Never underestimate a person's will to survive.
Hearing they still had a chance to gain freedom and return to the village, the two prisoners' eyes turned fierce as they looked at Sasuke, like wild beasts with glowing green eyes.
"Kill them, or be killed by them."
That was the choice Orochimaru gave Sasuke.
After saying that, he left the underground space—he had a guest to meet.
"Die, kid!!!"
The moment Orochimaru left, the two prisoners no longer held back. They roared and charged straight at Sasuke.
They had no weapons, but the iron chains locked around their arms were more than enough.
Killing a mere kid shouldn't be that hard.
"Damn it!!"
Sasuke had imagined many possibilities, but he hadn't expected his first lesson to be like this.
There was no room for choice, no way to escape—he could only fight with everything he had.
---
On the second level of the research facility, Orochimaru stood at the entrance of the corridor, smiling as he watched Itachi step out from the shadows.
"Itachi-kun, I don't mind much, but I don't like people casually entering my lab."
"I was just escorting Sasuke here. I have no other intentions."
The sounds of battle echoed from below. Itachi knew what Sasuke was going through.
He was worried but didn't act recklessly. He trusted that Orochimaru wouldn't let Sasuke die.
Leaving Sasuke alone was not just a warning to him—it was also to force Sasuke into a desperate situation, drawing out his potential and battle instinct.
"Well then, I'll see you out."
Orochimaru chuckled, reminding Itachi,
"You can leave now. This is my territory, and I don't want this happening again."
Itachi gave Orochimaru a deep look before decisively turning to leave.
If Orochimaru reported that he had snuck into the facility, it would cause a lot of trouble for him.
Orochimaru was warning him, but he was also warning Orochimaru—if anything happened to Sasuke, there would be consequences.
"Hehehe..."
Orochimaru watched Itachi leave the research lab. Once he was out of range, Orochimaru turned and walked into the hallway.
As soon as he opened the door, the heavy scent of blood filled the air.
Two bodies lay on the ground, twitching slightly, with a pool of fresh blood spreading beneath them.
Sasuke was on one knee, gasping for air. His left arm was almost useless, hanging at an odd angle.
Two spies, both at the level of Genin, had died by Sasuke's hand.
It was his first real fight to the death, and it was two against one. Sasuke had paid a price for his victory.
His left arm had been crushed by a chain, his neck was bruised, and he had other injuries as well.
"Come with me."
Orochimaru wasn't a medical ninja, but he knew enough to handle basic treatment.
For normal wounds, he didn't need a medical ninja. But if the injuries were too severe, then he had to get help.
However, Orochimaru had no intention of treating Sasuke himself—because he already had help.
"Orochimaru-sama."
Yakushi Kabuto had been waiting, fully prepared with everything needed—except for the patient.
"Mmm."
Orochimaru smiled and nodded, signaling Sasuke to lie down.
Gritting his teeth, Sasuke slowly made his way to the operating table.
He wasn't in great shape.
Kabuto didn't waste any words. As soon as Sasuke lay down, he began treating him.
To be honest, this guy had been sent to Orochimaru by Yan.
If he was already Orochimaru's man, he might as well have just come directly instead of pretending to be a spy.
Orochimaru had no idea how Yan had figured out Kabuto's true identity.
But since Yan had exposed him, Orochimaru decided to keep him close.
Sasuke would need medical care often, and Kabuto was perfect for the job.
If Yan hadn't pointed it out, Kabuto would still be living a double life as a spy.
While Kabuto treated Sasuke, Orochimaru opened the surveillance feed in the treatment room.
The screen showed footage of the fight in the third underground level.
Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Orochimaru watched the video carefully.
In the recording, the two prisoners had charged at Sasuke the moment Orochimaru left.
At the Genin level, battles weren't flashy. Ninjutsu was rarely used.
It was mostly hand-to-hand combat.
The two enemies fought as a team, using chains as weapons.
Sasuke, facing such ruthless opponents for the first time, lacked experience and was at a disadvantage from the start. Fortunately, he had already awakened his Sharingan.
The battle had been dangerously close.
Without the Sharingan, Sasuke wouldn't have stood a chance—let alone managed to kill both of them.
These death row prisoners have way more battle experience than the students at school.
At the ninja academy, Sasuke was far ahead of everyone else. Only Naruto could somewhat keep up with him—at least among their peers.
But unfortunately, the students at school aren't nearly as ruthless as death row criminals.
Lack of experience, hesitation in battle—good thing he has the Sharingan.
After barely escaping danger a few times, he took a chance, risking an arm to take down one enemy.
Then he took down another, but he got pretty badly injured himself.
"That looks serious."
Orochimaru turned to look at Sasuke, who was drenched in sweat. Seeing the stubborn look in Sasuke's eyes, he shook his head regretfully and said,
"Too weak. With the Sharingan, you should've ended the fight quickly. But you didn't."
"...."
Orochimaru's words hit Sasuke like a hammer to the head, leaving his mind blank.
My performance was that bad?
"Looks like Yan was right to send you to me.
Staying in a comfortable environment for too long will only make you lose your fighting spirit.
Your battle instincts are weak.
You have no experience at all.
To put it simply, aside from your talent, you've got nothing."
Sasuke gritted his teeth, staring at Orochimaru. He refused to accept such an evaluation, about to argue back—
But pain suddenly shot through his shoulder. He couldn't hold back a scream.
"...."
Kabuto looked up blankly. Did I use too much force?
But this is how bone-setting works. If I don't do it right, the bone will heal incorrectly.
Sasuke winced in pain, his face twisted as he let out another agonized scream.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru just laughed, sounding exactly like a movie villain.
"Now then, Sasuke-kun, please bear with it for a little longer."
After a moment of hesitation, Kabuto gave Sasuke a heads-up.
"AHHHH!!!"
The next second, his scream echoed throughout the entire underground lab.
---
---------------------------------------
You can read 10 chapters ahead on patre on
patr eon.com/JYouyi