Title: The Games Begin...

....

-Jiraya POV-

Of course I didn't know what to do when I was stuck in place and couldn't move at all. The only thing I can hear are Yami's footsteps as he calmly walks forward.

Damn, am I really going to die like this... I guess Minato really is the child of prophecy. Sadly Yahiko, Konan and Nagato died, when they were ambushed by Hanzo the Salamander. If I die… their memory will die with me too...

NO, I CAN'T GIVE UP EASILY LIKE THIS...

I run chakra through all of my body, trying to force the paralysis seal to be undone. Yami seems to be so casual, so it means that he isn't taking me seriously. I can use this against him and escape... 

I use my chakra to try and corrode the seal... but I can sense that the seal is only slightly weakened. But it's not enough, so I try to stay completely still, even though I haven't mastered this form completely, I can still enter it for a couple of seconds. 

I try to gather some sage chakra, but... I immediately stop doing so as I look at my chakra reserves... THEY ARE DROPPING! BUT HOW!?! I AM NOT USING ANY JUTSU OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?!?!?

The next thing I hear is Yami's whispering in an amused tune in his voice. "So, you must be thinking something like 'My chakra level is dropping. But I am not using any jutsu, how is that possible.' Isn't that right."

He figured me out immediately... can Yami read minds. Does he have an ability like that?

"Now you must be thinking if I have read your mind." Says Yami, as he gets in front of me. That is when I see his mocking smirk. Even with him being so expressive, I still can't guess what he is thinking. DAMN IT…  I don't understand his intentions, does he want to kill me or not. Or maybe he just wants to cut off one of my arms to make an example of me.

But even these thoughts of mine are simply a speculation. 

Even while I think this, Yami simply has his hands in his pockets. His posture completely relaxed. He truly didn't see me as a threat at all. I can see it on his eyes, it's not that he underestimates me... more like he understands me. He understands that no matter what I do... I will never be able to pose any real danger to him. 

"How about this then, since killing you would be troublesome. How about you cut one of your fingers and never do something stupid like this again." Says Yami, as he sighs slightly at this. 

So, it seems like he has decided to let me live huh...

I immediately feel the Fuinjutsu crawling away, and getting out of my body. But I will definitely check later if Yami has left anything inside my body. I didn't even see him put the Paralysis Curse Seal on me. Who knows what else he might have done.

Yami just looks at me calmly, I don't let him repeat what he said again. So I just took a kunai.

*fwish*

*plop*

And my bloody pinky finger fell on the ground. 

Yami just nodded at this, and walked away, and started whistling like he has no care in the world.

Damn... he is really terrifying, I am definitely not spying on him ever again. Let Orochimaru do this sh*t, after all he suggested to Sarutobi -sensei that we do this.

I look at my pinky finger on the grass, even as I see Yami walking away. I don't dare go and grab my finger, or he might change his mind… that monster is unpredictable.

So I just started walking away too. Better lose a finger than my life.

...

When I am a safe distance away I can't help but think of the terrifying situation I was in.

Damn... I got off this easily. I honestly thought he would kill me when I saw the  look in his eyes. I was REALLY lucky this time. 

I had misunderstood and thought he was more like Sarutobi -sensei. It seems like I was wrong. 

He is dominant, extremely dominant. I wonder how Tsunade can even live with someone like that. Their personalities would clash constantly. I mean she even lets her kid around Yami,  that isn't like Tsunade at all.... or maybe there is something I am not seeing here.

I should ask Orochimaru more about this, he can figure out stuff like this way quicker and more accurately than me.

I look at my now missing pinky finger... I guess I will stop the bleeding, it isn't that bad anyway, it doesn't even affect my fighting abilities too much.

....

After ten days, I returned to Konoha. I know that Tsunade will be able to handle herself in the front lines against Sunagakure for some time, even without my help.

...

Immediately I go to the Hokage's office, where I find Hiruzen -sensei. When I ask him if Orochimaru is around. 

He simply says that he isn't here but, in a couple of days he might return to Konoha because of certain situations raising in the front lines against the Hidden Mist Village.

I only sigh and explain the situation... he thinks about it a little and says. "Well... I have a certain theory why Tsunade is doing what she is doing. But I am sure that Orochimaru could prove this."

I just nod towards him... and go towards the hospital to check if everything is alright with my body....

*sigh*... this situation seems to be way more complicated than it seems. Hope I don't regret what I will discover. Sometimes I know that ignorance is a bliss...

....

-General  POV-

Hachi and his team are in another patrol. Ever since the time when Mei got taken by Yami. 

Hachi couldn't help but contemplate that situation. Was that the right decision, was it wrong of him and his team to let Mei go like that. But he is sure that Yami won't be cruel to Mei.

'I am sure that Yami won't be cruel to her. After all, even though Yami is a little harsh he isn't cruel. I can be sure of that.' Thinks Hachi, but he still can't get that feeling in his stomach. As if Yami isn't what he seems. 

Suddenly as he was thinking this, his instincts kicked in as he and his team. Who were just jumping from tree to tree heard a sound as if something was burning.

'EXPLOSION SEALS.' Is the last thing Hachi thinks as...

*BOOOOOM*

As the explosion envelops Hachi and his team.

....

A/N: Now the games will start....

P.S: Jiraya isn't dumb, even though he might seem so when compared to the people like Orochimaru. So Jiraya is suspicious of something…

GOT SICK TODAY... MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN COVID-19...😣