Chapter 215 – Ten Minutes
Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupiled eyes locked onto Uchiha Kei. There was a glint there—he had noticed something.
This newly appointed head of the Konoha Police Force wasn't as simple as he appeared.
Orochimaru knew of Uchiha Kei.
Like everyone else, he had first heard the name because its owner had accomplished the impossible—a mission that should never have been survivable. Kei's name had entered the village's collective consciousness when he returned as a hero.
At first, Orochimaru hadn't thought much of it. Konoha produced far too many "bright young names" every few years. Some blazed like stars, but most burned out like fleeting meteors.
Yet Kei hadn't faded. Quite the opposite—he had risen swiftly.
Before long, he was named Vice-Commander of the Police Force. He assisted Minato Namikaze in delicate negotiations with Iwagakure, and upon returning, reorganized his squad into something distinct from all other units.
Within months, thanks to shrewd political alignment, Kei had become the Uchiha clan's second most influential figure, holding sway over nearly half of the Police Force.
Even for Orochimaru, whose ambitions and insights were vast, this meteoric rise was difficult to fully comprehend. Was Kei simply lucky? Or was he truly that capable?
Now, seeing him in person, Orochimaru leaned toward the latter. He could even sense, faintly, something familiar about the boy—a trace of cruelty, a sharpness that placed his own interests above all else. In that, Kei resembled Orochimaru himself.
"Although I know you didn't come here with good intentions…" Orochimaru licked his lips, a snake-like smile curling across his pale face. "I must admit, Kei-kun, you are… fascinating. Fsshh."
"Then, Orochimaru-sama," Kei said calmly, despite the disgust churning in his gut at the man's theatrics, "would you be so kind as to let me take a look at your laboratory? As head of the Police Force, I'd say I have the authority… and the right."
"That, I'm afraid, would disappoint you." Orochimaru sighed, almost mockingly. "Your reasons are hardly sufficient. And besides—among all of Konoha's institutions, the Police Force is perhaps the least qualified to investigate me, don't you think?"
"Ah, true enough." Kei nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving Orochimaru. "After all, I am an Uchiha. But you may be the one who ends up disappointed, Orochimaru-sama."
Of all groups in Konoha, the Uchiha clan was the least qualified to move against Orochimaru. Any attempt to do so would be seen as a declaration of war against the Third Hokage himself.
In the past—even if it had been Uchiha Fugaku—no one would have dared make such a reckless move.
But things had changed. Thanks to Kei's careful maneuvering, the relationship between the Fourth Hokage and the Uchiha was no longer hostile, but cooperative.
Although the alliance mainly rested on Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Fugaku, one was the clan head and the other the Police Force Head. Their weight carried far.
Kei, however, also knew the path Orochimaru would eventually walk—his ambition, his hunger for knowledge. The man didn't have much time left in Konoha. At most a year, perhaps less now, with Kei's interference pushing the infamous "Orochimaru incident" to ferment faster, darker, and more dangerously than in the original timeline.
Since things had already reached this point, Kei had no problem serving as a catalyst—shoving Orochimaru fully into the abyss. For Kei, this would only bring benefits.
Of course, he also understood that this time, he could only act as a spark. If he truly wanted Orochimaru's research notes, he would need to wait. As long as Orochimaru remained in Konoha, he was under the protection of the Third Hokage. Even with Minato now in power, restrictions were everywhere, and Kei dared not go too far. Recklessness would benefit neither him nor Minato.
His current objective was clear: seize the essentials, then force Orochimaru into open conflict with the Third Hokage. Only then would Kei strike in earnest.
With that thought, Kei didn't hesitate.
His foot slammed into the ground, and in a flash he was at Orochimaru's side. His blade gleamed like a streak of light, cutting swiftly and with uncanny precision.
Orochimaru, unfazed, reacted with cold calm. He had seen countless storms; this was nothing more than a ripple. His body shifted sideways as his hand snapped out, a kunai slashing toward Kei at a wicked angle.
At that moment, Imai Kenta acted. He had known from the moment they entered this place—if he didn't move, neither Kei nor Orochimaru would spare him. The instant Kei and Orochimaru clashed, he drew his blade.
As Orochimaru's kunai was about to strike Kei, Kenta's sword flashed forward. The cut was viciously fast. Though it didn't completely block Orochimaru's attack range, it forced him to reconsider—press forward, and he risked losing his head.
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed. His body twisted unnaturally, halting his strike, then he leapt back, evading both blades. His tongue flicked against his lips, and a playful smile formed.
That cut—Orochimaru had noticed—it would have struck Kei as well. Kenta hadn't cared if his own captain got injured. Was this really cooperation?
But Kei and Kenta gave him no chance to speak. Both lunged again, blades flashing left and right like lightning.
Orochimaru moved with predatory grace. His taijutsu was sharp, clean, and backed by ruthless experience. Though the fight looked desperate, he remained untouched.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Even while dodging, Orochimaru's hands wove signs. A stone wall surged up, blocking both swords. Using the moment, he leapt onto a tree branch, eyes glinting with amusement.
"How curious. The two of you truly are entertaining. I've never seen 'teammates' with such miserable coordination. You don't aid each other at all—more like conspirators watching for the chance to stab one another. Tell me, are you even from the same squad?"
Kei and Kenta froze, then glanced at each other with matching disdain. Both knew the truth: with the other at their side, they could never fight wholeheartedly. Subconsciously, each kept one eye on the other.
The result? Their attacks were fierce but shallow, incapable of truly harming Orochimaru. Neither intended to fight with full effort—they were both testing one another.
"Ah, Orochimaru-sama, you've misunderstood." Kenta's face shifted into an almost harmless smile. "It's not poor teamwork. It's just that facing you… the pressure is overwhelming. We believe you'd never do anything unforgivable. We're simply here on official duty, that's all…"
"To let you inside for inspection?" Orochimaru's tongue slid across his lips. "You'll be disappointed. There are indeed things within that cannot see the light of day."
The words silenced Kenta instantly. The implication was obvious: Orochimaru intended to fight in earnest, to ensure neither of them left alive.
Kei was unsurprised. This was Orochimaru's pride—to speak the truth, or nothing at all.
Kei and Kenta exchanged a look, both aware of the situation. Fighting side by side wasn't their strength.
"Captain, I'll hold him off." Kenta's carefree mask vanished, his expression sharpening to steel. "Go below and see for yourself. Then decide. But I can't last long. Move quickly—or I'll have no choice but to retreat and call for backup."
"You say that as if you could survive Orochimaru-sama's pursuit." Kei raised an eyebrow, faintly amused that Kenta had volunteered. Still, he didn't object. He was curious to see Kenta's true strength.
But his own mission mattered more. That disappointed Kei slightly, but he reminded himself—judging strength didn't always require a duel. He could assess Kenta's capabilities by watching how he fared against Orochimaru, and by the injuries he carried afterward. It wouldn't be exact, but it would be enough.
"This underground base must be large. I'll need time." Kei paused, calculating. "Ten minutes. Can you hold him for that long?"
"You might as well kill me now!" Kenta rolled his eyes. "Ten minutes? If you're late by a single second, I'm gone."
"Fair enough." Kei smiled faintly. "If you can still run after ten minutes, it means you never committed in the first place."
Kenta realized his slip and turned away, refusing to meet Kei's gaze. He inhaled deeply, then stepped forward.
Chakra surged through his body, boiling over. A sharp, killing aura radiated outward from him.