tough. The impact traveled through his arm, but his shoulder, waist, everything else barely moved. It's not just muscle training — his entire cellular structure must be reinforced.
Yako's bloodline wasn't particularly advanced, but it was Senju — superior to normal human physiology.
Just then, another Iwa-nin appeared from behind the boulder, ready to assist.
"Forget me!" Yako shouted. "Deliver the intel! I'll hold him off!"
The other ninja didn't hesitate — turned and vanished behind the rock.
Intel transfer?!
Nawaki didn't waste another second. He formed a seal.
No more testing. No more restraint.
What did they discover? Could they have learned about the command camp's advance?
Just as Nawaki had suspected — after Mitokado Homura's encounter with the Cloud-nin, Konoha's main command had begun preparing to shift forward.
Kumogakure was restless. They saw Iwagakure as wounded prey — ripe for a fatal blow.
This intel must not escape.
He hurled a shuriken, then wove signs:"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
From afar, Orochimaru nodded with quiet approval.
Nawaki's already mastered such a complex A-rank jutsu... truly a Senju prodigy.
That idiot Jiraiya still hasn't learned it — even though it's Sensei Hiruzen's signature creation.
Hundreds of shuriken exploded outward like a cloud of locusts, darkening the air.
From every direction they came, spinning with a sound like grinding saw blades.
Yako deflected a few — burst into white smoke.
Clones.
But too many remained.
Shuriken struck his head. His throat. Chest. Gut.
Yako collapsed.
Nawaki was confident — the wounds were fatal.
As death claimed him, Yako saw Nawaki rush past the boulder and vanish into the ravine.
Boom!
An enormous explosion rocked the valley.
Yellow Dog Unit Captain had personally set the explosive tag trap. Even Orochimaru might not have noticed it immediately.
Nawaki… was still too green.
Yako died with a bitter smile.
Darkness. Then moonlight.
Yako opened his eyes and saw a pale full moon above.
He was back — ten days in the past.
On the trail hunting Senju Haku.
[Arc of the Waning Moon Activated!
You may revive once per month, returning to the previous full moon.
Reward: One draw:
A-Rank Jutsu – Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu (Beginner);
Senju Sensory Secret Technique;
Kekkei Genkai – Forest of the Senju (Mid-High, Refinable).]<
...All of them are tempting.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu — the hallmark technique of Hiruzen Sarutobi and his students. A top-tier jutsu in the realm of weapon arts. Hiruzen. Orochimaru. Minato Namikaze — all used it.
The second reward — Senju Sensory Secret Technique — was equally valuable.
Sensor-types were precious, often central to squad tactics. The Hyūga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans all contributed key sensory roles to field teams.
Sensing was Yako's greatest weakness.
If he could learn this technique and detect enemy positions beforehand, his survival rate would skyrocket.
The method? Place your fingertips to the ground and feel for enemy tremors through the earth.
And I already have Earth Release… I really want that one.
But the third choice…
Kekkei Genkai: Forest of the Senju.
A higher-grade version than before — this one rated "Mid-High."
If I choose this, I'll have the same bloodline purity as the more talented Senju… like Senju Haku, the one we're hunting now. I could probably make jōnin by age twenty.
Secret techniques and jutsu… those can be learned later. But Kekkei Genkai? That's fate.
And with the Senju on the brink of extinction, I might never get another shot.
While the squad rested, Yako quietly made his decision.
He chose the third option:Kekkei Genkai – Forest of the Senju.