Chi Yu's First Nightmare in Orochimaru's Lair
Chi Yu had settled into Orochimaru's subterranean hideout—an eerie maze of stone walls and serpentine corridors that reeked of decay and secrets best left buried.
Orochimaru had already prepared a meticulous training regimen for him, one that blurred the line between cultivation and torment.
What Chi Yu didn't realize was that this would mark the beginning of a nightmare.
Before dawn the next morning, Chi Yu was abruptly awakened—not by an alarm, but by the smooth, cold glide of a serpent slithering onto his bed.
His eyes snapped open.
The snake raised its head, pupils narrowing like twin needles.
It spoke.
"Lord Chi Yu. Lord Orochimaru awaits you."
The title caught him off guard. Lord? It was the first time anyone—no, anything—had ever addressed him like that. It felt strange. Wrong. Almost... ironic.
When Chi Yu arrived at Orochimaru's study, the Sannin was already poring over a worn ninjutsu scroll, eyes flickering with arcane curiosity.
"You're awake," Orochimaru rasped, barely glancing up. "Good. Follow me."
He led Chi Yu deeper into the base—into a massive stone chamber, dimly lit and lined with summoning seals etched into the floor.
Without warning, Orochimaru summoned dozens of snakes. They hissed, coiling in anticipation.
"We'll begin with taijutsu," he said. "No chakra enhancement. No Lightning Release. Pure, raw physical ability."
He pointed at the swarm. "You have one minute. Hit as many as you can. I'll tell you when to stop. Ready?"
Chi Yu blinked, still groggy from sleep—and still very much without breakfast. But he nodded.
"Yes, Teacher Orochimaru."
"Begin."
Chi Yu burst into motion, fists slamming into serpents. Each successful strike turned a snake into a puff of smoke—a shadow clone mimic, not real summons.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, returned to his seat, the ninjutsu scroll again stealing his attention like a child distracted mid-experiment.
One minute passed.
Chi Yu paused, panting lightly. "One minute's up, Teacher."
"Continue," came the reply—flat, unreadable, eyes never leaving the scroll.
He obeyed.
Another minute.
And another.
And another still.
The swarm refreshed with every wave. The snakes were relentless, fast, and eerily coordinated. Time blurred into monotony and pain. No end in sight.
Eventually, Chi Yu stopped waiting for instruction and simply kept going. His movements grew slower. His steps, heavier. He began taking hits—fangs puncturing skin, pain blossoming in sharp bursts.
Thankfully, they weren't venomous—or he'd have died a dozen times by now.
The first time he was bitten, Orochimaru had spoken up: "You may use your Sharingan."
With the crimson tomoe spinning to life, Chi Yu's dynamic vision kicked in, helping him track and react faster. But the strain remained. The Sharingan didn't grant stamina—it merely prolonged the inevitable.
By ten o'clock, Chi Yu was drenched in sweat, his arms trembling with exertion. His eyes burned, muscles screamed, and he swore he was seeing double.
Then, finally—
"That's enough," Orochimaru said, closing his scroll and standing.
Chi Yu collapsed where he stood, sucking in ragged breaths like a fish dragged from water.
It was brutal. Deceptively simple, but merciless in its demands—testing reflexes, control, precision, endurance, and mental focus.
Orochimaru crouched beside him, expression unreadable.
"Your speed and stamina rely too heavily on Lightning Release. Without it, you managed about 120 strikes per minute—acceptable for a genin, but far below your potential. Your endurance collapsed after one hour. That's a critical weakness. Your Sharingan, while activated, is inefficient—you focus too narrowly."
He stood and continued, voice still dry as dust.
"You must train your base—your raw physicality. Only then will your chakra augmentation truly shine. Starting tomorrow, we'll add resistance and strength training."
Chi Yu nodded from the ground, panting, bruised, aching—but still listening.
"I understand. I'll improve, Teacher. Thank you."
Orochimaru gave a slow nod. "Eat. We resume with ninjutsu this afternoon."
To Chi Yu's shock, lunch was prepared by Orochimaru himself.
Omurice.
It was simple, unassuming, and... surprisingly delicious. Fluffy eggs, rich sauce, rice cooked just right. It tasted like something from a different life.
Across from him, Orochimaru was already reading another scroll mid-bite, his obsession eternal.
---
Afternoon: Ninjutsu Hell
If the morning had broken Chi Yu's body, the afternoon targeted his spirit.
Orochimaru, realizing that Chi Yu knew only his Lightning Breathing techniques, handed him scrolls for basic C-rank jutsu across multiple elements—Lightning, Fire, Water, Earth.
The goal: broaden his chakra control and elemental affinity.
One by one, Chi Yu practiced—burning through chakra reserves, refining more, and starting again.
His only "rest" was the time it took to mold chakra.
It wasn't until nearly 6 PM that Orochimaru finally halted the day's training.
Chi Yu collapsed onto his bed, limbs barely functioning. He managed two mouthfuls of rice before sleep dragged him into oblivion.
His muscles ached, chakra depleted. His soul? Shaken.
The first day had been a nightmare.
And tomorrow promised worse.