People always assumed Orochimaru was just some mad scientist. A man obsessed with power, immortality, and a collection of pretty little jutsu.
And yeah, sure. He was all those things.
But what they failed to understand was that, above all else—
He was a scientist.
An observer.
He didn't just want power. He wanted understanding.
To see what happened when you plucked a thread from fate and watched the tapestry unravel.
To test the limits of this so-called destiny.
To see how far he could push before something pushed back.
Because here's the thing—
He had memories.
He had a system.
And if you thought that meant he was just going to play along like some mindless character in a script—
You clearly didn't know who the fuck he was.
He didn't care about anything.
He didn't care about anyone.
Well… maybe a few. But not many. Not enough to matter.
That's why, when Rika crumpled unconscious at his feet, he didn't kill her outright.
No, no, no. That would be too easy.
Too boring.
The real question was—what would happen if he did?
Would the world bend over backward to save her, as if she were some protagonist in a fanfiction?
Would some hidden force intervene, whispering that she was too important to die?
Or would she simply die, like any other insignificant, worthless little failure?
Well.
Only one way to find out.
But why rush?
Why throw away a perfectly good toy when there was so much more fun to be had?
Was this about ego?
Was he offended that she tried to kill him?
Please.
He couldn't care less.
This was about enjoyment.
Pure, twisted, intoxicating entertainment.
Wasn't it fun?
To see someone who tried to kill you reduced to nothing?
To less than nothing?
To a toy?
To an object?
A thing that existed only for his amusement?
Oh yes.
It was delicious.
And the same went for Shizuka.
Of course, he didn't kill her either.
How could he?
She was useful.
After all, where would he ever find another one like her?
A specimen.
A woman whose mind fractured like glass, whose personalities flickered in and out like the pages of an unfinished book.
A puzzle waiting to be solved.
A problem begging to be dissected.
And now?
Now, all that remained were the Takagi duo and Saeko.
Three little mice, skittering before a serpent's gaze.
Three threads of fate, waiting to be cut.
The question was—
Would fate fight back?
Or would it simply break?
He knew this was just the beginning. The first world—but definitely not the last.
And that raised a question.
What happens if he pushes too far?
If he pokes and prods at the seams of reality until something—this world, fate, whatever force keeps things in check—decides he's a problem that needs fixing?
Will it try to erase him? Adapt? Break?
He has to know.
So he'll test everything. Every rule, every limit, every unspoken law of existence.
Yuriko? He fucked her.
Saeko? He trained her.
Saya? Smart girl, full of potential.
But were any of them too important to not be sacrificed for the sake of an answer?
Definitely not.
SNAP
The instant Yuriko pulled the trigger, Orochimaru vanished from his spot. A blur—no, a phantom—reappearing a heartbeat later.
Saeko was in his grasp.
Her eyes were open, but whether from shock, pain, or the last moments of life slipping away… no one could tell.
Orochimaru didn't give them time to think. He let her go—just released her, like she was nothing.
Thud.
She hit the ground hard.
A breath. A flinch. A weak, pained sound.
Still alive.
On the other side, Yuriko's hands trembled, the gun slipping from her grasp.
"She's alive…" she muttered, over and over, as if saying it enough times would make it true.
Saya was already there, dropping to her knees beside her mother, gripping her shoulders.
"Mom—Mom, it's okay, it's okay." Saya's voice wavered, trying to steady Yuriko. But her own hands were shaking too.
Saeko groaned, rolling onto her side. Blood pooled beneath her, staining the dirt, but she was breathing.
Orochimaru's gaze flicked to her shoulder—red liquid seeping into her clothes.
Yes. The bullet had grazed her. Just a touch, passing through.
Yuriko made a strangled sound, relief and horror mixing in her throat.
All three were on the ground, staring at each other, a storm of unspoken thoughts raging between them.
Yuriko had shot Saeko.
That was reality.
And yet, Saeko was still alive.
Saya's breath came fast and shallow. She couldn't bring herself to blame her mother—not when she did it to keep her alive.
Not when, for a split second, she might have done the same.
No reaction.
Was it because he moved? Or did his actions not matter at all?
A slow smile curled Orochimaru's lips.
This is going to be fun.
"I've decided to cancel the second rule," he said, voice smooth, almost amused. "You all survive this round. You get to live."
Silence.
Saya barely dared to breathe. Yuriko's hands were still shaking, the weight of her choice hanging heavy in the air.
Saeko, wounded but standing, said nothing—just watched him with those sharp, calculating eyes.
No one spoke.
Then, Orochimaru turned to Saeko.
"Follow me."
Without hesitation, he walked away.
Saeko was the first to move, one hand pressed against her bleeding shoulder, her steps steady despite the pain.
Yuriko and Saya followed a moment later.
********
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