Chapter 1: Chapter One: Awakening in Darkness.
Deep underground, in one of Orochimaru's many hidden bases, the air was thick with an unsettling silence, punctuated only by the soft hum of machinery. The walls were lined with cold, gray metal, illuminated by flickering fluorescent lights that cast eerie shadows across the sterile environment. Tubes and wires snaked along the floor and ceiling, connecting various devices that beeped and whirred, monitoring the life signs of the experiments contained within. The scent of antiseptic mingled with something more sinister, a reminder of the dark practices that took place in this hidden lair.
At the center of the room stood a glass pod, its surface fogged slightly from the condensation of the cold air inside. The pod was filled with a viscous liquid, swirling gently as if alive, and within it lay the culmination of Orochimaru's twisted ambitions. The boy inside appeared no older than twelve, his spiky purple hair glistening with a blue tint, catching the dim light in a way that made it seem almost ethereal. Jaw-length bangs framed his face, accentuating the sharpness of his features. A scar ran above his right eye, slicing through his eyebrow, a testament to a life filled with pain and struggle.
The boy's fair skin contrasted starkly with the dark, form-fitting black shorts he wore, which clung to his slender frame. A breathing mask covered his face, its design sleek and functional, with tubes extending from it, connecting to the pod's life-support system. The mask obscured his mouth, but the faint rise and fall of his chest indicated that he was alive, suspended in a state of limbo between consciousness and oblivion.
Orochimaru stood before the pod, his long, serpentine form draped in a dark, flowing cloak that seemed to absorb the light around him. His pale skin was almost sickly, contrasting sharply with his long, black hair that cascaded down his back like a waterfall of shadows. His eyes, slitted like a snake's, glimmered with a predatory hunger as he licked his lips, a sinister smile creeping across his face. The excitement of his latest experiment filled him with a twisted sense of satisfaction, as he reveled in the power he held over life and death.
As he gazed at the boy, a mixture of anticipation and malice danced in his expression. This was not just another experiment; this was the key to unlocking the potential he had long sought. The boy's fate was sealed within the glass pod, and Orochimaru was ready to unleash the darkness that lay dormant within him.
Orochimaru turned away from the glass pod, his long, serpentine form gliding across the cold, metallic floor with an unsettling grace. He approached a cluttered table in the corner, where various vials and instruments lay scattered, remnants of his relentless pursuit of power. His fingers brushed over the glass containers, each filled with colorful liquids that shimmered ominously under the flickering lights.
Finally, he picked up a vial filled with a swirling, iridescent substance. A wicked smirk spread across his lips as he held it up to the light, watching the colors dance within. "Ku ku ku," he chuckled softly to himself, the sound echoing in the sterile chamber. "I will finally have eternal youth. I will live forever."
His voice dripped with a mix of glee and madness, the promise of immortality igniting a fire in his cold, calculating heart. The thought of transcending the limitations of his mortal form thrilled him, and he envisioned a future where he could continue his experiments without the fear of death looming over him. With this vial, he believed he could unlock the secrets of life itself, bending it to his will.
As he turned back toward the glass pod, the boy inside seemed to pulse with potential, a living vessel for Orochimaru's ambitions. "Soon," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Soon, you will be the key to my ultimate ascension."
He smirked to himself as a hooded figure entered the chamber, the heavy fabric of his cloak trailing behind him like a shadow. The figure moved with a quiet confidence, the soft rustle of his garments barely audible over the hum of the machinery. As he approached, the dim light revealed the outline of a lean, agile frame, suggesting both speed and cunning.
The hood obscured most of his face, but a few strands of silver hair peeked out, glinting like moonlight against the darkness. His eyes, sharp and calculating, glimmered with a hint of mischief as he knelt before Orochimaru, the air thick with anticipation. The figure's skin was pale, almost ghostly, contrasting sharply with the deep black of his cloak.
"Kabuto-kun, were you able to retrieve it?" Orochimaru asked, his voice smooth and expectant.
Kabuto stood up, slowly pulling back his hood to reveal a face that was both youthful and mature, with angular features and a sly smile that hinted at his intelligence and ambition. He reached into the folds of his cloak and produced a black scroll, its surface adorned with intricate seals that pulsed faintly with energy. He handed it to Orochimaru with a flourish, his smirk widening.
"Of course, Lord Orochimaru," he replied, his tone dripping with confidence. "Everything is in place."
"Ku ku ku," Orochimaru chuckled, his voice a low, sinister melody as he unfurled the black scroll, licking his lips with his snake-like tongue in anticipation. The scroll crackled with ancient energy, and he could feel the weight of its history pressing down on him. "To think Hiruzen-sensei had this scroll all this time."
He glanced at Kabuto, his eyes gleaming with a mix of admiration and envy. "This scroll belonged to Naori Uchiha," he continued, his tone dripping with intrigue. "She was able to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, a feat that few can achieve. But more importantly, she mastered one of her clan's kinjutsu: Izanami."
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened as he studied the scroll, his mind racing with possibilities. "Izanami traps the target in an endlessly-looped genjutsu, with no hope of escape unless they accept themselves," he explained, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Imagine the power we could wield with such a technique at our disposal."
He could already envision the boy, infused with the essence of Naori's legacy, becoming a vessel for this rare kinjutsu. The thought sent a thrill of excitement through him, igniting his ambition further. "This will be a key part of my plans," he concluded, his voice steady and resolute.
Kabuto walked up to the glass pod and studied the boy. "Lord Orochimaru, what about the seal?" Kabuto asked.
Orochimaru joined him and looked at the boy, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Oh, I'm not worried about the fox, Kabuto-kun. I placed a modified Five Elements Seal on the boy. It allows the fox's chakra to flow enough to him. That was crucial when I was experimenting on him. But the seal also converts the fox's chakra into purified chakra for the boy."
He said this with a sense of pride, his voice laced with the thrill of his dark ambitions. The chamber was filled with an electric tension, the promise of what was to come hanging in the air as they both focused on Kuroshi, the key to Orochimaru's grand design.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone