Two small holes in the prison wall let in faint light, casting shadows on the edge of a rotting bed. Shinobi Orochimaru looked at the dim beams filtering through and scratched a mark onto the wall with his fingernail.
A tally mark with a "T" — it had been seven days.
"Shinobi, come out!"
A ninja wearing a Konoha flak jacket with the Uchiha Police Force emblem on his armband entered the long-sealed cell, shouting in a cold, condescending tone.
"Yes."
Shinobi Shinno replied softly. His eyes brightened, and he followed the prison guard out.
Uchiha Naraku had personally ordered that Shinno be treated well. The prison arranged a solitary cell, one that was even more sealed off and isolated than the others.
As Shinno walked down the hallway behind the guard, he looked at the other cells. Each one was cramped and overcrowded, seven or eight ragged prisoners huddled in the corners.
Instead of sympathy, Shinno's eyes gleamed with cold interest.
"It would be ideal to test the Chimera Jutsu in a place like this…" He thought silently, scanning the environment with keen eyes.
---
Konoha Prison — Warden's Office
In the warden's chair sat Uchiha Naraku, proud and imposing.
Below him, the prison's official warden, Uchiha Riki, wore a flattering smile.
"Lord Naraku, the prisoner is being brought here now."
Naraku said nothing, simply stroking his chin with a pensive look, making Riki unsure of how to interpret his silence.
"As per your orders, he was given special treatment — a private cell and meals on par with the police force's standard. I believe he should be grateful for your generosity."
Naraku still gave no response. Riki glanced up nervously.
"…Not bad." Naraku finally nodded.
Riki let out a soft breath of relief. With Naraku poised to become the next Captain of the Uchiha Police Force — and already Clan Head — it was important to keep him pleased.
His visit to the prison was rare. Riki tried hard to impress him, but Naraku's emotionless face and unpredictable mood made it difficult.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked at the door.
"Enter."
Riki quickly returned to a composed expression.
A prison guard entered, escorting a white-haired man with restrained confidence.
"Warden, the prisoner has arrived."
The guard gave a formal report.
"Good. You're dismissed." Riki waved him away.
"Yes, sir!"
Shinno stepped inside, quietly observing both Uchiha Riki and the mysterious man facing away from him.
Naraku turned his chair around to face Shinno. A faint smile played on his lips.
"Konoha Jōnin Shinno — it's been a week. How have you been?"
Shinno had expected an interrogation, a sentence, maybe even an execution. But this man — clearly someone in power — spoke to him politely, unsettling him.
His mind raced with possibilities.
"Lord Naraku is asking you a question. Are you deaf!?"
Warden Riki slammed the desk, shouting at Shinno when he remained silent.
"Riki-kun, leave us. I'd like to speak with this Jōnin alone."
Naraku's voice was calm.
"Of course! I'll be right outside, Lord Naraku!"
Riki stood up quickly, changing his tone completely, and gave a deep bow before heading out.
As he passed Shinno, he whispered harshly:
"Watch yourself. Lord Naraku is the head of the Uchiha Clan. One wrong move and Konoha Prison will make you wish you were never born."
Shinno didn't respond, his expression calm.
With the door closed, Naraku chuckled.
"It seems prison life doesn't suit you."
Shinno's tone was level:
"When will you release me?"
He was still a former Konoha Jōnin — a veteran of the Third Great Ninja War. His honour hadn't entirely faded.
"Release you? Hah, you're quite optimistic. You performed forbidden human experimentation on Konoha shinobi. That's a capital crime."
Shinno's eyes narrowed. Clearly, some of his research materials hadn't been destroyed in time.
Naraku noticed the flicker in his expression. A subtle smile appeared on his lips.
"According to the laws of the village, you should've already been executed. But…"
Naraku let his words trail off, taking a sip of tea.
"But what, Lord Naraku?"
Riki's earlier threat had made it clear — this man was no ordinary officer. As the Uchiha Clan Head, even the Hokage had to take him seriously.
"I saw your research. The work you've done on the Chimera Jutsu — the theory of fusion and assimilation — is… intriguing. I don't want that talent to be wasted."
Naraku paused to sip his tea again, voice soft but focused.
Shinno's eyes lit up. Someone finally saw value in his work.
"However…"
Naraku's tone darkened.
"…you had the gall to abduct a Uchiha Genin for your experiments. That was either foolish — or bold."
Naraku placed his teacup down and stared directly at him.
Shinno didn't flinch. If Naraku was this interested, it meant he still had leverage. Perhaps if he explained the Chimera Jutsu clearly — if he could prove its value — he could earn Naraku's support.
"Lord Naraku, the development of new ninjutsu is always paved with sacrifice. The Chimera Jutsu is fusion-based — using the user's body as the core, it allows them to assimilate the abilities of other living beings."
"Imagine it: the strength of a tiger's muscles, the vision of an eagle, the chakra control of a skilled ninja — all combined into one body. If we could merge the best traits of various creatures, the result would be an evolution beyond any known limit."
As Shinno spoke, his eyes gleamed with fanaticism.
At this stage, the Chimera Jutsu was focused on bodily fusion and enhancement — increasing strength, stamina, and chakra reserves. The later developments — like stealing Kekkei Genkai and clan jutsus — had not yet taken form.