Book One: Embers of War
Chapter 4: Lessons in Darkness
First‑Person — Arata
The next morning, Orochimaru led me through a hidden gate beneath the Academy's east wing. The corridor smelled of ancient scrolls and damp stone. My pulse quickened—this was the archive I'd dreamed of.
He stopped before a sealed door carved with serpent motifs. "Only the curious need enter," he said, pressing a faint handprint into a recessed panel. The door groaned open.
Inside, scrolls and tomes lined every wall, illuminated by softly glowing seals. Dust motes drifted in the air like tiny spirits. Orochimaru picked a volume bound in black leather. "Today, you learn why knowledge without moral restraint can be dangerous."
He unfurled a scroll depicting a forbidden jutsu—one that siphoned life force to amplify chakra tenfold. "Imagine wielding this in battle," he whispered. "You could end wars in a breath… or condemn countless souls."
I traced the characters with my finger. "Why study it?"
He closed the scroll gently. "Because power unused is power wasted. And power unknown is power feared."
A sudden cough echoed behind us. I turned to see two figures in the doorway—Jiraiya, his silver hair tied back, grin wide, and Tsunade, arms crossed, displeasure in her green eyes.
"Orochimaru," Jiraiya greeted, stepping inside. "Hiding out here again?"
Tsunade frowned. "This area is off‑limits to students." She noticed me. "And who's this?"
Orochimaru inclined his head. "A promising student."
I bowed. "Arata."
Tsunade's gaze was sharp. "You look out of place."
I met her eyes. "I'm here to learn."
Jiraiya laughed. "Curiosity killed the cat—and half the Academy staff." He glanced at the forbidden jutsu scroll. "Teaching him that? You're going to get us all expelled."
Orochimaru's lips twitched. "Or enlightened."
Tsunade stepped forward, voice low. "Be careful, both of you. There are forces watching—even within the village."
Her warning sent a chill through me. Forces within the village… Danzo's faction, she must mean.
After they left, Jiraiya clapped me on the shoulder. "Don't let her scare you off. The world's too small for dull students."
I nodded, heart racing. I wanted more—more secrets, more power, more control.
Back in the archive, Orochimaru closed the door and faced me. "You saw their doubt. Their fear. That's your advantage."
I felt a cold satisfaction. Fear was a tool. I would master it.
That afternoon, as orphanage chores claimed the other kids, I strategized. I would excel in the approved curriculum—stealth, genjutsu, seals—while secretly learning the forbidden arts. I would ascend through the walls of this village, unseen and unstoppable.
And by the time they realized the depth of my knowledge, it would be too late.
End of Chapter 4