It had been a while since the birthday celebration, and Satoru was once again sprawled on a tree, lazily chewing on a string of three-colored balls. The sun shone down, casting a warm glow on his lazy figure.
*Another day to waste,* he thought, eyes half-lidded. His mind was more focused on the next task, which, unfortunately, wasn't nearly as relaxing.
"Today's task is to count the top ten shortcomings of Kakashi Hachiki..." Satoru muttered to himself, rolling over in boredom. Ever since his accidental promotion to Shinobi and being assigned to work under Kakashi Hachiki, things had gone from easy to... well, anything but easy. He was now working hard every day, fighting off the increasing stress and losing hair at an alarmingly young age.
Satoru sighed long and hard, letting his body relax again on the tree, letting the day's lazy atmosphere sink in.
But after a few moments, his sharp eyes suddenly snapped open, the peacefulness vanishing. Beneath his blindfold, his gaze sharpened.
"I can't sleep well," he said to no one in particular, sitting up with a slight frown.
Then, without warning, he felt the all-too-familiar sticky presence in the air—the unmistakable aura of someone approaching. Without looking, he spoke out impatiently.
"Haven't you come out yet?" His tone was casual, but his words had an edge.
As expected, a human face began to emerge from behind the tree, and there, stepping out with that familiar, unsettling grace, was Orochimaru.
"Good morning, Satoru," Orochimaru said in his usual eerie, smooth voice, his golden eyes gleaming in the sunlight.
Satoru sighed and shot him a side-eye. "Morning? Is this kind of nighttime horror show supposed to be a morning routine for you now?" he said sarcastically, eyeing the long-haired figure. "It's disgusting, don't scream so sensually."
Orochimaru simply chuckled, unfazed by Satoru's sharp words. "Satoru's vigilance is as sharp as ever," he said, his voice laced with that playful yet sinister tone. "Don't be so wary of me. We're not enemies."
"Huh," Satoru snorted, his posture still relaxed as he stood up from the tree branch. He looked down at Orochimaru, his short white hair swaying in the breeze. His entire figure appeared calm and untouchable.
"What do you want?" Satoru asked, indifferent, his gaze piercing.
"Hehe..." Orochimaru chuckled softly, his eyes glinting. "How did you decide on my previous invitation?"
Satoru's blue eyes narrowed. "What's your game?" he asked.
Orochimaru continued, his voice growing more persuasive. "Satoru Uchiha, do you want to come with me?" His golden pupils gleamed as he tried to assess Satoru with a mix of admiration and calculation. "Power, knowledge... everything you desire. You won't find it in Konoha."
Satoru stared at him for a moment, thinking deeply. His mind raced, connecting the dots. *Isn't it almost time for Orochimaru to defect from Konoha?*
His pale blue eyes flickered with understanding, but he couldn't resist mocking Orochimaru's enticing words. "Hahahaha... The slippery snake won't be homeless anytime soon!" he laughed. "Well, that's pathetic!"
Orochimaru's smile didn't falter. If anything, it grew wider, more sinister. "You anticipated my plan so quickly," he mused, impressed. "Unlike the rest of Konoha, they haven't seen through my intentions. But you... you already knew."
Satoru's smile faded slightly. "The control of this 'cooperation' is not in your hands," he remarked, his tone cool and confident.
Orochimaru's eyes glinted with intrigue as he listened. "So, you see through it all," he whispered, his voice now tinged with a dangerous undertone. "Why stay in such a boring place like Konoha when you can have everything you need outside?" His voice became more coaxing. "Join me, and together, we can surpass anything."
Satoru's expression didn't change. "Thank you, but no thanks," he replied quickly, his lips curling into a smug grin. "You're so ugly, I refuse."
He stretched lazily, letting the arrogance drip from his tone. "This whole 'trafficker vibe' you're giving off isn't exactly enticing."
Orochimaru's golden eyes hardened, his expression growing cold. The air around him grew dense with an ominous pressure as he began to release his chakra.
"If you're going to remain a fool..." Orochimaru's voice trailed off as the killing intent in his eyes sharpened. His body seemed to radiate a murderous aura, and the oppressive energy around him caused the air to grow still.
Satoru remained completely calm, unfazed by the intense pressure. His stance never wavered as he looked down at the figure below, sensing the change in the atmosphere. *This is nothing,* he thought to himself.
Orochimaru studied him for a moment, a slight uncertainty in his eyes. He noticed that despite the intense pressure he was exerting, Satoru remained completely unaffected. *How is he doing that?*
---
Just as Orochimaru began to prepare his next move, he heard the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps—someone was coming. He turned sharply, his pupils narrowing.
A familiar presence reached his senses, and a moment of hesitation crossed Orochimaru's face. He quickly assessed the situation, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. *What is this? Who is approaching?*
Before he could act, the sound of footfalls grew louder, and the presence became clearer. Orochimaru's golden eyes tightened as he waited for the intruder to reveal themselves.
Satoru, sensing the shift in Orochimaru's attention, smirked and folded his arms. "I told you," he said, his voice full of quiet amusement, "Are you sure you won't leave? Because I don't think you're being very discreet right now."
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with irritation. "What do you know?" he hissed, narrowing his eyes at Satoru.
Satoru merely smirked, his confidence unwavering. The tension in the air remained, though Orochimaru was now forced to divide his attention between the unexpected arrival and the cunning Uchiha in front of him.
Whoever was coming had a far more significant presence than Orochimaru had anticipated. His plans—at least for now—had to be delayed. The figure that appeared in the distance would be crucial to what happened next.
But for now, it was a waiting game.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 70 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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