Orochimaru

"Let them through!"

Just as Kabuto and the others were about to clash with the newly arrived Otogakure ninja, the one leading them seemed to receive an order.

He stood there, stunned for a moment, then snorted and beckoned to his companions.

The group immediately split to either side, opening a path.

"Please, come this way. Lord Orochimaru wishes to see you."

Yan lifted his chin slightly and was the first to step into Otogakure.

Kabuto, Itachi, and the others hurried after him.

They kept their kunai in hand, remaining especially wary as they passed the Otogakure ninja.

Only after Yan and his group had passed through safely did they finally relax a little.

Once inside Otogakure, they were met with a gloomy, dim scene.

The scattered buildings resembled monsters lurking in the shadows, exuding an eerie air.

The roads were rough and uneven, and a thin mist hung in the surroundings, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

The dilapidated houses seemed to have weathered countless years. Cracks covered some of the walls, as if they might collapse at any moment.

Strange noises echoed through the still air now and then, stirring a trace of unease in their hearts.

The air was tinged with the faint smell of herbs and decay, as if the village were hiding secrets unknown to the outside world.

Just then, a silent Otogakure ninja stepped forward and gave a slight nod, signaling for them to follow.

His steps were steady and firm, making faint echoes in the quiet village.

Yan said nothing. He followed close behind the guide with Kabuto and the others, looking relaxed, as if he wasn't worried in the least that they might be walking into a trap.

Their figures wound through the narrow streets, passed shadowy corners, and eventually reached the entrance to a hidden basement.

A chill emanated from the entrance, as if it led to another, mysterious world.

The ninja leading them stopped and gestured for them to enter. Then he remained where he was, apparently expecting Yan and the others to go down by themselves.

Yan's lips slowly curved into a smile. He straightened his spotless clothes and led the way down the steps, with Kabuto, Itachi, and the others following in turn.

The basement passage was dark and damp. Torches flickered along the walls, their weak light barely illuminating the way ahead.

Water dripped constantly from the ceiling, each drop ringing out sharply in the silent passage.

The strange surroundings made Yan shake his head.

Who knows what Orochimaru's deal is. Sure, you're doing research, but why make the place so gloomy and creepy? Are you trying to make sure everyone knows you're the villain?

As they went deeper, an inexplicable tension settled over the group. The passage seemed endless, and every step felt as if it carried them further into the darkness.

Ten minutes later.

The passage gradually came to an end, revealing a single closed door before them.

Yan stepped forward and pushed it open.

A glaring light fell across their faces, making Itachi and the others squint.

Once their eyes had adjusted, Yan saw one of the Sannin: Orochimaru, who had defected from Konoha.

His pale face looked especially sinister in the dim light, and his golden, slit-pupiled eyes gleamed eerily, sending a chill through anyone who saw them.

As they entered the laboratory, the pungent smell of chemicals mixed with a faint stench of decay washed over them.

All sorts of strange instruments and devices were scattered about. Unknown specimens soaked in glass containers, exuding an eerie air.

The stench made Yan cough. He fanned the air with his hand and said, "Orochimaru, couldn't you make this place a little nicer? It looks like the lair of some evil villain."

In the center of the laboratory, Orochimaru sat quietly in a huge chair, his gaze cold and inscrutable.

He raised his head slightly to look at Yan and the others, a meaningful smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

"In Konoha's eyes, isn't that exactly what I am?"

Orochimaru's voice was low and hoarse. He flicked out his tongue now and then, making Yan feel distinctly uncomfortable.

Yan frowned and looked around. "That was then. Soon, you won't be a missing-nin anymore. Konoha welcomes you back!"

Orochimaru slowly rose to his feet.

His figure looked especially tall beneath the dim lights.

"Since when did the Uchiha Clan get to make decisions for Konoha?"

Yan gave a cold laugh. "Hmph. Orochimaru, I refuse to believe you don't know about the changes in Konoha. Why pretend otherwise?"

The corners of Orochimaru's mouth slowly lifted, and his narrow eyes narrowed.

"My foolish, hidebound teacher actually backed down. It's truly hard to believe!"

"Heh!" Yan folded his arms and sneered. "Senju Tobirama already gave the word. What could he say?"

"Are you so desperate for his attention that you have to provoke him?"

Orochimaru shook his head and walked over to the laboratory table. He picked up a test tube and examined it closely as he spoke.

"Even so, I won't return to Konoha. My dream has never changed."

"Konoha... would only hold me back!"

A mocking smile appeared on Yan's face. He glanced at the black cloak with red clouds Orochimaru was wearing and said, "So you chose to join some obscure little organization?"

Orochimaru's brow twitched, and the hand holding the test tube trembled slightly.

A little organization? Or the Akatsuki Organization?

But he quickly adopted an indifferent air. "Uchiha Yan, the waters of the Ninja World run deeper than you imagine. Being too arrogant is never wise."

"Thanks for the warning!" Yan smiled faintly, then countered, "The waters of the Ninja World are indeed deep. I'll grant you that."

"But I know more about the organization you're in than you do!"

As he spoke, Yan wandered around the underground laboratory a few times, stopping to examine anything that caught his interest.

Orochimaru's eyes shifted slightly. He set down the test tube, picked up a nearby file, and began reading it, casually asking, "Uchiha Yan, there's a time and place for boasting."

"You're insulting the organization I belong to right in front of me. Aren't you afraid I'll make sure none of you leave?"

"..."

Yan looked at the specimen in a container and couldn't help reaching out to touch it from a distance. For some reason, a smile suddenly appeared on his face as he said, "You can't keep us here. Besides, you don't feel any loyalty to the Akatsuki Organization, do you?"

"You only stayed with the Akatsuki Organization because of Pain's Rinnegan!"

"..."

The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the laboratory turned tense.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, set down the file, and turned to stare directly at Yan.

Now he was certain.

Yan had indeed been talking about the Akatsuki Organization, and he even knew the name of its leader—not to mention that Pain had the Rinnegan.

After they stared at each other for a long while,

Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and licked his face, then sneered, "Uchiha Yan, I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to know so much!"