The rain poured relentlessly, like it would never end. Amano Ren stood stiffly in the downpour, eyes locked on the two figures ahead—his entire body taut with wariness.
Thud.
Without hesitation, he dropped the freshly killed stray dog at his feet. Though he gripped the bloodied stone tightly, his body inched back. Hunger gnawed at him, but the dead pup—his hard-won meal—was now a burden. If he needed to escape, carrying it would only slow him down.
"…Who are you?"He hadn't wanted to abandon his food unless absolutely necessary, yet the question slipped from his mouth involuntarily. The strange part was—it wasn't a language he recognized. And yet, it felt natural, and he instinctively understood its meaning.
"Black hair… black eyes…"Orochimaru observed Ren as he turned around. He didn't answer right away. The boy's dark features brought to mind the Uchiha clan—though that wasn't exclusive to them. Glancing at the small yellow dog Ren had discarded so decisively, Orochimaru's lips curled slightly, his interest deepening.
"Tsunade… this kid is interesting.""Hm?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow and gave him a sideways glance. "What are you planning to do?"
"Take him back to the village," Orochimaru replied calmly.
Tsunade paused, visibly stunned. Then, without hesitation, she rejected the idea. "That's not possible."
"Not possible? Heh… maybe difficult, but I want to try."
"Orochimaru, you—" Tsunade's eyes narrowed, studying him carefully. If it had been Jiraiya saying this, she wouldn't have been so surprised. But this was Orochimaru.
"Tsunade… I'm not Jiraiya. He stayed behind to care for those war orphans out of guilt and a sense of responsibility. But I want to bring this child back to the village because I see potential in him. A seed that might grow into a great tree. If I didn't see that… I would've killed him already."
Orochimaru kept those thoughts to himself. He hadn't seriously considered bringing the boy back at first. But something about Ren intrigued him more and more.
Ren, meanwhile, had heard every word of their exchange. His face stiffened—and without another thought, he turned and bolted.
Traffickers?!That's what they must be. He was sure of it. If he didn't run now, he'd be dragged off—no doubt about it.
The sudden movement caught both shinobi's attention. Orochimaru scoffed and began weaving hand signs rapidly.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Thick, brown-scaled serpents shot out from his sleeves, thick as tree limbs. Within seconds, they caught up to Ren and coiled around him, pinning him in place. Thankfully, Orochimaru had been precise—had he used his full strength, the boy might've been crushed to death.
Even so, the pain was excruciating. Ren screamed in agony, sweat pouring from his pale face.
"S-Snakes?!"His heart pounded as a forked tongue flicked toward him, and fear surged through every nerve.
Tap… Tap…
Orochimaru walked slowly toward him, the sound of his boots muffled by the endless rain.
Tsunade remained where she was, eyes fixed on Orochimaru's back. For a brief moment—just a flicker—she felt uneasy. Something about this… didn't sit right.
Why was Orochimaru so insistent on taking this child back?
She understood Jiraiya's need to protect and atone. But Orochimaru? His logic was far less sentimental.
"Kid."Orochimaru stood before the rain-soaked boy, looking down at him. Even wrapped in coils and wracked with pain, Ren's eyes glared back with a stubborn intensity that surprised him.
"If you want to survive… come with me. That's your only option."
Ren struggled to raise his head. When he met Orochimaru's cold, serpentine eyes, he finally understood—
This world wasn't normal.
And he… really didn't have a choice.
With what little strength he had left, Ren nodded once—and passed out.
Orochimaru's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile. Why, he wondered, did he feel excited in this moment? It was subtle, but real.
Bending down, he lifted the unconscious boy over his shoulder and turned back toward Tsunade.
"Let's go."
Tsunade glanced at the boy's pale face, hesitation flashing across her own. "…You're seriously taking him back to the village?"
"Of course," Orochimaru said without hesitation.
She pressed her lips together. "Then at least treat him a bit before we go. In his state, I doubt he'll make it back alive."
"Heh…"
Orochimaru gave a cold, indifferent chuckle.
"No need. Whether it's food or medical treatment—he can ask for it when he wakes up. If he doesn't wake up… just dump him somewhere along the way."
Tsunade gave him a long, steady look but said nothing more.
The rain continued to fall.Endlessly.As if it would never stop.