Consumed by darkness

Without striking or imposing his presence, his name and past victories alone were enough to make the rising talents of the Shinobi World bow their heads, not daring to step out of line.

Where Team 7 stood, Naruto stared blankly at Lin Chen as he approached at an unhurried pace, his eyes filled with pure admiration and longing; Sakura's mind was calm and clear, having long since accepted the vast gulf between them without any lingering obsession with comparison; only Sasuke Uchiha stood with his back rigid as iron, every muscle taut, his fingertips digging deep into his palms as tiny beads of blood silently seeped out. The sharp pain tried to drag him back to reason, but it could not suppress the almost pathological madness surging within him.

His scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan remained fixed on Lin Chen without blinking. There was no warmth toward a peer in his eyes, none of the reverence that everyone else felt from the depths of their souls, only bone-deep inferiority, resentment, and a warped craving magnified beyond measure. The sight of every talent bowing his head and the entire venue falling silent had pierced his heart like a poisoned thorn, repeatedly churning through every scrap of pride he had left.

They were the same age, in the same class, and had started from the same point. Once, he had been the orphan of the Uchiha, a genius Konoha saw only once in a century, someone who stood firmly above his peers. Yet in so little time, everything had been overturned. With a raised hand, Lin Chen could quell calamities across the heavens; with a step, he could subdue every village in the Shinobi World. He commanded the rules and looked down upon the gathered talents, every movement bearing the stature of one who reigned supreme.

And him?

He exhausted himself training day and night, squeezed out every last bit of chakra, and chased desperately with the talent of his Sharingan, yet remained trapped within the shackles of a Genin. Heights others reached casually remained beyond him despite all his efforts. Even the most basic trial among his peers required him to tread carefully and compete with his life on the line.

The pride, obsession with his bloodline, and conviction in revenge that had sustained him all this way were crushed to dust before that absolute dimensional gulf, leaving not a trace behind.

He had once firmly believed that talent, effort, and the orthodox ninja way could bridge any gap. But Lin Chen's existence had torn apart all his understanding and beliefs. Talent was useless. Arduous training was useless. The orthodox ninja way passed down through generations of Konoha was an utter joke.

The talents throughout the venue stood ready, each craving a ranking and a chance to distinguish themselves, hoping to prove themselves at this grand gathering of the Shinobi World. Sasuke alone had already left this contest among peers entirely behind.

He did not care about the title of Chunin, about winning or losing against his peers, or about what the world thought of him. He did not even care about his original intention to take revenge on Itachi. At that moment, only one obsession occupied his entire mind-power.

Only supreme power that transcended the rules of the Shinobi World, only might sufficient to rival Lin Chen, could free him from an ant's fate and spare him from forever gazing up at someone else's back. For that, he would pay any price.

During the written examination, the room was grim. Countless Genin racked their brains and cheated in secret, struggling fearfully to pass. His talented peers displayed their various abilities, giving everything for a mere Chunin qualification. Sasuke alone sat upright in his seat, his expression cold and indifferent, his features marked only by numbness and detachment as he ignored the questions before him.

His scarlet Sharingan quietly revolved, copying the examiner's answers in an instant. His pen moved across the paper, smoothly filling every blank. The entire sequence was mechanical and cold, without a moment's thought or the slightest fluctuation.

The qualification others fought desperately to obtain lay within easy reach for him, yet it stirred neither joy nor accomplishment.

He glanced sideways at Naruto carefully studying the questions and Sakura meticulously checking her answers. His heart held no tenderness, only piercing desolation and scorn.

They were still trapped within Konoha's rules, firmly believing effort mattered, clinging to growth and bonds at the lowest level, rejoicing over insignificant progress.

How naive, and how pitiful.

Before a dimensional gulf in which the rules of the heavens overwhelmed everything, these trifling exercises, mediocre improvements, and so-called bonds between comrades did not even amount to an ant's struggle. They could never sustain true strength.

When the written examination ended, the candidates sighed with relief and cheered, gathering to discuss the questions and anticipate the trials ahead. Sasuke alone rose and silently withdrew to the most secluded corner of the room, coldness radiating from him as he deliberately shut out every voice and clamor.

Leaning against the wall, he kept his gaze glued to Lin Chen, watching him stand there calmly, neither competing nor grasping, yet possessing an air of supremacy that made everyone submit. The distortion and obsession in his heart slowly took root and spread, utterly consuming his remaining reason.

The next day, the Forest of Death trial began, with death waivers hanging overhead and murderous danger lurking unseen. Every squad looked solemn, staying together on guard, planning routes and watching for ambushes, treating the trial as a test of life and death.

Sakura's nerves were taut as she remained alert to every movement around them; though apprehensive, Naruto was still brimming with fighting spirit, eager to prove his growth through his own efforts.

Sasuke alone had completely abandoned every bond with his squad and every boundary of a ninja, his mindset utterly transformed.

The instant he entered the Forest of Death, he deliberately broke away from the squad's formation, ignoring Naruto's calls and Sakura's attempts to stop him. He hurried through the dim woods, extending his keen senses to their limit as he frantically searched for that sinister, forbidden aura of darkness.

He was looking for Orochimaru, for the darkness forbidden by Konoha, for the only shortcut that could break his fate.

He had already seen through it: the righteous path led nowhere, and Konoha's gentleness and stability could never nurture power to rival a god.

If the righteous path held no answer, he would abandon the light for darkness; if effort was useless, he would embrace the forbidden.

In his despair, this was the only way to survive he had found for himself, the only way to break the deadlock.

Before long, Orochimaru abruptly appeared amid an overwhelming, icy pressure. His terrifying presence instantly locked onto all three of them, leaving Naruto and Sakura rigid, their breathing obstructed, even moving a fingertip agonizingly difficult.

Orochimaru looked down at the three with mocking amusement. His greedy gaze finally settled on Sasuke, fixing firmly on this highly moldable Uchiha pawn.

Utter cold seeped into Sasuke's marrow, and his body trembled instinctively-the natural fear of the weak before an overwhelmingly powerful opponent. Yet this time, within that fear, there was no retreat or avoidance. Instead, bone-deep madness and craving arose.

He had seen with his own eyes how a dark powerhouse like this, capable of crushing Jonin and stirring up Konoha's affairs, could only lie low and yield at every step before Lin Chen, not daring to overstep.

Only power that made the strong wary was true power! Orochimaru's dark forbidden techniques, forbidden power, and methods of training beyond orthodoxy were the only shortcut now that could free him from mediocrity and narrow the gap!

Facing a formidable enemy, Naruto gritted his teeth and stepped forward. Despite the disparity in strength and his trembling legs, he still stood in front and fought desperately, protecting his comrades and his principles.

Sasuke, however, stood quietly where he was, silent and compliant throughout, neither resisting nor dodging. He willingly lowered every defense, allowing Orochimaru's bone-chilling chakra to invade his meridians and that strange power to travel through his entire body.

Burning agony tore through the flesh of his neck. Black Cursed Seal markings slowly appeared and spread, and piercing pain swept through his body, almost tearing him apart.

Yet he clenched his teeth and made no sound. His eyes held no suffering or fear, only an obsession bordering on deliverance.

Too mild.

This little pain was nothing compared with the resentment he felt day after day, the despair of looking up at another's back, the humiliation of being crushed by fate.

The moment the Cursed Seal fully formed and its violent dark power erupted, flooding his body, the last trace of gentleness and conviction belonging to Konoha's genius shattered completely within Sasuke.

From that moment on, the Sasuke Uchiha who obeyed the rules, cherished his bonds, and carried light in his heart was utterly dead.

What survived was an obsessive who willingly sank into darkness, stopped at nothing, and traded darkness for power.

Watching his restrained yet crazed gaze, Orochimaru curled his lips into a sinister smile. Satisfied, he withdrew into the woods, waiting for this dark seed to grow unchecked.

The instant Orochimaru left, the uncontrolled cursed energy went completely berserk. Pitch-black dark chakra swept through Sasuke's body, ravenously consuming his reason and nature. His scarlet Sharingan was utterly stained with darkness, every trace of clarity vanished from his eyes, and murderous intent surged around him amid towering malice.

He could no longer distinguish friend from foe; only destruction and release remained in his heart. When the Otogakure squad ambushed them, he completely abandoned a ninja's restraint. His attacks were vicious and bloodthirsty, every move lethal, his strikes ruthless and decisive without the slightest mercy. He forcibly snapped his opponents' bones and battered their bodies, his crazed demeanor causing the murderous atmosphere in the woods to surge.

"Sasuke! Stop! Please, snap out of it!" Tears streamed down Sakura's face as she rushed forward heedlessly and clung tightly to him in his uncontrolled frenzy. Her warmth, her choking calls, and their years of companionship became a final shackle, barely suppressing the rampaging cursed energy and dragging a sliver of clarity back from his complete madness.

The instant her embrace restrained him, Sasuke's rigid body abruptly froze. A long-absent trace of tenderness briefly flickered through his murky, blackened eyes.

He lowered his head and looked at Sakura, her face drenched with tears and filled with worry. Memories of Team 7's days together flashed through his mind: Kakashi's guidance, Naruto's sincerity, Konoha's gentleness and peace.

But in the next second, the scene abruptly changed.

The white-clad figure looking down upon countless enemies on the Sunagakure battlefield, that supreme bearing before which every talent bowed, and the dimensional gulf he could never reach even with a lifetime of effort mercilessly crushed that final trace of warmth.

Clarity vanished in an instant, and darkness utterly consumed his mind once more.

Bonds, gentleness, comrades, light, Konoha's peace, the orthodox ninja way... none of these beautiful things could give him power, save him from his insignificance, or bridge the immeasurable distance between him and Lin Chen.

The brief struggle ended, and Sasuke completely severed the final attachment in his heart.

He raised his hand and gently, but coldly, pushed himself out of Sakura's embrace. The movement was unremarkable yet utterly decisive, devoid of warmth, cutting him off completely from all the tenderness of his past.

A breeze stirred through the woods, lifting his black hair. The Cursed Seal on his neck glimmered faintly, and a sinister aura enveloped him completely.

He had finally understood, and finally given up all hope.

The empty title of Chunin, his peers' approval, Konoha's protection, his bonds with his comrades-he could discard them all.

As long as he could gain power that defied heaven, as long as he could one day stand alongside that white-clad god, he would have no resentment or regret, even if he fell into an endless hell, bore condemnation for eternity, was abandoned by everyone, and passed beyond redemption.

Power... he had to obtain power!

This was the only path he had chosen for himself after exhausting every possibility in his desperation.

His scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan remained fixed on Lin Chen without blinking. His eyes held no warmth toward a peer, none of the reverence others felt, only an almost pathological obsession and twisted craving. The sight of every talent bowing and thousands falling silent had branded itself into his mind.

They were both twelve-year-old boys, both members of Team 7 who had started side by side. Yet with a raised hand, Lin Chen could quell calamities across the heavens; with a step, he could subdue every village in the Shinobi World. He commanded the rules and looked down upon the gathered talents, possessing unrivaled honor and power.

And him?

He had nothing but the title of Uchiha genius, the talent to awaken the Sharingan, and relentless training day and night, yet he remained trapped within the shackles of a Genin. Even an ordinary trial among his peers required all his strength and caution at every step.

The pride that had sustained him was crushed to dust at that moment.

He had once thought the Sharingan represented the pinnacle of talent, that bloodline was the foundation of strength, and that utmost effort could bridge any gap. But Lin Chen's arrival had torn apart all his understanding and beliefs. Talent was useless. Effort was useless. The orthodox ninja way was an utter joke.

The examination was about to begin, and the talents throughout the venue stood ready, all hoping to distinguish themselves at this grand event and prove their worth. Sasuke alone had long since mentally left this contest behind.

He did not care at all about Chunin rankings, victory or defeat against his peers, or the world's opinion.

In his eyes, his heart, and his obsession, only one thing remained-power. Supreme power that could rival Lin Chen, transcend the rules of the Shinobi World, and be obtained by any means necessary.

During the written examination, the atmosphere was grim. Countless Genin racked their brains and cheated in secret, answering questions amid peril. The other talents all gave everything to pass and demonstrate their abilities. Sasuke alone sat upright in his seat, cold and indifferent, ignoring the questions before him.

His Sharingan quietly revolved, his scarlet pupils sweeping the room as he effortlessly copied the answers written by the examiner planted among them. He filled every blank on the examination paper in an instant, expressionless throughout, his movements mechanical and numb.

The qualification others struggled desperately to secure lay within easy reach for him, yet brought him no joy whatsoever.

Watching Naruto earnestly answering questions beside him and Sakura carefully checking her work, Sasuke felt only piercing scorn and desolation.

They were still expending their minds on qualifications at the bottom of the Shinobi World and insignificant progress, still adhering to Konoha's orthodox ninja way and believing in the value of effort.

How naive.

Before a true dimensional gulf, such trifling growth and mediocre progress did not even amount to an ant's struggle.

When the written examination ended, everyone sighed with relief, discussing the questions and looking forward to the next trials. Sasuke alone stood and silently withdrew to a corner of the room, an icy, unapproachable aura surrounding him and shutting out all the clamor.

His gaze remained fixed in Lin Chen's direction. Watching him stand there calmly, composed and indifferent, inspiring universal reverence without making a single move, the distortion in his heart deepened further.

The second trial, in the Forest of Death, began. Death waivers hung overhead, and slaughter loomed. Every squad looked solemn, staying together on guard, carefully planning their route through the trial and watching for ambushes from other squads.

Sakura looked tense, remaining alert to every movement around them; though apprehensive, Naruto was still brimming with fighting spirit, eager to complete the trial properly and prove himself.

Sasuke alone had undergone a complete change in mindset.

He no longer considered squad coordination or followed the trial's rules. A faint air of murderous malice radiated from him, his eyes cold and hollow. The instant he entered the Forest of Death, he deliberately broke from his squad's pace, hurrying about in search of hidden powerhouses and strange auras.

He was looking for Orochimaru.

He clearly sensed the sinister aura hidden deep within the forest, that dark power capable of overturning convention and transcending Konoha's orthodoxy.

The orthodox path led nowhere; the path of light held no future.

Then he would rush toward darkness and embrace the forbidden.

Before long, Orochimaru abruptly appeared, his sinister pressure enveloping the entire area. His terrifying aura left Naruto and Sakura rigid and unable to move. Looking down at Team 7's three members, Orochimaru studied them with mocking amusement before his gaze finally settled on the exceptionally gifted Sasuke, his eyes full of greed and calculation.

Utter terror instantly swept through Sasuke's body, making him tremble slightly beyond his control-the instinctive fear a living being felt before an overwhelmingly powerful opponent. Yet this time, within that fear, there was no retreat or flight. Instead, extreme madness and longing arose.

He had seen with his own eyes how Orochimaru, who could crush ordinary Jonin, could only lie low before Lin Chen, wary at every step.

Even such a terrifying dark powerhouse feared Lin Chen to some degree. That proved this dark power was the only shortcut now that could bring him closer to that god!

Facing Orochimaru's pressure, Naruto gritted his teeth and stepped forward, resisting with all his might. Despite the disparity in strength, he never retreated even half a step.

But Sasuke stood silent throughout, neither resisting nor dodging, allowing Orochimaru's icy chakra to invade his body. Even when burning agony erupted in his neck and strange Cursed Seal markings emerged, he merely clenched his teeth and endured.

The agony pierced his heart, yet it was nothing compared with the despair and resentment within him.

When the Cursed Seal was fully branded into his neck, violent dark power surged madly through his entire body, and tearing pain swept over him. Sasuke's eyes held no fear, only a trace of almost obsessive relief.

He had finally taken the first step toward forsaking the light.

From then on, Konoha's genius, Sasuke Uchiha, was dead.

What survived was a seeker who would stop at nothing for power, willing to plunge into the abyss.

Watching the boy endure the agony with obsession in his eyes, Orochimaru curled his lips into a strange smile. His figure quietly receded into the forest's shadows as he waited for this dark seed to take root and sprout.

After Orochimaru left, the violent cursed energy spiraled completely out of control. Dark chakra swept through Sasuke's body, consuming his remaining reason. His scarlet Sharingan became utterly black, murderous intent surged around him, and his nature was completely engulfed by darkness.

He no longer recognized his comrades or retained any kindness. Only release and destruction remained in his eyes. When the Otogakure squad ambushed them, he unleashed the Cursed Seal's power. His attacks were vicious and insidious, every move lethal. His strikes no longer possessed a ninja's restraint or boundaries as he cruelly snapped his opponents' bones, his murderous intent towering, his behavior almost crazed.

"Sasuke! Stop!" Tears streamed down Sakura's face as she threw herself forward heedlessly and clung tightly to him as he lost control. Only her gentle calls and familiar warmth barely suppressed the rampaging Cursed Seal within him, bringing back a trace of his remaining reason.

The instant she embraced him, Sasuke stiffened, and his murky eyes briefly regained their clarity.

He lowered his head to look at the tearful Sakura, then raised his eyes toward Konoha's examination venue. Lin Chen's composed figure once again surfaced in his mind, looking down upon every talent and reigning supreme over the Shinobi World.

Clarity passed in an instant, and darkness enveloped his mind once more.

Gentleness, bonds, comrades, light... in the end, these things could never give him the power he wanted.

After a brief struggle, Sasuke completely severed the final attachment in his heart.

He gently pushed Sakura away, his movements cold and distant, devoid of warmth, the aura around him growing ever more sinister and indifferent.

At that moment, he made up his mind completely.

The empty prestige of the Chunin Ninja Exams, a peaceful life in Konoha, the warmth between comrades-he could abandon it all.

As long as he could catch up to that unreachable white-clad figure, as long as he could command power sufficient to defy heaven, he would have no resentment or regret, even if he fell into hell, bore condemnation, and was abandoned by everyone.

He watched the scene of every talent bowing their head, watched that man command all their reverence, and the craving in his heart twisted to its utmost extreme.

Power... he had to obtain this power!

Even if he fell into darkness, even if he passed beyond redemption!

Lin Chen naturally sensed every gaze in the venue. He also clearly caught the fully formed obsession with darkness in Sasuke's eyes, and saw through Orochimaru's covert scrutiny, the Akatsuki's lurking presence, and the wariness of the powerful figures from each village.

Every faction's schemes and all the hidden currents lay within his sight.

Yet throughout it all, his mind remained utterly unruffled.

These supreme talents of the Shinobi World's new generation, these forces and hidden currents stirring up the local contest, were merely ants gazing at the sky from the bottom of a well before the torrent of turmoil sweeping the heavens.

They competed for Chunin rankings, glory among their peers, and authority over the Shinobi World.

He, however, competed for the origin of the heavens, dominion over the age of turmoil, and the rules of heaven and earth.

Their dimensions differed; their horizons were worlds apart.

Lin Chen walked slowly into Team 7's ranks, tall and straight, his bearing transcendent. He stood among the gathered talents, yet seemed to exist outside this world.

He raised his eyes toward the platform and spoke calmly, his clear voice ringing through the deathly silent venue:

"Let it begin."

Those three simple words carried neither an outpouring of dominance nor any deliberate pressure, yet held the absolute composure of one who controlled the board, setting the opening of this grand gathering of the Shinobi World.

On the platform, the Third nodded slightly and announced in a ringing voice:

"Konoha's Chunin Ninja Exams officially begin!"