Chapter 45 – The Win of Orochimaru
"Boy, do you know who I am?"
Just as Izaya was desperately formulating an escape plan, Orochimaru, who had been silently observing him, finally spoke. Without waiting for an answer, he began to slowly advance toward Izaya, his movements fluid and predatory.
It was clear he was preparing to strike.
This is bad!
Seeing this, Izaya's heart sank. He continued to back away, his eyes darting around the narrow alley, searching for any opening, any path to freedom.
But Orochimaru had no intention of giving him one.
The moment Izaya took another step back, Orochimaru vanished, reappearing in a flicker of movement directly behind him. The cold, sharp edge of a sword pressed against Izaya's neck, freezing him in place and eliminating any chance of flight.
"Boy, I believe you are a clever one," Orochimaru hissed, his breath chillingly close. "I have a great appreciation for genius."
"But..." his voice dropped to a deadly whisper, "I do not care for those who are too clever."
As the final word left his lips, a palpable, cold killing intent radiated from the Sannin.
What does Orochimaru actually want? Izaya's mind raced. His primary desire regarding the snake Sannin was to avoid provoking him, at least for now. His confidence in facing Hyūga Hiashi stemmed from a belief in his unique abilities. But here, against this opponent, inaction and submission were the only prudent choices.
The Three Tomoe Sharingan. The Blaze Fruit. His unique Fire Release. These were trump cards against most, but against Orochimaru, they would only make him a more fascinating specimen. That was the last thing Izaya wanted.
Steeling himself for the worst, Izaya decided pretense was useless. He had to take the initiative.
"Lord Orochimaru," he stated clearly.
"Oh? How interesting..." A flicker of genuine surprise crossed Orochimaru's pale features. "You truly do know who I am."
"One of Konoha's Legendary Sannin," Izaya replied, his expression serious and his voice steady, betraying none of the fear churning inside him. "I am familiar with your reputation, Lord Orochimaru."
The Sannin studied him, his slitted eyes narrowing slightly. "You are far too calm, boy. So calm it strains belief."
After a moment of heavy silence, Orochimaru suddenly withdrew the sword from Izaya's neck. He sheathed it and then placed a hand on Izaya's shoulder, the gesture almost paternal were it not for the chilling aura surrounding him.
"Little one," Orochimaru whispered, his voice a seductive lure. "Do you wish to become stronger?"
Here it comes, Izaya thought, his face paling slightly. The classic Orochimaru child-abduction line.
"Surprised?" Orochimaru mused, his curiosity piqued by Izaya's reaction. "My initial purpose was merely to evaluate you. Danzō spoke of a potential subject suitable for Wood Release experiments. But when I arrived at your home, I discovered not only Root, but also the Hokage's ANBU and the Hyūga clan, all watching you... So, I took the liberty of clearing away those pests for you."
"Come with me. I can grant you true power. You will no longer be a subject of observation, no longer need to flounder in this vain world of ninja. You can possess things you cannot even imagine..."
"Eternal life."
As Orochimaru's final, grandiose promise hung in the air, Izaya could only look at him with a profound sense of helplessness.
I'd be an idiot to believe a word of that!
If he weren't a transmigrator who knew the original story, he might have been tempted. Power was the ultimate currency in this world, and Orochimaru was a veteran Kage-level shinobi. Few could resist such an offer.
But Izaya was different. The fates of the children Orochimaru had lured away in the original story—Kimimaro, the Left and Right... none of them met a good end.
"So, what is your decision?" Orochimaru pressed, his voice hardening. The Kusanagi Sword subtly reappeared in his hand. The killing intent returned, thicker than before, a silent, brutal ultimatum: agree, or die.
"Lord Orochimaru," Izaya ventured, "what if I were to refuse?"
"You will die," Orochimaru stated simply, without a hint of emotion. He let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Power and eternity are within your grasp, yet you hesitate to seize them. What an amusing child..."
The Kusanagi Sword lifted, its point aimed directly at Izaya's heart.
He's really going to do it.
Feeling the finality in Orochimaru's aura, Izaya understood. The time for talk was over.
I never expected to catch Orochimaru's attention. Where did I slip up? he wondered, even as he shifted his stance, searching for a defensive position. But there was no more time for speculation. All his focus needed to be on the legendary shinobi before him.
In a direct confrontation, even two of him wouldn't stand a chance against the current Orochimaru. But if he didn't fight, if he didn't try, the outcome would be worse than death.
"Boy, are you preparing to fight back?" Orochimaru's voice was laced with amusement. A true veteran, he had seen through Izaya's intentions the moment they formed. Yet, he didn't strike immediately. Instead, he watched with a deeply intrigued expression as Izaya created some distance between them.
"Show me your true strength," Orochimaru taunted, a wide, sinister smile spreading across his face.
This guy is a complete psychopath! Izaya had no attention to spare for the Sannin's words. As he prepared for battle, his mind was singularly focused on one goal: finding a way to escape Orochimaru's clutches, even if just temporarily.
His eyes swept the skyline, and then he saw it.
The Hokage Building.
His gaze locked onto the tallest, most prominent structure in Konoha. A spark of hope ignited within him. The only people in Konoha who could possibly restrain Orochimaru right now were Uchiha Itachi... and the Third Hokage, who was undoubtedly inside that very building.
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