A cold, oppressive wave of killing intent swept through the forest, crashing into Izumi like a physical force. Her muscles tensed instantly, and a prickling sensation ran down her spine.
Oh! So this is killing intent? she thought, her breath catching. A chill spread across her entire body, as though icy water had been poured into her veins.
This was the first time she had ever experienced an aura so sharp and suffocating — an invisible pressure that seemed ready to crush her into the ground. She forced a crooked smile, muttering half to herself, half to him:
"If you don't want to teach me, you don't want to… Seriously, you could have just said so. No need to glare at me like I'm dinner."
Orochimaru, however, wasn't simply trying to scare her. In the depths of his mind, a far more sinister thought emerged. His laboratory had been running low on Uchiha genetic material for experiments, and here was a perfect opportunity, walking right to him. If he took the risk now, he might secure a new specimen.
Without warning, he snapped his arm forward.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hand!"
A white-scaled serpent shot out from his sleeve, fangs gleaming, and lunged at Izumi's throat.
The attack was sudden — faster than most genin could even register. Izumi had no time to retreat; she felt the cold scales brush her neck and the sharp teeth close in —
— only for her body to explode into a puff of smoke.
In her place stood a battered wooden log.
From behind a nearby tree, Izumi stepped out calmly, her crimson Sharingan spinning in the fading sunlight.
"Phew! That was close, that was close!" she said with a bright grin. "Thanks for holding back, Lord Orochimaru. If you'd gone all out, I wouldn't even have had the chance to use the Substitution Technique."
Orochimaru paused, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. It was true he hadn't used full strength — she was just a little girl, after all — but even then, avoiding that strike at her age was impressive. And that eye…
She's already awakened the Sharingan.
Memories of Uchiha Itachi surfaced — a prodigy who had far surpassed his peers at a young age. And now, here was another Uchiha with potential. Orochimaru's mind began to shift. If he had been born with such a bloodline… the possibilities would be endless.
"Lord Orochimaru?" Izumi tilted her head, breaking his thoughts.
He let the killing intent fade, his voice smooth once again. "How was it? Did you learn that move just now?"
Izumi scratched her cheek, looking sheepish. "Uh… sorry. I didn't get all of it. You used something before the jutsu — I'm not sure what that was."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a thin smile. "As expected of the Sharingan… Even if you didn't learn it completely, you could at least follow some of the movements. Not bad."
"So…" Izumi leaned forward eagerly. "Does that mean you'll teach me some Ninjutsu?"
"Perhaps," he said, turning away. "Come with me."
Izumi blinked. "Eh? Really?"
She hurried after him. Orochimaru's mind was already working. Tricking a little girl is simple. I'll make her like Anko — bound to me, loyal only to me. Once my research is complete, I'll have another useful subordinate… and perhaps the perfect vessel for my future evolution.
---
The Laboratory
They walked until the trees thinned, revealing a hidden entrance in the ground. Orochimaru pushed it open, leading her into a long tunnel. The air grew cooler and carried a faint metallic scent.
At last, they entered a vast underground chamber. Shelves lined the walls, filled with jars and bottles containing strange liquids. Metal tables were covered in surgical tools. Along one side, enormous tanks held human bodies suspended in green fluid.
Orochimaru watched her carefully. "Are you afraid? Most people your age would be. No one else in Konoha conducts this kind of research."
But Izumi only shook her head. "Not afraid. Actually… I'm impressed."
A flicker of interest passed through his eyes. "Oh? And why is that?"
She clasped her hands behind her back. "Everyone wants to learn flashy Ninjutsu and become strong. But you… you're different. You're a shinobi who values research. Yes, studying corpses is cruel — but someone has to do it, right?"
Her tone grew more serious. "Pioneers are always misunderstood. People label them as dark and cruel, but it's because of their work in the shadows that others can enjoy the light. Without exploration in darkness, there can be no bright future."
For a moment, Orochimaru was silent. Her words struck a chord. The Third Hokage, Danzo — they all condemned him publicly, yet continued to use the fruits of his labor. He was a pioneer, carving through forbidden territory so others could follow.
His original plan had been simple: use this girl as a test subject. But now… perhaps there was more value in training her, molding her into a loyal agent. An Uchiha pawn could be incredibly useful.
And if she ever becomes disobedient… once my Living Corpse Reincarnation is perfected, she'll serve me in another way.
---
The Gift
He sat down at one of the tables and fixed her with a serpentine gaze. "Do you wish to learn my Ninjutsu? My research?"
Izumi nodded quickly. "Mm-hmm! I do!"
"Good. Then, as my new disciple, I should give you a welcoming gift." His eyes glinted. "Yes… this will do."
Forming a quick hand seal, he pressed his palm to the floor. "Summoning Technique!"
With a burst of smoke, a massive scroll appeared between them. Orochimaru unrolled it, revealing names written in blood.
"This is my Summoning Beast contract. Sign your name here in blood, and you'll be able to summon my allies — snakes."
Izumi's eyes lit up. "Really? Thank you, Lord Orochimaru!"
Her gaze skimmed the existing names: Anko Mitarashi, Yakushi Kabuto.
She narrowed her eyes slightly — names she recognized — then bit her finger, pressing the bloody mark onto the parchment and writing Uchiha Izumi beside the others.
Orochimaru demonstrated the proper hand seals, his movements fluid. "Right now, you'll only be able to summon ordinary snakes. The more powerful ones require a direct contract with them — a challenge for another day."
"I'll remember it," Izumi said eagerly.
He regarded her for a moment longer. "You're still in the Academy, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then go back for now. Come early tomorrow, and I'll teach you stronger techniques — and how to use these instruments."
Izumi's shoulders slumped. "But I can learn now—"
He placed a hand on her head, the gesture almost gentle. "Patience. Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we work."
Reluctantly, she nodded. "Okay… Goodbye, Lord Orochimaru!"
"Goodbye, Izumi."
She turned to leave. Behind her, his expression darkened, tongue sliding across his lips. Tomorrow, I'll plant the Cursed Seal on her… Uchiha material. Heh heh.
---
First Summon
Once outside, Izumi's mood shifted instantly. A grin spread across her face. She now had a Summoning Beast — and a snake, no less.
Biting her finger again, she formed the seals and pressed her palm to the ground. "Let's start small… Summoning Technique!"
With a bang, smoke burst outward, revealing a slender blue snake in the center of a sealing array.
Izumi blinked. "…You're smaller than I expected."
The snake slithered toward her, tongue flicking. She tensed instinctively, but instead of striking, it coiled gently around her leg, then her waist.
Tentatively, she reached out and stroked its head. To her surprise, it leaned into her touch.
"Ah… you're cute!" she exclaimed.
"Young lady."
Izumi froze. "Whoa — you can talk?!"
The snake's mouth curled in what almost looked like a smile. "Of course. My name is Blue Ya. This is the first time I've been summoned — interesting, isn't it?"
"I'm Izumi," she said, still grinning. "Looks like I'm officially a summoner now. Hahaha!"
---
Plans Interrupted
The next morning, she woke early, excitement bubbling in her chest. She dressed quickly, ready to meet Orochimaru for her promised lesson.
But as she stepped outside, the village was buzzing with tension. Whispered conversations, hurried footsteps, grim expressions.
"Have you heard?" a man was saying. "Orochimaru… the Third Hokage caught him doing human experiments. He's defected."
Izumi froze. "What?"
That fast?!
She had planned to learn as much as possible from him before his inevitable departure — maybe even obtain Hashirama's cells for her own research, or let him give her a Cursed Seal she could later break and harness for power. Perhaps even… Sage Mode.
But now, after just one day, he was gone.
"Seriously… what a useless guy," she muttered, more annoyed than disappointed.
Still, it wasn't a total loss. She had the Summoning Contract — and hadn't ended up as one of his experiments. That alone was worth celebrating.
And so, with Blue Ya coiled comfortably around her arm, Izumi turned her thoughts back to her own plans.
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