CHAPTER 11

c11 - The Silence of Orochimaru

That night.

"It's too dangerous. Don't do this again in the future. If you were half a second late, this arm would be gone."

Yuuji frowned as he removed all traces of radiation from Might Duy's battered left arm. The flesh was mangled beyond recognition, deep wounds exposing shattered bone. It was a miracle it was still attached at all.

Had Yuuji fully unleashed that technique, Duy's arm wouldn't have merely been injured—it would have melted away entirely, leaving nothing but charred remnants.

"Hahaha! At least it ended well! Konoha's Anbu is truly reliable!" Might Duy bellowed with his usual boundless energy.

"Father…" Guy knelt, his face contorted with emotion. Seeing his father's unwavering optimism despite his grievous injury filled him with pride and admiration.

And then, predictably, the father and son duo began shouting about youth, locking themselves in an embrace of mutual encouragement, tears streaming down their faces.

Yuuji massaged his temples.

"Father, how did you know Yuuji-san was this strong?" Guy asked between sniffles. He and Yuuji had been inseparable for years, yet in his eyes, Yuuji was an indifferent slacker, someone whose intelligence far outstripped his dedication to physical training.

Duy beamed. "Guy, Yuuji-san has always been this powerful. His training is simply different from ours. But for some reason, he chooses to conceal his strength."

Duy stole a glance at Yuuji, who sat calmly, sipping tea with a composed smile. Memories of a certain event resurfaced—one he had stumbled upon by accident a year ago.

That day, he had found Yuuji lying motionless, both hands ravaged, his entire body riddled with deep, corrosive wounds. The sheer extent of the damage had been horrifying. Duy had been moments away from rushing him to the village's top medics, convinced Yuuji was on the brink of death.

"That time was truly dangerous, Yuuji-san…" Duy murmured, a mix of awe and concern in his voice.

Yuuji placed his teacup down, meeting Duy's gaze. After a moment of reflection, he spoke with quiet conviction.

"There is always a price for strength. As long as you believe in your path, you must walk it without hesitation. That is… youth."

"Oh!"

"Woooahhh!"

"As expected of Yuuji-san! He has taken youth to a whole new level!"

"Guy, do you see? Yuuji-san is a true role model! This is the spirit of hot-blooded youth!"

"Father!"

"Guy!"

The father and son clung to each other once more, weeping dramatically.

Yuuji, on the other hand, was deeply uncomfortable. While he genuinely respected their ideals, their relentless enthusiasm was overwhelming.

"F*ck…" he muttered internally.

He had to remind himself—Duy and Guy were his comrades now. He needed to adapt.

Then, as if their energy couldn't be contained indoors, the two sprinted out of the house, flipping into handstands and running laps around the village.

"Yuuji-san, my father is heavier than me. To make training fair, I need to increase my own weight. Please carry me!" Guy extended a solemn hand.

"… Get lost."

—

Yuuji watched them disappear into the night, their battle cries echoing through the streets. He shook his head slightly.

Their determination was admirable. However…

"They probably don't realize that Anbu is watching them."

Yuuji closed the door, moving to his bed and entering a meditative stance to refine his chakra. Through his heightened senses, he detected multiple sets of eyes lingering nearby.

'Anbu.'

His unusual actions earlier had undoubtedly drawn the village's attention. The way he had confronted the Legendary Stupid Brothers had exposed hints of his hidden potential.

"Oh, in that case…"

Yuuji's gaze darkened.

He didn't want Duy to be discovered. If the village realized the true extent of Duy's abilities, they would inevitably send him to the front lines.

In the original timeline, Might Duy's sacrifice had been nothing short of monumental. He had opened all Eight Gates, achieving a power surpassing even the strongest Kage, and single-handedly wiped out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

Would Konoha's higher-ups mourn him? Perhaps.

But more likely, they would regret not recognizing his talent sooner.

They would see his death as a worthy trade—one lowly Genin in exchange for some of Kirigakure's most feared elites.

It was a horrifyingly efficient transaction.

And with the war intensifying, Konoha's desperation was growing. The higher-ups would be thrilled to have such a devastating weapon at their disposal.

But Yuuji wouldn't allow that.

Duy's life and burning spirit were meant for his own ideals—not for the whims of the Sandaime Hokage.

'Now, in the name of awakening my Kekkei Genkai, I can begin crafting the image of a perfect political genius…'

A sly smile crept across his lips.

—

Elsewhere…

Several Anbu operatives maintained their vigil.

"How is it?"

"Might Duy's chakra remains within the standard range of a Genin. However, Shiranui Yuuji's chakra… is different. The total amount is already surpassing most Genin, and his refining speed is remarkable."

"It seems he has been in the process of awakening a Kekkei Genkai," another Anbu noted. "Unlike Gekkou Hayate, who suffered severe physical decline during his bloodline activation, Yuuji appears to be adapting well."

The squad leader nodded. Given today's events, the Sandaime had casually ordered a deeper investigation. If they had overlooked a potential asset, now was the time to rectify it.

—

Meanwhile, deep underground…

Puchi!

A scalpel sliced cleanly through flesh.

In the dimly lit depths of a hidden laboratory, a long-haired man worked meticulously, dissecting an assortment of creatures.

He rarely had the luxury of returning to Konoha, but when he did, he ensured no opportunity for research was wasted.

"Hehehe, Anko… I heard you lost today." Orochimaru's raspy voice slithered through the shadows.

The young girl before him stiffened. "I'm sorry, Sensei! Next time, I won't fail!"

Without warning, serpents shot from Orochimaru's sleeve, fangs sinking into Anko's arm. They retracted swiftly, leaving behind bleeding punctures.

Orochimaru examined the blood with a sinister smirk.

"This Kekkei Genkai is intriguing… A single drop of Yuuji's blood was enough to cripple you. Fascinating."

He licked his lips, eyes gleaming with hunger.

Orochimaru had long been obsessed with bloodline limits. He had dedicated years to unraveling their secrets, searching for the key to true immortality.

But Yuuji's abilities?

They were something entirely new.

"If his mutation is stable, we may be witnessing the birth of an unprecedented bloodline," Orochimaru mused.

Then, as if recalling something trivial, he glanced at Anko. "It's late. Don't dwell on your failure. I still have faith in your potential."

Anko hesitated, cheeks flushing. She reached into her pouch, withdrawing a small paper bag.

"I… I brought these for you, Sensei." She extended her trembling hands, revealing two skewers of three-colored dango.

Orochimaru stared.

"…?"

"It's my favorite. I want you to have half."

She had waited in line for these. The last two she could afford.

For a long moment, Orochimaru was silent.

Then, without expression, he plucked a skewer from her grasp.

"… In that case, I suppose I shouldn't refuse. I do appreciate the aroma."

He bit into the sweet dumpling, tasting something… unfamiliar.

Something warm.