The cavern trembled faintly, a living world of stone and scales. Shigure stood across from Xinya, the massive serpent narrowing its golden eyes at him.
"Perhaps your last master was inspired by you," Shigure said calmly. "Or perhaps he gave in to despair. Or maybe his own people ended him later. The world of shinobi is brutal. Ninja are tools, nothing more. Missions take priority over lives—theirs or anyone else's."
Xinya let out a low, guttural hiss. "You speak the truth… And yet, when he attacked me, I was not banished back to Ryūchi Cave. When I awoke, there was no trace of him… not even his scent."
Shigure tilted his head. "But you were still alive, weren't you? Isn't it possible he injured you on purpose—to keep the enemy from focusing on you—then drew their attention elsewhere, retreating in the chaos?"
The serpent's coils tensed uneasily. "Humans… are too complicated. I thought it was simple. But perhaps you are right… humans live in hatred and betrayal. That is their constant state."
Shigure stepped closer, his voice lowering. "Xinya, do you want to become something greater? To shed this cycle?"
"What do you mean?" The serpent blinked, talons gripping the cavern floor. "A dragon?"
"Give me a chance," Shigure said firmly. "Sign a contract with me. Become my summoning beast. When the day comes that I soar, you will rise alongside me. Not as a servant—as a partner."
At that moment, Shigure unleashed a surge of nature energy. His body glowed faintly, suffused with the power of sage chakra.
Xinya recoiled, awed. "So much power… This natural energy is beyond anything I've felt. Even if I joined forces with the White Scale Immortal, we could not stand against it. Could this human really… become something beyond all of us?"
The serpent studied him. This boy had pierced through pain and doubt with ease. Within minutes, Shigure had unraveled the knot in Xinya's heart, something his last master had never managed.
"If I agree," Xinya asked slowly, "and one day we are surrounded, if the mission calls for sacrifice… will you betray me too?"
Shigure didn't hesitate. "No."
Xinya's tail flicked doubtfully. "I don't believe that. Why?"
"Why should I betray you?" Shigure countered. "Why should I retreat? Do you think I'd abandon something I chose to protect?"
Xinya pressed on. "But missions come before all else. If the Hokage or your superiors order you to withdraw, will you not obey?"
Shigure smirked lightly, his eyes gleaming. "I am not your former master. And I am not so weak that I must cling to orders to survive. Do you really think someone like me would need to retreat? If we face an enemy so strong even I must flee… then the world itself would already be finished."
His words rang with absolute conviction. It wasn't arrogance—it was truth backed by strength. The confidence of one destined to leave his mark on history.
Xinya let out a low rumble, almost like a laugh. "You are just as confident as I once was. Hmph. I like your spirit. Very well, boy—I will accept. But listen closely: I only want to see what you mean when you speak of a world of peace."
"That reason is enough," Shigure replied without hesitation. Forming seals quickly, he unfurled a parchment and pressed his hand down. His blood signed the ancient markings of the summoning contract. Xinya did the same, their bond sealed in chakra.
"What is your name, then, child of Uchiha?" the serpent asked.
"Uchiha Shigure," he answered.
"Shigure…" Xinya repeated, coiling comfortably now. "I will remember."
Satisfied, Shigure left the serpent's nest. His path soon led him to the presence of the White Snake Sage itself, sitting enthroned upon coils larger than mountains.
"Well?" the immense serpent's voice thundered. "Have you brought Xinya to heel?"
"Yes." Shigure inclined his head.
"I thought as much." The White Snake Sage's eyes gleamed knowingly. "Then you will be no disappointment. Prepare yourself, boy. From today, you shall begin your study of senjutsu under me. The training will require… at least three months."
"Three months?" Shigure blinked, stunned. "That long? No… I can't. There are things in my world left unfinished…"
The sage frowned. "Strange. Did it not take you three months with the Black Scalebound Immortal before?"
Shigure froze. "What? Three months have already passed?!"
"You have been immersed in senjutsu for that long, child. Time in Ryūchi Cave flows strangely for mortals. If you still have bonds to tend, then you must return now. But the road of immortality will wait for you."
The White Snake Sage's voice softened. "You have already become tied to this realm. With reverse summoning, you may travel freely to and from my domain now. Return when you are ready."
Shigure clenched his fists. "Fine. I'll come back next time. If I stay now, I'll miss everything!"
He bit his thumb and formed the seal. With a flash of light, Shigure vanished from Ryūchi Cave, his body dissolving into nothingness.
When silence returned, the White Snake Sage narrowed its eyes, murmuring to the pale goddesses who appeared at its side. "This boy is singularly devoted. I wonder… just how much stronger he will be when he comes back?"
Shigure materialized in a swirl of mist, landing outside the neglected compound where Orochimaru once lived. But the snake sannin had long since abandoned the place. The world beyond felt sharply different after his months-long absence.
He snatched a passerby by the arm. "What's today?"
The villager looked at him oddly. "The day of the Chūnin Exams, of course. Everyone's there already."
Shigure's heart sank. The exams?! Today?! He had only trained—time had slipped through his fingers.
"Damn it, I'll be late!" he shouted, bolting across rooftops, racing toward the coliseum-like heart of the village.
The Chūnin Exam arena was already bursting with life. The crowd roared in anticipation, filling every seat circling the massive battleground. It was the largest, most prestigious selection exam since the Second Shinobi World War, and nearly all of Konoha's leadership had gathered.
At the highest seats, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, sat with quiet authority. To his left and right were his advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, watching with narrowed eyes. Danzo Shimura, however, was conspicuously absent.
"Still no sign of Shigure?" the Hokage asked quietly.
Mitokado Homura shook his head. "Not yet. He has not appeared."
Koharu sniffed. "Then we draw lots without him. We cannot delay the exam for one boy, even if he is favored."
Homura added, "He is the favorite to win. Perhaps, if we allow, we can place his match last. It would buy him time."
Hiruzen considered, then gave a small nod. "So be it. Begin the drawing of lots."
Down below, the proctor raised his voice. "Candidates, assemble! The exam is about to begin! Step forward to draw lots for your matches!"
In the waiting room, dozens of genin leaned nervously against the walls, whispering among themselves.
"Where is Shigure?" Hyūga Akane muttered, pacing furiously. "We promised to train Hyūga Flow together, and now he's vanished! Just like that!"
Beside her, Kusuo Hatake frowned. "And he promised me he'd learn swordplay from my father. It's like he dropped off the face of the earth. What the hell happened to him?"
Across the room, Uchiha Mamoru scowled, tapping his foot. "Tch. Typical. Thinks he's above the rest of us."
Uchiha Fēng kept his expression carefully neutral but spoke under his breath, "If he doesn't come, these matches will be far duller than I imagined."
In the corner, Nara Kazu folded his arms. "Either he's late… or something serious happened."
Even Yoshida Kappei muttered to Violet, brows drawn. "I can't trust this. Where the hell is he?"
Only Lin sat with her hands nervously folded. "If Shigure were my opponent, I wouldn't stand a chance anyway... But if he doesn't come—" She shook her head. "Did something happen to him…?"
The din of voices rose as the crowd roared overhead, the proctor calling names for the lots. Whispers spread like wildfire:
Where is Uchiha Shigure?
The favorite is missing.
And at that exact moment—
On the distant edge of the arena's towering walls, a single figure leapt from the rooftops, cloak trailing, eyes burning with determination. Dust and wind swirled where he landed.
Every head in the stadium turned. Gasps rippled through the audience.
"Finally," someone whispered.
--
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