The air around Yami grew heavy as he approached the threshold of his home, his senses immediately on edge. Something was wrong. The familiar peaceful hum of the house was gone, replaced by an unsettling stillness. His sharp amber eyes narrowed, scanning the surroundings. The usual warmth of the home, the presence of Rei, was missing. His thoughts raced as he stepped forward.
The door creaked open before he even had to touch it, revealing a figure standing just beyond the threshold. Sasuke Uchiha.
Yami's face darkened instantly. His eyes flickered with a barely contained fury as he regarded the Uchiha. Sasuke stood unmoving, a smirk tugging at his lips, but his eyes, as usual, were cold and unreadable.
Without a word, Yami's voice was laced with a quiet venom. "Where is Rei?"
Sasuke's eyes flickered toward the door behind him, then back at Yami. "Inside. She's waiting for you."
Yami didn't need to hear more. Without another glance at Sasuke, he brushed past him, entering his home in swift, determined strides. The silence inside was almost suffocating, each step toward the center of the living space heavy with a growing sense of dread.
It wasn't until Yami stepped into the main room that he saw her. Rei, tied to a chair, her eyes wide with fear but resolute. She had been waiting for him, but she never expected this. And behind her stood the last person Yami ever wanted to see: Orochimaru.
The moment Yami's eyes met the cold, serpent-like gaze of the rogue ninja, a chill ran down his spine, but his expression remained unreadable.
Orochimaru's lips curved into a sinister grin as he turned, his long, white hair cascading down his back like a serpent's tail. "Ah, Yami. I was wondering when you'd show up."
Yami's posture shifted immediately, his eyes locking with Rei's. The fear in her eyes was all he needed to see. He could feel his blood boil, his anger rising like a wave ready to crash.
Orochimaru's voice slithered through the room, his tone mocking. "You've done well to build such a nice little home here. Too bad it will be our base of operations now. You see, Yami, my dear boy, this is no longer just about you. It's about power. Power that you clearly have in abundance… but so do I." He took a step closer to Rei, his eyes gleaming with hunger. "You should've known better than to cross me."
Yami's hands clenched into fists, his aura darkening the room. His jaw tightened, the air around him thick with the scent of danger. Sasuke stood in the background, quiet, as if waiting for something. Yami could feel the weight of Sasuke's presence, but he wasn't going to let him interfere. Not now. Not when Rei was in danger.
His voice was a low, menacing growl. "Leave her. Now."
Orochimaru laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the room. "You think you can threaten me? You don't understand the depth of my power, boy. I've been alive for centuries. You and your little kingdom of illusions cannot even begin to compare."
Without another word, Yami moved. His speed was so quick, so sudden, that Sasuke didn't even have time to react before Yami's elbow slammed into his face, sending the Uchiha stumbling backward, his expression twisting in surprise and pain.
Before Sasuke could recover, Yami vanished from sight, reappearing behind Orochimaru in an instant. With no warning, Yami grabbed the older man by his face with one powerful hand, his fingers digging into the serpentine skin, and with a brutal motion, he threw him out of the door.
Orochimaru's body crashed through the wooden wall, landing several feet outside with a deafening thud. Dust and debris exploded into the air, but Yami was already moving. His gaze never left the doorway as he moved swiftly to Rei, his body a blur of speed and precision. In a single fluid motion, he untied her, his hands working with practiced ease.
Rei, her body still trembling from the fear, looked up at him with wide eyes, her voice barely a whisper. "Yami…"
He didn't respond with words. Instead, he pulled her close, his expression softening for just a brief moment before he turned his gaze back toward the door, his senses already on high alert.
Sasuke stood just outside now, his stance poised, as if ready for a fight. His eyes locked with Yami's in a silent exchange of unspoken tension. But it wasn't just Sasuke. Orochimaru had already regained his footing and was now standing beside him, his eyes glowing with malice. The battle was far from over. In fact, it was only just beginning.
Yami's eyes narrowed, his entire demeanor shifting into a more deadly form, his presence overwhelming. His aura crackled around him, the air thick with the promise of violence. The soft creak of the door closing behind him was the only sound, followed by the crunch of dirt beneath his feet as he stepped outside to meet the two formidable threats.
Orochimaru's grin widened, his hands stretching to his sides as if preparing for a long, drawn-out game. "I warned you, boy. You may have strength, but it won't be enough to defeat me. Not now, not ever."
Sasuke, standing beside him, seemed unfazed by the growing tension. His eyes flickered with a hint of amusement, though there was a dangerous gleam there as well. He didn't speak. He didn't need to. His presence was enough to send a clear message: he was here to fight.
Yami's voice was cold, devoid of any warmth as he spoke to them both. "I didn't want this. But you've crossed the wrong person."
With those words, the air seemed to thicken around them. The ground beneath their feet shifted, as if reacting to the tension that was now palpable. Yami stood alone, his body coiled like a snake ready to strike, his fists clenched at his sides. His heart beat steady in his chest, but his mind was a whirlwind of calculated moves, every possible outcome running through his mind.
He had no idea what Sasuke was capable of at his full strength, but one thing was clear: Yami wasn't about to back down. Not now. Not when Rei was involved.
With a sharp, sudden motion, Yami took a step forward. His eyes locked onto Orochimaru's. "This is where your journey ends."
Orochimaru's serpent-like smile never faltered. "You're welcome to try."
And so, the stage was set for a battle that would echo through the mountains of Enraoi, a battle that would leave both sides scarred and forever changed.