Chunin Exams: The Only Chance for Redemption

"Why didn't Yoroi and Dosu come along?" Kin asked as she led the way, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

"I'm only here to report some intelligence. One person is enough for that," Kabuto replied, maintaining his usual polite smile. Internally, however, he couldn't help but criticize the woman's foolishness.

He knew why Kin treated him so coldly.

He, along with Yoroi and Dosu, were originally shinobi from Oto. However, their mission in Konoha was far more significant, as they served as spies under Orochimaru's orders.

On the other hand, Kin, Zaku, and Dosu were low-ranking shinobi who, if not for the upcoming Chunin Exams, would have never even had the chance to speak with Orochimaru. They weren't even qualified to carry the shoes of his elite squad.

This jealousy, stemming from Kabuto's closer relationship with Orochimaru, explained Kin's hostility.

Orochimaru's charisma was undeniable, a magnetic force that attracted loyalty. His genius lay in maintaining just the right balance of closeness and distance with his followers, keeping them striving to reach him while never fully losing hope.

Over time, these followers unwittingly became mere pawns in his grand schemes.

As someone who had followed Orochimaru for years, Kabuto saw all of this clearly. Yet, there were moments when he himself questioned whether he too was just another "pitiful soul" chasing Orochimaru's shadow.

Shoving aside these thoughts, he turned his attention back to the Chunin Exams, briefing Kin and her group.

"The proctor for the first stage of the Chunin Exams is Ibiki, head of Konoha's Interrogation Unit and a special jonin. He's famously known as the 'Sadistic Examiner.' His exam style focuses on mental pressure."

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to obtain the exact questions for this test. However, with your skills, you should handle the first round easily."

Kabuto concluded his report with a touch of flattery, praising their abilities as if speaking to children. As expected, the compliment inflated their egos, particularly Zaku's, who began to strut with exaggerated pride.

"Of course! I'm one of Orochimaru-sama's personally chosen shinobi!" Zaku declared arrogantly.

Kabuto merely smiled at Zaku, his expression perfectly nonchalant as if to say: Sure, you're absolutely right.

Zaku had been an obscure figure in Oto, but since Orochimaru selected him for this mission in Konoha, his arrogance had grown. He even went as far as to embroider three kanji for "death" on his clothes, as if announcing to the world how fearsome he was.

But Kabuto, privy to Orochimaru's full plans, knew what fate awaited these pawns.

Compared to Zaku's bluster, Misumi, with his hunched posture, was much more composed. He hadn't let the so-called honor of being chosen by Orochimaru inflate his ego. In his eyes, Kabuto's mysterious status was far above his own, and he acted accordingly.

"By the way," Kabuto continued, "to execute Orochimaru-sama's plan, I'll need to get close to Sasuke's team during the written exam. When the time comes, I'll need you all to cooperate with me in staging a confrontation. This will help me gain their trust."

"Understood," Misumi nodded before asking, "Should we use ninjutsu during this 'confrontation'?"

"Of course, that'll make it more convincing."

"But wouldn't that mean you'll actually get hurt?" Misumi inquired skeptically.

"Don't worry about me."

Kabuto had hidden his true strength so well that Kin's team assumed he was merely of chunin level, relying on his connection to Orochimaru.

If they ever learned that Kabuto's skills were nearing jonin level, with some abilities even surpassing a jonin's, they would be utterly stunned.

"The next step is to report directly to Orochimaru-sama. Where is he?" Kabuto asked.

At the mention of Orochimaru, Kin, Zaku, and Misumi's faces betrayed a mix of fear and unease.

Sensing something was wrong, Kabuto's tone sharpened. "Where exactly is Orochimaru-sama?"

"He's… in there," Misumi stammered, pointing to a closed door at the end of the hallway.

Following his gaze, Kabuto saw a room shrouded in darkness, its door tightly shut, not a sliver of light escaping.

"Since Orochimaru-sama returned last night, he has locked himself in that room. He even remodeled it and forbade anything with 'angles' from entering," Zaku explained.

"Angles?" Kabuto echoed in confusion.

"Yes, angles—things like your ninja forehead protector can't be brought in," Kin elaborated, pointing to the metal forehead protector Kabuto wore. He removed it and noticed the edges of the metal plate formed sharp 90-degree angles.

Although Kabuto didn't fully understand the reasoning, he knew better than to question Orochimaru's orders. He carefully removed every item on him that had angles and donned a seamless, flowing robe with no sharp edges.

Kin slowly opened the door. The moment the light from outside spilled into the room, a dry, hoarse voice from within shouted urgently:

"Quick! Shut the door! That thing is coming!"

Before Kabuto could grasp what was happening, Kin shoved him inside, and the heavy iron door slammed shut behind him with a loud clang.

The room was pitch-black, with not a trace of light. Until his eyes adjusted, Kabuto couldn't see where Orochimaru was.

"Kabuto, is that you?" came Orochimaru's voice from the darkness.

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto replied promptly. "What is going on?"

Instead of answering directly, Orochimaru let out two raspy, bitter laughs, almost as though he was mocking himself.

"That thing has marked me. I can't leave this room. The moment I step outside, it will pursue me from across dimensions and tear me to pieces. Even transferring my soul into another body is futile. It has targeted my soul. There's no escape!"

"Ahhh!"

Orochimaru's anguished scream echoed through the room. By now, Kabuto's eyes had adjusted to the dark, and he took in the sight before him.

What should have been a standard, rectangular room had been completely remodeled. Every corner, every window frame, and any place that might form an angle had been plastered over, creating smooth, rounded curves.

The room was eerily empty—no furniture, no decorations, not even a tatami mat on the floor. It was stark and barren.

The modifications extended to every detail. The room was designed to eliminate any angle sharper than 120 degrees, as Orochimaru explained later. He had discovered that the Hounds of Tindalos, entities tied to acute angles and angular time distortions, could traverse dimensions to reach their prey through such spaces.

And now, he stood at the very center of this angleless, sealed room, his figure trembling slightly in the gloom.

Kabuto could hardly believe his eyes. He had served Orochimaru for years, witnessing him confront horrors beyond imagination—the serpent spirits of the Nameless City, unholy experiments, and the wrath of powerful shinobi. Through it all, Orochimaru had remained composed, even amused.

But now, Kabuto saw something he had never witnessed before: genuine fear etched into Orochimaru's face. His once-commanding presence was reduced to a pale, shivering shadow.

What was this thing? What could terrify him the unshakable to such an extent?

Facing death was not terrifying; waiting for death was the most terrifying thing.

Orochimaru was now in just such a state—trapped in this closed, cornerless space, waiting for the Hound of Tindalos to hunt him down.

The only thing offering him some semblance of psychological solace was the confinement of this space. It was this faint remaining comfort that allowed him to maintain what little sanity he had left.

"Orochimaru-sama, I've come to heal your wounds," Kabuto stepped forward, intent on providing medical treatment, but the Sannin immediately stopped him.

"Stay back! I'm not injured. For now, that thing can't do anything to me."

That thing? Kabuto still didn't understand what exactly that thing was, but it was clear that whatever it was, it had utterly terrified Orochimaru.

Though curious about what that thing might be, he was well aware of Orochimaru's eccentric and volatile nature—especially when he was mentally fragile. It was best not to provoke him further.

"Orochimaru-sama, I'm here to report intelligence."

"I've made contact with Baki. He brought the joint operation plan from Suna. However, the plan's scroll wasn't allowed to be brought in earlier, so I'll need to recite the details to you."

Kabuto, a seasoned spy ninja with an almost photographic memory, flawlessly recounted the entire operation plan to Orochimaru.

In the original timeline, the Konoha Crush Plan was initiated by Orochimaru from Oto, who proposed it to Suna. Suna accepted the proposal, and Kabuto handed over the plan to Baki during the Chunin Exams.

In this altered timeline, however, Konoha—under the leadership of Danzō—had repeatedly clashed with Suna over boundary demarcations, mission commissions, and other issues. Such clashes were typical of Danzō's iron-fisted policies.

In response, Suna proposed holding a joint Chunin Exam to ease tensions and use the results to settle disputes.

Suna quietly allied with Oto, planning to launch an attack on Konoha during the Chunin Exams.

Thus, Kabuto now found himself receiving the operation plan from Baki instead.

However, the plan wasn't entirely drafted by Suna. During the early stages of preparation, Orochimaru had suggested several improvements to the plan. The final version was a collaborative effort between both parties.

The submission of this plan to Orochimaru once more as a formal operation application demonstrated how cautious Suna was about this endeavor.

This caution was understandable. Suna feared that Oto might abandon them at the critical moment, leaving them to face Konoha's formidable strength alone.

It wasn't just about Suna's lower-tier forces—how many could infiltrate Konoha unnoticed? Even regarding high-level combat strength, Rasa alone wouldn't stand a chance against both Danzō and Hiruzen.

In the desert environment of the Land of Wind, he might have been confident enough to face both at once.

But in Konoha's forested terrain, he would lack the advantage of familiar terrain. Without the support of another Kage-level ally, the odds were stacked against him.

Thus, Suna placed significant importance on their alliance with Oto, repeatedly submitting operation requests for confirmation. They feared that their ally might disappear at the eleventh hour, leaving them to be swallowed by the abyss of defeat.

It was a risky gambit, but the potential payoff was immense.

After Kabuto finished reciting the operation plan, he formed a new evaluation of the situation.

"Orochimaru-sama, given your current state, it seems impossible to carry out this operation, doesn't it?"

In terms of Oto's capabilities, apart from Orochimaru himself, the other five elite Sound ninjas, including Kabuto, were only suitable for diversionary or auxiliary roles. The plan's success hinged on Orochimaru.

Especially regarding the critical Kage-level battle—without him, victory was unattainable.

Now, Orochimaru seemed completely ensnared by that "thing," barely able to ensure his own safety. It seemed difficult for him even to leave this room, let alone participate in a Kage-level confrontation.

Kabuto's suggestion was clear: abandon the alliance with Suna immediately and withdraw Oto from the Konoha Crush Plan.

This way, Oto would avoid unnecessary losses, although it would leave Suna in a disastrous position—certainly crushed by Konoha and forced to pay heavy reparations afterward.

However, just as Kabuto expected Orochimaru to agree and abandon the plan, the voice that had been silent in the darkness gave a completely unexpected answer.

"No. The plan will proceed as scheduled."

Kabuto's eyes widened in shock at this response, completely at odds with his rational assessment.

Had the Sannin's fear of that thing driven him to madness?

"But Orochimaru-sama, in your current condition, continuing with the plan seems impossible."

"If we don't withdraw now, failure is inevitable!"

Kabuto had learned to suppress his emotions and follow orders. After being betrayed by Root, he had lost all direction in life. Orochimaru's arrival had given him a new identity—as Orochimaru's right-hand man.

To Kabuto, Orochimaru wasn't just a superior; he was a figure akin to both a brother and a father, one of the few people willing to share the secrets of the Necronomicon with him.

Many followed him, but most sought power or something of value from him. Their loyalty was transactional, not genuine. Kabuto, however, was different.

Orochimaru had granted him a new life, a gift he held in higher regard than even Kimimaro's devotion.

Kabuto would never betray him, and Orochimaru knew this well.

Still, Orochimaru rejected Kabuto's advice.

"Kabuto. That's precisely why the plan must proceed. This is my only chance for redemption. Do you understand?"

---

Two days later, Konoha seemed peaceful, as if nothing unusual was happening. The Chunin Exams proceeded as scheduled.

In Classroom 301, nine newly graduated rookie ninjas had gathered to take part in the exams: Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, Nara, Chōji, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino.

As the nine rookies talked energetically at the front of the classroom, oblivious to others around them, Kabuto smiled faintly. Then, he turned his gaze toward Dosu in the distance, signaling with a glance.

Dosu understood the meaning of the signal; it was part of the plan they had discussed two days prior.

After sending the signal, the ever-charismatic Kabuto approached the group of rookies.

"You lot… You'd better keep it down."