A Snake Sees Through the Game
Nagato's decision to have Orochimaru test Kamizuki Gen—
served two purposes.
First—
to stop Orochimaru from idling within the organization.
Second—
to use the test as a probe.
If Orochimaru held back—
then both he and Gen were suspicious.
If he didn't—
his loyalty was proven.
But what neither Nagato nor Konan expected—
was this.
The boy—
had directly named Pain.
To test him.
How ignorant.
How arrogant.
How absurd.
How could a mortal—
challenge a god?
Yes—
most Akatsuki members had been personally subdued by Pain.
But those were names that shook the world—
Orochimaru.
Kakuzu.
S-rank rogue ninja whose reputations alone could terrify children.
And this boy—
Kamizuki Gen—
had no such weight.
Yes, they were interested.
Yes, they intended to recruit him.
But compared to those monsters—
he didn't belong on the same level.
Pain—
had no reason to move.
Konan shook her head slightly.
Speechless.
She stepped back into the tower—
unwilling to be caught in what was about to happen.
In her eyes—
from the moment he spoke—
he was already dead.
Silence fell.
Then—
Gen smiled.
"Well? Let's begin."
"Don't waste time."
He was eager.
Eager to join.
To bring his "talent" into Akatsuki.
Pain and Konan—
said nothing.
For a moment—
it was almost awkward.
Then—
Pain spoke.
"…Foolish mortal."
He had never seen someone so eager to die.
Still—
he made a calculation.
If this boy—
could demonstrate strength equal to an Akatsuki member—
he would spare him.
As for loyalty—
irrelevant.
With Pain present—
no one could cause trouble.
That could be investigated later.
But if he proved to be nothing—
then he would simply erase him.
The air grew heavy.
And then—
a voice cut through it.
"I've arrived."
Orochimaru.
He appeared at the far end of the street.
Wearing his signature pale robe—
a thick purple rope tied at his waist—
his presence cold and unsettling.
He walked forward alone.
Stepping into the rainless zone—
he closed his umbrella.
Flicked his sleeve—
casting off droplets.
He disliked Amegakure.
Too cold.
Too damp.
Even for a snake—
this place felt like winter.
And it was only autumn.
Yet—
his arrival drew no attention.
He didn't mind.
Since abandoning Konoha—
since discarding the title of Sannin—
he no longer needed to be the center of attention.
A single glance—
that was all it took.
His eyes landed on Gen.
The slashed Konoha forehead protector—
stood out immediately.
Orochimaru walked to Konan's side.
"Kamizuki Gen," she said plainly. "He came on his own."
"He wants to join."
"…I see."
Orochimaru's expression darkened slightly.
"So I was called… to test him?"
He understood instantly.
This—
was a test of him.
To see if he had any connection with this "fellow Konoha ninja."
"Not anymore," Konan replied coldly.
"He rejected that."
"He wants the Leader to test him personally."
"…What?"
Orochimaru frowned.
If he conducted the test—
the boy might survive.
After all—
he couldn't hold back.
If he did—
he would be the one to die.
But to choose Pain?
His mind flashed—
to that day.
When Pain found him.
When he had tried—
to take the Rinnegan.
And failed.
Utterly.
One move.
That was all it took.
To crush him.
To show him—
the difference between man—
and god.
Even now—
he dared not covet those eyes again.
They were beyond comprehension.
Beyond logic.
A gulf—
impossible to cross.
Orochimaru let out a faint, helpless chuckle.
Either this boy—
knew nothing of Pain's power—
or—
he simply wanted a quick death.
Then—
a thought struck him.
Sharp.
Cold.
Precise.
Uchiha Itachi—
had already secured a place in Akatsuki.
And now—
this boy appeared.
From Konoha.
At this timing.
Too coincidental.
Too clean.
Too convenient.
In Konoha's new generation—
only two stood at the top:
Itachi.
And Kamizuki Gen.
Itachi defected—
joined Akatsuki.
Naturally—
Konoha would be wary.
So what would they do?
Send another genius.
An equal.
To infiltrate.
To monitor Itachi.
Two birds—
one stone.
Orochimaru's eyes lit up.
Yes.
That old man—
Hiruzen—
would absolutely do something like this.
After all—
he had already sacrificed the Uchiha.
What was one more genius?
And this so-called destruction of Root—
full of holes.
No clear motive.
Too many inconsistencies.
Konoha could easily fabricate it—
to establish his identity as a rogue ninja.
"…So that's it."
Orochimaru's pupils gleamed.
If Konoha knew he was here—
then this wasn't just about Itachi.
It was about him too.
This place—
was no longer safe.
He couldn't stay.
And this boy—
could not be allowed in.
A cold light flickered in his eyes.
He stepped forward.
Without hesitation—
he spoke.
"Leader."
"Kamizuki Gen…"
"…is a spy sent by Konoha."
"An infiltrator."
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