Chapter 24
Under the clan head's main house, deep underground, a small facility has been created.
The air was cold and thick with the metallic tang of blood and chemicals. Carved from chakra-reinforced stone, the walls radiated an oppressive stillness, broken only by the faint drip of water echoing through the dimly lit halls.
At its center was the main chamber, dominated by a metal table fitted with heavy restraints. The shelves lining the walls bore an assortment of surgical tools, vials of unidentifiable substances, and dark tokens hinting at failed experiments. Nearby, cells equipped with chakra-suppressing seals confined prisoners in total darkness.
A dozen figures stood silently in the room, each cloaked in casual clothing that failed to conceal the unnatural rigidity of their postures. Draped over their shoulders were unconscious academy students, their breathing slow and steady, as if in a deep, unnatural sleep. The silence was eerie, broken only by the occasional shuffle of footsteps.
At the far end of the room stood Tashiro Yutaka, the clan head. Tall and commanding, his sharp features betrayed no emotion as his piercing gaze swept over the assembled figures.
"You've all done well," Tashiro said, his gaze sweeping over the group. "The academy's commotion served as the perfect distraction. This can be considered a flawlessly executed mission."
One of the figures stepped forward, speaking in a low, gravelly voice. "What are we to do with them, clan head?"
Tashiro nodded, his expression unreadable. "Place them in the designated chambers. But remember—they must not be harmed. The integrity of their chakra systems is paramount. Each of these children is a potential gem in the rough. We cannot afford to make any mistake."
The figures executed his orders without delay. They each carried their unconscious cargo deeper into the facility, retreating into cells lined with strange seals and barriers.
As the last of the hooded figures disappeared, Tashiro Yutaka lingered, his sharp gaze locked onto the spot where they had stood. The dim light of the underground facility cast shadows across his face, accentuating the tension etched into his features.
Behind him, the air shimmered faintly, and from the shadows stepped a figure, moving with a grace that was almost unnatural. A cold, smooth voice broke the silence.
"You've done well, Tashiro."
Tashiro turned slowly, his face betraying no surprise as he met the eyes of Keichi Yutaka, his brother—or rather, the man who pretended to be his brother. The man's familiar features were twisted by a faint smile, one that Tashiro failed to recognize. It was a smile devoid of warmth, exuding only predatory amusement.
Tashiro knelt, his voice steady but laced with quiet bitterness. "Everything has been executed as you planned."
Keichi's sinister chuckle echoed softly. "No need to be so formal, brother. Remember, I mean you no harm. Our deal stands, does it not? You help me with my… pursuits, and I ensure the Yutaka clan becomes the strongest in Konoha."
Tashiro's fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. Casual help. Is that what you call this nightmare?
He swallowed his resentment, his silence heavy with unspoken defiance. Since Keichi's return from the Village of Oto, nothing had been the same. The man before him was not the brother he once knew, not the proud shinobi who fought for the clan's honor. This was someone else entirely, a puppetmaster cloaked in a familiar guise.
Keichi smirked, clearly savoring Tashiro's inner turmoil. "That fire in your eyes… don't lose it, Tashiro. You'll need it when the time comes."
Stepping closer, Keichi placed a hand on Tashiro's shoulder, the mockery of a brotherly gesture. "You may leave now. I'll summon you when I require your… assistance. For now, I have work to attend to."
Tashiro rose, bowing stiffly before retreating down the corridor, his footsteps echoing faintly as he disappeared into the shadows.
Left alone, Keichi turned his attention to the cells, his lips curling into a chilling smile. "It's been far too long since I've had such promising test subjects," he murmured, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "So much potential… so many possibilities."
His laughter echoed through the facility, chilling and resonant, lingering long after the sound faded. The underground chamber seemed to darken as if recoiling from the sinister promise of his words.
******************************************************************************
Ando woke up feeling slightly stiff. As his senses returned, an unpleasant stench filled his nose—a mix of chemicals, blood, and something faintly burnt. His nose instinctively scrunched as he blinked against the harsh, artificial light. His vision slowly adjusted, revealing a room that felt more like a nightmare than reality.
The walls were lined with shelves cluttered with surgical tools, vials of strange substances, and jars holding unidentifiable remnants. A large, metal table dominated the center of the room, its surface stained and scarred from countless procedures. The faint hum of machinery filled the air, accompanied by the occasional drip of liquid into a container nearby.
He tried to move, but the rough bite of restraints stopped him. He was bound to a sturdy chair bolted to the floor, his wrists and ankles locked in place with cold, unyielding metal clamps. Panic began to simmer beneath his calm exterior as his eyes darted around the room.
"Well, well," a voice drawled, smooth and familiar yet dripping with mockery. Keichi Yutaka stepped into the dim light, his sharp features framed by an unsettling smirk. "The academy's most promising wild card."
Ando's body turned stiff, his heart skipping a beat as the sudden voice shattered the silence. He had believed he was alone, the oppressive quiet of the room reinforcing that illusion—until now. Slowly, hesitantly, he craned his neck to the side, his pulse quickening as a figure emerged from the shadows.
The man stepped into the light, his features gradually coming into focus. Recognition hit Ando like a jolt of electricity. His brown eyes widened as he processed the face before him.
The man who had consoled Hamada after their fight. The man who had seemed composed, even kind, now loomed over Ando with an entirely different presence—a predatory aura that made the air feel heavy.
Ando's mind raced, grasping for any memory that could explain how he'd ended up here. The last thing he remembered was the chaos surrounding Naruto's eruption at the academy. The deafening roar, the explosion of chakra, and then… nothing. A blank void. He had no memory of how he'd been taken, nor why.
Still, he kept his expression as composed as he could, masking the nervousness bubbling beneath the surface. "I don't recall having done anything to the Yutaka clan that would warrant this kind of retaliation," he began, his tone calm and measured. Yet his pulse quickened, and the restraints felt tighter with every passing moment.
Keichi took a step closer, his presence overpowering. "Let me assure you…" His voice dropped, almost a whisper as he leaned in until he was mere inches from Ando's face. "You haven't."
Ando's breath caught in his throat. The intensity of Keichi's gaze was suffocating, primal, like the stare of a predator sizing up its prey. For a moment, it wasn't a man standing before him—it was a beast. A wave of raw, unrelenting fear crashed over him, one so deep and visceral that it triggered a memory of his life before crossing into this world. It didn't make sense. All the man did was look at him, yet—
I'm going to die.
The thought struck Ando with absolute certainty. The cold, unyielding grip of terror rooted him to the spot.
Elevated stress detected! High risk of logic impairing!
Do you want to counter with Gamer's Mind?
Ando suddenly started gasping. Without realizing it, he had stopped breathing. If not for the system's reminder, he might have fainted.
His scattered mind started to reason once again. And he began reassessing the situation he was in. For one, he was not going to die.
Not at this time.
If they wanted him dead, then he wouldn't even know about it. Death was out of the equation. And as long as that was the case, then he had nothing to fear. Whatever they did to him, he could recover. His unique 'bloodline limit' would ensure his survival. Ando suspected that it may even be the reason behind his current predicament.
"Interesting," Keichi remarked, his voice breaking through Ando's thoughts. His eyes narrowed, studying the boy with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "For a moment, I thought you might die of fear. Was my bloodlust truly that overwhelming?"
Ando didn't respond, keeping his expression neutral. He knew better than to reveal his thoughts freely. Silence, in this moment, was his only weapon.
Keichi smirked at the lack of response. "Playing it safe, are we?" he mused, stepping back and moving toward a desk at the side of the room. He picked up a scroll, scribbling something on its surface. "You know," he said conversationally, "this would all be much easier if you chose to cooperate."
"Define cooperate," Ando said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Keichi's hand paused mid-sentence, his sharp gaze flicking toward Ando. "Cooperation," he repeated, his tone dripping with condescension, "is simple. Answer my questions truthfully. Don't resist our tests. And stop pretending your abilities are anything less than remarkable."
"What happens if I don't cooperate?" Ando asked, keeping his voice as even as possible.
Keichi smirked, as if amused by the attempt at bravery. "If you don't? Well..." He leaned against the desk. "Then we'll have to find... creative ways to encourage you. And believe me, I'm not short on ideas."
The knot in Ando's stomach tightened. He didn't doubt the man's words for a second. He drew a slow, deliberate breath.
"I'm listening," Ando said at last.
Keichi raised a brow, seemingly impressed. "Smart choice." He set the scroll down and offered a disarmingly friendly smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Then let's start with introductions. My name," he said, pausing for effect, "is Orochimaru. And I hope we'll get along."
Ando's breath hitched. His entire body tensed as the name registered, and terror surged anew. Even with Gamer's Mind dulling the edges, the revelation sent his thoughts spiraling.
"What…?" The word slipped from his lips, barely audible, a fragment of his stunned disbelief.
Orochimaru's smile widened, savoring the moment. "Oh my, you know of me, don't you?" he said, amused. "I wonder how… Kukuku."
Ando gritted his teeth, forcing himself to push back against the wave of fear threatening to overwhelm him. He locked eyes with the Sannin, drawing on every ounce of resolve he could muster. Focus, he reminded himself. Survive now. Figure out the rest later.
"What do you want from me?"
"At first," Orochimaru said, leaning closer, "I was interested in your Kekkei Genkai. But now…" His eyes gleamed with unsettling curiosity. "Who are you, little Ando? You don't seem like an ordinary orphan to me."
Ando forced a grin up his face. "Will you let me leave if I told you?"
Orochimaru chuckled at that. "That would depend on the value of that information."
"And who determines that value."
Orochimaru didn't answer directly. Instead, a light shift could be detected in the atmosphere. "Not bad," he said, almost to himself. "You might just be more entertaining than I anticipated."
Without warning, Orochimaru plunged a syringe into Ando's neck. Ando gasped as a strange, burning sensation spread through his veins. "Let's start simple," Orochimaru said, "Your Kekkei Genkai—how much can it heal?"
Ando's vision blurred, the room spinning as darkness clawed at the edges of his consciousness. The last thing he saw was Orochimaru's gleaming eyes before everything went black.
AN: Some of you—especially Xaruto—might recognize this chapter. 😆 I accidentally published it a few days ago—my bad! Thanks for reading, and don't forget to leave a review to share your thoughts!