The forests surrounding Konoha were quiet that afternoon. Three figures moved through the forest.
At the front walked Shinji. Behind him walked Shisui Uchiha, hands casually behind his head as if the forest stroll were nothing more than a peaceful afternoon walk.
Trailing just behind them was a much smaller figure.
Eight-year-old Itachi Uchiha.
Despite his young age, his expression held a quiet seriousness as he watched the two older boys.
"Are we almost there?" Itachi asked.
Shisui grinned slightly. "Getting tired already?"
"I am not tired," Itachi replied immediately.
Shinji glanced back over his shoulder. "We're close," he said calmly. "Training ground is about ten more minutes."
The forest path curved slightly ahead. Shinji slowed. Something was wrong.
Shisui noticed it too. His relaxed posture straightened slightly.
"You feel that?" he muttered.
Shinji didn't answer. His eyes had locked onto the path ahead. A figure stood there.Tall. Thin. Unmoving.
Long black hair hung around pale features, and golden eyes with slitted pupils regarded them with quiet amusement.
The faintest smile curved across his lips. Shinji's body immediately tensed. Shisui's eyes widened. They both recognized him instantly.
"Orochimaru."
The name left Shinji's mouth like a warning.
The legendary Sannin tilted his head slightly, amused.
Orochimaru smiled slowly. "Well," Orochimaru said softly, his voice smooth and unsettling, "how perceptive."
Itachi looked between the two older boys.
"Who"
Shinji stepped forward slightly, subtly placing himself between Orochimaru and the others.
"You shouldn't be here," Shinji said.
Orochimaru chuckled quietly.
"No… I suppose not."
His golden eyes slid toward Itachi.
The boy froze under that gaze.
"Hmm…"
Orochimaru studied him like a specimen. "How interesting."
Shisui shifted his stance. "Back off," he said.
Orochimaru ignored him. His eyes moved back to Shinji. "You recognize me," Orochimaru observed.
"Yes," Shinji replied.
For a moment, the forest stood perfectly still. Then Orochimaru's smile widened.
"Good."
His killing intent exploded outward. The pressure hit them like a wave. Even Shinji felt it.
Itachi's breathing hitched. Shisui's Sharingan snapped open instantly.
"Shinji" Shisui started.
"Shisui."
Shinji's voice was sharp.
"Take Itachi and run."
Shisui blinked.
"What"
"Now."
Orochimaru laughed. "Run?" he said softly.
Then he vanished.
Shinji's instincts screamed.
"DOWN!"
The ground where Shisui had been standing erupted as Orochimaru burst upward from beneath it like a striking serpent.
Shinji moved instantly.
Steel flashed.
CLANG.
A kunai intercepted Orochimaru's strike inches from Itachi. Shinji had already stepped between them.
Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with interest. "Oh?"
The two locked there for a split second. Then Shinji shoved Shisui backward.
"GO!"
Shisui didn't argue again. He grabbed Itachi's arm. "We're leaving!"
"But"
"No time!"
They vanished into the trees. Orochimaru watched them go with mild curiosity. Then his gaze returned to Shinji.
"You sent them away," he said.
Shinji raised another kunai. "You're not getting them."
The Sannin chuckled. "How noble."
His tongue briefly flicked across his lips.
"Tell me, child… do you understand who you're speaking to?"
Shinji didn't respond. His stance lowered slightly.
Orochimaru's smile widened. "Ah," he murmured. "You do."
Moments Earlier
The underground laboratory was silent. Torches flickered along the stone walls, casting long shadows across rows of surgical tables and strange equipment. At the center of the room stood two figures.
One was old. One was young.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the man before him with a look of quiet grief.
"Orochimaru…"
The young Sannin stood calmly, as if nothing around them were unusual.
"Sensei."
Hiruzen's eyes drifted across the room. The experiments. The bodies.
"You've gone too far," Hiruzen said quietly.
Orochimaru sighed softly. "You always lacked vision, Sensei." His golden eyes gleamed with ambition. "Think of what could be achieved."
"Enough."
The word cracked like thunder. Hiruzen's chakra surged through the room. "This ends now."
For a moment, they stood facing each other. Student and master.
Then Orochimaru smiled faintly. "I expected that." He turned away.
"You're leaving?" Hiruzen asked.
Orochimaru paused at the doorway. "If you wish to kill me," he said calmly, "you must do it now."
Silence filled the lab. Hiruzen's fists trembled slightly. Memories flooded his mind. A small boy eager to learn. A brilliant student.
Hiruzen closed his eyes. "…Go."
Orochimaru's smile returned. "I knew you would say that." And with that, he disappeared into the darkness.
Present Day
Shinji launched forward. The forest exploded into motion. Steel clashed again as kunai met blade.
Orochimaru moved with terrifying speed, his body twisting unnaturally as he avoided Shinji's strike.
"How impressive," Orochimaru murmured.
Shinji spun low, sweeping for Orochimaru's legs.
The Sannin simply stepped backward, barely moving.
Shinji adjusted instantly. He's testing me.
Orochimaru suddenly lunged.
His arm extended far beyond what should have been possible, stretching toward Shinji's throat like a striking snake.
Shinji twisted aside. The blade grazed his shoulder instead of piercing his neck.
Blood splattered across the leaves.
Orochimaru hummed thoughtfully.
"Your instincts are quite good."
Shinji didn't respond. He attacked again.
Kunai flashed in a rapid combination, high, low, reverse grip. Orochimaru avoided every strike with grace. Then he countered.
His kick slammed into Shinji's ribs.
CRACK.
Shinji flew backward through the trees, crashing into a trunk. Pain exploded through his chest.
He forced himself back to his feet. Orochimaru slowly approached.
"You're remarkably calm," the Sannin said.
His eyes gleamed. "Most children would be paralyzed by fear."
Shinji wiped blood from his mouth. "I'm not most children."
Orochimaru smiled wider. "I can see that."
He moved again. Faster this time. Shinji barely blocked the strike. The impact sent shockwaves through his arms. Orochimaru's face appeared inches from his.
"Tell me," he whispered.
"Have you seen war?"
Shinji's eyes hardened. "Yes."
For a brief moment, something like approval flickered in Orochimaru's gaze. "How fascinating."
Then his knee slammed into Shinji's stomach.
Air blasted from Shinji's lungs as he staggered backward. Orochimaru's blade flashed. Shinji twisted just enough to avoid a fatal blow.
But the sword sliced across his side. Blood poured down his clothes. Shinji dropped to one knee.
Orochimaru tilted his head. "And yet," he said thoughtfully, "you still stand."
Shinji forced himself upright again. His vision blurred slightly. But he didn't move. Didn't retreat.
Orochimaru's smile slowly widened. "Yes…" "Very interesting indeed."
Blood dripped steadily from Shinji's side.
Across the clearing, Orochimaru watched with open fascination. Golden slit pupils studied Shinji the way a scientist might observe an unusual specimen.
"Most impressive," Orochimaru murmured.
Shinji's breathing remained controlled despite the pain spreading through his ribs and stomach. He forced his stance steady, kunai raised again.
Behind his calm expression his mind raced. He's not even trying yet.
That realization was obvious.
Every strike so far… every movement… had the lazy confidence of someone who could end the fight whenever they wished.
Which meant Shinji only had one objective. Delay him.
Shisui would already be halfway back to the village by now. Backup would come.
He just had to stay alive long enough.
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly. "You're thinking," he said.
His voice slid through the air like silk. "How admirable."
Without warning he vanished. Shinji's instincts screamed. He ducked. A blade sliced through the air where his head had been a moment earlier.
The wind of it brushed across his hair.
Shinji twisted low and kicked toward Orochimaru's knee. The Sannin hopped lightly backward, landing soundlessly on a tree branch.
His long hair swayed as he crouched there. Like a serpent resting on a branch. "Your reactions are exceptional," Orochimaru said softly.
Shinji didn't answer. He launched three shuriken in rapid succession. The metal stars cut through the air with deadly accuracy.
Orochimaru moved his head barely an inch. The first shuriken missed. His hand lifted lazily. The second was caught between two fingers. The third struck the tree trunk beside him.
Orochimaru examined the shuriken in his hand with mild interest. Then flicked it back. The projectile screamed through the air.
Shinji barely raised his kunai in time.
CLANG.
Orochimaru chuckled quietly. "Yes… you'll do nicely."
He dropped from the branch. The moment his feet touched the ground the forest erupted again.
Orochimaru lunged forward with terrifying speed. His arm stretched unnaturally, fingers clawing toward Shinji's throat. Shinji twisted sideways and drove his kunai upward. The blade grazed Orochimaru's cheek.
A thin line of blood appeared. For a split second the world seemed to freeze.
Shinji realized what he'd done. He had drawn blood from a Sannin. Orochimaru slowly raised his fingers to the cut.
Examined the blood. Then smiled. A wide, delighted smile. "Oh my…"
His killing intent exploded outward again. The pressure crushed the clearing. "Now you've truly captured my interest."
Shinji's heart pounded. That was a mistake. Orochimaru vanished again. This time Shinji barely saw him move.
A kick slammed into Shinji's ribs.
CRACK.
Pain detonated through his chest as he flew backward into another tree. The trunk splintered from the impact. Before Shinji could recover, Orochimaru appeared directly in front of him.
His sword flashed. Shinji twisted desperately.
The blade carved across his shoulder instead of piercing his heart. Blood sprayed across the bark.
Shinji dropped to one knee. Orochimaru stood above him.
"Children from the war generation are always… different," he said thoughtfully.
His tongue slid out briefly. "Tell me your name."
Shinji forced himself to stand again.
"Shinji."
"Shinji," Orochimaru repeated.
The name rolled slowly off his tongue. "And you chose to stay behind."
Shinji raised his kunai again despite the blood soaking through his sleeve. "You talk too much."
Orochimaru laughed. A low, eerie sound. "Yes… yes I suppose I do."
Then his hands moved.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."
The jutsu detonated from his mouth like a hurricane. The blast tore through the forest. Shinji crossed his arms and braced. The force slammed into him like a wall.
He was thrown across the clearing, rolling violently across the ground before crashing into another tree.
Everything spun. His ears rang. Pain burned through his lungs. Shinji coughed hard. Blood splattered the dirt.
Across the clearing Orochimaru slowly approached again.
His movements were almost leisurely. "You're still alive," he said. There was genuine curiosity in his voice now. Shinji forced his legs to move. Forced himself upright again.
He didn't know how much time had passed. But it couldn't have been long enough. Orochimaru stopped a few feet away. "You intrigue me," the Sannin said quietly. "Such resilience in someone your age."
His golden eyes gleamed. "Perhaps I should take you with me." Shinji's eyes sharpened. Not happening.
He formed hand signs instantly.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Multiple fireballs burst from his mouth, spreading outward in a deadly arc. The flames roared through the clearing. Orochimaru stood within the inferno.
For a moment his form disappeared behind the flames. Then the fire parted. Orochimaru stepped through it completely unharmed.
His skin looked untouched. "Fire," he said thoughtfully.
"How nostalgic."
His sword flashed again. Shinji barely blocked. The impact sent a shockwave through his injured ribs.
Orochimaru pressed the attack now. Shinji blocked what he could. Dodged what he couldn't. But each movement grew slower. Another slash cut across his thigh. Another strike smashed into his shoulder.
Blood soaked the ground beneath them.
Still Shinji stood. Orochimaru's excitement grew.
"Magnificent," he whispered. "You should be dead already."
His blade darted forward again. Shinji twisted.
But not fast enough. The sword pierced straight through his side.
Shinji gasped. The steel burst from his back.
For a moment the world went completely silent. Orochimaru leaned closer. Their faces inches apart.
"And yet…" Orochimaru murmured. "…you kept me occupied."
Then something changed. Orochimaru's eyes shifted. His head tilted slightly. He had sensed it.
More chakra signatures approaching the forest.
Shinji sensed it too. Reinforcements.
Orochimaru slowly pulled the blade free. Shinji collapsed to one knee. Blood poured down his side. The Sannin watched him for another moment.
"You survived longer than most," Orochimaru said calmly. His smile returned. "We will meet again, Shinji."
Then his body melted into the ground like a snake disappearing into its burrow. The clearing fell silent.
Shinji tried to stand again. He collapsed onto the forest floor. His vision dimmed.
The last thing he heard was the sound of multiple shinobi landing in the trees around him.
Then darkness took him.
The forest had gone silent.
High above the clearing, several figures moved quickly through the branches.
ANBU.
At the front of them was an older shinobi moving with surprising speed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi landed lightly on a branch overlooking the destroyed clearing.
His sharp eyes scanned the damage below.
Large craters.
Snake tracks carved into the dirt.
Chakra residue thick enough that even a genin could feel it.
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"…Orochimaru."
Behind him, one of the masked ANBU spoke.
"Lord third, we've located someone."
Hiruzen's head snapped toward the clearing. He dropped from the branch instantly. A boy lay in the center of the ruined battlefield.
Hiruzen froze for half a second.
"…Shinji."
The thirteen-year-old was barely recognizable.
His flak jacket had been torn apart in several places. Blood soaked through the fabric along his side and shoulder. Dirt and ash covered his face.
His chest rose weakly.
But he was alive.
An ANBU crouched beside him and quickly checked his pulse.
"He's still breathing."
Hiruzen exhaled slowly. Only then did the tightness in his chest loosen. The old shinobi knelt beside the boy, carefully examining him.
Burns along his arms.
Deep bruising across his ribs.
Chakra exhaustion so severe the network was barely flowing. Hiruzen's eyes moved across the battlefield again.
The damage told the story clearly. This hadn't been a quick defeat. Shinji had fought. Against someone he should have had no chance against.
Behind him, another ANBU landed.
"No sign of the target."
Hiruzen nodded.
"He felt us coming."
They all knew who he was. Orochimaru. One of the ANBU stepped closer. "Should we pursue?"
Hiruzen was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head.
"No."
The ANBU stiffened slightly.
"But"
"He's already gone," Hiruzen said calmly. "If we chase him now, we'll only find traps."
His gaze dropped back to Shinji.
"And we already nearly lost someone today."
The ANBU said nothing after that.
Moments later, medical shinobi arrived.
They moved quickly, kneeling beside Shinji and beginning treatment.
Green chakra illuminated the clearing as healing jutsu sealed the worst of the wounds.
One medic frowned while examining him.
"…His chakra network is almost completely drained."
Another nodded.
"He pushed himself far past his limit."
Hiruzen didn't look surprised. He had seen enough battlefields to recognize what desperation looked like. And Shinji had clearly fought with everything he had.
One of the medics glanced up.
"If he had fought even a few minutes longer…"
The sentence went unfinished.
Hiruzen understood the implication.
Shinji wouldn't have survived.
A sudden flash of movement came from the trees. The ANBU straightened immediately. A tall figure appeared beside them. A white cloak fluttered lightly in the wind. The back of it bore four bold kanji.
Fourth Hokage.
Minato Namikaze stepped into the clearing. His blue eyes scanned the battlefield quickly.
"…So it's true."
Hiruzen gave a small nod.
"Orochimaru."
Minato's gaze dropped to the unconscious boy on the ground.
"…And Shinji fought him?"
"It appears so."
Minato crouched beside the medics. He studied the destruction around them. Then he looked back at the boy. "…He survived."
Hiruzen allowed himself a faint smile.
"Barely."
Minato exhaled slowly.
"…That's not something many shinobi could claim."
The medics finally finished stabilizing Shinji. "We can move him to the hospital now."
Hiruzen nodded. "Do it."
They carefully lifted him onto a stretcher. As they did, Shinji stirred slightly. His brow twitched. Hiruzen stepped closer. Slowly, Shinji's eyes cracked open.
"…Sensei…"
Hiruzen crouched beside him. "I'm here."
Shinji tried to sit up. Pain shot through his body instantly.
He gasped and collapsed back against the stretcher.
"…Orochimaru…"
His voice was barely audible.
Minato stepped closer.
"He escaped," the Hokage said calmly.
Shinji's jaw tightened weakly.
"…I… couldn't… stop him…"
Hiruzen shook his head. "You were never meant to."
His voice was firm but gentle. "You survived. That's enough."
Shinji's eyelids grew heavy. "…He… was smiling…"
Hiruzen and Minato exchanged a brief look. They both knew exactly what that meant. Orochimaru had enjoyed the fight. Shinji's eyes finally closed again as exhaustion dragged him back into unconsciousness.
The medics lifted the stretcher. "We're taking him to the hospital."
"Go," Minato ordered. In a blur of movement, the medical team disappeared through the trees.
Silence settled over the clearing again.
Minato stood beside Hiruzen, looking over the destroyed battlefield.
"…What do you think?" the Hokage asked quietly.
Hiruzen took a slow breath.
"I think," he said,
"That Orochimaru just found someone interesting."