Yo,
I'm back with the next chapter of Change in Winds. Though Broken Shackles is supposed to be updated today, a poll I made on my discord server resulted in the peeps choosing this story over that and so here we are. So feel free to thank/maim them based on which story you like. ;)
Before we dive into our newest chap, there is one thing I like to share-
I've made a new discord server where I'll keep on updating sneak peeks of the chapters, character designs, polls and where you can freely talk and ask things regarding my fics directly from me. I'm most active there:
It's a relatively new server, so please show some love!!
Link: discord . Gg / SPsSwAcq4b
Remove the spaces
Name: Black Dawn
Thank you for your continued love and support.
Enjoy.
Change in Winds
Chapter 15
Echoes of Ambition
Unknown Location
In a dimly lit chamber filled with ominous shadows, Danzo and Orochimaru sat across from each other. The ambience ingrained with an almost palpable tension, a silent battle of wills. Each man sized the other up, keenly aware that they were dancing on the razor's edge of treachery and opportunity.
"Orochimaru," Danzo began, his voice dripping with a cold deliberation, "your proposal interests me. However, such a large-scale operation against Konoha is full of risks. What guarantee can you give that it will succeed?" Danzo asked, his eyes narrowed.
After seeing how uncontrolled and destructive the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki has become, he decided he can't leave everything in Hiruzen's hands. He can see the seeds of doubt and treachery filled in the boy's eyes.
He can't allow him to be unsupervised any longer. For Konoha to be the greatest hidden village, Kyuubi is the key and its Jinchuuriki goofing around aloof is not how it should be. He gazed at Orochimaru expectantly, the Mangekyou in his eye observing for any hint of lies.
Orochimaru leaned back, his eyes glowing with malevolent glee aware of the hawkish gaze of the Mangekyou. "You unnecessarily worry Danzo. I assure you, between my own preparations and the might of the Sand, Konoha's defences will be shattered. What I need from you is a promise to neutralise key threats within the village during the assault. Can you deliver?"
Danzo clasped his hands together, contemplating, his cane momentarily forgotten. "My Root agents can incapacitate key personnel, but there are variables that neither you nor I can control. Namely, the new generation of shinobi participating in the upcoming Chunin Exams. They're a wild card."
Orochimaru smirked, "Ah, yes. The so-called 'gifted' rookies. Worry not, Danzo. They will be caught in the web of the exams' rigours. A perfectly elaborate distraction."
"That may be so, but Sarutobi will not be so easily fooled," Danzo mused, his eyes narrowing. "I'll need something more concrete from you—a sign of your commitment to this endeavour."
Orochimaru grinned menacingly, savouring the tension. "What if I told you that I can deliver the Kazekage's full cooperation, guaranteeing that the Sand's most potent techniques will be deployed against Konoha?"
Danzo's eyes narrowed further, as if trying to pierce through the fog of deception that often surrounded Orochimaru. "Your assurances regarding the Kazekage are intriguing, but let's not forget that the Sand Village has its own vested interests. They could turn on us. Besides, they have that Gaara, the Jinchuriki. He's a wild card, unstable and potentially disastrous for your plans."
Orochimaru leaned forward, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "Ah, Gaara—the One-Tail Jinchuriki. Your concern, Danzo, is amusing yet unnecessary. I've already thought about this."
Danzo raised an eyebrow, sceptical yet intrigued. "Oh? Enlighten me."
"The Jinchuriki are always a double-edged sword, as you well know," Orochimaru continued. "Gaara's presence does pose a potential risk, but it's also an opportunity—a weakness in Suna's armour. His emotional instability makes him susceptible to manipulation. With the right catalyst, he could be turned against his own, creating chaos from within. A chaos that we can capitalise on."
Danzo considered this, visibly pondering the risks and rewards. "It's a dangerous gamble. If you fail to control him, Gaara could turn his wrath on you instead." Danzo pointed.
Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Worry not, Danzo. I have my ways to ensure that the Shukaku's rage will be directed where we want it. Gaara will serve as a useful puppet, his strings pulled taut by the master puppeteer. We'll let the beast loose, yes, but on a leash—one that I hold."
A thin, almost imperceptible smile crept onto Danzo's face. "Very well, Orochimaru. You've alleviated some of my concerns. We have a pact, then. But remember, if any part of this plan fails, our alliance ends. And if that happens, you won't be the only snake in the grass ready to strike."
Orochimaru nodded, his eyes glinting with dark promise. "Agreed. Then let's toast to the future—to the fall of the old guard and the dawn of a new era."
In that clandestine chamber, the two men sealed their dark alliance. A pact was made, a perilous plan set into motion, and the fate of Konoha hung perilously in the balance. Both men knew that what they had just committed to could bring them unimaginable power or lead them down a path of irrevocable destruction. But for them, the gamble was worth the potential reward, and so they plunged forward into the abyss, dragging an entire village with them into uncertainty.
As the pact was made, Danzo explained in detail the full procedure and defences of the Chunin Exams and the process definitely impressed Orochimaru. He felt his old Sensei slowly getting his edge back but in the end, it only added to the snake man's amusement.
Confident in his plan, Orochimaru left the hidden chamber, his footsteps echoing in the dimly lit corridor, a smug smile curled the corners of his mouth. Danzo may have been satisfied with their conversation, but Orochimaru had cards yet to be revealed, a private agenda woven into the intricate tapestry of his greater scheme.
"Uchiha Sasuke," Orochimaru muttered to himself, his eyes glowing with sinister excitement. "A vessel ripe for the taking. The Sharingan, the kekkei genkai of the Uchiha clan, would be the ultimate prize. But to make it mine, I'll need to push the boy, make him thirst for power."
His thoughts then turned to the forbidden Jutsu he had developed—the Cursed Seal. A dark seal that drew out a person's potential at the cost of their will. "The Chunin Exams will be the perfect setting. The child will be desperate for strength, and the Cursed Seal will be too tempting to resist."
But it wasn't just Sasuke that piqued Orochimaru's interest; another figure loomed large in his mental tapestry— Uzumaki Naruto. The Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, contemplating the possibilities.
'Naruto-kun,' he thought. 'Your growth is intriguing, indeed. Kyuubi's chakra is an ocean of raw power. Imagine what could be done with it under proper control. Not to mention your influence on Sasuke-kun could be the catalyst that drives him toward my Cursed Seal. You, too, are an important piece in this twisted game.'
Orochimaru knew that by instigating the Konoha Crush, he would be stirring a hornet's nest, creating a volatile situation where emotions ran high and judgment ran low. It would be an environment where Sasuke might feel cornered, vulnerable, desperate for the strength to protect and to prove himself. And in that moment of weakness, Orochimaru would strike, showing Sasuke how weak he is compared to Itachi while offering a Faustian bargain that the young Uchiha would find hard to resist.
However, lurking beneath all these schemes was Orochimaru's underlying quest for immortality, for the ultimate jutsu that would allow him to live forever. He saw potential vessels in both Sasuke and Naruto, one for his soul and another as a boundless reservoir of chakra. It was a grand, intricate web he was weaving, one that spanned beyond the immediate plans with Danzo and reached into a future only he dared to envision.
"Kukuku, the wheels are in motion," Orochimaru mused, his smile widening into a fiendish grin as he stepped out into the sun in his newest disguise. "Let the game begin."
And so, unbeknownst to the shinobi and villagers of Konoha or even his temporary ally, Orochimaru's secret plans began to unfurl like a dark shadow, stretching out to engulf all those who stood in his way.
Chunin Exam Arena
The examination hall was thick with tension, the sharp sound of pencils scratching on paper filling the air as the exam began. Naruto sat hunched over his exam booklet, his eyes scanning the complex questions before him. Despite the hard looks and cryptic phrasing, his face was a mask of concentration, unfazed by the mounting pressure or the full blast of killing intent that permeated the room.
He understood the questions were deliberately confusing, designed to test not just knowledge, but the ability to see through deception. One question asked for the specific sequence of hand signs for an A-rank Jutsu that Naruto knew had more than 50. Another question was a convoluted word problem involving the storage and retrieval of ninja scrolls that seemed to have too many variables to be solvable.
As Naruto pondered the questions, he realised that this wasn't a test of academic knowledge at all—it was a test of a shinobi's ability to gather information under stress, quite literally with the big blast of killing intent involved. 'They want to see if we can cheat right under their noses,' he thought. His eyes flicked to his teammates, Sasuke and Sakura, who were also deeply immersed in their papers. They were all aware that being a successful ninja often required cleverness and cunning in the field.
Naruto glanced around the room subtly, taking in the proctors' positions and the nervous tics of the other examinees. Some genin are using discreet hand signals, others had tiny mirrors, and a few seemed to be using coded coughs.
Naruto's mind raced. He remembered a lesson from Iruka-sensei, one that seemed almost prophetic now: "A ninja must see underneath the underneath." It was clear that this exam was not about finding the right answers but about understanding the environment and adapting to it.
He smirked slightly, a plan forming in his head. This is a challenge he is ready to accept. With the killing intent around him ignored like a mere breeze, Naruto set his pencil down and began his own subtle dance of deception, gathering the information he needed to succeed.
As he began, his gaze sharpened, focusing on the room's layout and the participants within it. He is a shinobi, who trained himself to keep calm even when the shadow of death loomed. The killing intent is merely another obstacle to overcome, a psychological barrier that he refused to let stifle his innate cleverness. And it would definitely be a blow to his pride Uzukage if he gives in for such low-level blood lust.
He watched as one of the examinees from some village subtly using a reflection on his watch to look at another's paper. Another was using tiny chakra strings, almost invisible to the naked eye, to vibrate against another participant's paper, mimicking the sensation of a breeze but actually reading the vibrations for answers.
Naruto's mind went back to the booklet. The questions are indeed complex. One asked for the counter to a five-element seal, which isn't typically taught at the academy level. Another question detailed a scenario where a shinobi had to choose between completing the mission or saving a comrade, a moral dilemma with no clear answer.
Well aware that direct cheating would be caught, he decided to use a more ingenious method, one that capitalised on his most distinctive ability—his knack for creating shadow clones.
With the proctors' attention divided among the many test-takers, Naruto saw an opportunity. He pretended to drop his pencil, and as he bent under his desk, he discreetly formed a single shadow clone outside the examination room with a thought—where the test answers were being discussed openly by the proctors during their breaks.
This clone, hidden just out of sight in the form of a small bug, listened intently, memorising the answers. Meanwhile, the real Naruto inside the room tapped his foot boredly. Though it got weird looks from the proctors, they didn't comment. Subtly increasing Killing intent on him, which he didn't care.
Soon, after being satisfied with the answers it got, his clone dispelled, sending all the memories to the blonde and out of nowhere, he started scribbling furiously, answering all the questions as per the answer booklet though he felt they are still wrong as he scanned them. He took the answers with a pinch of salt. Who is to say the proctors could have foreseen this happening and are deliberately discussing answers?
He is sure there are no correct answers to the questions and he also heard something about the 10th question and how 'Juicy' it will be to see the despair on the brats' faces from an odd Chunin and noted it. Again, he doesn't trust it 100%, but that doesn't mean he can't be cautious.
He turned to check on Sasuke and Sakura. Though he knew Sakura being the bookworm wouldn't have any problem with the questions and Sasuke would use Sharingan, he decided to help them either way as it allows him to inform about this 10th question and be cautious about it.
Under the guise of tying his shoelace again, Naruto discreetly created three more shadow clones, transforming 2 of them into small insects — a common sight in any room and something that wouldn't draw attention in the stifling environment of the exam hall. With the proctors' senses focused on detecting chakra used for cheating, the minute chakra signature of a bug-sized clone was easy to overlook.
The 3rd one is also an insect, but a different type, Naruto transforming it into an exploding insect, he let it crawl out of sight, weaving its way towards the far end of the room where a particular proctor stood, his eyes like hawks', missing nothing.
The bug-clone, indistinguishable from a common fly, landed on the wall near the proctor, crawling with an infuriating buzz. It drew the attention of the proctor, whose annoyance at the disturbance was evident.
With a swift motion, as the proctor reached out to swat the pest, the insect-clone detonated with a loud 'bang', a bright flash accompanying the sound, startling the room into chaos. Genin ducked under their desks, papers flew, and pencils clattered to the floor.
In the confusion, the proctors' attention was completely diverted, their eyes searching for the source of the commotion, ensuring that no one was hurt. Naruto used this moment to send his 2 bugs to Sasuke and Sakura.
"CALM DOWN YOU MAGGOTS!!" Ibiki's strong voice boomed inside the tense room. "Those who fell off their chairs are all disqualified!" He said in finality, getting many complaints. A large burst of Killing Intent shut them up promptly. Silence engulfing the room.
Ibiki's gaze sharpened as he surveyed the room, searching for any hint of the perpetrator. He recognized the use of a volatile insect from Iwa, known for its explosive nature upon the slightest provocation. Not officially part of the test, Ibiki had to act as though it was—his flawless record was at stake.
The unexpected blast had sent a surge of adrenaline through the examinees, yet amidst the chaos, Naruto was the picture of serenity. A flicker of triumph in his eyes was the only sign of disturbance before he redirected his attention to his exam, seemingly unbothered. Ibiki had no proof but he suspected the blond was behind the mischief.
Meanwhile, Naruto barely contained his mirth. His well-executed prank had led to the disqualification of four teams situated near the blast. Cleverly, he had ensured the explosion occurred away from his friends and other significant candidates, thus avoiding any serious repercussions for those he cared about.
In the chaos that followed, his 2 clones slowly made their way, idly observing the myriad of other methods used by other participants. As they reached their targets, they transformed into ink on the paper which soon turned to words in the form of an answer.
Sasuke and Sakura are taken aback but the first message 'Found you!' made them realise whose handiwork this is and they relaxed, taking in what the blonde has to say. Be careful - 10th question - answers below. The message was followed by the answers and they eagerly copied, Sasuke making note to learn Shadow Clone Jutsu from the blonde.
Inside Sakura's mind, there was a mixture of amazement and mirth. 'That's so like Naruto,' she thought, a mental chuckle escaping her as she felt the bug's patterned movements on her paper. She was touched by his unorthodox methods to ensure his team's success, and it bolstered her own determination not to fall behind. The bug's disappearance only confirmed her suspicions, and she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling openly at Naruto's cleverness.
Sasuke, often seemed too stoic was surprised and impressed with Naruto's tactic. 'A bug transformation, huh? Ingenious... and annoyingly effective,' he mused internally. A part of him felt a twinge of pride for his teammate's resourcefulness, knowing full well the level of control such a feat required. It was a stark reminder that Naruto was full of surprises. His brief smirk was the only external sign of his internal laughter, a rare crack in his usual composure, acknowledging the success of their unpredictable teammate.
The killing intent did not wane, but Team 7 didn't falter. Completing their exam, they eagerly waited for this hyped 10th question, silently observing their surroundings.
As the minutes dragged on, the pressure in the room continued to mount. The air was heavy and thick with the invisible, malignant energy of killing intent that the proctors exuded. It crept into the bones of the Genin, a silent assailant that whittled away at their focus and resolve.
Several candidates began to falter, their pencils pausing mid-sentence, their eyes darting around the room in a silent scream for help or escape. A genin from a lesser-known village dropped his pencil, his breaths coming in short, sharp gasps. His teammates, sensing his distress, reached out to steady him, their own faces pale and strained.
Ibiki, observing from the front of the room, gave a curt nod. "Number 132," he called out, his voice clear and devoid of sympathy, "disqualified. Collect your team and belongings and scram."
The failing team's shoulders slumped, the weight of disappointment and the reality of their situation sinking in. They gathered their things quietly, the sound of their movements loud in the tense silence that followed.
One of them whispered in a trembling voice, "We were so close... I just... couldn't think with all this... pressure."
His teammate responded with a hollow look, "It's not just about knowing things... it's about staying calm when it feels like you're in the middle of a battle." he said sombrely.
As they left, another team was struggling to maintain their composure. A girl from the team clenched her fists, trying to will away the fear, but it was too much. She slumped forward, her head hitting the desk with a dull thud, and her teammates immediately reached out to her.
Ibiki's eyes swept over to them, and without missing a beat, he declared, "Number 122, you are also disqualified."
The room felt colder with each dismissal, a reminder to all that the exam was merciless. Each remaining genin clung to their focus, determined not to be the next to fall. Many realised the true battle of the 1st stage is not against each other, but against oneself, and it is a battle they are all fighting fiercely.
Meanwhile, in the oppressive atmosphere of the exam room, the genin from Konoha is a testament to the village's rigorous new training program and its effectiveness.
Team 8, composed of Hinata, Kiba, and Shino, each drew upon their unique abilities to endure the bloodlust. Hinata's Byakugan allowed her to detect the slightest movements, enabling her to observe distant proctors' answers like a mirror. Kiba subtly communicated with Akamaru, who used his heightened senses to detect the answers of those nearby. Shino's insects buzzed low and discreetly, collecting information from scattered papers around the room.
Team 10 had their own methods. Shikamaru, despite his lazy demeanour, is a tactical genius. He devised a system of yawns and stretches that signalled coded messages to Ino and Choji. Ino used her family's mind techniques to probe Sakura's mind who already completed all the questions. Ino then passed the answers to Choji, who gratefully noted them.
Team 9, consisting of Rock Lee, Neji, and Tenten, also showcased their resilience. Neji's Byakugan was perfect for a 360-degree view of the room, but he was careful to not make it obvious, using reflections from Tenten's carefully angled weapons instead. Tenten had scrolls with tiny reflective surfaces, and Lee, who couldn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, relied on his unwavering determination and the subtle cues from his teammates to fill in the gaps.
The Sand siblings used their own tactics. With Gaara using his Sand eye to spy, Kankuro using his puppets and Temari subtle wind manipulation to lift others' papers to peek. She observed how her wind disappeared as soon as it reached the whiskered face blonde.
As proctors patrolled the aisles, their sharp eyes looking for any overt signs of cheating, the Konoha teams used their skills not just to endure the bloodlust but to thrive within it, demonstrating the cunning and resourcefulness expected of a true Chunin.
The clock's ticking grew louder, merging with the increasing tempo of anxious heartbeats. Each second that passed seemed to stretch, the atmosphere growing thicker with tension. The proctors, no longer content with just observing, began to intensify their killing intent, making it even more palpable. It was as if the room itself was being squeezed by an invisible force, the walls threatening to close in on the participants.
The sheer weight of the killing intent made the air dense, pressing down on everyone, and testing their limits equivalent to the pressure of an elephant pressing on them. Some genin began to show clear signs of strain, sweat forming on their brows, hands trembling ever so slightly.
As the clock neared its final tick, Ibiki, the head proctor, stood up. The killing intent reached its peak, making the room feel as though it was submerged deep underwater, the pressure immense.
Suddenly, everything stopped.
"Time's up!" Ibiki's voice echoed, cutting through the stifling atmosphere. As the genin caught their breaths, he continued, "Those who have passed out or failed to answer the questions, step out!" He said, with no killing intent.
A few teams, overwhelmed by the intense killing intent or unable to answer the questions, stood up dejectedly, leaving the room. Their dreams of becoming Chunin were cut short, at least for now by their own hands.
Ibiki scanned the remaining participants for any sign of weakness. He found none. There are 18 teams left. Not bad he supposed. "The rest of you, well done for withstanding the pressure." His eyes glinted with a mix of respect and anticipation. "But remember, this is just the beginning."
"Congratulations on successfully-" As Ibiki began to conclude, he was interrupted by an unexpected but familiar disturbance.
A dark shadow lunged into the room through the window, breaking it with a kunai that embedded itself into the wall beside the clock, the metallic 'thunk' echoing sharply in the silent room. The genin, still catching their breaths from the intense exam, looked around in alarm.
Jumping into the room with a flip is a beautiful young woman, the banner behind her reading 'the sexy and single Anko Mitarashi' as she gracefully landed in the centre of the room, her trench coat flaring out around her leaving little room for imagination about her figure. She wore a devilish grin, and her eyes glinted with mischief and excitement.
"Well, well! Looks like I'm right on time!" Anko declared, striking a playful pose.
Ibiki sighed, clearly exasperated yet unsurprised by the entrance. "Anko... Every time you do this."
She shot him a teasing wink. "And every time you look like you missed me, Ibiki." Swinging the kunai she had thrown, she continued, "Besides, these kiddos need some excitement, don't they?"
Surveying the room, Anko's eyes settled on the remaining participants. "So, these are our potential new Chunin? Interesting..." She let her gaze linger, sizing up the rookies with an appraising eye. Her playful demeanour made some of the genin uneasy, given her reputation for being unpredictable.
Team 7 on the other hand are surprised by the sudden turn of events. 'Shouldn't there be a 10th Question?' they all pondered by shrugged seeing they passed the exam either way. 'Maybe Ibiki changed the pattern?' Naruto mused as he didn't hear or read candidates being hit by killing intent in the 1st round.
Looking around, he is surprised by all-rookie teams passing the 1st stage and not giving in. Though there are clear signs of stress in the case of Teams 8 and 10, Team 9 doesn't seem very worn out and of course, his team gave confident smiles.
While Anko started her briefing, her tone now was all business. "Alright, kiddies. Brace yourselves for the next stage of the Chunin Exams. And trust me, it's going to be a ride you won't forget! Meet me in Training Ground 44 in 2 hours. If you are late, you are out."
Her words were met with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. 1 question raging through everyone's mind: If the first part of the exam had been this intense, what would the next stage hold? Seeing her part was done, Anko promptly vanished, throwing everyone into a panic to reach the said training ground.
Naruto knew what that training ground entailed but quietly followed his team out as a plan formed in his mind to ensure their safety and be victorious. He is going to show who Uzumaki Naruto truly is. He will make them regret looking down on him.
Meanwhile,
Unknown Location
In a dim, cavernous space, shrouded in perpetual darkness, members of Akatsuki assembled in a circle. Holographic projections of each member flickered into existence, their eyes piercing through the murkiness.
In the centre stood Zetsu, his half-black and half-white visage displaying a neutral expression. The tension in the air was palpable, a heavyweight that signalled the gravity of their gathering.
"Let's get to the point," Zetsu's black half spoke first, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency. "The Chunin Exams are underway in Konoha. I believe this presents an opportunity for us."
Kisame turned to Itachi as his eyes flickered, but he quickly composed and was noticeably intrigued.
Zetsu's white half took over, explaining with a more patient tone, "There are interesting participants this year—Jinchurikis, wielders of kekkei genkai, and other prodigies. The pool of candidates is...promising, to say the least."
Pain, the de facto leader, leaned in slightly, his Rinnegan eyes swirling as he asked, "Are you suggesting that we intervene directly?"
"No," Zetsu's black half cut in, "but we should monitor the events closely. Naruto Uzumaki, the Kyuubi Jinchuriki, is among the participants. And it's not just him, but Ichibi Jinchiriki is taking part while Nibi Jinchuriki came as part of the Kumo team." it ended.
Kisame chuckled, his voice echoing through the chamber. "A bunch of brats playing ninja, and among them, the Nine-Tails kid? Sounds like fun."
Deidara snorted, clearly unimpressed. "Tch, kids or not, if they can't appreciate true art, they're not worth our time."
"But worth our observation," Zetsu's white half added. "Their skills could be of use, and the political alliances these exams forge can be exploited. Konoha is still a cornerstone of stability in the ninja world. Any fluctuation there will send ripples throughout the other nations."
"Indeed," Pain mused, now fully engaged in the conversation. "Keep an eye on the proceedings, Zetsu. We can't afford to ignore a gathering of such potential assets...or threats."
Kakuzu, ever the pragmatist, leaned into the circle. "If these kids are as promising as you say, capturing them young could prove financially beneficial."
Zetsu nodded, both halves in agreement for once. "Very well. I'll continue the surveillance and report any developments."
"As for the rest of you," Pain intoned, his voice carrying the weight of finality, "be prepared to ac-." Pain stopped mid-sentence as if listening to something only he could hear.
"Continue collecting bounties. Our current agenda is amassing wealth." Pain said with finality and promptly disappeared.
Though everyone was slightly surprised by the sudden change in order, they shrugged it off as a normal occurrence as their leader changed his orders from time to time. Like stopping the hunt for Orochimaru or getting rid of that stupid Tobi.
The holographic projections flickered out one by one, leaving Zetsu standing alone in the darkness. But even in solitude, its mind was a hive of activity, buzzing with thoughts of the intricate web that was beginning to weave itself around the young shinobi of Konoha and the world beyond.
Things are going to get interesting…
As it is both Jiraiya's and Zoro's birthday, here is a small Omake between them.
Omake: The Drunken Tale of the Toad Sage and the Lost Swordsman
In the forests bordering the Land of Fire, the paths of two unlikely souls crossed. Jiraiya, the legendary Toad Sage, was meandering his way back to Konoha for the Chunin Exams. Meanwhile, Roronoa Zoro, the directionally challenged swordsman, somehow found himself far from the Grand Line, utterly lost. He just walked in a STRAIGHT LINE, Damn it!!
The two stumbled upon the same clearing, and upon seeing each other, both are equally surprised.
"Ah! A fellow traveller!" Jiraiya exclaimed, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Zoro's three swords. "You look like a man who can hold his sake!"
Zoro, sizing up the flamboyant ninja before him, grunted in agreement. "As long as you're buying," he replied, his sense of direction as poor as his financial situation.
They found a nearby tavern, as rustic and forgotten as the path Zoro had wandered off from. As the night wore on, bottle after bottle was emptied, the table between them littered with the spoils of their revelry.
Jiraiya, his cheeks flushed with warmth, lamented his troubles first. "Ah, my friend, you see... the women I admire always seem to slip through my fingers like the finest sand of Sunagakure!"
Zoro, swaying slightly with his fourth bottle, snorted. "That's nothing. I get lost following a straight path! And don't get me started on swordsmanship; the one guy I need to defeat keeps eluding me!"
They shared a boisterous laugh, finding solace in their shared misfortunes. The tavern keeper shook his head, muttering about the odd pair who seemed to be competing over who had the worst luck.
Seeing an opportunity to vent his frustration, with a mischievous glint in his one good eye, Zoro began recounting one of his more ludicrous escapades. "You think women are slippery? Try chasing your own shadow on a ghost island! I ended up fighting a zombie samurai with my own shadow stitched to it. Beat that for absurdity!"
Jiraiya, his eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and admiration, threw his head back and laughed heartily. "You're a man after my own heart, Zoro! But let me tell you about the absurd. When I was writing my first book, I had to 'research' at hot springs. I ended up being chased by an angry mob of women—it was like dodging kunai but more... screechy."
Zoro snorted, shaking his head as he poured them another round. "Hot springs, huh? I'd probably end up walking into a volcano instead. Can't follow a map to save my life. Maps are more confusing than a three-sword fighting style!"
"And speaking of styles," Jiraiya interjected, swirling his drink with a flourish, "my first book was a daring tale of love and battle, much like your sword fights, except with more... passionate encounters and fewer swords."
"The only passionate encounters I have are with my swords and the occasional clash with marines," Zoro quipped, the alcohol making him unusually talkative. "Though there was this one time I fought a guy while we were both stuck in a chimney..."
"A chimney?!" Jiraiya choked on his sake, coughing and laughing simultaneously. "I once had to hide in a chimney from a swarm of kunoichi I had... ahem, 'offended' with my peeping. They were as relentless as a pack of hungry wolves after a slab of meat!"
As the night deepened, the stories grew taller, and their laughter louder. Jiraiya boasted of battles with legendary foes and peeping endeavours gone awry, while Zoro recounted tales of monstrous sea beasts and a cook who was more infuriating than any opponent he'd ever faced.
Eventually, the sake did what countless enemies could not; it brought the two warriors to their knees... and then flat on the tavern floor. Sprawled on their backs, they stared at the ceiling as if it held the answers to life's greatest mysteries.
Jiraiya turned his head to Zoro, a serious expression painted on his inebriated face. "You know, Zoro, my boy, we may be masters of our crafts, but when it comes to the paths of life, we're both hopelessly lost."
Zoro let out a rumbling laugh, the sound echoing off the tavern walls. "Maybe so, but at least we're lost in good company."
As morning light crept into the tavern, it found the legendary ninja and the pirate swordsman still asleep, their snores a duet of post-celebratory exhaustion.
The tavern keeper, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and annoyance, mused aloud, "They'll have one hell of a story if they ever remember it."
And so, Jiraiya and Zoro parted ways, neither remembering much of the night before, but both feeling oddly rejuvenated as if the shared tales of their misadventures had lightened their burdens. After all, problems shared—even with a stranger—are problems halved, even if only for a drunken night.
And Cut.
That's it for this Chapter folks.
Shameless discord promotion-
I've made a new discord server where I'll keep on updating sneak peeks of the chapters, character designs, polls and where you can freely talk and ask things regarding my fics directly from me. I'm most active there:
It's a relatively new server, so please show it some love!
Link: discord . Gg / SPsSwAcq4b
Remove the spaces
Name: Black Dawn
Thank you for your continued love and support.
See y'all in the next chapter.
Suggestions are welcome.
Black Infinity1289,
Ja Ne.