Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

A gentle breeze swept through the forest, rustling the leaves and swaying the branches.

In the clearing, Haku and Zabuza stood face-to-face.

Zabuza's body trembled slightly, his eyes clouded with emotion. "Haku... So all these changes—you've changed this much all because of that kid?"

Haku nodded softly and whispered, "Yes. I serve Naruto-sama now."

Zabuza's jaw clenched the moment he heard those words—"Naruto-sama." Haku was the child he'd raised with his own hands, like a daughter. And now, she referred to a blonde boy as her lord.

"Why?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"Why?" Haku echoed, her gaze warm and steady as she looked at Naruto, a soft smile forming on her lips. "There aren't always reasons in this world."

Zabuza stood there stunned, realizing the answer in her eyes.

Under the pale moonlight, with autumn dew clinging to the blades of grass, the girl stood before the boy—protecting him.

As an old bachelor who had never known such feelings, Zabuza suddenly felt something stirring deep in his chest—something foreign and bittersweet.

"Hey, old man," Hidan's severed head called out from nearby with a mocking grin. "You still don't get it? Your little girl's fallen for this blond kid. Hilarious, isn't it?"

He chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment.

He'd seen the way Zabuza looked after Haku along the journey—careful, proud, almost fatherly. And now, she stood against him… for another man.

Zabuza turned and glared at him. "Shut your mouth. Kakuzu's dead and you're still yapping?"

But Hidan only laughed harder. "Dead is dead. Big deal. That old man was almost ninety. He lived long enough."

"Don't you feel anything?" Haku asked softly.

Hidan snorted. "Why should I? He didn't believe in Jashin—the Evil God. He was nothing to me."

Naruto listened closely, analyzing Hidan's words.

Jashin? Who or what is that?

How did Hidan gain that immortality? And why had this supposed "god" never shown themselves?

It didn't add up. There was something strange about it all.

Turning away from Hidan, Naruto looked at Orochimaru, still frozen inside the ice prison. "How is he?" he asked Haku.

"Still alive," she replied.

"Good."

"My lord, do you need me to do anything else?" Haku asked quietly.

"Not yet. I'm going to test something first."

"Understood."

Her voice was calm, almost tender—so tender that even Zabuza noticed. It was a tone she'd never used with him.

His heart sank.

Gripping his sword, he glared at Naruto. "You'd better speak carefully, brat. Or I'll kill you."

Naruto didn't even glance his way. He simply walked toward Orochimaru and knelt beside the ice.

Haku immediately stepped between them and barked, "Shut up! Show respect to Naruto-sama!"

Hidan was nearly rolling with laughter. "Oh man, this is the best entertainment I've had in years!"

Zabuza's veins bulged in his forehead. "Laugh one more time and I'll smash your damn head into powder."

But Haku raised a hand, stopping him. "You can't kill him unless Naruto-sama gives the order."

Zabuza stood silently for a moment, then dropped his sword and slumped onto the ground like a balloon losing air.

The girl he'd raised now called another man her lord. She didn't even acknowledge him anymore.

It was heartbreak in its rawest form.

"Geez, old man," Hidan snorted. "You gonna grovel now too?"

Zabuza didn't respond. He just sat there—crushed.

Meanwhile, Naruto's eyes shimmered with concentration. A moment later, Orochimaru's entire body disappeared into his storage space.

It worked.

He could store living things inside.

Was this a watered-down version of Kamui's dimension?

If the ability evolved further… could it become divine?

Naruto's thoughts whirled with possibilities.

The requirement to imprison Orochimaru was complete. But there was a second part: making him "serve" Naruto.

He'd give it a shot. Even if he didn't earn the reward, nothing would be lost.

"Haku, melt the ice prison. Cover me while I use the Devil's Contract."

"Understood."

—

Tsunade, meanwhile, was still following Naruto's trail through the forest.

Blood splatters marked the way—planted intentionally to slow her down. It worked.

At first, the blood had startled her, but after seeing so much of it, her fear had numbed. She pressed forward, stubborn and furious.

"That idiot Jiraiya! He's definitely doing this on purpose—he can't even walk faster than me?"

She gritted her teeth.

Even though Orochimaru was clearly an enemy, Jiraiya still held back. How many times had Orochimaru nearly killed them?

Jiraiya's mercy infuriated her. He was too soft—too sentimental.

On the battlefield, you don't hesitate just because someone looks pitiful. You don't teach the enemy's children ninjutsu!

And now, even after Orochimaru killed their teacher, Hiruzen… Jiraiya still couldn't bring himself to finish him off.

Tsunade shook with anger as she pushed on, but her steps faltered when a powerful wind suddenly blew from the east.

She instantly changed direction.

—

Inside the contract space, Naruto had already begun.

A cold wind swept through. Black mist thickened until it filled the air. Everything around them turned pitch black.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Orochimaru walked cautiously through the darkness, the black mist curling around his feet.

Ahead, Naruto stood calmly in the gloom, shrouded by the darkness.

Orochimaru knew immediately—this ambush from Akatsuki had been orchestrated by the boy before him.

There was no way this Jinchūriki was working for someone like Danzo.

Danzo wasn't worthy.

He'd never seen a place like this before. Even with all his experience, this space was beyond comprehension.

He tried to keep his composure. "Who are you?"

"That doesn't matter," Naruto replied. "What matters is whether you want to live."

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "What's the price?"

"There's only one. Work for me. Sign this contract—and live."

As he spoke, black mist coalesced into a floating parchment.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "And if I refuse?"

"You'll die," Naruto said without hesitation. "Truly die."

Orochimaru blinked. "How? You can't kill me."

"I can," Naruto replied flatly. "I'll hunt down your real body. I'll kill everyone with a cursed seal. You won't escape me."

Orochimaru's expression shifted. There was no bluff in that voice—only cold certainty.

He felt something he hadn't felt in years.

Real danger.

"I have one last question," he said slowly.

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"I promise—it's the last."

Naruto nodded.

"What do you want from me?"

No pointless questions—just the core.

Naruto smiled faintly. That's what made Orochimaru dangerous—he was sharp.

"I want your mind," Naruto said, tapping his temple. "All your genius. All your experiments. Your creativity, your madness—just use it to build something real."

"No more sick games. No more immoral shortcuts."

"Be a scientist, Orochimaru. A real one."

"If you do well, I'll make you my right hand."

Orochimaru stared at him, stunned. He expected demands for forbidden jutsu. Eternal life. Sacrifices.

But creation?

Science?

He was caught completely off guard.

Naruto stepped closer, gazing up at the swirling fog above them—his ambition made manifest.

Orochimaru finally sighed, deeply.

"…Fine. I'll sign."

As he touched the contract, a strange seal embedded itself deep in his soul. A glowing black character appeared on the back of his left hand: "Three."

Then, Naruto pulled something from his cloak—and Orochimaru's breath caught in his throat.

"…That's… the Sharingan. And the Byakugan!"

His eyes widened. "Are these for me?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes—but not for your own power."

Orochimaru frowned in disappointment. "Then what?"

Naruto's eyes sharpened. "You now have two missions."

"First—begin experiments. Mass-produce the Sharingan and Byakugan."

"Second—study Hidan. Find out what the 'Evil God' really is."

"These two tasks will prove your loyalty."

"If you fail—I don't need you."