Naruto: Konoha's Traitor

Lessons

Uchiha Kazuo stood before Orochimaru, bowing his head respectfully.

"Lord Orochimaru," he said, "I request permission to continue leading the five Uchiha chunin under my command."

Orochimaru said nothing. He merely stared, his serpentine eyes cold and unreadable.

Kazuo could feel the weight of that gaze like a kunai at his throat. A bead of cold sweat slid down his temple.

Still, he stood firm. "I am familiar with their abilities—Kyosuke, Raijin, Jinye, Keiichi, and Ryuhei. I've led them since they were genin. With respect, I believe I'm best suited to continue as their captain."

"Oh?" Orochimaru's lips curled faintly. "You're quite confident... how excellent."

Kazuo brightened slightly, misreading the remark as praise.

But Orochimaru's tone suddenly turned icy. "And what, exactly, does that have to do with me? Excellence is expected. Many here are exceptional. Why do you assume you alone are suited to lead?"

Kazuo's breath hitched.

Orochimaru's voice dropped, sharper than a blade. "I am the commanding officer of this front. When I give an order, it is not a suggestion. Are you defying me, Uchiha?"

Kazuo lowered his head instinctively under the crushing pressure of Orochimaru's chakra but still managed to grit his teeth.

"I would never defy you, Lord Orochimaru… But I respectfully request you reconsider. If not me, then at least appoint someone else—anyone but him."

Orochimaru stepped forward.

He towered over Kazuo now, his voice venomous. "This is not a debate. If you take issue with my command, feel free to return to Konoha and lodge your complaint with the Hokage. But while you remain here, I am the supreme authority. My word is law."

He paused, then added with a sliver of mockery, "Of course… unless Chi Yu himself is unwilling."

Orochimaru turned toward the tall, black-clad figure standing a short distance away.

"Chi Yu," he asked, "are you willing to lead these five?"

Chi Yu smiled slightly, his voice calm. "Of course, Lord Orochimaru. I'm honored. I will lead them well."

Orochimaru turned back to Kazuo. "Then the matter is settled. Do you still have questions, Uchiha?"

Even a fool could tell: this was no random appointment. Orochimaru was using Chi Yu—his trusted subordinate—as a message. The Uchiha weren't as untouchable as they believed.

Around them, other shinobi watched with amusement, barely masking their schadenfreude. Many of them hailed from clans long overshadowed by the Uchiha's power and arrogance.

Kazuo felt a hollow weight in his chest. "No, Lord Orochimaru. I have no further objections."

Behind him, the five Uchiha chunin turned pale. The thought of serving under Chi Yu—a distant relative disowned by their clan—was unbearable.

Their eyes met. No words were needed.

They would not accept this humiliation.

They would force Chi Yu to step down.

Once Orochimaru finished reiterating camp protocols and dismissed the group, Chi Yu walked toward them.

His expression was unreadable. "You. Follow me."

None of the five moved. One tilted his head toward the sky. Another pretended to inspect his gloves. They ignored him completely.

Kazuo smirked.

Even if Orochimaru had imposed this arrangement, his kinsmen would not lower themselves before a pariah.

The crowd of departing shinobi paused. A scene was unfolding.

Chi Yu's eyes narrowed. "I'll say it once more. Come with me."

Still, they refused to acknowledge him.

Without warning, Chi Yu drove his knee into Ryuhei's stomach.

The chunin doubled over, coughing blood, collapsing to the ground in pain.

The others were stunned.

Keiichi leapt forward, but Chi Yu met him with a sharp left hook to the temple, dropping him instantly.

Kyosuke followed, attacking from behind. Chi Yu struck him in the throat with a swift elbow. Kyosuke staggered, gasping, clutching at his neck.

"Bastard!"

Raijin came next, fist flying. Chi Yu ducked and flipped him over his shoulder, slamming him onto the ground and stomping on his abdomen. Raijin writhed in agony, winded.

Jinye's rage exploded.

His Sharingan activated—two tomoe in each eye. He sped through hand seals, drawing chakra into his lungs for the Great Fireball Technique.

But Chi Yu was faster.

In an instant, he closed the distance, grabbed Jinye's wrists mid-seal, and halted the jutsu.

His own Sharingan lit up—two tomoe, shimmering like blood.

"Hmm… Not bad. Two tomoe already? But still…" Chi Yu twisted Jinye's wrist with a crack, forcing a pained scream from him.

"…You're nowhere near ready."

He kicked Jinye's leg at the knee. The joint buckled. The boy collapsed.

Chi Yu placed a foot on his head, grinding it into the dirt.

"Is this what the Uchiha Clan has come to? Five so-called prodigies, crushed without even forcing me to draw a kunai?"

He looked at the crowd.

"You call yourselves the elite? Then where's the pride? Where's the power that justifies your arrogance?"

His tone sharpened into a sneer.

"Don't call yourselves the strongest clan in Konoha. You're not even the strongest squad."

Gasps rippled through the onlookers.

Even those who disliked the Uchiha shifted uncomfortably. No one expected Chi Yu to go that far. Orochimaru allowed many things—but humiliating an entire clan in front of the corps?

Kazuo's eyes burned red, but not with the Sharingan. It was sheer fury.

"You bastard… You dare—!"

He surged forward—

—but froze mid-step.

Two serpents, conjured from Orochimaru's sleeves, slithered out and coiled tightly around Kazuo's limbs.

Orochimaru's voice came from behind him, smooth and deadly.

"Chi Yu is their captain. If subordinates refuse to obey orders, they must be taught discipline. Do you disagree, Kazuo?"

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