Rin stared at the mark for a long time.
The snake's lines were smooth and fluid, while the blade's design was archaic—nothing like the standardized weapons used by modern ninja. It looked more like something from the Warring States era. The entire seal radiated an old, sinister aura.
"…Orochimaru?"
It was very possible.
One of the Sannin, obsessed with bloodline limits—especially the Uchiha. In the original timeline, he had relentlessly pursued Sasuke. Now that there was another Uchiha orphan in the village, there was no way he wouldn't notice.
But Orochimaru should still be focused on establishing Otogakure and preparing for the Chūnin Exams. Personally reaching into Konoha like this didn't quite fit his usual style.
Unless…
This wasn't Orochimaru himself.
It could be one of his subordinates.
Or someone deliberately imitating his methods.
Or—
This was Danzo Shimura's test.
That one-eyed old fox was more than capable of doing this: sending an unofficial mission of unclear origin to see whether Rin would report it, whether he would accept it, and how he would act once inside.
Rin rolled the scroll back up and tucked it into his Ninja Tool Pouch.
Two in the afternoon. Abandoned mine.
He decided to go.
But not unprepared.
---
Team 7 had a mission that morning—a D-rank job helping a bookstore owner reorganize a warehouse.
Naruto complained nonstop. Sasuke worked silently. Sakura tried to keep things orderly. Kakashi leaned against a shelf, reading Icha Icha Paradise.
But Rin could tell—Kakashi's attention was actually on him.
"Rin," Kakashi Hatake said suddenly, "did you meet Danzo yesterday?"
The warehouse went quiet.
Naruto turned his head. "Who's Danzo?"
Sasuke paused for a fraction of a second.
"Yes," Rin answered honestly. "He asked to talk."
"What did he want?"
"To recruit me into Root."
Kakashi closed his book, his single visible eye fixed on Rin. "And your response?"
"I said we could talk once I become stronger."
Kakashi nodded. "Wise. Refusing him outright brings trouble. Agreeing is even worse. Delaying is the best option."
"Kakashi-sensei…" Sakura asked quietly, "…is Root really that dangerous?"
"Extremely," Kakashi replied. "They don't raise ninja. They forge tools. No emotions. No self. Only missions and obedience."
Naruto looked at Rin anxiously. "Then you're—"
"He's fine for now," Kakashi said, reopening his book. "But Rin, be careful. Danzo won't stop. Tests will come."
"I understand," Rin said.
He didn't mention the mysterious scroll.
If this was Danzo's test, reporting it would mean failure.
If it wasn't, there was even less reason to say anything.
---
While organizing the warehouse, Rin planned his loadout.
A mine meant darkness, narrow passages, possible poison gas, traps.
He needed light, rope, antidotes—
Then he remembered the bottles stored in the Uchiha secret room. There had been items labeled snake repellent and antidote.
During the lunch break, Rin slipped away and entered the secret passage.
He found two small porcelain bottles.
One contained green liquid: Snake Repellent — effective for three hours.
The other was blue: Universal Antidote (Experimental) — use with caution.
"…Experimental," Rin muttered. "Risky, but better than nothing."
He also took several rolls of special Uchiha steel wire—thin, flexible, and reinforced with chakra metal. Perfect for traps.
As Rin left the secret room, a figure slowly emerged from the shadows behind him.
Karasu.
He watched Rin's retreating back for a long time, silent and unreadable.
---
By the time Rin returned, the mission was wrapping up.
"We're dismissed," Kakashi said. "New assignment tomorrow."
"Rin," Sasuke called out, "are you free this afternoon? I want to keep practicing that technique—redirecting force."
Rin had already shown it during sparring.
"Not today," Rin replied. "I have something to handle."
"…What kind of thing?"
"Personal."
Sasuke stared at him for a moment, then turned away without pressing further.
Naruto ran over. "Where're you going? Take me with you!"
"Next time."
"Tch—stingy!"
Rin ignored him and headed home.
He changed into dark clothing, restocked his kunai and shuriken, double-checked his gear.
When everything was ready, it was already 1:30 PM.
---
The abandoned mine lay on the edge of Konoha's back mountains, near the Forest of Death.
It had once produced metal ore, but had dried up decades ago. The entrance was sealed with a wooden fence and a warning sign: Danger — Do Not Enter.
Rin arrived at 1:50.
He surveyed the area first.
The fence had been forcibly broken. The damage was fresh—no more than a day old.
There were no footprints; they'd been deliberately erased. But flattened grass showed multiple people had passed through.
Rin crouched, rubbed some soil between his fingers, and sniffed.
Blood.
Sulfur.
From deep within the mine came a faint sound of wind—like something breathing.
Rin took out the snake repellent and dabbed it onto his pant legs and cuffs. Then he drew a kunai and slipped silently inside.
---
The mine was pitch-black.
He waited for his eyes to adjust.
The main tunnel was wide—enough for two carts side by side. Side passages branched off into darkness on both sides. Rusted lamp brackets clung to the walls, long out of oil.
Water pooled on the ground, splashing softly beneath his steps. The air was damp, thick with mold.
After about fifty meters, the tunnel split.
The left path had fresh boot prints—large, likely an adult male.
Rin followed them.
The passage narrowed, forcing him to hunch. Strange marks appeared on the walls—not chisel marks, but deep gouges.
Claw marks.
They were large, brutal.
Rin touched one lightly. The stone crumbled.
New. And made with tremendous force.
"What kind of thing leaves marks like this underground…?"
Rin closed his eyes.
[Yin Release Perception — Radius: 1 meter]
Chakra rippled through his awareness.
Ten meters ahead—two chakra signatures. Weak. Chaotic. In pain.
Deeper still—another presence.
Massive. Cold. Bestial.
Not human.
Rin opened his eyes and moved forward.
This time, he tested every step.
At a corner, he found a trap—tripwire connected to falling rocks. He stepped cleanly over it.
Five meters later, a faint voice reached him.
"…Help… help…"
Human.
Rin quickened his pace and turned the corner.
Two ninja were bound to mine pillars, wearing Konoha Chūnin vests. They were badly wounded, clothes soaked with blood. One was unconscious. The other was barely holding on.
When he saw Rin, hope flared in his eyes.
"Please… save us…"
Rin didn't approach immediately.
He scanned the surroundings.
No obvious traps. No ambushers.
Too clean.
"Who did this?" Rin asked.
"Don't… don't know…" the chūnin rasped. "We were sent to investigate… got attacked the moment we entered…"
"What did the attacker look like?"
"Didn't see… too fast…"
Rin stepped forward and cut the ropes.
The two slumped to the ground.
The conscious one opened his mouth to speak again—
Then his eyes went wide.
He stared past Rin.
Behind him.