Naruto: I, Uchiha, Just Want to Die

Chapter 117: A Tense Reunion Between Master and Disciple

Two days later,

Land of Rain.

The sky was gloomy and oppressive, with clouds hanging low.

Beams of light filtered weakly through the overcast sky, casting massive shadows over the damp and stifling wilderness.

"Caw~!"

Hawks circled above, drawn by the scent of carrion.

"It's going to rain again."

Atop a sheer cliff stood a man with long black hair and golden serpent-like eyes, dressed in a pitch-black kimono.

He gazed silently down at the suffocatingly tense plain below, his expression unreadable—neither pity nor boredom, but something in between.

After a moment, he closed his eyes.

Suddenly—

The air erupted with shouts of battle, the clang of kunai clashing, and the roar of jutsu.

Wind Release howled, projectiles rained down like a storm, serpentine flames danced wildly, and the earth trembled and cracked.

Fine raindrops fell, mingling with streams of blood that spread and stained the ground.

Roars, screams, and cries of despair—

The symphony of death played out once more.

Orochimaru was no stranger to such sounds, such sights, and such wars.

He had witnessed the deaths of loved ones, friends, and disciples alike.

It was absurd.

To bear meaningless titles, to gamble with insignificant lives, only to take the stage for such a futile spectacle.

In the end, what he saw was nothing but desolation.

Too weak, too helpless—like a shooting star, leaving only silence in its wake.

Time passed.

Under the cliff, no more sounds could be heard.

Orochimaru suddenly opened his eyes, his golden serpent-like pupils glinting coldly.

He gazed indifferently at the scene below—motionless bodies strewn across the battlefield.

The rain and the carnage fused seamlessly, creating an atmosphere of silence, dread, and blood.

His gaze, however, betrayed a deep disgust.

Life should not be like this!

To be entertained by movement and bored by stillness—such is the cold heart of Orochimaru.

At that moment, a breeze brushed past behind him, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Hearing the sound, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and licked his lips with a faint, sinister smile.

"Heh, something interesting has arrived."

Soon, two figures stood behind him—one tall and one short.

They were Aburame Ryoma and Uchiha Ci, who had journeyed for two days from the Land of Hot Water.

Aburame Ryoma stepped forward, standing beside Orochimaru.

Looking at the gruesome traces of battle below, he frowned slightly and asked,

"How many waves of attacks from the Sand have there been?"

Without turning his head, Orochimaru rasped,

"The third. Merely probing attacks."

"Rasa has just taken leadership. This is being commanded by Ebizō. He never fights battles he's unsure of."

Orochimaru's concise explanation was enough for Aburame Ryoma to understand.

Ebizō, an elder of the Hidden Sand Village and sibling to Chiyo, was a renowned strategist. His carefully crafted strategies often threw enemies into disarray.

With such a veteran duo on the frontlines, the Hidden Leaf struggled to find an effective counter.

After a long silence, Aburame Ryoma finally spoke in his low, gruff voice:

"I've brought your disciple."

"Your judgment isn't bad. Though he lacks manners, he's a warm-hearted child."

After a pause, he added solemnly,

"This time, don't let him end up like Nawaki."

Orochimaru froze at these words.

For this usually reticent comrade to praise a Uchiha was unexpected.

Turning to look, Orochimaru found that Aburame Ryoma had already vanished, leaving only a faint, blood-tinged breeze in his wake.

Now, only Orochimaru and Uchiha Ci remained atop the cliff.

Uchiha Ci was well aware that his relationship with Orochimaru wasn't the typical master-disciple bond.

He suspected that Orochimaru had targeted his body for dissection and experimentation.

Accepting him as a disciple and pushing him onto the most dangerous battlefields only aligned with Uchiha Ci's own fatalistic tendencies.

Perhaps this peculiar dynamic could be called a mutual understanding of sorts.

But upon meeting Orochimaru in person, Uchiha Ci realized he couldn't discern the man's true intentions.

Orochimaru stood silently, his gaze fixed on the grim battlefield below.

He didn't seem as eager to kill Ci as the latter had expected.

After a long pause, Orochimaru finally spoke, his raspy voice breaking the silence:

"Uchiha Ci, what do you think a ninja is?"

Uchiha Ci frowned and replied,

"Orochimaru, stop beating around the bush. Just say what you mean. As one of the Three Sannin, taking a Uchiha as a disciple can't simply be explained by your appreciation of talent."

Orochimaru shook his head, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"I can sense it—your gaze is dangerous. It's the look of someone perpetually ready for battle."

"You're cautious. You think I want to harm you?"

Turning suddenly, Orochimaru's golden snake-like eyes bore into Uchiha Ci's.

"Ah, so you are afraid."

Uchiha Ci scowled, thinking his eccentric master might be unhinged.

Afraid? Me? The one seeking death?

How could I fear a snake that hasn't even evolved into its ultimate form?

Drawing his Kusanagi Sword, Ci pointed it at Orochimaru and retorted coldly,

"Orochimaru, you're spouting nonsense. Why would I fear you?"

"Do you think I don't dare to attack you?"

Orochimaru chuckled, his eyes narrowing with amusement.

"You fear I'll capture you, dissect you, and uncover your secrets?"

Scoffing, he shook his head.

"Relax. I've already mastered the Forbidden Technique: Body Revival."

"Your immortality, your synthetic tailed beast, the Earth Grudge Fear technique, and that fiery heart of yours—I can find answers to all of them through various jutsu."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ci's eyes widened in shock.

"Don't believe me?" Orochimaru sneered, stepping closer.

He raised a hand, grasping Ci's drawn blade. Blood immediately flowed from his palm, but the wound emitted a white mist and healed instantly.

Uchiha Ci's eyes widened further in disbelief, as if he'd just seen a deity casually strolling down the street.

Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely.

"Judging by your reaction, it seems you lack memories of the cave. The Uchiha didn't tell you."

"In that cave, I had already dissected you and obtained what I wanted."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ci gulped hard, his throat dry as he stared at Orochimaru's hand, where the Forbidden Technique: Body Revival had just been demonstrated.

Reflecting on the Uchiha clan's poor grasp of medical ninjutsu, he realized they wouldn't have known whether Orochimaru had been saving lives or conducting experiments.

Faced with such a revelation, Uchiha Ci involuntarily took a step back, activating his Sharingan as he warily watched Orochimaru.

If Orochimaru had already gained what he wanted, then why had he taken Ci as his disciple?

Why give him the Kusanagi Sword?

Something about this situation felt wrong from the start.

"Heh, heh, heh..."

Seeing the expression on Uchiha Ci's face, Orochimaru couldn't help but laugh hoarsely, his gaze filled with sadistic delight.

Then, stepping forward,

Shlick!

He allowed the Kusanagi Sword to pierce his black kimono, stabbing straight through his abdomen and out his back.

Blood flowed freely, filling the air with its metallic scent. Yet Orochimaru seemed unfazed, as if pain didn't exist for him.

Leaning into the blade, he loomed over Uchiha Ci, licking his lips with a twisted excitement.

"Now, let me ask you again—"

"My dear disciple,"

"What do you think a ninja is?"