The forest beyond Konohagakure was a labyrinth of shadows, the moon's pale light barely piercing the canopy as I moved with Sasuke and the Sound Four. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and the faint tang of chakra, a reminder of the pursuit we'd narrowly escaped. My hood was low, concealing my four eyes—a trait I was born with in this world—while my towering frame, over six feet and rippling with chakra-enhanced muscle, kept pace with the group's relentless speed. My modified body pulsed with power: a second heart amplified my chakra flow; expanded lungs fueled endurance that let me run for hours without faltering. Sculpted for dominance like Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen, my physique was a weapon forged for my goals—power, control, freedom. The invasion of Konoha had been a crucible, the Chunin Exams a stage for my skills—Dismantle, Cleave, Mirror Mirage Technique, genjutsu, and medical ninjutsu—but now, defecting with Sasuke to Orochimaru's lair, I was chasing Snake Sage Mode's transformative power: venomous chakra, viper-like agility, and regeneration. Tsunade's Yin Seal and medical expertise remained a parallel goal, a path I'd reclaim later to perfect my body's resilience. This journey was a Baldur's Gate quest, high-risk and high-reward, and I'd navigate it with the cunning of my gamer past.
The Sound Four—Kidomaru, Jirobo, Sakon, and Tayuya—led with cold efficiency, their loyalty to Orochimaru absolute. Sasuke ran beside me, his Curse Seal pulsing faintly, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Konoha's pursuit, led by Naruto and others, had faded, but the tension was palpable. The Sound Four didn't trust us, their glances sharp, and I didn't trust them. In Warhammer 40,000, alliances with traitors were fragile, and I was ready for betrayal, my senses honed by my modified physiology.
Kidomaru, the spider-like shinobi, broke the silence. "Keep up, brats," he sneered, his six arms flexing. "Lord Orochimaru doesn't wait for stragglers."
Sasuke ignored him, but I met his gaze, my voice low. "We're not here for your master's leash. Watch your tone."
Tayuya laughed, her flute glinting. "Big guy's got a mouth. Hope you fight as good as you talk."
I smirked, letting it pass. My focus was Snake Sage Mode, a power that would elevate my chakra to new heights. Stolen scrolls had described its trials in the Ryuchi Cave: balancing natural energy to gain serpentine traits, with failure meaning petrification. My second heart and enhanced lungs were built for the strain, my chakra control—sharpened by medical ninjutsu—ready for the challenge. I'd practiced sensing natural energy, feeling its pulse in the forest, and mimicked sage effects, infusing a kunai with stinging chakra that corroded stone. The mode's venomous chakra would make Dismantle a corrosive storm, Cleave a biting strike, and my Mirror Mirage clones hypnotic, their movements slithering like snakes.
We stopped at dawn in a hidden ravine, the Sound Four setting up a perimeter. Sasuke sat apart, his Curse Seal flaring as he clutched his neck. I approached, using medical ninjutsu to ease the pain, channeling chakra to slow the seal's spread. "You're pushing it," I said, my voice low. "Control it, or it'll control you."
He glared but nodded, a rare acknowledgment. Our alliance was pragmatic, not friendly, but I saw his value—his Sharingan, his drive. In Baldur's Gate, a party needed synergy, and Sasuke was a key piece until I reached Orochimaru.
Jirobo, the hulking Sound shinobi, scoffed. "You're soft, playing healer. Lord Orochimaru wants warriors, not nurses."
I stood, my towering frame casting a shadow. "Want to test that theory?"
He backed off, grumbling, but the exchange sharpened my resolve. Orochimaru's lair was a dungeon, and the Sound Four were mid-tier enemies—dangerous but expendable. I trained in stolen moments, weaving a Mirror Mirage Technique that summoned twelve clones, their illusions so lifelike they fooled a passing crow. My shadow genjutsu, inspired by Shikamaru, paralyzed a rabbit, while my confusion genjutsu, drawn from Ino, disoriented a bat. Dismantle sliced through a boulder, Cleave shattered it with a touch. My medical ninjutsu healed a self-inflicted cut, boosting stamina with precise chakra control.
The journey took days, the Sound Four leading us through hidden paths to a subterranean lair, its entrance carved with serpentine motifs. Orochimaru awaited, his pale face and golden eyes gleaming in the torchlight. "Welcome, Sasuke… and Archon," he hissed, his voice like silk over steel. "You've chosen power over Konoha's chains. Prove your worth, and I'll grant you knowledge beyond your dreams."
Sasuke stepped forward, his resolve unshaken. I followed, my four eyes hidden but locked on Orochimaru. "I'm here for Snake Sage Mode," I said, my voice steady. "Teach me, and I'll show you what I'm worth."
He smiled, a predator's grin. "Bold. The Ryuchi Cave awaits, but its trials break the weak. Are you prepared?"
"I am," I said, my second heart pulsing, my lungs ready for the cave's demands. Orochimaru gestured to a tunnel, and we descended, the air growing cold and damp. The Sound Four stayed behind, their smirks a warning. This was a test, and failure wasn't an option.
The tunnel opened into a vast cavern, its walls alive with slithering serpents, their eyes glowing like embers. A massive white snake, the Great White Serpent, coiled at the center, its voice a hiss that shook my bones. "You seek Sage Mode, human?" it said. "Prove your strength, or become stone."
The trial began—a gauntlet of serpentine challenges. First, I faced a venomous mist, its corrosive bite testing my endurance. My expanded lungs filtered the air, my second heart keeping my chakra steady as I channeled medical ninjutsu to neutralize the poison. Next, I battled a giant serpent, its speed blinding. I dodged, my reflexes viper-like, and used Dismantle to slice its scales, Cleave cracking its fangs with a precise touch. My Mirror Mirage clones distracted it, their slithering movements hypnotic, letting me land the final blow.
The final test was natural energy. The Great White Serpent instructed me to absorb it, balancing it with my chakra. I sat, cross-legged, feeling the cave's pulse—wild, untamed. My modified body handled the surge, my chakra control keeping it stable. My skin tingled, scales flickering briefly, my reflexes sharpening. I wasn't a sage yet—the full transformation required weeks—but I'd passed, the serpent's approval a cold nod. "Return when you're ready," it hissed. "The Ryuchi Cave will forge you… or break you."
Orochimaru watched, his eyes gleaming. "Impressive, Archon. Stay, and I'll guide you to true power."
I nodded, but my mind was clear: I'd learn, then leave. Snake Sage Mode was mine, its venomous chakra and regeneration within reach. Tsunade's Yin Seal remained a goal—I'd return to Konoha, claim her knowledge, and master my body. My Yin Seal practice was progressing, the diamond pattern holding for minutes, storing chakra for future battles. My medical ninjutsu could regenerate organs, a synergy with sage mode's healing.
Sasuke trained nearby, his Curse Seal pushing his limits. The Sound Four watched us, their loyalty to Orochimaru a chain I'd never wear. Konoha's shadow—Danzo, Kakashi—would hunt us, but I was Archon, a gamer reborn, playing a game where power was the prize. The Ryuchi Cave was my forge, and I'd emerge stronger, ready to carve my path through any obstacle.