Orochimaru’s Magic Lamp

As soon as the words left his mouth, the samurai leader Mifune—still slumped on Shousuke's back—was barely conscious from blood loss and serious injury.

His men had moved swiftly, their retreat as stylish as it was futile. After all, even among Jōnin, there are levels. And when it comes to Konoha's elite—especially those serving in the ANBU—their strength far surpasses most.

The two strongest ninja from the Grass team had already fallen. The rest were only Chūnin. How could they possibly escape?

Without needing Uchiha Shinsuke's direct command, the Konoha squad behind him sprang into action, chasing down the fleeing enemies.

Samurai Shousuke noticed they weren't being attacked and trusted in Konoha's reputation. The moment he let down his guard, his legs gave out. Only Mifune's limp form on his back kept him upright a little longer.

"The leader..."

Shousuke gently lowered Mifune and immediately began pulling out the embedded shuriken to treat his wounds.

"Leave that to us," said Uchiha Shinsuke, signaling to Shizune, who had been waiting impatiently. She quickly knelt, palms glowing with green healing chakra, and began tending to Mifune.

Meanwhile, the battlefield was filled with screaming—but not from Mifune. He was too weak to even cry out. No, the loud shrieks came from Hidan, who lay within his drawn ritual circle.

At some point, Hidan had retrieved his severed arm and reattached it like assembling a puzzle. Slowly, unnaturally, his body began to regenerate.

"Reminds me of Lord Orochimaru..." thought Uchiha Shinsuke, narrowing his eyes in curiosity. He turned to Shousuke and asked, "Is this guy from your Iron Country?"

"No, just a lunatic stray," Shousuke muttered bitterly. But after a pause, he reluctantly admitted, "Still... we owe him our lives."

Uchiha Shinsuke nodded, then walked up to the still-praying Hidan. "You killed several from Kusanagi. Their village won't forgive you. Come with us to Konoha."

Hidan sprang to his feet, glaring with disdain. "You think I'll go just because you told me to? Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

"It's not a request. It's an order."

Shinsuke had already read Hidan's personality. That smug, arrogant attitude was all too familiar—he knew reason wouldn't work here. So he didn't bother explaining.

A kunai shot from a hidden chain in his sleeve. Hidan responded immediately, slashing with his scythe. Shinsuke hadn't expected such quick retaliation and was a moment too slow—he ended up with a shallow cut on his face.

"Hahaha... You're dead now, bastard. Time to show you what real pain feels like."

Hidan licked the blood off his weapon, drew a new ritual circle beneath him, and grinned manically. Holding a spike in one hand, he plunged it straight into his own thigh.

A powerful jolt of pain surged through his body... but the scream he expected didn't come.

"Huh?"

"This is your technique?" said Shinsuke calmly, the wound on his face already gone. His Sharingan spun red. "Impressive."

Hidan blinked. "An illusion? Since when—?"

Realizing he'd been caught in a genjutsu, his face flushed red with embarrassment. But before he could react, Shinsuke moved in and knocked him out cold.

As Hidan collapsed, Shinsuke looked down thoughtfully. Despite the boy's youth, his jutsu was bizarre and dangerous. Against someone like Guy, a physical powerhouse, there was a chance he could pull off a surprise win.

But against Shinsuke?

With the Sharingan and a reinforced body thanks to recent modifications, Shinsuke didn't need to take chances. If someone could injure him, they might be able to kill him too.

He tied Hidan up securely and turned to Shousuke. "We've got time. Tell me what happened with Kusanagi's attack on the Iron Country."

Shousuke's face twisted with pain and rage. Memories of his comrades falling before that monstrous boy came flooding back. He didn't want to relive it—but now, revenge depended on it.

His voice trembled as he recounted the events of that night. When he reached the part about the strange box and the white-haired boy with glasses who stopped them from destroying it, Shinsuke's expression shifted.

"You said... a white-haired boy? With glasses?"

"Yes," Shousuke replied warily. "He didn't kill us—just drove us away. If he hadn't, none of us would've made it."

"I see..." Shinsuke narrowed his eyes. Yakushi Kabuto, he thought immediately. There was no mistaking that description.

But why was he with the Kusanagi?

Just as Shinsuke was about to ask more, a few Anbu returned from pursuing the escaped enemy. The moment passed, and the opportunity was gone.

With Mifune and the others treated by Shizune, the team began their return to Konoha.

---

Three days later, the Anbu team arrived at the village with the surviving samurai.

After a day of recovery, the Third Hokage met with Mifune.

Though the policy regarding the Iron Country remnants had already been decided, the Third maintained his usual cautious diplomacy—what he called "necessary necessities."

Orochimaru's involvement would remain under wraps. Officially, Konoha offered protection and compensation to the samurai.

But as for rebuilding the Iron Country?

That was off the table. The cost had been too high. It simply wasn't feasible.

Mifune understood. While disappointed, he wasn't disheartened. He knew that sooner or later, Konoha would clash with the Grass Country. Until then, all he had to do was wait—and gather strength.

But as for Hidan, he wasn't part of their group.

With the samurai too injured to vouch for or manage him, the boy was handed off—to none other than Orochimaru.

"I heard you can't die," Orochimaru said, his golden eyes gleaming as he studied the silver-haired boy before him.

A slow, delighted grin crept across his face.

"Let's put that to the test."

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