The Fire Nation
On his way to the gold exchange, Orochimaru happened to pass by Konoha Village. The village lay quietly in the distance, bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun. Orochimaru's sharp eyes scanned the familiar skyline, and a faint smile crossed his lips. "It's been a long time since I last came here," he murmured to himself. "I wonder what changes the village has undergone during my absence."
With curiosity piqued, Orochimaru decided to sneak into the village to take a closer look. Having once been deeply involved in the underworld of Konoha—controlling prostitution rings, gambling dens, and drug trafficking—it was easy for him to blend into the shadows. For him, slipping past the village's defenses was as effortless as drinking water.
Evening had descended, and the streets were largely deserted, with only a few pedestrians here and there. Orochimaru strolled down the middle of the street without hesitation, his tall, slender figure easily noticeable under the dim light.
Suddenly, the faint laughter and playful screams of children reached his ears. Intrigued, Orochimaru followed the sounds and soon spotted a group of children playing joyfully in a small clearing. The innocent delight on their faces was a stark contrast to the looming darkness of the night.
A strange feeling washed over Orochimaru, and he instinctively licked his lips as a nostalgic sigh escaped him. "It seems the village's security has improved greatly since I left," he said quietly. The thought reminded him of his earlier days in Konoha when the streets were ruled by fear. Children were terrified to even step outside their homes, afraid of the horrors lurking in the shadows.
Back then, Orochimaru had frequently used these children as test subjects for his human experiments. Their terror made it easy for him to capture and manipulate them for his twisted purposes. But now, seeing them playing freely, Orochimaru felt a strange pang of frustration.
"Why was my experiment suddenly discovered just when it was about to succeed?" he wondered, frowning deeply.
His mind immediately drifted to Shimura Danzō, the only person in Konoha who had secretly supported his work. Shimura Danzō had clandestinely cooperated with Orochimaru, sharing in the shadowy dealings and hiding his human experiments from prying eyes. However, when the experiment was on the verge of success, Orochimaru was exposed, forced to flee the village in disgrace.
Danzō, on the other hand, remained untouched by suspicion or consequence.
The memory stirred a burning hatred within Orochimaru's eyes. "That bastard… he must have betrayed me. I will find a way to kill Shimura Danzō."
Unbeknownst to Orochimaru, far away in the hidden Root headquarters, Shimura Danzō suddenly sneezed, an involuntary reaction to the sharp intensity of Orochimaru's thoughts.
Returning to the present moment, Orochimaru's gaze fixed on the children playing before him, his heart filled with a dark desire. The image of his failed experiments—those tantalizingly close to success—flashed vividly in his mind.
"If only I could get hold of these children," he mused, "I could restart my research and finally achieve the immortality I seek."
His eyes burned with obsession, and he took a step forward, prepared to seize the children. But almost immediately, he stopped himself and withdrew his foot.
A sudden realization struck him—a new method for achieving immortality existed now, one that no longer required horrific human experiments.
The desire within him faded as quickly as it had flared.
Orochimaru cast one last lingering glance at the carefree children, then silently turned away.
Unaware of the danger that had passed so close, the children continued their play, their laughter echoing through the night like the chimes of innocence.
---
Ahead lay the bustling commercial district, alive with the sounds of vendors hawking goods and townsfolk going about their business. Orochimaru knew better than to reveal his true identity here. To avoid recognition, he used the disguise technique he had mastered from the legendary Changsheng Jue, subtly altering his appearance to blend into the crowd.
After a long day of wandering, Orochimaru's stomach began to growl in hunger. His eyes scanned the street, and soon he spotted the familiar sign of a ramen shop — Ichiraku.
Without hesitation, he stepped inside.
The aroma of rich broth and freshly cooked noodles enveloped him as he approached the counter. He ordered a steaming bowl of tonkotsu ramen and took a seat by the window, quietly observing the world outside as he waited.
Not long after, a group of men entered the shop, their cloaks bearing the distinctive Uchiha clan emblem—a red and white fan.
Their arrival instantly shifted the atmosphere in the shop. The previously lively chatter died down as the patrons recognized the powerful clan members.
One of the Uchiha men called out to the owner, "Boss, four bowls of tonkotsu ramen, please."
The shopkeeper smiled warmly. "Coming right up!"
The men settled at a table near Orochimaru and began eating while whispering amongst themselves.
"Konoha's been plagued by thieves lately," one murmured. "It's like they're bold enough to steal right under our noses."
"Yeah," another replied. "The Hyuga clan's treasury was even robbed last night. Their leader went straight to the Hokage to file a complaint."
The others scoffed. "With the Hyuga Byakugan, how did anyone even get past their defenses?"
Orochimaru's curiosity was piqued. He listened intently as the Uchiha clan members discussed the recent string of thefts plaguing Konoha.
"It's not just the Hyuga," another said quietly. "Several prominent families have been hit. It's causing panic throughout the village."
"Eat fast. Our police forces will be busy tonight," one warned.
Suddenly, an Uchiha burst into the shop, his face flushed with urgency.
"Stop eating! The clan's treasury has been stolen again. Chief Fugaku is calling all clan members back immediately. We're joining forces with other clans to hunt down the thief tonight!"
The men hurriedly paid and left, voices filled with anger.
"Damn it! Someone's stealing from the Uchiha!" the leader cursed as they rushed out.
With their departure, the shop buzzed again with whispered conversations.
"Did you hear? Even the Uchiha clan was targeted!"
"Big deal," a patron scoffed. "When the Hokage himself was robbed, it was only a matter of time before the big families were hit."
"I heard the village strengthened defenses, but the thief still got through."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a subtle smile. "Interesting," he thought. "Even the teacher's money was stolen…"
---
Land of the Uchiha Clan
Uchiha Fugaku paced in his study, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared at the empty treasury room on a nearby monitor.
The vast vault, which should have been filled with gold and valuables, now lay completely empty.
"How could someone steal so much in such a short time?!" he roared, his anger palpable.
The three magatama in his Sharingan began spinning rapidly, the tomoe connecting to form a swirling pattern of power and determination.
"I swear, I will find whoever did this, no matter what it takes—even if I have to dig to the ends of the earth!" Fugaku shouted.
Immediately, he sent word to the heads of other major families in Konoha, rallying them for a joint search to catch the thief.
The Hyuga clan, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, and even the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shimura Danzō responded promptly.
"Hokage, heads of all clans, we must unite tonight and catch the thief who dares to strike Konoha!" Fugaku declared, his voice commanding.
Every clan present had suffered losses, and their hatred for the thief burned deep.
"Chief Fugaku, I will dispatch ANBU operatives to assist," Hokage Sarutobi promised.
"My Hyuga clan will also lend all our power," Hyuga Hiashi said firmly.
"And we, Ino-Shika-Chō, will do the same," Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji added in unison.
---
Within hours, Konoha was on high alert.
Massive patrols scoured the streets. Anyone exhibiting suspicious behavior was detained and questioned by representatives of the major clans.
Orochimaru, sensing the sudden tightening of security, quietly slipped out of the village's borders before the net could close around him.
As he disappeared into the shadows, Orochimaru cast a long glance back at the brightly lit village.
"Who could have done this…" he whispered, a strange mixture of admiration and curiosity in his tone.
Konoha, the village hidden in the leaves, was gripped by fear and uncertainty.
And somewhere, in the shadows, a new storm was brewing.