A New Snake In The Shinobi World

The Land of Grass was a place of towering mountains and dense forests.

Wearing a black cloak Kushina walked halfway up the mountainside, her eyes lingering on the slender figure ahead. Her thoughts were complicated.

They had stayed at the orphanage for three days.

Her guest room had been right next to Orochimaru's. While others might have been oblivious, there was no way she, staying so close, wouldn't notice what was happening.

Every night at nine o'clock, when the orphanage's lights went out, Nono would find a reason to slip into Orochimaru's room.

From the sounds she overheard, Kushina could tell the kind of relationship they had.

She had heard such noises before long ago, when she was still a child, from Tsunade.

Kushina couldn't understand why accomplished women like Nono or even Mikoto were willing to disregard Tsunade's existence and become entangled with Orochimaru.

Sure, Orochimaru was powerful, far beyond the average ninja. But multiple women at the same time? Didn't that seem strange?

"Nothing. Just stay here and wait for me," Orochimaru replied, his golden eyes narrowing as he gazed at the concealed mountainside in front of them.

Without waiting for Kushina to respond, Orochimaru's body sank into the earth and disappeared into the mountainside.

Using the earth as a medium to move underground was a basic technique for most Earth Release ninjas, though the speed and stealth involved varied depending on the user.

Kushina nodded obediently. Once Orochimaru was gone, she took a moment to glance around.

The area was remote and far from any major road. The mountainside ahead had an unusual air about it.

Roughly ten minutes later, Orochimaru re-emerged, his face calm and unreadable.

Without saying a word, he turned and started walking again.

Kushina was puzzled by what Orochimaru had just done but didn't dare ask.

Orochimaru, for his part, didn't feel the need to explain.

Only he knew the significance of this place.

"Just an ordinary hideout," he thought to himself.

As a child, Orochimaru had come to this location and caught a glimpse of Madara here using a scouting fly. Back then, he hadn't been strong enough to get any closer.

But after learning that the battle at Kannabi Bridge had ended, this memory resurfaced, prompting him to investigate.

He hoped to find a trace of the dying Uchiha Madara or perhaps White Zetsu or Black Zetsu. That would change everything.

However, after scouring the hideout, he found nothing.

The protective barriers were long gone, and even with his advanced sensory abilities, Orochimaru couldn't detect any sign of life.

It was clear that this place was just a former refuge, abandoned long ago.

"Sir, where are we headed next?" Kushina asked.

"We're going to the lab to focus on experiments. We'll wait for the war to end," Orochimaru said bluntly.

He had no intention of getting involved in the war any further.

With the Kannabi Bridge already secured, only Kirigakure remained as a threat. But in Orochimaru's eyes, Konoha had more than enough capable ninjas to handle the Mist Village on their own. ȓâℕȪʙÊŠ

It wasn't worth his time or effort.

Besides, the lab in the southeast was the perfect place for him to conduct research and maintain contact with Tsunade.

---

A Few Months Later—Konoha Year 47

The outcome of the war was exactly as Orochimaru had expected.

Kirigakure's forces were formidable, and their combat prowess rivaled that of Konoha. However, as the aggressors, they faced logistical disadvantages.

The long supply lines and the nature of the conflict meant that Kirigakure's losses were always greater than Konoha's during battles.

---

In a small town, chaos erupted.

Several figures wearing Kirigakure forehead protectors moved through the streets, their moisture-resistant uniforms glinting in the light. They slaughtered indiscriminately, their laughter echoing through the air.

"Hahaha!"

"Kill them all!"

"Hey, Juzo, get to work already!"

A terrified woman shielded a young boy, no older than three or four, behind her. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with one of the masked Kirigakure ninjas.

"Please… don't hurt my child. I'm begging you!"

Without a word, the ninja raised his blade and struck her down. Blood splattered across the ground as the woman collapsed.

"Mother…!" The boy cried, falling to the ground and clutching his mother's lifeless body.

The blood pooled beneath them.

"Tch. What a racket," muttered another man as he approached. He was tall, with his beard tied into a whip, an eyepatch over one eye, and a cruel smile playing on his lips.

"Jinin, what's the point of killing unarmed civilians?"

The speaker was Juzo Biwa, a man with short black hair, sharp teeth, and a cross-shaped scar on the right side of his face. A large blade rested on his back as he frowned at Jinin's actions.

As brutal as Kirigakure ninjas were, even they rarely stooped to targeting defenseless civilians.

"What's the point?" Jinin replied indifferently. "This is Konoha territory. Who's to say there aren't disguised Konoha ninjas hiding among them? Besides, killing's fun, isn't it?"

He smirked, cleaning his blade.

Another ninja chimed in, laughing. "Yeah! I haven't killed anyone in two days. Feels good to let loose!"

"Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

As the others joined in the laughter, Juzo shook his head and turned his gaze toward the horizon. A heavy feeling settled in his chest.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" he muttered to himself.

"Alright, let's get moving," Jinin ordered. "We've killed enough here. If we linger too long, Konoha's forces will catch up."

From the edges of the town, more figures emerged, joining the group. Seven in total, each carrying a unique weapon.

They were Kirigakure's elite, powerful enough that even Konoha's elite Jonin would struggle against them.

"Let's finish the mission and get out of here," one of them said.

"Finish it? I just want to kill more," another replied with a grin.

"Don't worry," Jinin said, "there are plenty more to kill up ahead."

"Stop right there!"

The sudden shout startled the group. They turned to see a lone figure standing behind them.

At first, they were stunned. Then, they burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! A brat!"

"This kid's tone sure is cocky. Think he's strong?"

"Stronger than you, maybe, Raiga," one quipped, laughing again.

"Little brat, let me help you out…"

But before the ninja could finish his sentence, a chilling voice rang out.

"None of you are leaving here alive. Summoning Jutsu: Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!"

***

Checkout my new ff: Heavenly Restriction User of the Gojo Clan: I Refuse to Be Cut in Half.

Check Author's Thoughts for a direct link.

For every 100 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: /Blownleaves.@@novelbin@@