The sound was unmistakable, like a venomous hiss crawling through the shadows. Nyx tensed immediately, her hand gripping the hilt of her blade instinctively. She turned her head slowly to the source of the voice, though she already knew who it belonged to.
"Orochimaru…" Nyx muttered, her voice low, her eyes narrowing.
Emerging from the shade of the surrounding trees was none other than the serpent-like figure of Orochimaru, his pale skin almost glowing in the dim light of the bridge's surroundings. His long, black hair flowed down his back, and his golden, slit-pupil eyes gleamed with a sinister amusement that made her blood run cold. His presence alone was suffocating, as if the very air around him recoiled in fear.
Kabuto visibly stiffened but managed to maintain his calm demeanor. He offered a slight bow to his master, though there was something guarded in his movements, something cautious.
"Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto greeted, though his voice was flatter than usual, devoid of the usual reverence he had once shown. Nyx noted the subtle tension between the two, wondering what had shifted in their dynamic. But before she could ponder it further, Orochimaru's unsettling gaze shifted toward her.
"Nyx… Akatsuki's ice queen," Orochimaru purred, his tone laced with dark fascination. "I didn't expect to encounter you here of all places. How fortuitous."
Nyx's grip on her sword tightened. She knew Orochimaru's reputation well. A former member of the Akatsuki himself, his departure had left no love lost between him and the rest of the organization. He was dangerous—more dangerous than most—but Nyx wasn't the type to show fear. Not even in front of him.
"What do you want, Orochimaru?" Nyx asked coldly, her tone unwavering despite the tension in the air.
Orochimaru's smile widened, revealing sharp, snake-like teeth. "What do I want?" he echoed, his voice dripping with amusement. "Why, I was simply following my dear Kabuto here, curious to see who he was trying to entice this time. Imagine my surprise when I found him speaking to you."
Kabuto glanced nervously at Orochimaru but remained silent, waiting for whatever would unfold next.
Nyx stayed still, her eyes watching Orochimaru's every move, analyzing every slight shift in his posture. She wasn't about to let him catch her off guard. "If you came for a fight, you'll be disappointed," she said, her voice cold and precise. "I'm not here for you."
Orochimaru's laugh was soft, almost mockingly so. "A fight? No, no… I have no desire to engage in something as… brutish as that. At least, not yet." His eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "I'm far more interested in you, Nyx. You and that power of yours."
Her brow furrowed slightly. "My power is none of your concern," she stated firmly.
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong," Orochimaru continued, his voice smooth and almost hypnotic. "You see, I've heard of your Kōrimeigan… your eyes are quite… intriguing."
Nyx's jaw clenched. She hated how Orochimaru could make every word feel like a snake coiling around her throat, tightening with each syllable. He was probing her, testing her boundaries, seeing how far he could push. But she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction.
"Flattery won't get you far with me," Nyx retorted, her tone sharp as ice. "If you think you can manipulate me like one of your little experiments, you're sorely mistaken."
Orochimaru's smile never faltered. "Such a fiery response for someone with such cold abilities," he mused, clearly enjoying himself. "But you misunderstand me, Nyx. I have no interest in controlling you. No… I'm far more intrigued by the potential you possess. And the Akatsuki… well, they have a way of limiting potential, don't they?"
Nyx's eyes narrowed. It was the same angle Kabuto had been pushing just moments earlier—dangling the promise of more power, of greater control over her Kōrimeigan. But coming from Orochimaru, it felt even more dangerous, more insidious.
"I'm not interested in whatever twisted games you're playing," Nyx said icily. "If you want something, say it. Otherwise, leave."
Kabuto's gaze flicked toward Orochimaru, clearly wondering how his master would respond to such a direct challenge. But Orochimaru merely tilted his head, still smiling that predatory smile of his.
"What I want, Nyx, is quite simple," Orochimaru said, his voice lowering to a near whisper, as if sharing a secret. "I want to see what you're truly capable of. The Akatsuki keeps you on a leash, uses you as a tool for their own ends. But I believe… with the right guidance… you could become something far greater than even they realize."
Nyx's patience was wearing thin. "And you think you're the one to guide me?" she scoffed. "You're delusional."
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with something darker, but his smile didn't waver. "Delusional, perhaps. But I've seen potential in many before you, Nyx. And those who have embraced their true power… well, they've become legends."
The way he said it sent a chill down her spine, but she wouldn't show it. Orochimaru was a master of manipulation, twisting words and desires to suit his own ends. She wouldn't fall for his traps.
"You're wasting your breath," Nyx said firmly. "I don't need your guidance, and I don't need your power. I know exactly where my loyalty lies."
Orochimaru's smile faltered for the briefest of moments, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Loyalty," he repeated, almost as if testing the word. "Ah yes, the Akatsuki. Such a noble organization, isn't it? A collection of broken souls, clinging to the idea that they can change the world."
He stepped closer, his presence almost overwhelming as he loomed over her. "But the truth, Nyx, is that loyalty is a chain. And chains… well, they're meant to be broken."
Before Nyx could respond, Orochimaru's gaze flicked back to Kabuto. "Kabuto," he said, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "It's time we leave. Nyx has made her choice, for now."
Kabuto nodded, clearly relieved that the confrontation hadn't escalated further. He cast one last glance at Nyx before turning to follow Orochimaru.
But as they began to walk away, Orochimaru's voice called out once more, sending one final chill down Nyx's spine.
"Stop right there!"
The commanding voice echoed through the still air of the bridge, sharp and unyielding. Nyx's heart quickened at the sudden interruption, and she turned her attention to the other side of the bridge. Emerging from the shadows, four figures stepped into view, their intentions clear and unwavering.
Leading the charge was Sakura Haruno, her emerald eyes blazing with determination. Beside her stood Naruto Uzumaki, his usual exuberance tempered by a steely resolve. A jonin clad in traditional garb followed closely, and at the rear, a familiar figure lingered, casting a long shadow behind the group.
"So a product of Danzo appears…" Nyx muttered under her breath as she recognized the last member of the group. Sai, his expression as unreadable as ever, stepped forward, his presence evoking memories she had tried to push away.
Orochimaru's gaze flicked over the newcomers, his expression shifting to one of interest. "Ah, the loyal hounds of Konoha," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "How delightful. Have you come to play?"
Nyx's brow furrowed slightly as she quickly assessed the situation. She glanced between both sides of the bridge, her thoughts swirling in confusion. What is going on here? Kabuto had lured her out here with a cryptic message, but now Orochimaru had appeared. And just as puzzling, why were Naruto and the others here too? Did they know about this? Is this some kind of ambush? Nyx's mind raced, considering the possibilities. She didn't like being caught off guard, but something about this felt off—too coincidental.
Her grip on her blade tightened as she silently debated her next move, eyes flicking to Orochimaru and Kabuto, then back to the Konoha team. She couldn't trust any of them, not completely. The situation was rapidly spiraling into something dangerous.
Before Nyx could fully process the implications, Naruto's voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
"Orochimaru! I won't let you get away!" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with fury and conviction.
Nyx's attention snapped back to him, her eyes narrowing in recognition of that familiar fire in his voice. But what caught her off guard was the sudden shift in his chakra. Her icy blue eyes widened in surprise as she saw the first signs of red chakra swirling around Naruto, dark and sinister.
The air itself seemed to thicken as the atmosphere became charged with malevolent energy. The bridge trembled slightly beneath her feet as the chakra grew more intense, the red aura flaring up around Naruto like a wild flame. It was then that she saw it—his first tail emerging from behind him, the red chakra forming the shape of a beast. Nyx inhaled sharply. She had heard whispers of Naruto's connection to the Nine-Tails, but seeing it in person was something else entirely.
This is the power of the Jinchūriki… Nyx thought, a mix of fascination and unease creeping up her spine. The raw force emanating from Naruto was unlike anything she had felt before.
Orochimaru's smirk only widened as he watched the transformation unfold. "Oh? So you're still as wild as ever, Naruto," he mused, his tone dripping with amusement. "The Kyuubi's power is as untamed as I remember."
Naruto's response came not in words, but in the growing intensity of his chakra. A second tail began to form, the red energy swirling more violently now. The temperature around them spiked, the oppressive heat of the chakra mixing with the cold tension in the air.
Nyx's instincts screamed at her to step back. She had no desire to be caught in the middle of whatever this was about to become. But her curiosity held her rooted to the spot, her mind racing as she studied Naruto's transformation. He was losing himself to the power of the beast within him, she could see it in his eyes—wild, unfocused, filled with rage.
Sakura's voice cut through the tension, sharp and worried. "Naruto, stop!" she called out, stepping forward, her hands outstretched as if she could somehow reach him through the torrent of chakra.
But Naruto wasn't listening. His focus was solely on Orochimaru, his body trembling with barely contained fury. "I'll kill you!" he snarled, his voice deeper, more guttural now as the beast within him threatened to break free entirely.
Nyx's eyes flicked toward Orochimaru, who watched the scene with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. The legendary Sannin seemed unperturbed by Naruto's growing power, as if it were all part of a grander game he was playing.
"Interesting," Orochimaru said, his voice low and almost pleased. "But can you truly control that power, Naruto? Or will it consume you?"
Nyx felt the temperature drop sharply as her own chakra flared instinctively in response to the growing chaos around her. She stepped back slightly, positioning herself at the edge of the bridge, watching both sides carefully. Orochimaru was clearly baiting Naruto, and from the looks of it, the boy was taking it—hook, line, and sinker.
But there was another question gnawing at Nyx's mind. Why did Kabuto bring me here? Orochimaru's presence was one thing, but why now? Why did this confrontation need to happen at this exact moment? Did they plan this, or had it simply spiraled out of control?
The sound of cracking wood jolted her attention back to Naruto. The chakra had become so volatile that the bridge beneath his feet began to splinter, the sheer force of his power starting to tear it apart. The second tail had fully emerged now, and Nyx could feel the oppressive weight of the Nine-Tails' chakra bearing down on everyone.
"Naruto, stop it!" Sakura's voice was frantic now, her concern for her teammate evident in her expression. But Naruto wasn't responding, the beast within him slowly taking over.
Nyx's fingers itched toward the hilt of her blade. The ice in her veins responded to the chaos, a cold surge of power swelling within her, wanting to rise and freeze the turmoil in place. The energy coursing through the air was so volatile it made the hairs on her neck stand on end. Her instincts screamed at her to act, to quell the madness, but she hesitated, her mind whirling. She had seen Jinchūriki's power before, had faced off against Roshi when capturing the Four-Tails, but there was something entirely different about Naruto's chakra. It was wild, unrefined, and dangerous. There was no telling what he was capable of in this state.
Her eyes flicked to Orochimaru, who stood calmly, his smug expression never faltering. Is this what he wanted? To push Naruto to the edge? Nyx's thoughts raced as she calculated her options. There was no way she could engage without making herself a target for all sides, and she had no desire to face Orochimaru, Kabuto, and a transforming Naruto all at once.
But in an instant, the chaos exploded further.
Kabuto, with his ever-calculating gaze, suddenly lunged forward. His movements were fluid, precise, like a predator moving in for the kill. He darted toward Naruto's side, clearly aiming to flank him while his focus was elsewhere. Nyx's eyes caught the gleam of chakra scalpels forming in Kabuto's hands as he aimed for a critical strike.
However, Naruto was far from unaware. Even in his rage-filled, beast-like state, the raw, untamed chakra of the Nine-Tails had heightened his senses. With a snarl, Naruto turned his head, his eyes glowing a deep red, and opened his mouth wide. Without warning, an enormous gust of wind chakra burst from his mouth, cutting through the air with deadly force.
Nyx's instincts kicked in, her body moving before her mind could even process the danger. She leaped backward, her reflexes sharp as ice formed beneath her feet, propelling her further away from the blast zone.
Boom!