Whoosh!
A storm of shuriken and kunai tore through the air, converging on the lone figure of Uchiha Itachi. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, Itachi stood calm and unshaken, his eyes closed, two kunai loosely gripped in his hands.
The faint vibrations of movement rippled through the air—his acute senses caught them instantly. This was no time to hesitate. His Sharingan flickered to life, the crimson glow highlighting the three tomoe spinning within. With precision born of relentless training, he deflected the onslaught of kunai and shuriken, each strike ringing out like a bell as steel met steel.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The assault relented, leaving behind only silence. Itachi crouched low, hands braced against his knees, his breath coming in heavy gasps. In ten short seconds, he had evaded and deflected over a hundred projectiles, but the toll it took on his young body was evident.
"Haaah... haaah..."
He exhaled sharply, sweat tracing lines down his pale face. His Sharingan flickered out, leaving his eyes dark and weary.
So this is the price of power, he thought grimly, noting the strain on his still-developing frame. No wonder they say strength comes with sacrifice.
Just as he began to compose himself, a familiar presence entered the clearing, one that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"You're quite skilled," came a low, almost serpentine voice. "But this kind of training is far too dangerous for someone your age."
Itachi straightened immediately, his expression neutral but his mind racing. He didn't need to turn to know who it was. The pale skin, the golden eyes framed by dark purple markings—it could only be one person.
"Lord Orochimaru," Itachi said evenly, bowing slightly out of respect. "The Sannin."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a smirk, his unnervingly long tongue flicking out to wet them. "And you must be Uchiha Itachi. Your reputation precedes you. But tell me, why push yourself to such extremes? Surely there are safer methods to grow stronger."
Itachi's expression remained calm, though his heart beat faster. "Strength is the only way to survive, my lord. Weakness is not an excuse in this world. If I don't push myself now, I'll end up as just another corpse on the battlefield, forgotten and trampled underfoot."
Orochimaru chuckled, his golden eyes gleaming with interest. "Ah, the battlefield… Yes, war spares no one, does it? But you're still so young, barely more than a child. Tell me, are you afraid of death, Itachi?"
Itachi's gaze sharpened, his voice steady. "Death is terrifying. The Great Ninja Wars have shown us that much. But what's even more terrifying is dying without purpose—without a name or a legacy. I refuse to be just another nameless casualty."
Orochimaru's smile widened, revealing sharp teeth. "Impressive. You remind me of myself at your age. Tell me, Itachi, have you ever considered joining me? Together, we could achieve greatness."
Itachi stiffened at the unexpected proposition. This wasn't part of the timeline he knew—or rather, should have known. If ANBU surveillance picked up on this conversation, it could spell disaster for his clan. "What do you mean, my lord?" he asked carefully.
"Don't worry," Orochimaru said, as if reading his mind. "My ANBU are the only ones watching this area, and they follow my orders alone. You've heard of the disappearances in the village, haven't you? The rumors of human experiments?"
Itachi nodded slowly.
"It's all true," Orochimaru said with a casual wave of his hand, as if confessing to petty theft rather than monstrous crimes. "I'm searching for the secret to immortality. And you, Itachi… I believe you could be the key to my research."
Itachi's stomach churned, though he kept his face impassive. "I'm just a child. What use could I possibly be to you, Lord Orochimaru?"
"You're a genius, Itachi. My instincts tell me you'll become someone truly extraordinary. My instincts have saved me countless times—they're never wrong. So I'll ask again: will you join me?"
Itachi forced a smile, masking the cold sweat forming on his brow. Orochimaru was dangerous, far more so than he'd ever let on in the early stages of the series. "I'll… consider it. But may I ask you something in return, Lord Orochimaru?"
"Of course." Orochimaru tilted his head, intrigued.
"You have a fascination with science, don't you?"
"Science?" Orochimaru repeated, the unfamiliar word rolling awkwardly off his tongue.
Itachi suppressed a laugh, realizing the term didn't exist yet in their world. "It's a term I've been toying with. It refers to the systematic pursuit of knowledge—discovering truths and applying them to improve the world. I believe it has limitless potential."
Orochimaru's grin returned, wider than before. "Science, you say? How fascinating. You continue to surprise me, Itachi."
"Uncle Snake, then?" Itachi said slyly, testing the waters.
Orochimaru burst into laughter, a sound both chilling and genuine. "You're quite bold, Itachi. Very well, call me what you like. But don't think for a second that I've forgotten about your Sharingan. Its beauty is truly intoxicating."
"Speaking of beauty," Itachi said smoothly, "I've heard rumors about Danzo. He has a collection of Sharingan, doesn't he? And what about Byakugan? Surely you've thought about experimenting with those as well?"
Orochimaru's laughter grew louder, his shoulders shaking with amusement. "You're full of surprises, Itachi. Very well. I'll see what I can do about the Byakugan. Danzo owes me a favor or two, after all."
"Excellent," Itachi said with a small bow. "But for now, I must return home. My father won't take kindly to me missing dinner."
"Of course. Until next time, Itachi-kun," Orochimaru said, his long tongue flicking out one last time.
---
As Itachi left the clearing, his mind raced. The timeline is already changing. If that's the case… I might as well take full advantage of it. A small smirk tugged at his lips. Let's see how far I can push this.
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"Lord Orochimaru," came a voice from the shadows as an ANBU agent appeared beside him. "What do you think of the boy?"
Orochimaru's expression turned cold, all traces of humor gone. "He'll be useful. Keep an eye on him, but don't interfere unless I say so. Oh, and have someone retrieve a Byakugan—or two—from the Hyuga Clan."
"Understood." The ANBU disappeared as quickly as they had come.
Orochimaru turned, his hands clasped behind his back. "Science, huh?" he murmured to himself, a chilling smile creeping across his face. "How delightful."
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