Why is Orochimaru here?
And why did he have that wretched expression—as if he had been waiting for Logan?
This story didn't begin long ago.
After Uchiha Itachi annihilated his entire clan in a single night and joined Akatsuki alongside Obito, he began carrying out internal missions with Orochimaru.
Mission after mission, Orochimaru grew increasingly obsessed with Itachi's Sharingan. Driven by greed, he launched a sneak attack on Itachi—but was swiftly defeated. One of his arms was severed, and he was forced to flee the Akatsuki organization in disgrace.
Orochimaru is, above all, adaptable.
Were there not still two Uchiha left?
He shifted his focus to the rising star—Logan. But Logan had long been in the Land of Water, and his movements were vague and unpredictable. Orochimaru couldn't find the right opportunity to strike.
That changed when he heard Shigeo and Kimimaro had encountered Hope Village.
Kimimaro, who had once traveled extensively with Orochimaru in his youth, was well-acquainted with the customs and landscapes of many nations. Upon arriving at Hope Village, he quickly realized:
Something wasn't right.
The village's customs mirrored those of the Land of Water. Yet, there was no record of Hope Village on any official map of the Hidden Leaf.
Then there was the human trafficking case in the Land of Water. Survivors who sought political asylum in Konoha had spoken clearly: a group had escaped and intended to establish their own village.
Piecing together the facts, Orochimaru came to a conclusion.
The residents of Hope Village were survivors.
"…So I set a trap," Orochimaru said casually, "I killed some, let some live—all just to lure you here."
His snake-like eyes gleamed as he studied Logan like a masterpiece.
Logan unsheathed the Destruction Sword. "You killed all those people… just to find me?"
Orochimaru chuckled. His voice was raspy, but strangely smooth—like the sensation of plunging your hand into a bin of supermarket rice.
"Logan, I understand you. We're the same kind of people."
He raised a pale finger.
"Life is the most precious thing in the world… yet look at them. They struggle daily with hunger, taxes, labor. If living is only about suffering, then wouldn't it be kinder to end their pain and send them into the next life? I help them… by liberating them. And in doing so, I achieve my own goal. A win-win, don't you think?"
That was Orochimaru's twisted logic.
Kimimaro stood beside him, eyes bright with admiration—completely brainwashed by the "liberation theory."
"Arrogant… disgusting!"
The voice didn't come from Logan.
It was Sasuke, standing at Logan's side.
All this talk of "the poor" and their eternal suffering—Sasuke recognized it for what it was: the sexual fantasy of the privileged. A projection of their guilt, disguised as compassion.
He used to think the same way.
But life in Luoxue Village had changed him. He'd seen firsthand how even the poorest—cripples, widows, the elderly—found ways to laugh, cry, tell stories, and cling to their dignity.
To kill them in the name of "liberation," with a sanctimonious smile?
Disgusting.
Sasuke wanted to scream at Orochimaru. To throw every thought he had right in his face.
But as he stared into those snake eyes, fear slithered up from the depths of his heart. Cold sweat dripped down his back. He couldn't breathe. He nearly suffocated—
A figure moved.
It stepped in front of him, shielding him from Orochimaru's gaze.
"I find it disgusting, too."
Logan.
He stared at Orochimaru, then glanced at Kimimaro and Jūgo. Then turned to five hidden figures lurking in the shadows.
"…You."
Before reaching the village, Logan had sent Aerosmith ahead to scout. He already knew there were five individuals hiding near the perimeter.
That they were Root operatives didn't surprise him.
Danzo's antics rarely did.
As for Orochimaru—Logan had once admired his boldness for attacking Uchiha Itachi head-on.
Now?
He saw just another lunatic.
A blur of motion—Jiraiya landed beside Logan. He had been waiting in ambush.
He wore a grave expression.
Their enemies were Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and five elite members of Root.
Their side? Logan, Jiraiya, and Sasuke.
On paper, Logan's side held the advantage. Jiraiya and Orochimaru were evenly matched. Logan was clearly stronger than both Kimimaro and the Root operatives.
But they hadn't ambushed Orochimaru. Orochimaru had ambushed them.
"That snake… he won't come unprepared after what happened with Itachi," Jiraiya muttered. "We need to retreat."
Coming from Jiraiya, that was no small thing. He usually preferred brute force to strategy.
But after spending time with Logan and Sasuke these past few days, he'd come to respect their potential—and their will.
They were the future.
"You two go. I'll hold them off. Orochimaru and I were once classmates. Even if I lose… he won't kill me."
He said it lightly.
But he wasn't certain.
Orochimaru seemed to catch the flicker of doubt in his old friend's eyes.
He smiled.
Lion Majesty—a tide of black tendrils—poured out from his robes, devouring the corpses of the villagers.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya. Everyone can leave today… except Logan."
The tendrils encircled the village, spewing toxic gas to block any escape.
Orochimaru grinned. "Logan, I don't like violence. Let's make a deal. I'll let Jiraiya and the boy go. You come with me. Help with my research."
"…And if I refuse?"
"Then I'll kill them… and take you by force."
Logan nodded once, indicating he understood.
"Logan!" Jiraiya grabbed his arm, urging him to run.
A fox-masked ninja stepped forward. "Orochimaru, this wasn't part of the deal with Lord Danzo. Logan is a traitor to Konoha. He belongs to us."
Without waiting for a reply, five Root ninjas surrounded Logan. One pulled out a set of chakra-suppressing handcuffs.
"If you bind your hands and break your own legs, we'll take you back alive. Resist… and we'll help Orochimaru destroy you."
Logan nodded again.
Taking it as compliance, two Root ninjas stepped forward.
The Destruction Sword rose.
Logan didn't attack suddenly. He made sure the two approaching ninjas clearly saw the movement of his blade.
But by the time they reacted—
Too late.
"You dare?!"
The fox-masked ninja roared.
Plop. Plop.
Two headless bodies collapsed.
Logan shook the blood from his blade.
"You all love forcing choices on me. But why don't any of you ever leave room for your own?"
He stepped forward—straight toward Orochimaru.
The remaining three Root operatives charged.
Jiraiya intercepted them with a roar. "You're not worthy of being called Konoha's ninja!"
The fox-masked ninja retorted calmly, "We are Root. We exist to protect Konoha. Don't interfere."
"Idiots!" Jiraiya barked.
With Jiraiya holding the rear, Logan focused solely on Orochimaru.
He gripped the Destruction Blade tightly. Yamabuki-colored ripples surged across his arms. Golden lightning danced around the sword.
He slashed—
Orochimaru's body dissolved into snakes. Thousands of them surged forward like a wave, aiming to overwhelm Logan.
"Star Platinum!"
Ora ora ora!!!
The Stand's fists became a blur, tearing the snakes to shreds mid-air.
From below—the ground split open. A long blade stabbed toward Logan's chest.
Orochimaru had tunneled underground while his clones attacked.
But Logan didn't move.
He stomped hard, sending ripple energy deep into the earth. A muffled groan echoed, and the blade weakened.
The ground burst open—Orochimaru re-emerged, wounded but healing rapidly. He threw out one hand:
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Hundreds of pythons surged forth.
He formed another seal with his other hand, preparing to trap Logan in a Fire Style attack the moment he dodged.
But Logan didn't move.
Because Star Platinum stood between him and the threat.
The snakes bit down—
And bounced off.
Their fangs broke on Star Platinum's hardened skin—its third-tier platinum defense.
Hovering above the ground, Star Platinum stared down at Orochimaru. The aura it emitted was not human.
It was divine.
Orochimaru instinctively recoiled.
Too late.
Star Platinum yanked him forward like a child pulling a rope.
Orochimaru severed the connection instantly—but the inertia hurled him into the air.
Toward Star Platinum's raised fist.
"ORA!!!"
One punch.
Skull shattered.
Orochimaru screamed as he flew like a ragdoll, blood spraying from his mouth.
At that moment, Orochimaru recalled something Itachi had once said:
"Never let Logan touch you. Not even for a second."
He hadn't understood it then. With his regeneration, transformations, and battlefield immortality—what difference would a brief contact make?
Now?
Now he understood.
Orochimaru had countless ninjutsu to restore his body. His transformations rendered him nearly unkillable.
But there was no time to use them.
Star Platinum—the evil spirit—was already on him.
It pulled back its fist, energy surging.
A serpent's tail lashed out and wrapped around Orochimaru's body—dragging him to safety.
Logan followed the snake's tail with his eyes.
It led to a woman—tall, with long green hair and a golden crown.
Orochimaru, for the first time, showed true reverence.
"Thank you… Tian Xin Shen Ji."
pàtreøn (Gk31)