"..."
In the pitch-black void, a man and a snake stood locked in silent confrontation. Tension thickened the air as killing intent spread like fog, cold and suffocating.
But Orochimaru's smile only grew.
He knew the White Snake Sage too well. If she didn't strike now, in a moment this obvious, it meant she had already given up the upper hand.
"..."
Sensing the mocking glint in his eyes, the White Snake Sage's gaze darkened with fury. Orochimaru had seen through her bluff.
Still, even if she could wound him, it wouldn't be fatal—and dying just to leave him with a few scars was a price she wasn't willing to pay.
But—
"Death is frightening," the White Snake Sage hissed coldly. "But if surviving means submitting to you, I'd rather fight."
She understood all too well: in her prime, she couldn't defeat Orochimaru. After her transformation, when she was at her most vulnerable? There would be no chance.
And Orochimaru couldn't be trusted. His promises were as slippery as his tongue. If surrendering gave him an easier opportunity to devour her later, it would be foolish beyond reason.
Unless he could somehow prove he bore no ill will—a fantasy.
"Heh... how boring," Orochimaru said with a hint of mockery, looking down at her. "After all this time, you've become something neither human nor snake."
He continued, voice soft but laced with venom:
"In nature, the strong devour the weak. If the strong offers the weak a chance to live, why refuse it?"
"Humans may die for honor or beliefs. But outside that... clinging to life is only natural."
"You're a creature of instinct. You have no human beliefs. So this choice you're making now? It's just stupid."
Then his smile vanished, replaced by a piercing stare. Golden pupils flared like fire. "If you want to die, come on. Do you really think I'm afraid?"
Over the centuries, the White Snake sage had shed her skin countless times, each time accumulating more natural energy. But it was always just quantity. Even a single fallen scale could keep Kabuto in training for months. That's how massive her reserves were—so vast even she couldn't control them fully.
But a cannon doesn't fire better just because you pack more gunpowder.
And if she thought she could take Orochimaru down with her, she was welcome to try—if he gave her the chance.
Even as he prepared to retreat at a moment's notice, Orochimaru's glowing eyes continued to exert pressure, injecting pupil force directly into the core of her being. The Sage's thoughts grew sluggish. Her irritation turned into rage.
"Stop—any further action—and I will...!"
"Will what?" Orochimaru interrupted smoothly. "Kill me? I won't die. I'll be injured at most. Do you think I'm scared?"
Her fury crashed against his unshakable tone. His calm, clipped words pushed back the overwhelming energy she was summoning.
Their mental battle raged silently, each statement crashing like waves. Orochimaru remained composed—his advantage only growing as time passed. Meanwhile, the White Snake Sage grew more unstable.
She didn't want to die. But she didn't want to be devoured either.
Caught between the two, her desperation spiraled—until...
"Let's call it a day..."
A third voice interrupted.
Orochimaru blinked, startled.
Suddenly, his control over the White Snake Sage's core was broken. His pupil force collapsed into the writhing mass of flesh, unable to escape.
"The Sage of Six Paths is coming," said a voice—Djinn.
Fear flickered across Orochimaru's face.
Before he could react, the world around him shifted. Darkness swallowed him whole, and when he opened his eyes, he stood in a shadowed dimension.
Opposite him stood the White Snake sage—and next to her, a man with horns and a crimson jewel embedded in his forehead.
The Sage of the Six Paths.
Despite the ambush, Orochimaru remained composed. "Who are you?" he asked coolly. "Why interrupt something that doesn't concern you?"
The Sage's voice was deep and calm. "Orochimaru. We've never spoken directly, but we've crossed paths many times. Surely you've guessed who I am."
A subtle warning crept into his eyes. "I didn't say anything when you let that little white snake cause a disturbance in the Pure Land. But I've been watching."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. Of course—the snake that had broken through the Pure Land boundary during the Roran incident.
At the time, he had feared it would draw the Sage's attention. He thought he'd gotten away with it. He hadn't.
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "So you are the Sage of Six Paths. I greet you with respect. Though your legend is well-known, you've left little trace beyond that."
The Sage said nothing, then glanced toward the White Snake sage.
"I normally don't interfere in mortal conflict," he said. "But I won't allow you to push her to the point of self-destruction."
"If she had chosen to die... she could have taken the entire world with her."
Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly.
Now he understood. The Sage wasn't here to protect the White Snake sage—he was here to protect the world.
"I see... A misunderstanding, then," Orochimaru said, regaining his smile. "I never intended to kill her. It was just a bluff."
The White Snake sage glared at him, her snake face visibly contorted with resentment.
Bluff? After everything she had endured?
The Sage raised an eyebrow. Even he was surprised by Orochimaru's brazenness. But despite how shameless it sounded, it wasn't a lie.
Power struggles rarely followed rules of honor. Whether between ninja or nations, survival came before pride.
Orochimaru turned to the White Snake again. "With the Sage of Six Paths as witness, you don't need to be so wary. I offered a fair exchange—power for excess energy. Growth, for both of us."
"It benefits me, you, and the world."
He smiled. "But you still chose to die rather than agree. I truly don't understand."
"Don't act like you're doing charity," the White Snake sage spat. "Can you swear you won't come after me again once this deal is done?"
"I could swear," Orochimaru said, with a shrug. "But you wouldn't believe me."
His tone was casual, his boyish face almost innocent—but his golden eyes held the confidence of a predator who had won.
"With the Sage of Six Paths here, though... do you really need to worry anymore?"
The Sage didn't interrupt. Orochimaru was turning his unexpected arrival into an opportunity—using the Sage's presence as a shield to win trust.
And surprisingly, the Sage didn't object.
The White Snake sage was silent. Even if what Orochimaru offered did serve multiple purposes, it still made her stomach turn. She didn't want to admit he was right.
The Sage sighed quietly. "You're a product of war and necessity," he said to Orochimaru. "If I had your cunning in my youth, perhaps things would've turned out differently."
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "If I had the luxury of peace, perhaps I'd be innocent like her. But you only see me standing here. You don't see the bones I climbed to reach this height."
The Sage heard the bitterness in his words but didn't respond.
He too had long wondered: was a peaceful world worth more than a free one? Was a world ruled like his mother's better than one constantly at war?
Even now, he had no answer.
"..."
The White Snake sage shifted uneasily. She didn't understand their ideals, their philosophies—but she could sense one thing clearly:
The Sage of Six Paths was not entirely on her side.
That terrified her.
Orochimaru caught her hesitation and grinned.
"There's nothing left to discuss. What will you choose, sage?"
Before the Sage arrived, self-destruction had still been an option. But now?
If she tried, both Orochimaru and the Sage would stop her.
The White Snake sage froze.
Even for a snake, her expression was strikingly human.
The Sage finally spoke. "Orochimaru's method may not be perfect, but it's the best option. If you have a better one, speak now. If not—then do what must be done."
The sage sighed bitterly and nodded, then shot Orochimaru a death glare.
"Don't think I'm yielding to you. I'm only giving face to the Sage."
"That's fine," Orochimaru said lightly. "I only care about results."
Perhaps, thanks to the Sage, the White Snake had finally started to act a little more human—though she seemed to have picked up all the worst parts: arrogance, pride, stubbornness.
"There's one last thing," the Sage said firmly. "Some snakes from Ryūchi Cave have escaped to the surface. They must be retrieved."
To Orochimaru and the White Snake sage, they were small and useless. But to ordinary people—even ninja—those snakes were deadly.
Even if most of them were vegetarian.
"I'll handle it," the White Snake sage said quietly, a flicker of guilt crossing her face.
Centuries ago, the same thing had happened. That time too, it ended with the Sage of the Six Paths intervening and enforcing a pact: no more snake swarms on the surface.
This time, though justifiable... it was still a breach of that old agreement.
_____________________
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