Orochimaru gazed at Uchiha Kai with his serpentine, golden pupils—sharp, curious, calculating. He could sense something... off. Something that broke the pattern.
This newly appointed deputy head of the Konoha Military Police Force wasn't just another Uchiha brat riding on clan privilege. No—there was something beneath the surface.
Orochimaru had heard of Uchiha Kai. Everyone in Konoha had. The name had started to circulate after the Kannabi Bridge mission—where a team led by Minato Namikaze dealt a serious blow to Iwagakure. Kai wasn't originally known as one of the "legendary" shinobi, but his role in coordinating part of the mission, and his uncanny ability to survive against overwhelming odds, had turned heads.
To most, it was a passing headline.
To Orochimaru, it was worth noting.
He hadn't paid much attention at first. Konoha was full of young prodigies, and the Uchiha clan produced no shortage of overhyped warriors. Most would burn out before they made a real mark.
But Kai hadn't burned out. In fact, his rise had been rapid—even unsettling. He had secured the favor of both Uchiha Fugaku and the Fourth Hokage himself, Minato Namikaze. His reorganization of his Police Force division made his unit operate almost independently of traditional clan oversight. Unusual.
Now, Kai was not just a deputy commander—he was fast becoming the political bridge between the Uchiha and the Hokage. Half of the Military Police was reportedly loyal to him.
Orochimaru, ever the predator, had learned to sniff out others like him. And Kai—this boy carried a scent that was familiar.
Ambition.
Cruelty.
The potential to become something dangerous.
"Although I can already tell you're here with ulterior motives…" Orochimaru smiled thinly, his tongue flicking out briefly. "I must say, Kai-kun, you are interesting. Hissss…"
"I appreciate your candor, Lord Orochimaru," Kai said coolly, despite the revulsion creeping down his spine. "Now, will you allow me access to your laboratory? As acting head of the Police Force, I believe I have the authority to conduct an inspection."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Authority? Ah, forgive me—but even with the Fourth in power, you overreach. The Uchiha clan, of all people, are in no position to accuse me of secret experiments. Wouldn't you agree?"
Kai's eyes narrowed, but he nodded. "That's true… but I'm afraid you'll be disappointed too, Lord Orochimaru."
Because Kai wasn't here just for protocol.
Orochimaru may still have Hiruzen Sarutobi's protection, but the tides were shifting. With Minato in office and the Uchiha clan's power growing, it was no longer unthinkable to apply pressure on Konoha's Sannin. Especially this one.
The truth was: Orochimaru's secrets were becoming harder to bury. Rumors were spreading. Disappearances. Illegal experimentation. The Fourth wasn't ready to confront him openly—not yet—but Kai didn't mind accelerating the process.
In fact, that was his plan.
Without warning, Kai moved.
A flicker.
A blur.
In an instant, he was beside Orochimaru, his blade already drawn in a sweeping arc.
Orochimaru reacted with veteran speed. He leaned to the side, slipping into the shadows like a serpent, drawing a kunai in a reverse grip as he twisted to counter.
But before the kunai could reach its mark, another blade flashed forward—cutting off Orochimaru's strike.
Kenta Imai stepped between them, ninja-to crackling with chakra. His timing was perfect—if slightly reckless. The strike didn't connect, but it forced Orochimaru to abort his motion.
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. His yellow eyes flicked between them.
That last strike... it hadn't just threatened him. If misjudged, it would've clipped Kai too.
Interesting.
Were they allies? Or rivals?
But neither Kai nor Kenta gave him time to muse.
Without speaking, they launched forward again, one from the left, one from the right—synchronized in aggression, if not in trust.
Orochimaru danced back, evading narrowly with unsettling grace. His long limbs twisted unnaturally, avoiding both blades.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Rampart!" he called out, weaving signs with alarming speed.
A thick wall of earth surged up between him and the attackers, halting their advance.
He used the moment to leap into the canopy above. From his perch, he observed them with amusement.
"My, my. Such ferocity, but not an ounce of real trust between you," Orochimaru sneered. "Did you two just meet? Or are you simply too paranoid to work together?"
Kai and Kenta paused. Their eyes met.
The disgust was mutual.
They were both strong, but neither trusted the other. And in battle, that was fatal.
Kenta broke the silence with a disarming grin. "It's just pressure, Lord Orochimaru. We were caught off-guard. We didn't expect you to be so... hospitable."
"Hm... Well, you've come to the wrong house for tea," Orochimaru said, licking his lips. "Inside this lab… are things no one should see."
Kenta's smile faded. He understood the implication.
Orochimaru was not planning to let them leave.
That, more than anything, confirmed the rumors.
Kai's gaze sharpened. He knew this was the moment. They couldn't kill Orochimaru—not here, not now—but they could provoke him, draw attention, and maybe even force his hand.
"Captain," Kenta said quietly, his tone all business now. "I'll keep him busy. You go in and see what you can find. Just don't take forever. I can't stall a Sannin indefinitely."
Kai glanced at him. This wasn't part of the plan, but he nodded.
He had a mission.
Kenta had his pride.
"If you survive ten minutes, I'll owe you a drink," Kai said.
"Make it two," Kenta replied dryly. "Because I probably won't have a head by then."
With a deep breath, chakra surged through Kenta's limbs. His blade glowed faintly, his stance low and resolute.
Kai turned without another word, vanishing into the shadows toward the lab entrance.
Kenta stepped forward to face Orochimaru alone.
The Sannin smiled like a snake watching a mouse try to roar.
But Kenta wasn't roaring.
He was buying time—for a future he wasn't even sure he believed in.