The Sharingan has a unique ability beyond its basic functions of enhanced perception, copying, and hypnosis.
That ability is night vision.
In dark environments, it can see far more clearly than ordinary eyes.
As soon as Orochimaru activated his Sharingan, the space within his consciousness seemed to brighten significantly.
However, this effect only applied to the immediate area around him.
He proceeded slowly, his red eyes scanning every corner of the conscious space.
The space seemed vast and desolate, with only the endless expanse of water beneath his feet reflecting the dim light.
There was no Nine-Tails sealed inside him, so there was no iron cage or anything resembling one.
"Could I have guessed wrong...?" Orochimaru muttered to himself, growing uncertain as he observed the empty space around him.
Yet, after a moment of reflection, he remained steadfast in his conviction.
His mind wouldn't be influenced for no reason. Since there was interference, the Sharingan wasn't the cause. That meant something was indeed wrong within his consciousness space.
It was similar to how Naruto had been influenced by the Nine-Tails.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Orochimaru suddenly halted.
He saw a shadowy figure.
The figure was seated on a dark, indistinct step. Noticing Orochimaru's gaze upon him, the figure grinned.
"Ah, so you've noticed me so soon?"
The figure's voice was low, dripping with mockery.
"As I suspected." Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "Are you the original Orochimaru? No... no, the original will of Orochimaru is long gone. So then... are you another part of me?"
"No... I'm not some mere 'other personality.'"
"Then, what are you?" Orochimaru's voice grew colder.
"I am the darkness buried deep in your heart."
"The darkness in my heart?" Orochimaru's eyes flashed with recognition, but his expression remained icy.
"Yes, I am you. I am the dark side of your soul, the part you can't escape."
After speaking, the shadow slowly stood up, moving toward Orochimaru with a deliberate pace.
As it approached, its form became clearer it was a boy, identical in appearance and attire to Orochimaru.
But there was one stark difference: while Orochimaru's Sharingan glowed with red pupils, this boy's eyes were pitch-black, devoid of any light.
Seeing this mirror image of himself, Orochimaru's brows furrowed.
At that moment, he recalled a scene from Naruto's story, the time on Turtle Island when Naruto stood before the Waterfall of Truth, facing his darker self.
This was exactly like that moment.
Could this apparition be a manifestation of his own image?
"It's impressive that you managed to notice my presence so quickly."
Orochimaru's expression remained indifferent as he asked, "Are you the reason I've been feeling so much bloodlust lately?"
"Of course! Why deny it? You've sworn long ago never to be 'good,' haven't you? Your goal is to conquer the ninja world, after all."
"So what if it is?"
"So... what does the life and death of others matter to us? We should hate this world, wipe out all the shinobi... kill them all, every last one of them..."
But before the dark Orochimaru could finish, his voice was abruptly cut off.
His eyes widened in shock as he felt the cold grip of a pale hand tightening around his throat, and a multitude of serpents coiling around his body, restricting his movements.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a sneer as he strangled his doppelgänger. "You shouldn't exist in the first place."
"H-How... how is this possible...? Why couldn't I anticipate your moves...? I am you..."
"That's where you're wrong." Orochimaru's grip tightened further. "My darkness doesn't need to be concealed. I kill when I want to, and I certainly don't need you to teach me how. Although I don't know why you've appeared in my consciousness, one body only needs one mind."
"Now... disappear."
With a final, forceful squeeze, Orochimaru crushed his other self's neck.
Outside, Orochimaru's real body, seated in a meditative position, suddenly jolted, his brows knitting together as a look of pain crossed his face.
"Orochimaru, what's going on with you?"
Tsunade, who had been watching him, immediately rushed over, alarmed. Jiraiya, standing nearby on guard, was equally surprised and confused.
What on earth was happening to him all of a sudden?
"Hah… hah…" Orochimaru raised his hand, pressing it against his forehead as he panted heavily. "I'm… fine."
It was hard to believe that after vanquishing his inner darkness, his spiritual power had retaliated against him.
But… somehow, he felt much better now.
It was a sensation that was hard to describe or even explain, but… it just felt great.
"Are you really alright?" Tsunade asked, still worried.
Orochimaru exhaled deeply, feeling the weight lifting from his mind, then responded nonchalantly, "Yeah, just… a brief disorder in my chakra."
"A chakra disruption?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Were you caught in some kind of genjutsu?"
"I'm not sure, but it's irrelevant now."
While speaking, Orochimaru's mind had mostly returned to normal, regaining about seventy to eighty percent of its clarity. "We should focus on their scrolls."
"I already checked. They have the same Heaven Scroll as us," Jiraiya chimed in, finally breaking his silence.
Orochimaru rose slowly, resting his hands on his knees, his face expressionless. "The Heaven Scroll, huh? In that case, destroy it."
"Destroy it?" Tsunade looked taken aback. "But… if you do that, another team won't be able to complete the exam!"
"What does that matter to us?" Orochimaru replied coldly. "Aren't you being a little too soft? The world of shinobi is inherently brutal. If they fail, it's simply because they weren't strong enough."
Having dealt with his inner self, Orochimaru found his thoughts clearer than ever before. His murderous intent had receded, replaced with a heightened sense of clarity.
"Perhaps… you're right," Tsunade mused, her tone softening. "To advance to Chunin, one should rely on their own strength, not the mercy of others. But…" She paused, looking Orochimaru directly in the eye. "Can you promise me one thing, Orochimaru? Please, stop killing people on sight. The way you were earlier… it was terrifying."
Orochimaru met her gaze without flinching.
"Even in the world of shinobi, there are reasons for killing. On the battlefield, sure, there's justification. Assassination missions? Fine. But in everyday situations, you can't just kill without a reason."
Tsunade's voice grew more resolute. "Even in the Chunin Exams, where we're fighting for scrolls, there's no need to kill. After all, we're from the same village, aren't we?"
Orochimaru inhaled deeply, considering her words for a moment. "Don't worry. It won't happen again."
Satisfied with his response, Tsunade nodded and smiled. "Alright, let's keep moving and find our next target."
"Yeah… let's go," Orochimaru said, starting to walk forward once more.
Tsunade and Jiraiya followed closely behind, relieved that the tension had subsided.
None of them noticed the flicker in Orochimaru's eyes as he briefly glanced toward several large trees in the distance.
Behind those trees, a few figures trembled in fear, trying their best to remain hidden.