Hayate was out on patrol that night when he discovered two suspicious figures moving about. One was a strong, powerful-looking Suna ninja speaking to a man with white hair and glasses. Hayate moved in closer to listen, straining to hear their conversation. What he overheard troubled him deeply—they were discussing an alliance between Otogakure and Sunagakure. He quickly surmised that the alliance's purpose was likely an attack, perhaps on Konoha. This was big news, and he needed to get away to report it.
As he began to move, Hayate accidentally made a noise that drew the attention of the two ninjas. He quickly darted across the rooftops, but the strong-looking man, with red markings on his face and a turban-like headgear covering part of his head, intercepted him. Hayate realized he was going to have to fight this man, and he had a bad feeling about the confrontation. He decided to use his strongest move, though he wasn't entirely sure it would work. Just as he prepared to execute it, the area in front of them shifted—a dark mist began to form, coalescing into the shape of a figure.
A moment later, Hayate found himself looking at the back of Shinshi, who now stood between him and the Suna ninja.
"I sensed something was amiss tonight," Shinshi said, his tone respectful yet firm as he addressed the Sand ninja. "And what do I find? A secret meeting with intentions concerning our village. Quite ill, I would say, quite ill. Why not turn around and leave this place? I'm sure you have friends and family who would like to see you again. Besides, picking off the weak does little for you—it's like me picking on you."
Baki narrowed his eyes, recognizing the gravity of the situation. His mission was critical, and the presence of this new opponent complicated things. He knew the information Hayate had overheard could not be allowed to reach the Hokage. Normally, he would have dispatched Hayate quickly to ensure secrecy, but Shinshi's appearance gave him pause.
"You've got guts showing up here," Baki said coldly, his voice betraying none of the surprise he felt. "But you're interfering in something far beyond your understanding. I don't know who you are, but I can't let either of you leave here alive."
He glanced at the mist forming around Shinshi, then back at Hayate, who was clearly preparing for a fight. "I don't have time to waste on this," Baki muttered, more to himself than to them.
Shifting into a combat stance, Baki's expression hardened. He knew he couldn't afford to be careless, especially with an unknown element like Shinshi in play. "I don't need to remind you that you've crossed a line tonight," he continued, addressing both men. "You won't live to regret it."
Shinshi laughed, "A fight, I so do ever love a good fight," Shinshi commented as he looked at Baki, "however, as tough as you seem, you lack what it takes to be a good dance partner. That said, I can't let you do me harm or my friend harm. I won't live to regret it, you really do talk big don't you," Shinshi said with a gentlemanly laugh. "Greater men than you have tried to kill me before, Hashirama, Madara, Hiruzen, many other kages and such, you think you can fight me, funny," Shinshi said as he bowed, "Let us see if you can live up to your words or if you're as much of a disappointment to fight as I think you will be."
Baki's expression remained stoic, though a flicker of unease crossed his mind at Shinshi's words. The names Shinshi had just mentioned were legendary figures of unparalleled strength and skill. Yet, Baki was not one to be intimidated by words alone, even if they hinted at a power far beyond his understanding.
"Talk is cheap," Baki replied, his voice as cold as ever. "If you've faced legends, then you should know that arrogance is a quick way to die."
He tightened his grip on his kunai, eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. This wasn't just a simple fight anymore; it was a confrontation with a man who might very well be beyond anything he had encountered before. But Baki had his orders, and he wouldn't let some self-proclaimed immortal stand in the way of Sunagakure's mission.
"Let's see if your skills match your boasts," Baki said, shifting into a more aggressive stance. "Or if you're just another relic who's forgotten what it means to face a real ninja."
Without waiting for another word, Baki launched himself at Shinshi, his every move calculated to exploit any weakness, determined to test just how formidable his opponent truly was.
"Hayate, watch and enjoy this show," Shinshi said with a smile as he pulled back from the first attack.
He saw a moment to attack, and moved forward with his hand ready, glowing with an intense dark aura around it. This was his show of force, him showing Baki that messing with him and thinking he could win was child's play. He wasn't normal, he wasn't a kid either like Baki. He moved in quickly aiming to slam hard and to use his fangs as well.
Baki gasped as Shinshi's hand struck with terrifying force, the dark aura around it overwhelming his defenses. The impact shattered ribs and sent a shockwave of pain through his body. Before he could react, he felt Shinshi's fangs sink into his neck, drawing both blood and chakra. It was a sensation unlike any he had ever experienced—cold, invasive, and draining.
Shinshi's kick came next, a brutal follow-up that sent Baki crashing onto the rooftop. Baki slide across the concrete roof. His body scraping against the concrete before he was able to come to a stop and get to his feet again. As he stood, he felt a pain in his chest that was quite sharp, but the drain on his chakra was worse; it left him feeling weaker, more vulnerable than he had been in years.
Despite the pain, Baki's mind was racing. This wasn't a normal ninja, or person. People didn't do what this man had just done to him. As he struggled to stand, he coughed hard. The coughing caused more agony in his chest as he kept his eyes on his foe. He was still very defiant, still determined, even as the reality of his situation sank in.
Baki's voice was strained, but there was no fear in it as he forced himself to stand. "You're not just a ninja… What are you?" he demanded, trying to assess the true nature of the opponent before him.
"Oh, I think you have many terms for me, but I think vampire works pretty well," Shinshi said with a smile. "I do take offense against not being called a ninja. I have had many friends who were that over the years. I happen to owe this town a few favors and a certain family in this village, my very life, so I can't let someone kill one of those friends now can I," Shinshi replied with a bow. "You may call me Shinshi, the legendary warrior of yore."
Baki wiped the blood from his mouth as he listened to Shinshi speak, the man's words echoing in the night air. A vampire—a creature of myth, yet here he was, standing before him, very real and very dangerous. Baki's grip tightened on his kunai, his mind racing to process this new information.
"So, you're a relic of the past, clinging to old debts and friendships," Baki replied, his voice steady despite the pain. "But that won't change what's coming. This village, your so-called friends—they're all just pawns in a much larger game."
Baki's eyes narrowed as he studied Shinshi, assessing his next move. He knew he was outmatched, but retreat wasn't an option. The mission, the plan—everything was at stake. "Legendary warrior or not, you've made a mistake by involving yourself in this. You're just one more obstacle in the way, and obstacles are meant to be removed."
He readied himself for the next attack, determination burning in his eyes. Even if he couldn't win, he would not go down without a fight.
"You are a brave one, I will give you that, but many are brave, but run," Shinshi said, bowing out of respect for his foe. He smiled, "Then I shall make this quick, and it shall be over fast, my friend, and then I think I shall give you a proper burial," he added with a fair bit of respect in his tone as he attacked, a swarm of bat filled Baki's vision before the final blow was struck by Shinshi.
Baki barely had time to react as the swarm of bats enveloped him, their wings beating furiously around him, obscuring his vision. He could feel the air grow colder, the presence of death drawing closer with each passing second. He knew this was the end, but he stood his ground, refusing to show fear even in his final moments.
As the bats cleared, Baki caught a glimpse of Shinshi's figure moving with lightning speed, the final blow aimed directly at him. There was a moment of sharp pain as Shinshi's attack connected, and then everything went dark.
Shinshi stood over Baki's fallen body, his expression a mix of respect and finality. "Brave indeed," he murmured, his voice soft as he looked down at his defeated opponent. "You fought well, but this was the only outcome."
"Hayate, please make sure this body gets buried at the Togusa Shrine, I am going to go to the Otogakure area and find their boss. If they are having an alliance then, well then Orochimaru himself is behind it and I think I can find the snake without much problems at all," Shinshi said looking over at the sword's man whose life he had most likely just saved. "Also note, this power you saw, that boy, Kaza, has potential to be even greater than that."
Hayate, still reeling from the intensity of the fight, nodded solemnly at Shinshi's words. He had witnessed something extraordinary, something beyond the usual scope of even the most seasoned shinobi. As Shinshi spoke of Kaza, Hayate couldn't help but feel a deep sense of foreboding mixed with curiosity.
"I'll see to it that Baki gets a proper burial at the Togusa Shrine," Hayate replied, his voice steady despite the weight of the task ahead. "And I'll make sure what happened here stays between us. You've saved my life tonight, Shinshi, and I won't forget that."
Shinshi gave him a nod of acknowledgment. "Good. Be careful, Hayate. The times ahead are going to be dangerous. Kaza will need people like you around him."
With that, Shinshi turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Hayate alone with the body of the fallen Suna ninja. Hayate was still surprised by it all, what had just happened as not normal, but he had known for a while Shinshi wasn't normal either. He carried the body off in the dark of the night.
Shinshi moved through the darkness his natural element and would find Orochimaru alone in a room planning as was normal for him. He came back into form from a group of black mist just like before. His movement speed was insanely fast in the form over large areas. "Well, a snake in the house, Orochimaru, it is an honor to actually finally meet you. I know your teacher rather well. I am not a fan of what I am going to guess is your plan, so I decided to do something about it. Now I can't deny the idea of fighting a sannin seems amazing and fun too."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he sensed the dark presence materializing in the room. His sharp instincts had alerted him the moment Shinshi entered, but the speed and manner of the arrival intrigued him. He turned slowly to face the figure who had addressed him, his serpentine features curling into a wicked smile.
"Well, well, what a surprise," Orochimaru hissed, his voice smooth and laced with amusement. "To think I'd have the pleasure of meeting someone like you tonight. Your arrival is quite... unexpected."
He tilted his head, studying Shinshi with a mixture of curiosity and interest. "You speak of my former teacher, Sarutobi-sensei, with such familiarity. And yet, I don't recall anyone like you among his students. But then again, you're not an ordinary ninja, are you?"
Orochimaru's eyes glinted with a dangerous light as he continued. "So, you've come to interfere with my plans? I must say, I'm flattered that you consider me a worthy opponent. But tell me, before we engage in this little dance of death, what is it that drives you? Is it loyalty to that old fool, or perhaps something more personal?"
"Oh, I knew Hiruzen when he was a kid, when I met with his own teacher Tobirama Senju. I gave the kid a few lessons here or there, but I wasn't his teacher, and not his student either. I know who a man who tries to gain immortality is, when one is immortal one finds it funny to see others try for it," Shinshi replied with a smile. "As for my loyalty, I am loyal to an old late friend, Sentaku Togusa, I am making sure no one messes anymore with their home. I also found a kid who might make a fun challenging fight much down the road, so I don't want someone like you messing with my future fun."
Orochimaru's smile widened, his eyes glinting with interest at Shinshi's words. The mention of Tobirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi as mere children in Shinshi's experience revealed just how ancient and powerful his opponent might be.
"Ah, so you're not just another meddler," Orochimaru mused, his tone laced with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "You're someone who's walked through the ages, seen empires rise and fall, and yet here you are, concerned with the affairs of mortals. How fascinating."
The Sannin's gaze sharpened at the mention of Sentaku Togusa. "Sentaku Togusa… now that's a name I haven't heard in quite some time. So, you're here to protect his legacy, to ensure that no one disturbs his resting place or the future of his kin." He chuckled darkly. "How noble of you, though I wonder, is it truly loyalty that drives you, or is it simply the thrill of the challenge?"
Orochimaru's expression turned more calculating. "And this 'fun challenging fight' you speak of... intriguing. I assume you're referring to that boy, Kaza. He does have potential, I'll admit, but potential alone is not enough to survive in this world. It takes much more—ruthlessness, ambition, a willingness to sacrifice everything."
He took a step forward, his voice lowering to a more sinister tone. "But let's be clear, Shinshi. I am not one to be easily intimidated or swayed by the threats of others, even those as ancient as you. If you wish to stop me, you'll have to do much more than speak in riddles and play the protector. You'll have to defeat me, and that, my dear guest, is no small feat."
"It would be boring if it was easy, and I am not a fan of boring," Shinshi said with a smile preparing to fight.
