Ryūchi Cave

Gold Coins: 5000

Yan glanced at his panel. Since taking that brutal elbow strike, he had been absorbed in recovering and inventing an unofficial history for his attacker. He had barely earned any Gold Coins.

Still, 5,000 Gold Coins would do for now. His weaknesses were his limited Chakra reserves and lack of ranged attacks, and training and Orochimaru's experiments could gradually make up for both.

After three days of travel, the three of them finally reached the entrance to an underground laboratory.

"Yan, Anko, Elder Akimichi—thanks for the effort."

A pale-faced Orochimaru emerged from the laboratory.

Everyone believed Orochimaru was still commanding the front lines. In truth, once the Kumogakure front had stabilized, he had handed full command to Shikaku Nara.

Shikaku was putting on a show to exploit the enemy's faulty intelligence. Before Kumogakure could regroup after its recent defeat, he planned to concentrate their forces against Iwagakure and end the war for good.

Yan, Anko, and the other core fighters had also been reassigned to the Iwagakure Front.

Once she had handed over the Sharingan, Anko said goodbye to her teacher and prepared to leave. Yan stayed where he was.

"Yan, what's wrong?"

Yan patted Anko's head. "Go on to the Iwagakure Front. I have something to take care of."

Anko frowned. The last time Yan had gone off alone, he had nearly...

"No. I'm coming with you!"

Yan looked to Orochimaru for help, hoping he would assert his authority as her teacher.

But Orochimaru merely smiled, unmoved by his look.

"I'm going to Ryūchi Cave to sign a summoning contract. There are lots of snakes in there."

"I'm not afraid. I can sign a contract with one too."

Yan felt a headache coming on. Signing a contract was only a side errand for him.

If Anko went along, she would insist on following him when she saw he still had business there afterward.

Yan leaned close to Anko's ear. "Go on ahead. I'll come find you as soon as I'm done."

His breath brushed Anko's cheek. Her face slowly flushed, and her voice turned flustered.

"Mm, n-no... No. I'm going."

Orochimaru had enjoyed the show long enough. He stepped in to smooth things over.

"All right, Anko, you can go with him. I gave Yan a secret mission. After he signs his contract, he'll take care of something for me. You mustn't follow him then."

Still blushing, Anko hesitated before nodding.

The two set off toward Ryūchi Cave. Torifu Akimichi and Orochimaru watched them go, exchanging knowing smiles.

"Orochimaru, you've changed."

Torifu turned to Orochimaru. They had not met often, but he remembered the last time: Orochimaru had seemed both indifferent to life and hungry for it.

That contradiction had vanished. In its place was an even deeper obsession.

"People change, don't they? Just like your old comrades."

Torifu's eyes darkened. He remembered the Second Hokage leading them on their final mission together.

Yes. Danzo, Koharu, Homura, Hiruzen, Kagami... We've all changed.

Meanwhile, Yan and Anko followed the map Orochimaru had given them to the area around Ryūchi Cave.

"But... where's the entrance?"

Anko looked around the forest in confusion. Trees blocked their view in every direction.

"Don't tell me we have to dig our way in!"

After racking her brains, Anko came up with that possibility. Yan smiled and scanned their surroundings until he spotted a path worn by human footsteps.

He led Anko along the narrow trail. Ahead of them came the sound of a tree falling.

They quickened their pace. At the source of the noise, they found an orange-haired man with an axe in one hand and an entire fallen tree hoisted onto his shoulder, ready to leave.

Anko was startled. No ordinary person could lift a whole tree barehanded.

Yan narrowed his eyes. That hair color reminded him of Jūgo.

"Hello, sir. Do you know if there are any giant snakes nearby?"

The orange-haired man turned at Yan's question. Seeing only two children, he advised them,

"It's dangerous around here. You kids should hurry home."

Only then did Yan realize he had left for this mission without his Forehead Protector. He cleared his throat, took it from his pack, and put it on.

"Mister, we're ninja."

The man set down the tree and took a closer look at Yan's Forehead Protector.

"Konoha ninja, huh? My name's Ōki. There aren't any giant snakes around here, but there are rumors of snake-headed humanoid monsters. They say anyone who enters their lair never comes out."

Yan's eyes lit up. "That's exactly why we're here. Can you take us there?"

With that, he took out several hundred-ryō notes and offered them to Ōki.

Ōki hesitated. It was dangerous, after all. But his gaze settled on the money, and he finally nodded.

"I'll only take you as far as the outskirts."

Ōki shouldered the tree and led them deeper into the forest.

"Uncle Ōki, you're really strong."

Ōki scratched his head. "Everyone in our village is strong. But..."

"People in our village are quick-tempered. If you run into anyone else, try not to speak to them..."

As though he had touched on something taboo, Ōki fell silent. A flash of savagery crossed his eyes.

Anko had the sense not to press him. Yan gave nothing away, but he understood why Ōki had stopped talking.

In the original story, Orochimaru had developed the Cursed Seal using Jūgo. It seemed Jūgo's entire clan possessed bodies capable of absorbing Natural Energy.

But as they grew older, they might absorb more Natural Energy than they could control. That could make the villagers unstable, perhaps even transform them as it had Jūgo.

In that respect, they were rather like the Uchiha.

"We're here."

Ōki stopped and pointed to the dense undergrowth ahead.

"They say snake-headed humanoid monsters lure people in there and eat them."

Yan thanked Ōki. After one worried look at the two of them, Ōki offered no further warning and turned away. Not getting involved in ninja affairs was how ordinary people survived.

Yan and Anko headed forward.

"Yan. Anko."

As they emerged from the undergrowth, someone ahead called their names.

"Dad? And Teacher Taro!"

Anko stared at the two figures in shock. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

Mitarashi Masamune raised an eyebrow. "Ha! You two eloped and ran away from Konoha, and you've got the nerve to ask why we're here?"

"Get over here!"

Anko flinched. "Wh-who eloped with this guy? I... I..."

Masamune snorted and walked toward them.

"So now you dare lie to your father..."

Yan watched Anko's reaction with interest. The clumsy Genjutsu could not fool him, but seeing her like this was entertaining.

"Anko, come home with your dad!"

Masamune reached for Anko. A Kunai plunged hard into his abdomen.

"My dad would never dare talk to me like that."

"Release!"

The illusion vanished. Anko stood with her Kunai extended, and no one was in front of her.

A dark cave now stood before them.

"Hehe. I never thought anyone would come to Ryūchi Cave after all these years."

A woman in a kimono, her hair tied in a bun, floated out of the cave.

When she saw Yan's Forehead Protector, she frowned.

"What's your connection to Orochimaru?"

"We're Orochimaru's students. We came to sign summoning contracts."

The woman shook her head in disappointment. "I thought we'd finally have some newcomers to play with before enjoying a good meal."

"I'm Ichikishimahime, a servant of the White Snake Sage. Follow me."

The two followed Ichikishimahime into Ryūchi Cave. The damp, dark cavern made Anko a little uneasy.

Ichikishimahime brought up the Genjutsu they had just faced. "That was a test for humans entering the outer grounds. It brings the forbidden scene they desire most to life. Those who fail are eaten by the beasts outside. Those who pass can face our trials—and will probably be eaten by me or one of the other snakes afterward."

Ichikishimahime laughed, then changed the subject.

"But... that Genjutsu could only peer into the girl's heart. It couldn't read the boy at all. Interesting. Orochimaru's male student, what's your name?"

Yan stole a glance at Anko. So that was the forbidden scene hidden in her heart.

Anko noticed his look. Blushing, she reached over and pinched his waist.

"Ah—my name's Homura Uchiha, and this is Mitaraishi Anko."

Yan pretended it hurt and gently caught Anko's hand.

The three chatted as they walked. Before long, Ichikishimahime led them into a temple.

Yan frowned. This looked like the White Snake Sage's dwelling in the original story.

But he had only come to find a summon. Still, paying his respects to the master of this place was reasonable enough.

But then...

"I was supposed to take you straight to the snakes so you could sign your contracts. But the White Snake Sage has just sent word that she wants to meet you both."