The sound of rapid footsteps grew louder as Kakashi, his headband pulled down to cover his left eye, appeared on the scene. He was here for a purpose—one that was starting to become all too familiar. Satoru had once again failed to show up for his duties, and Kakashi wasn't about to let this slide. It had become a routine for him to track down the troublemaking subordinate, and he wasn't about to let his frustration go unnoticed.
Upon arriving, Kakashi's eyes widened at the sight in front of him. There, standing in the midst of a tense encounter, was none other than Satoru Uchiha and Orochimaru—the latter of whom was considered one of the three legendary ninjas. The situation was far from ordinary.
"Yo!" Satoru waved to Kakashi from the tree with an exaggerated greeting, his usual carefree attitude shining through despite the presence of a dangerous figure like Orochimaru.
Kakashi's expression darkened, a mix of confusion and irritation. "Why are you absent again today?"
Satoru casually cupped his chin, pretending to think. "Today?" He paused for dramatic effect. "I'm lost in life, so being late is not absenteeism."
Kakashi blinked in disbelief, his eyes narrowing beneath his mask. *Lost in life?* He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What kind of excuse is that?"
Satoru grinned, his tone lighthearted, but his answer full of impudence. "I'm just too overwhelmed with life. Cut me some slack, Kakashi."
The response only made Kakashi's eyebrow twitch, but before he could respond, Orochimaru, who had been silently watching the exchange, stepped forward. He had been observing the interaction between the two, seemingly intrigued by Satoru's nonchalance.
Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with an unnerving excitement. "Well, it seems I've underestimated you, Satoru Uchiha," he mused, taking a step closer. "You knew what was coming, didn't you? You anticipated my plan."
Satoru, who had been nonchalantly leaning against the tree, stood up fully. "I'm not interested in playing along with your games, Orochimaru. You're not fooling me."
Orochimaru chuckled, his long tongue flicking out in amusement. "Is that so? A shame. You'd have been a valuable ally."
But Satoru wasn't impressed. "The slippery snake won't be homeless anytime soon," he said mockingly, folding his arms. "A pathetic attempt at recruiting me."
Orochimaru's smile didn't fade. He simply turned to leave, his golden eyes reflecting an unspoken understanding. "You're an interesting one, Satoru," he said over his shoulder. "I'll be watching you."
Before Kakashi could fully comprehend the bizarre interaction, Orochimaru had already walked past him, brushing his shoulder without a second glance. Kakashi stood there, dumbfounded. *Was I just ignored?*
Satoru grinned, clearly enjoying the disarray. "Yo, Kakashi! I didn't expect you to worship Orochimaru. What's going on? Is he your new idol?"
Kakashi's expression remained cold, his patience thinning. "Worship Orochimaru?" Kakashi repeated in disbelief. "What kind of joke is this?"
But before Satoru could continue his teasing, Kakashi threw a scroll at him, his face unreadable. "That's your task for today," Kakashi said flatly.
Satoru caught the scroll with ease and glanced over it with a sigh. "The usual, huh? Nothing new." He skimmed the contents before tossing it aside carelessly. "Why don't you just send me to the upper ninjas already? They have more interesting tasks."
Kakashi said nothing. He had grown used to Satoru's behavior by now, but that didn't mean it didn't frustrate him. He turned, ready to leave.
"I've got more important things to do," Kakashi muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "Get to work."
Satoru watched him walk away with a grin. "Yes, yes, I'm getting to it... Eventually."
---
Meanwhile, Orochimaru had returned to his lab, where his subordinates were already waiting. The masked man in front of him spoke coldly. "Danzo-sama wants the latest experimental data."
Orochimaru merely snorted, his mood darkening. "It'll take a few more days," he replied, his voice filled with irritation.
The masked man was insistent. "Danzo-sama wants it now."
Orochimaru's patience snapped. His golden pupils narrowed, and a deadly killing intent radiated from him like a dark cloud, engulfing the room. The pressure was palpable.
The masked man froze, barely able to breathe under the intense glare. Orochimaru's voice dropped to a cold whisper. "Not everyone deserves my patience."
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to slice through.
Without another word, Orochimaru moved, and two screams echoed in the lab. His eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction as he withdrew his gaze from the bodies of the two subordinates who had displeased him.
A wicked smile played on his lips as he turned away. "Danzo…" Orochimaru whispered to himself. "You've been pushing your limits, trying to control something you can't even comprehend."
He laughed darkly. "It's time you learn what happens when you try to control the inevitable."
---
Back in the village, Satoru glanced over the task at hand. It was a simple assignment, something he could easily delegate to his subordinates once he was promoted. *Sooner or later,* he thought to himself, *I'll reach the rank where I can make everyone else do the hard work.*
As he pondered, he felt an uneasy stillness settle in the air, the weight of the future pressing down on him. The encounter with Orochimaru had been more than just a casual meeting—it had been a reminder of how complex the world around him was becoming.
Whether he wanted to or not, he was a part of something much bigger than himself.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 70 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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