First Encounter in the Sunlight

I had a dream of twilight.

In the dream, two figures were affectionately intertwined within the halo of the setting sun: a larger youth and a smaller child. The older one was teaching the little one in his arms how to weave hand seals, guiding his fingers one by one.

The youth was incredibly gentle, demonstrating each seal with patience as if tending to a loved one. A heartfelt smile graced his face, warming the hearts of all who beheld it.

The child in his arms learned with great focus, looking up at the youth with eyes full of adoration. From time to time, he would open his small hands and chatter loudly, drawing constant laughter from the youth.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, warm golden light bathed them both, making the scene as beautiful as a mirage.

Looking at them, they seemed to be brothers.

I watched happily in the dream, as if viewing a film, without any sense of intrusion.

But soon, the dreamscape shifted.

In the blink of an eye, the sun neared the horizon, and the child in the youth's arms had gone still.

I looked closer; he had closed his eyes and fallen into a quiet slumber, as if he were dead.

My heart tightened instantly.

As the sun sank lower, the child's figure began to turn translucent. The youth held him tighter and tighter, yet he could no longer touch anything solid.

Finally, he vanished completely.

In the last sliver of twilight, I saw the youth slowly stand up, his steps dazed and heavy as he turned to walk toward the setting sun.

"Hey, wait!" I grew anxious, trying to move toward him, only to find I could no longer control my body.

I looked down to see my own form turning into a phantom, growing increasingly transparent until it disappeared entirely.

I lifted my head in panic, watching helplessly as the youth walked into the distance without looking back.

Eventually, the youth's figure grew smaller, further away, and darker.

The long shadow cast behind him only made him appear more solitary.

Until finally, he sank completely into the darkness.

I felt something hot slide from the corner of my eye. Then, white light permeated the black space; the dream was dismantled, torn apart, and finally returned to the memories of antiquity.

The moment my consciousness returned, I woke up.

I snapped my eyes open, my first instinct to draw my blade. I rolled off the bed, searching for a safe corner in the darkness until I pressed against a cold wall. Only after hearing no sound did I regain my composure, my back soaked in sweat.

Am I still alive?

I carefully touched my body and limbs, finding them intact, though wrapped in white bandages. This brought me a modicum of relief. But the slightest movement sent waves of endless soreness through me; I was exhausted, my entire body aching.

"Bastard..." I gritted my teeth, cold sweat drenching me. My body trembled, chilled by fear.

My memory remained fixed on that sentence: "You can only die here," and... the sword that had pierced my chest.

Beyond that, I had no recollection at all.

I clutched my chest, my eyes stinging, my head throbbing as if it would split open, yet I could not recall what happened afterward.

I only remembered that the strike had been delivered without a shred of mercy.

I could feel the killing intent of Orochimaru. I had no doubt that, in that moment, he truly wanted me dead!

"Teacher... did he really want to kill me? Why?" I held my head, my eyes burning, a twisting pain in my heart far worse than the headache.

Why? Was I not his student?

My vision blurred. I suddenly realized that in the original story, Mitarashi Anko was also his student.

And Anko, too, had been branded by him with a Cursed Seal that offered a slim chance of survival!

I felt a chill run through me, trying to wipe away the tears, but they wouldn't stop.

"But... but if he really wanted to kill me, then why... am I still alive?"

The situation was too complex; I could no longer think.

I curled up in the corner, closing my eyes. Thinking of the blood-red twilight before I fainted, the killing intent in Orochimaru's eyes, the endless pain, and the blade aimed straight for my heart, I felt a surge of terror.

This man who used living people for experiments in the original story, this man who killed his own master without mercy, this man who destroyed his own home of Konoha, this man who viewed ethics and morality as nothing and held only the desire for eternal life in his heart—

What wouldn't he do?

Although he had not yet defected, Orochimaru was still Orochimaru; his cold-blooded, evil nature would never change!

He was too dangerous!

Who knew if he had spared my life only to do something even more terrifying!

I wiped my tears, clutched my wounded shoulder, picked up Murasame, and stood up!

No matter what, I could not stay here any longer!

I had to leave this place first!

By the faint light, I slowly made out my surroundings. It was dark, gloomy, and covered in dust. Glassware, bottles, and jars filled the room, along with various medical instruments.

The space was small and enclosed, resembling a laboratory, which made me even more vigilant.

Undoubtedly, this was a place Orochimaru favored!

I searched everywhere until I finally found an iron rod. I felt my way to the only iron door, intending to use the rod to pry it open, but to my surprise, the door swung open with the slightest push!

I stepped out cautiously into a corridor even dimmer than the last. It stretched on, endless and long, with oil lamps embedded in the walls that only added to the eerie atmosphere.

"What kind of place is this?"

I felt a sense of unease. Based on the layout, this had to be a restricted, off-limits section beneath the Military Headquarters. The complex passages and obscure lighting seemed designed to hide something, making my skin crawl.

Staring into the darkness ahead, I hesitated for only a moment before moving out. I moved quickly, almost at a run, the silence of the corridor broken only by the tap-tap of my own footsteps, which set my nerves on edge.

But soon, I realized this place was a sprawling, complex labyrinth—a veritable nest! I seemed to be walking in circles, losing track of my original direction entirely.

Damn it, I really can't get out!

My anxiety spiked, my heart hammering against my ribs. I didn't dare stop, yet every little rustle or shift in the air made me jump.

I don't know how much longer I walked, but I was exhausted, cold sweat beading on my forehead.

My body still hadn't fully recovered.

Out of options, I found a concealed corner to rest. I slid down against the wall, but the moment my back touched the stone, I heard a sharp click behind me. My heart sank. Sure enough, the entire wall suddenly rotated with a deep rumble, sweeping me into the space behind it!

Damn it, a trap!

I tumbled into the darkness, battered and bruised, the pain so sharp I couldn't even cry out. It took me a long time to recover enough to stand up, trembling, and cautiously explore my surroundings.

"Hmm?"

In the darkness, I slowly realized this was a hidden secret passage, deep and pitch-black, seemingly leading to an even lower level.

"It really is like a snake pit..." I muttered. My ears pricked up as I suddenly heard a faint, rhythmic sound.

From deep within the passage came a series of noises, like waves lapping against a shore—it was truly bizarre.

The wall behind me wouldn't budge. I swallowed hard, hesitated, then gripped Murasame tightly and began to descend step by step.

As I continued downward, my unease grew heavier. I moved slowly, with extreme caution, until I reached the end of the passage.

There stood a heavy iron door, cold and rough to the touch.

I heard the continuous sound of water coming from within. Holding my breath, I carefully pushed the door open just a crack to peek inside. Satisfied that it was empty and posed no immediate threat, I slowly stepped in.

The moment I entered the room, a vast pool of water filled my vision! The azure ripples reflected against the walls, shimmering with the movement of the water.

"Is this... a reservoir?" I was stunned.

To think such a massive space existed underground!

I hurried over in two or three strides and leaned over the edge of the basin. The moment my hand touched the surface, I gasped.

"Hiss... so cold..."

I scooped up a little water. Up close, it was a pale, translucent blue, clear as a gemstone. It rippled beautifully at the slightest touch, looking impossibly exquisite.

I was lost in the sight when suddenly, I heard a splash.

I looked up and saw someone rising from the water at the far end of the pool.

First, a head of long, jet-black hair emerged, dark enough to seem to absorb the light, clinging to the figure like a shadow. Then, thin, frail shoulders and a back rose, inch by inch, from the depths.

The person's skin was deathly pale. As they emerged, I saw large bruises and wounds covering their body—some even fresh, with raw flesh exposed, standing out starkly.

Good god, what is going on here?!

I was startled, caught between retreating and advancing, so I held my breath and crouched down, not daring to make a sound.

The person didn't notice me at all. They braced their wrists against the edge of the pool to pull themselves up, clear water cascading off their body, sending ripples of light dancing across the room.

This... this person...

The more I looked, the more wrong it felt. Their waist was exposed—frighteningly thin and covered in what looked like purple-red welts, as if from bindings.

Bindings?

I leaned in to get a better look, but then it hit me: staring at someone bathing was probably rude! I hesitated and lowered my head, but then thought, What time is it? Who cares about manners when I'm in this mess!

Just as the two voices in my head began to bicker, a heavy thud echoed from the front!

I looked up to see the person had collapsed onto the floor, hunched over, clutching their mouth and nose while coughing uncontrollably. They looked incredibly weak, unable to stand back up.

Seeing this, my heart hammered against my chest. I took a deep breath, gripped Murasame tightly, and after a long struggle, I steeled my resolve and whispered to myself—

Sorry, brother!

The next moment, I lunged forward!

"Don't move!"

I pressed the blade of Murasame against their neck, lowering my voice and trying to make it sound as gruff as possible.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you, but you have to tell me where this is and how I can get out!"

I nudged the blade slightly closer, my tone sharpening: "Speak!"

Yet, faced with my threat, the person acted as if they hadn't heard a thing. They wheezed weakly for a long time—so long that they seemed oblivious to the blade at their throat, and so long that I was starting to panic—before they finally seemed to register my presence and slowly turned their head toward me.

As they turned, Murasame narrowly grazed their neck, leaving a thin line of blood, which actually startled me.

"Hey, don't move around so much!"

I hurried to sheathe my blade, only to suddenly come face-to-face with him.

In an instant, I froze in place.

What... a beautiful person.

In the dim room, flickering reflections of water swept across his face from time to time, and I was momentarily stunned into a daze.

I didn't know how to describe his face; it just felt... as aesthetically pleasing as an ink wash painting.

His features were somewhat hazy at first glance, with contours leaning toward feminine softness that exuded a uniquely distinct charm. Despite having such a gentle face, he possessed a sharp, cold aura; just one look was enough to make one's heart race.

"Wait, you..."

I sensed a hint of familiarity and leaned in closer, catching a clear look at his eyes in the moment the light and shadow shifted.

His pupils were a color different from ordinary people—a deep, cyan-tinged blue, as if veiled by a layer of mountain mist and laced with a profound chill.

As the light danced, his irises appeared even more translucent. I watched them contract and cluster with the shifting light, his delicate eyelashes distinct and clear, looking so beautiful it didn't seem of this world—

And so indifferent it didn't seem mortal.

The room was dark, yet his gaze was piercingly sharp, like this pool of water; just a single touch was enough to chill one to the bone.

"You, you are—"

I stared at him blankly, feeling as though I had seen these eyes somewhere before, yet I couldn't recall where.

Upon seeing me, the youth's expression underwent a subtle change.

I didn't know if it was just my imagination, but although he still stared at me with indifference, the cold current in his eyes faded significantly in an instant.

If he had been a glacier just a moment ago, he was now merely a small ice cube.

"..."

No, why am I obsessing over this???

Regardless of who he is, it doesn't change my resolve to leave this place!

"Hey, you!"

In the dark chamber, just as I was about to speak, my eyes inadvertently swept over his torso. At such close range, dense, overlapping wounds like fish scales were torn open, sending a jolt of horror through my heart!

It was as if... as if he had been subjected to a thousand cuts!

"You, you... how could you..." I stammered for a long time, terrified. Looking at his increasingly pale face and bloodless lips, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Holding the blade in one hand, I fished out some medicine with the other and carefully offered it, saying, "How about... how about you take this first and rest a while?"

No sooner had I finished the sentence than his expression shifted violently. His entire body began to tremble, and he clutched his mouth and nose, coughing his lungs out!

I was startled, vaguely seeing blood seeping through his fingers and trickling down his arm in thick spurts. It had almost turned from coughing blood to vomiting it, and his body kept sliding downward, nearly colliding with the blade several times!

"Hey, are you alright!"

I was terrified, feeling both guilty and anxious!

Good heavens, I didn't even touch you! You can't blame this on me!!

Panicked, I reached out to steady him. The moment my skin touched his, it felt like I had brushed against solid ice, the chill traveling from my fingertips straight to my heart.

It was also at this moment that I sensed danger.

It was a hair-raising sensation, a sudden shift in the environment, surging toward me like a violent storm!

Sure enough, the moment the blade left his neck, the youth's gaze changed abruptly. The sickly pallor vanished, his left hand gripped my shoulder in a death lock, and his right hand extended two fingers. Chakra flickered at his fingertips as he struck several points on my abdomen in rapid succession! It was so fast I couldn't even react!

Pressure points?!

My pupils constricted, and I tried to fight back, but my entire body went numb. I couldn't move an inch, couldn't even let out a scream, and then everything went black as I collapsed.

Damn it!