The salty breeze of the Land of Waves had faded, replaced by the familiar hum of Konohagakure's bustling streets as Team Seven returned from our mission. The village was a kaleidoscope of noise—merchants haggling, children laughing, shinobi darting across rooftops—but I moved through it like a shadow, my hood low to conceal my four eyes, a trait I was born with in this world. My body, now over six feet and rippling with chakra-enhanced muscle, bore the marks of my relentless modifications: a second heart, fully formed, pulsed in sync with the first, amplifying my chakra flow; my expanded lungs drew deep, steady breaths, fueling endurance that let me outlast any genin. My frame, sculpted to echo the towering, muscular dominance of Ryomen Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen, was a weapon honed for power, control, and freedom—my unshakable goals. The Land of Waves had been a proving ground, with Zabuza and Haku testing my skills—Dismantle's invisible chakra blades, Cleave's contact-based precision, the Mirror Mirage Technique, and my growing arsenal of genjutsu and medical ninjutsu. But it had also sharpened my awareness of Konoha's leash: Hiruzen's scrutiny, Danzo's suspicions, and Kakashi's piercing gaze.
Back in the village, I felt the weight of a new crossroads. The Land of Waves had exposed Team Seven's potential—Naruto's raw chakra, Sasuke's Sharingan, Kakashi's experience—but also its fractures. Sasuke's ambition burned hotter than ever, his eyes fixed on a path I recognized from my knowledge of this world: defection to Orochimaru, the Snake Sannin, in pursuit of power. In my past life, playing RPGs like Baldur's Gate, I'd learned to spot pivotal choices—moments where a single decision could reshape the game. Sasuke's defection was one such moment, and I intended to seize it. Orochimaru offered knowledge of forbidden techniques, including Snake Sage Mode, a power that could elevate my chakra control and physical prowess to new heights. But another path beckoned: Tsunade, the Slug Sannin, whose medical ninjutsu and Yin Seal could deepen my ability to modify my body and push my limits further. I wanted both—Orochimaru's raw power and Tsunade's precision—and I'd carve a path to claim them, no matter the cost.
The days after our return were a blur of training and planning. Team Seven was assigned minor missions—patrols, deliveries—but I used every spare moment to strategize. Sasuke's growing restlessness was palpable; during a sparring session, his attacks were sharper, his Sharingan flaring as he countered my Mirror Mirage clones with pinpoint accuracy. "You're still holding back," he said, his voice low, almost accusing, as we paused, panting.
"So are you," I replied, meeting his gaze. His eyes flickered with something—recognition, maybe. He was plotting his escape, and I was plotting to follow. Orochimaru's Snake Sage Mode, with its serpentine agility and chakra amplification, was a perfect complement to my modified body. In Warhammer 40,000, I'd admired the adaptability of Chaos Space Marines, bending their forms to suit their goals. Snake Sage Mode could do the same, enhancing my Dismantle and Cleave with venomous precision.
But Tsunade was equally vital. Her medical ninjutsu was unmatched, her Strength of a Hundred Seal—a Yin Seal that stored chakra for massive bursts of power—a game-changer. In Baldur's Gate, I'd loved spells like Time Stop, hoarding power for a decisive strike. The Yin Seal was similar, a reserve I could tap to unleash the Malevolent Shrine, my ultimate technique, without draining my reserves. Tsunade's knowledge could also refine my body modifications, letting me perfect my second heart and expanded lungs, pushing my chakra reinforcement to rival Sukuna's dominance.
I began laying the groundwork. Tsunade was in Konoha, rumored to be at the hospital, her skills in demand after recent conflicts. I volunteered for a mission delivering medical supplies, using it as an excuse to observe her. She was a force—blonde hair tied back, her hands moving with surgical precision as she healed a wounded chunin. Her chakra control was flawless, her Yin Seal glowing faintly on her forehead. I lingered, my four eyes hidden but sharp, analyzing her techniques. She noticed, her amber eyes meeting mine for a moment, sharp and assessing. "You're the new kid on Team Seven," she said, her tone gruff. "What's your deal?"
"Just delivering supplies, Lady Tsunade," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "I'm interested in medical ninjutsu."
She raised an eyebrow, skeptical but intrigued. "It's not a hobby, kid. It takes discipline. Come back when you're serious."
I nodded, filing away her words. She was a tough mark, but I'd win her over. I spent nights studying stolen medical scrolls, pushing my skills further. I practiced healing deeper wounds, channeling chakra to knit muscle and bone, and refined my stamina-boosting technique, cycling chakra through my second heart and lungs. My height crept upward, my muscles denser, each modification amplifying my chakra's potency.
Sasuke's defection was imminent. During a late-night patrol, he lingered after Naruto and Kakashi left, his silhouette tense against the moonlight. "You see it, don't you?" he said, his voice low. "Konoha's holding us back. There's power out there—real power."
I met his gaze, my hood shadowing my eyes. "I see it. What's your plan?"
He hesitated, then smirked. "You'll know when it's time."
I didn't press, but I knew: Orochimaru was calling him. Snake Sage Mode, with its chakra-enhanced agility and resilience, was a prize worth chasing. I'd follow Sasuke when he left, not as a traitor but as a strategist, using Orochimaru's knowledge to fuel my goals. In Baldur's Gate, I'd allied with questionable factions for power, betraying them when the time was right. Orochimaru would be no different—a means to an end.
But Tsunade was a parallel path. I returned to the hospital, offering to assist with minor tasks—sorting supplies, observing procedures. Tsunade tolerated me, her sharp tongue cutting but her eyes noting my precision. One day, as I healed a shallow cut on a patient under her watch, she grunted. "Not bad, kid. You've got control. But medical ninjutsu's about saving lives, not just patching yourself up."
"I want to learn," I said, my voice earnest but calculated. "Everything you can teach."
She studied me, her Yin Seal glinting. "Prove it. Show me you're not just another cocky genin."
I nodded, my mind racing. The Yin Seal required immense chakra control, a skill I'd honed through my modifications. I practiced in secret, channeling chakra to a focal point on my forehead, mimicking the seal's structure. It was slow, unstable, but a start. My medical ninjutsu deepened, too—I could now regenerate tissue in minutes, a skill that would let me push my body further, healing damage from overexertion or combat.
Team Seven's missions grew routine, but the undercurrent of tension was electric. Naruto's optimism grated, Sasuke's silence grew heavier, and Kakashi's lessons on teamwork felt like a warning. I trained relentlessly, refining my Mirror Mirage Technique until seven clones danced with lifelike precision, their footsteps and gestures fooling a pack of stray dogs. My shadow genjutsu, inspired by Shikamaru, paralyzed a deer, while my confusion genjutsu, drawn from Ino, disoriented a hawk mid-flight. Dismantle sliced through stone, Cleave shattered it with a touch. My body, now a towering weapon, amplified every technique.
Sasuke's defection was coming, and I'd be ready. Orochimaru's Snake Sage Mode would give me the edge to dominate battles, while Tsunade's Yin Seal and medical knowledge would make me unbreakable. Konoha's leash—Hiruzen, Danzo, Kakashi—couldn't hold me. I was Archon, a gamer reborn, playing a long game where every choice brought me closer to my goals. The Land of Waves had been a step; this was the leap.