In the depths of the forest, several colossal snakes reared their upper bodies high, towering above the surrounding trees.
Their massive tails lashed out, shattering trees all around and clearing a vast open space.
Atop the heads of two of these giant serpents stood figures clad in black cloaks patterned with red clouds.
One had short black hair, no eyebrows, jagged teeth, and a prominent cross-shaped scar on his left cheek.
He was once one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, but after defecting from Kirigakure, he had become a member of the Akatsuki—Kisame's predecessor, the traitor Jūzō Biwa.
The other man had long black hair, skin as pale as paper, and purple eye shadow framing his eyes—none other than the rogue ninja Orochimaru, now also a member of the Akatsuki.
Not far from them stood two boys and a girl, all wearing the Uchiha clan crest.
The boys' eyes were wide with fear, faces drained of color under the suffocating killing intent radiating from the two Akatsuki members.
Their terror had paralyzed them—bodies numb, unable to move.
The girl was Uchiha Izumi. Her face, too, was pale, but she had already drawn a kunai, her Sharingan spinning with twin tomoe. Standing protectively before the boys, she kept her guard up against Orochimaru and Jūzō.
"What beautiful eyes…" Orochimaru's gaze fixed on Izumi's Sharingan. He licked his lips as he spoke.
Hissss—
Under his control, one of the giant snakes slithered forward, tongue flicking, its monstrous jaws opening wide enough to swallow a person whole.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique! "
Even with the crushing pressure bearing down on her, Izumi's breathing ragged, she refused to retreat.
Her hands flew through seals, unleashing a straight, searing jet of flame toward the oncoming serpent.
Sizzle—!
The fire struck, and the snake recoiled in pain, its tail whipping toward her.
Boom!
Izumi leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the strike. While airborne, she hurled two kunai—each tipped with an explosive tag—at the beast.
BOOM! BOOM!
The twin explosions tore bloody wounds into its massive body, but such injuries were insignificant against a creature of its size.
The serpent lunged at her midair position, jaws gaping.
Whoosh—!
Just before she could be swallowed, Izumi flung a shuriken, the wire attached wrapping tightly around the snake's body. With a sharp pull, she altered her trajectory and landed on the serpent's back, dodging its fangs.
But the massive body bucked violently, flinging her to the ground. She rolled several times before stopping.
Hiss, hiss…
While she fought, two other snakes slithered toward the boys.
Having regained some movement after the initial shock, they tried to escape—but they were far too slow. Both were swallowed whole.
"Haruto! Kazuma! " Izumi cried in panic, but her own danger was far from over. The snake she'd been fighting lunged again.
She scrambled away just as its tail smashed the ground, splitting it open with a deep fissure. Had it hit her, she would have been reduced to paste.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique! "
Keeping her distance, she inhaled deeply and exhaled a massive fireball that crashed into the serpent's head, bursting into searing flames.
Charred flesh and burn marks spread across its skull, but the creature still refused to fall.
Furious, it whipped its tail, sending a hail of stone and debris flying toward her.
"My jutsu isn't strong enough…"
She dodged frantically, keeping space between them. Hands blurring through seals that took several seconds to complete, she unleashed:
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet! "
Three roaring dragons of fire surged from her mouth, attacking from the front and both flanks.
They slammed into the serpent, flames wrapping its head and upper body. The creature thrashed in agony, unable to withstand the intense heat of this B-rank jutsu.
Moments later, its upper body was charred black. With a heavy thud, it collapsed, lifeless, a mix of burnt stench and strange roasted scent filling the air.
"Haa… haa…"
Izumi panted heavily. Using such a jutsu had drained much of her chakra.
"For someone her age… a prodigy indeed. The Uchiha clan never lacks for talent," Orochimaru remarked coldly from atop his serpent.
Summoning such snakes was trivial for him, yet for a genin to kill one was remarkable.
His lips curled into a sinister smile.
Hisss—!
Two more serpents slithered toward Izumi.
"Am I going to die here…? " Despair crept into her heart.
One had nearly killed her—there was no way she could handle two at once. Worse, the two men on the serpent heads hadn't taken their eyes off her; any attempt to flee would result in instant pursuit.
"Fire Style: Tōkakkō! "
Fwoosh—!
A figure suddenly appeared beside her, waves of flame rolling forward like a raging tide.
The fire engulfed both serpents instantly, reducing them to charred husks before they could even struggle.
When the flames faded, the ground was blackened and smoking, evidence of the intense heat.
"Clan Leader! "
Izumi's eyes lit up at the sight of the man beside her—Uchiha Fugaku. She knew she was saved. With his Mangekyō Sharingan, not even those two could harm her now.
Quickly, she remembered her swallowed comrades.
"Kazuma and Haruto were eaten by those two snakes, Clan Leader—please save them! "
Following her gaze, Fugaku looked at the two serpents that had devoured the Uchiha youths.
Shhh—!
In an instant, both snakes were slain, their bellies split open as the unconscious boys tumbled out, drenched in slime but still breathing.
Whoosh, whoosh—!
With the Body Flicker Technique, Fugaku appeared beside them, lifted them up, and returned to place them near Izumi.
Then his eyes locked on Orochimaru, still standing atop his serpent.
"Orochimaru… to raise your hand against the young of the Uchiha clan—how far you've fallen from the honor of the Legendary Sannin."