Book One: Embers of War
Chapter 2: The Pale Serpent's Gaze
First‑Person — Arata
Morning came too soon. I walked beside a dozen other children down the winding path to the Academy gates, my bandages hidden beneath a loose tunic. Every step felt weighted with expectation—this was the test that decided our futures.
The courtyard was alive with energy. Young shinobi‑wannabes practiced shuriken throws against wooden targets while instructors—young jonin in crisp flak jackets—murmured judgments. I curled my fists in my sleeves and let them watch. I'd give them nothing.
"Number twenty‑three," a voice called. I stepped forward. My heart didn't race. I reminded myself: stay calm. Observe.
First came the written exam—identifying seals, chakra flow pathways, elemental affinities. My answers weren't just educated guesses; they were memorized from a lifetime of readings. A few kids glanced at me, eyes narrowing. I kept my gaze forward.
Then the taijutsu trial. We paired off. My partner lunged; I sidestepped, tested distance, and tapped his shoulder. He stumbled back, stunned. The instructor raised an eyebrow. "Good reflexes." I allowed a faint nod.
Finally, the ninjutsu demonstration. One by one, candidates formed hand seals and summoned basic jutsu. I held back. I didn't need to show my hand… not yet.
In the corner of my vision, I saw him for the first time: a boy with pale, cat‑like eyes and ebony hair tied in a high ponytail. He moved with impossible grace, almost disinterested. When it was his turn, he performed three seals and released a single coil of chakra—nothing spectacular, yet it wrapped around the practice dummy with a hypnotic fluidity. The wood cracked and splintered along the grain, folding inward as if alive.
A hush fell. The instructors exchanged looks. He bowed and stepped away, expression unreadable.
I felt a pull in my chest. I'd read about him—Orochimaru, a genius prodigy burdened by curiosity. Everyone feared his ambition. I felt… affinity.
The ceremony ended, and we all filed inside for the Hokage's address. Hiruzen spoke of duty and the Will of Fire. I watched his lips move, but my thoughts were on the pale serpent.
Afterward, I found an excuse to linger near the training grounds. He was there, examining splinters under a magnifying glass, detaching them from the dummy as though they held secrets.
I approached quietly. "You have a knack for finding weakness in everything," I said.
He looked up, those pale eyes piercing. "And you have a knack for speaking when it's least expected." His tone was flat, but curiosity flickered.
"I remember things," I admitted. "Strategies, mistakes. I want to learn more than what they teach."
He straightened. "Few ask the right questions." He pocketed the magnifying glass. "Join me tomorrow at dawn. We'll explore beyond the curriculum."
His words were an invitation—and a challenge. I nodded. No fear. No hesitation.
As I walked back to the orphanage, the wind carried the faint scent of pine and possibility. I'd found my first ally… and my first rival. Orochimaru had the world at his feet, and I intended to stand beside him.
End of Chapter 2