White Dragon Hidden in The Leaves

As I pressed onward through the narrow tunnel that began to widen, The air grew cooler, My footsteps echoed softly against the stone, Man I just wanted to go home already.

Finally, the passage opened, at the center of the chamber lay an enormous stone dais, and upon it coiled a serpent of monumental proportions. Her scales were as white as freshly fallen snow. Two piercing eyes regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

"Welcome, young one," the serpent spoke, her voice echoing softly yet powerfully throughout the cavern. "I am surprised one so young has not died along the way here."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry despite the dampness of the cave. "Are you... Hakuja Sennin?" I asked cautiously.

She inclined her massive head ever so slightly. "Indeed. I am the White Snake Sage, guardian of Ryūchi Cave. And you, Ayumi, have proven yourself... intriguing."

I needed to be respectful here cause there was no way I could fight a sage. "You know who I am?"

A soft chuckle emanated from her. "I know many things. It is not often that someone so young navigates my trials and survives, you were lucky on the path you chose in the cave. Especially one who has encountered Orochimaru and lived by pure luck."

Memories of that encounter flashed briefly in my mind that I barely escaped from. "I was lucky indeed," I admitted.

Her eyes never left mine. I felt a subtle probing sensation, as if she were trying to peer into the depths of my being. 

"I've completed the trials as required," I said, attempting to steer the conversation back on track. "my contract—"

"Yes, your contract with Kurokane," she interrupted smoothly. "A rather unorthodox arrangement, but not without its merits. You sought power, did you not?"

I hesitated. "I sought... an alliance. Strength through cooperation."

Another soft chuckle. "Such diplomatic words for someone who wielded fire and steel against my guardians. Tell me, child, what is it you truly desire?"

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "I want to become stronger. To protect those I care about. I need to be stronger."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Admirable intentions. But strength often comes at a price. Are you prepared to pay it?"

The question hung heavy in the air. "What price?"

She uncoiled slightly, her massive form shifting gracefully. "Power requires sacrifice. The greater the power, the greater the sacrifice. Are you willing to forgo your humanity? To sacrifice the lives of others to achieve your goals?"

My heart skipped a beat. "Sacrifice... human lives?" I echoed, while I killed people for a mission this would be different. 

"Indeed," she replied, her tone almost casual. "Such is the way of true power. Orochimaru understood this well."

I clenched my fists at my sides. "I'm not like Orochimaru," I said firmly. 

Her gaze held mine steadily. "Many have said the same, only to change their tune when faced with the limitations of their own abilities."

I shook my head. "Maybe so, but I believe there's another way."

A sly smile curved her lips. "Such conviction. It has been a long time since I've encountered someone with your... spirit."

Silence settled between us for a moment. it was honestly scary standing in front of something like her. She could kill me with such ease, I... Im not sure what I needed to do in case she attacked, could I even do anything?

"Tell me," she began again, "what do you know of the sage arts?"

I blinked, slightly caught off guard by the change in topic. "The sage arts? Only what I've heard in passing. The toads of Mount Myōboku are said to teach them."

At the mention of the toads, Hakuja Sennin's expression shifted to one of mild irritation. "Those pompous amphibians," she scoffed. "Their techniques are crude and lack the elegance of our own. The serpent sage arts are far superior."

I raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware there were other sage arts besides theirs."

"Of course you weren't," she replied haughtily. "The toads are loud and boastful, always eager to spread tales of their supposed grandeur. We serpents, however, prefer to keep our knowledge among the worthy."

"Would you... consider teaching me?" I ventured cautiously.

She studied me thoughtfully. "Perhaps. When you are older and have proven yourself further. The sage arts are not to be taken lightly, and they require a level of commitment and sacrifice, that you may not yet be prepared for."

I nodded slowly. "I understand."

"Do you?" she challenged gently. "For someone unwilling to sacrifice yet easily is willing to kill for coin I don't think you truly do."

I met her gaze evenly. "I appreciate your words, but I still believe I can find a path to power without sacrificing others."

She tilted her head, a hint of amusement returning to her eyes. "We shall see. Your journey is just beginning, and the world has a way of testing our convictions."

I felt a subtle shift in the air, a tingling sensation that signaled our conversation was coming to an end. "If there's nothing else, I'd like to return home now," I said, a note of eagerness in my voice. The thought of a warm meal and the comfort of my own space was incredibly appealing after everything I'd been through.

"Very well," Hakuja Sennin agreed. "But before you go, a parting gift."

She raised her tail, and from the tip, a small, shimmering scale detached and floated towards me. It hovered in the air before settling gently into my open palm. The scale pulsed with a soft light, warm to the touch.

"What is this?" I asked, marveling at its beauty.

"A token," she replied. "Should you ever decide to pursue the sage arts, present this upon your return. It will grant you passage through Ryūchi Cave without the need for trials. Even the one you managed to skip."

I closed my fingers around the scale, tucking it safely into my pouch. "Thank you."

She inclined her head. "I cant help but wonder if you would be able to survive it."

"I will," I promised.

With a graceful motion, she began to recede into the shadows of the chamber. "Farewell, Ayumi."

As her form dissolved into the darkness, the cavern around me began to fade. A sensation of lightness enveloped me, and I felt myself drifting as if carried by an invisible current.

When I opened my eyes, I was back in my room, The soft glow of the rising sun filtered through the curtains, casting gentle shadows across the floor. I took a deep breath, the scent of home filling my lungs.

A soft rustling caught my attention, and I turned to see Kurokane coiled gracefully atop my windowsill, her golden and black scales gleaming in the fading light.

"Welcome back," she said, her tone neutral.

I regarded her for a moment. "You could've warned me about what to expect."

She gave what seemed like a slight shrug for a snake. "Would it have changed anything?"

"Maybe," I replied, though I knew deep down that I still would have gone through with it. "I completed the trials. Our contract is valid now."

"Indeed it is," she acknowledged. "You handled yourself adequately."

I raised an eyebrow. "Just 'adequately'?"

A hint of a smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Perhaps even impressively, for someone your age."

I couldn't help but smirk. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Silence settled between us briefly. My stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension. I placed a hand over it, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I need to eat."

"Then you should," Kurokane agreed. 

As I moved towards the door, leaving my room, I headed towards the kitchen. The aroma of food filled the air someone must have started breakfast. My stomach growled again in anticipation.

The smell of breakfast filled the kitchen as I entered, my stomach growling in response. But even the scent of food couldn't take away the tension that hung heavy in the air. I sat down at the table, feeling the weight of my grandfather's gaze without having to look up. 

He was already seated, quietly sipping his tea, but the silence between us was suffocating. Normally, he'd be the one doting over me, asking if I slept well or offering more food than I could eat, but today? Today was different. Yesterday had changed everything. I couldn't forget it, not the way his voice had sounded when he ordered me to turn around, not the cold brush of the seal against my skin, or the pain that followed.

I picked up my chopsticks, focusing on the bowl of rice in front of me. The quicker I ate, the quicker I could leave.

"I didn't see you all day yesterday." His voice was low but held a tension beneath the surface. 

I shrugged, not bothering to look at him. "I needed time."

He sighed, and I could hear the regret in it, but I didn't care. "You know why I did it, Ayumi. I had no choice."

My grip tightened around the chopsticks. *No choice.* Those words echoed in my head, making my blood boil. There was always a choice. He just made the wrong one. But instead of exploding like I wanted to, I bit down on my frustration, forcing myself to chew and swallow before responding.

"You made your choice," I said evenly, still not meeting his gaze. "I had to live with it."

I heard the clink of his teacup being set down, followed by a long silence. He didn't know what to say, or maybe he knew nothing he said would matter. 

"You don't understand the pressure I was under, what the Hokage asked of me to choose" he started, his voice strained.

I slammed my chopsticks onto the table, cutting him off. "Pressure?" My voice was sharp, barely containing the anger that simmered underneath. "You tortured me. Don't try to justify it."

His face tightened, a mixture of shame and frustration crossing his features. "I didn't want to do it, Ayumi."

"Then why did you?" I snapped, finally looking up at him, meeting his gaze head-on. I could see the regret in his eyes, but it didn't change anything. It didn't undo what he did.

"To keep you alive," he said, his voice almost pleading.

I scoffed. "You think mom wanted you to hurt me? You think this is what's best for me, by choosing that instead of backing me?" I couldn't stop the bitterness from creeping into my voice. "You always talked about protecting the village, protecting people, but what about me? Did you ever think about what it would cost *me*?"

His hands tightened around his cup, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to reach out, to say something that would fix it. But nothing could fix this. "I did what was necessary," he said quietly.

"Necessary?" I shook my head, pushing my bowl away. "No. It was a choice. You chose to hurt me. instead of challenging the third, you choose the easy way out."

His face fell, and I could see it, the moment he realized nothing he said would make it better. But I didn't care. I wasn't here to make him feel better about what he did.

I stood up, pushing the chair back with a screech. "I'm leaving."

His eyes widened. "What?"

"I'm moving out," I said firmly, looking down at him. "I don't need to stay here anymore."

He opened his mouth as if to argue, but no words came out. Instead, he just stared at me, his expression a mix of shock and sorrow. 

"You're still a child," he said, his voice softer now, almost... broken.

"In this village, children leave all the time," I replied coldly, turning away from the table. "I'll be fine."

He stood up suddenly, and for a moment, the grandfather I used to know seemed to return. "Ayumi, wait—"

But I didn't stop. I didn't turn around. I walked to the door, my mind already set.

"I did what I thought was right," he called after me, his voice cracking. "I did it for you."

I paused at the doorway, my hand resting on the frame. For a split second, I considered turning back. Maybe things could go back to how they were before. Maybe I could forgive him. But then I remembered the seal, the pain, the betrayal. Without another word, I stepped out of the house and closed the door behind me. Maybe in the future but not today would I be willing to forgive him.