Stormy Ninja World
After Chi Yu completed the mission to eliminate the bandit group, Orochimaru didn't immediately escort him back to Konoha. Instead, he detoured—to meet with the Daimyō of the Land of Rice Fields.
But Orochimaru didn't bring Chi Yu along for the meeting. He had him stay behind at a small countryside inn, telling him to rest.
Chi Yu lay on the stiff hotel bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, thoughts racing.
In the original timeline, Orochimaru eventually left Konoha and founded the Hidden Sound Village—Otogakure—deep within the Land of Rice Fields. But unlike traditional hidden villages, Otogakure wasn't officially affiliated with the country's feudal lord. Orochimaru had bribed the Daimyō to look the other way while he built a base of operations within the country's borders.
In other words, the Land of Rice Fields and the Hidden Sound were separate entities—a nation and a shadow operation, coexisting in silence.
Was Orochimaru already laying the groundwork? Cozying up to the Daimyō even now?
No wonder people always said he should have succeeded.
Well... "success" is a slippery thing. He didn't become Hokage. Didn't gain the eternal youth he sought. Didn't claim the Sharingan for himself. But he did build his own village. Did unlock a technique that bordered on true immortality—Living Corpse Reincarnation, a forbidden jutsu that allowed him to leap from body to body, evading death again and again.
In the grand scheme of ninja life? Orochimaru lived longer—and arguably better—than most.
Even with his later obsession over the Sharingan dragging him into increasingly deranged schemes, he still managed to slither out of the grave more times than most shinobi ever got promoted.
Orochimaru didn't return that night.
The next morning, Chi Yu awoke to the creak of the door. Orochimaru had come back.
"Let's go," the Sannin said simply. "We're returning to Konoha."
---
Back in the Hidden Leaf Village, Orochimaru brought Chi Yu to submit their completed mission report, then led him straight to the Hokage's office.
Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, pipe smoke curling upward like mist. His expression was calm, but sharp-eyed as always.
"Chi Yu," he said, turning with a warm smile. "Your first mission as a genin was a C-rank task—and you performed admirably."
Chi Yu bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Hokage-sama—and thank you, Orochimaru-sensei, for believing in me."
Hiruzen chuckled softly, exhaling smoke. "It's your own hard work that made this possible. Orochimaru has spoken highly of you. Says you train diligently—and possess impressive talent."
Chi Yu nodded sincerely. "It's all thanks to Orochimaru-sensei's guidance. Without his teachings, I wouldn't be where I am now."
And it was true.
Without Orochimaru's instruction, Chi Yu might still be blindly grinding through exercises at the Academy, stuck in place while others moved ahead. A great teacher doesn't just teach—they refine, accelerate, and unlock.
Though Chi Yu remained cautious of Orochimaru's true motives, his gratitude was undeniable. As long as Orochimaru didn't covet his eyes—his Sharingan—their interests would not clash.
Orochimaru added his own rare praise. "Chi Yu was remarkable on the mission. His plan was efficient, and its execution was flawless. Even seasoned chunin have made worse calls in the field."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "It's not every day I hear you compliment someone this much, Orochimaru. You must truly value this student."
A smirk curled Orochimaru's lips. "I do."
Hiruzen's smile faded, replaced by a solemn gaze. He looked directly at Orochimaru, speaking in a low, deliberate tone—without bothering to shield Chi Yu from the truth.
"Orochimaru… the ninja world stands on the edge of a storm."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
"Are the other villages making their move?" he asked.
Hiruzen turned and spread a map across his desk. He pointed to several marked locations with tiny black stones.
"According to our intel," he began, "Iwagakure shinobi have been spotted near the border of the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Fire.
Kumogakure forces are gathering near the Land of Hot Water.
And Sunagakure continues to harass our southern border at irregular intervals."
He paused, tapping his pipe against the edge of the desk.
"As for Kirigakure… their situation is murky. I've sent letters to the Mizukage, but received no reply. That silence is troubling."
Orochimaru's voice was sharp. "If Iwa and Kumo are both probing our defenses, it's likely they've formed an alliance—or are at least coordinating. Add Suna to the equation, and that's three of the Five Great Nations with their eyes on us."
Hiruzen sighed, releasing a plume of smoke. "Exactly. I had hoped to build an alliance with Kirigakure to counterbalance them, but that prospect looks unlikely now. I only pray they don't join the others."
Orochimaru leaned in, examining the map closely. "What's the current scale of these incursions?"
"Low-level so far," Hiruzen admitted. "They haven't breached our borders—yet. This is just a test. They're gauging our response."
He straightened, tone turning commanding.
"I've already dispatched Sakumo Hatake to fortify the Waterfall border, and Jiraiya to the Hot Water front. He took Minato with him—good training, but also necessary preparation."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"If this continues, full-scale border skirmishes may erupt within the next year or two."
His voice grew graver, words dropping like stones. "It's only been a few years since the Second Great Ninja War ended… and yet the seeds of the Third are already taking root."
---
History remembered too well.
The First Great Ninja War had begun shortly after Hashirama Senju's death—when his unparalleled strength, the main deterrent to war, vanished.
Without him, the balance broke. Kumogakure was the first to strike, and chaos followed as the other villages joined in.
The Second War emerged from economic decay—widening disparities between nations. Military hawks used that gap to justify conquest and "fair redistribution."
In both cases, the Land of Fire was spared from being the main battlefield.
But this time?
If the other major villages unite against Konoha, then the Land of Fire will become the front line.
And it will bleed.
Orochimaru said nothing. He simply stared at the map, golden eyes cold and calculating.
Chi Yu stood quietly, absorbing everything.
Was war… already so close?
The timeline checked out. If this was the prelude, then the day Kumogakure attempted to abduct Kushina Uzumaki was not far away.