Bully Lord In the Chunin Exam (NarutoVerse)

For a moment, Orochimaru's expression remained unreadable. But within, his mind churned. *An outsider? Another anomaly, like those who occasionally stumbled into this reality?* He had encountered such beings before—rarely—but they often brought with them peculiar powers and technology. Their presence always made Orochimaru cautious. *What kind of power does this one possess?*

Hiding his intrigue, Orochimaru allowed a sneer to curl on his lips. "Oh? Another filthy alien. What do you want?"

Xaker chuckled, but there was something unnervingly calm in his amusement, like a predator toying with its prey. "Filthy, huh? Call me what you like. I'm here to offer my assistance in destroying the Hidden Leaf. In exchange, I require something from you."

Orochimaru's curiosity piqued further. His golden eyes gleamed with interest as he stepped closer, the folds of his Kazekage robes brushing against the stone floor. *Destroy the Leaf? Yes, this could be useful. The Leaf's destruction is my personal vendetta, after all.*

"And what might that be?" Orochimaru asked, his tone deceptively casual.

"There's a certain rare metal hidden within the depths of the Leaf Village," Xaker explained, his voice steady. "It's the only thing I want."

Orochimaru's smile faded slightly, replaced by a calculating look. He had heard rumors about strange materials being hoarded in the hidden vaults beneath Konoha—objects of immense value and power. It was not uncommon for the shinobi villages to conceal such things, sometimes for fear of their potency, other times for purely political reasons. A valuable metal? *Perhaps a new weapon…*

"And why," Orochimaru said, his voice taking on a dangerous edge, "would I agree to this? How strong are you to demand such a thing?"

Xaker's smirk widened beneath his helmet, and he took a step forward, the weight of his presence filling the room. His aura was thick with the certainty of power, and for a moment, the shadows in the chamber seemed to shrink in his presence.

"Let's just say I'm as strong as, or perhaps stronger than, the Third Raikage, Ay."

Orochimaru's eyes flashed with interest. The Third Raikage was a legendary figure—his strength unmatched by most. To claim such power was a bold assertion. But something about Xaker's words rang with the confidence of a dangerous truth. Orochimaru's mind raced, calculating the implications. *For someone to compare themselves to such a titan… it's not idle boasting.*

A moment of silence passed between them, the tension hanging heavy in the air. Then, Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister smile, his amusement evident. He could feel the danger emanating from Xaker now—like a venomous snake coiled in the underbrush, its presence undeniable. This was no mere "outsider."

"Interesting," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you want to aid me, be my guest. But understand this—our goals might align for now, but I have no tolerance for weakness or betrayal."

Xaker chuckled again, the sound devoid of fear. It was the kind of laugh one might expect from a predator just before it strikes. "Don't worry, Orochimaru. I have no interest in your petty schemes or your vendettas. I only care about the metal."

Orochimaru studied Xaker carefully, his golden eyes unblinking. *This one is dangerous, far more dangerous than I initially thought. I must tread carefully.*

Still, Orochimaru was not one to trust easily. He was the master of manipulation, after all, and no matter how formidable Xaker seemed, Orochimaru will always been a step ahead. *For now, I will use him. If he can indeed help me bring ruin to the Leaf, then I shall play along. But one misstep and I will strike.* 

"Very well," Orochimaru said finally, his voice smooth as silk. "Let's see what you're capable of, General Manager."

Xaker inclined his head slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You won't be disappointed."

As the two men stood in the dim chamber, their partnership solidified in uneasy alliance, the air seemed to grow heavier, charged with the weight of their mutual ambition. Each of them was playing a dangerous game, but neither of them intended to lose. In their world, there could only be one victor.

In the shadows, a storm was brewing.

Beyond the chamber walls, the Sand Village carried on, unaware of the dark machinations unfolding within. Orochimaru and Xaker, two forces from vastly different worlds, had found common ground in their thirst for power and destruction.

For Orochimaru, the Leaf's destruction was a deeply personal vendetta, a means to prove his superiority and satiate his endless hunger for knowledge. He sought to unlock the ultimate mysteries of the human body, to transcend the limitations of mortality. The Hidden Leaf, with its endless resources of chakra and its secrets, was the perfect battleground.

For Xaker, it was a simple transaction. The Hidden Leaf's rare metal was the key to unlocking his next steps in his own goal, a quest that extended far beyond the scope of petty shinobi conflicts. He had come from a world where power was not measured by strength of will or chakra, but by technological innovation, by the cold precision of machinery and resource control. But even in his world, such a rare metal could tip the balance in unimaginable ways.

Yet even as their alliance began to solidify, there were undercurrents of tension between them. Orochimaru's eyes glittered with a hunger for power that could never be quenched, while Xaker's posture betrayed no such desire. *What drives him, I wonder?* Orochimaru mused. *He seems like a being of pure pragmatism—a businessman, not a warrior. But he is still dangerous.*

For now, the partnership between the serpent and the armored outsider would hold. But both men knew, deep in their bones, that nothing lasted forever—not even alliances. *One day, I will consume him,* Orochimaru thought, his golden eyes narrowing. *And if he is truly as strong as he claims… perhaps I will enjoy the challenge.*

As the stars began to emerge over the desert sky, the Sand Village remained blissfully ignorant of the danger lurking within its walls.

In the quiet of the night, Xaker stepped outside the chamber, gazing at the horizon. His armored figure stood tall, a stark contrast to the flowing sands. The desert, vast and unforgiving, stretched endlessly before him. But it was not the landscape that commanded his attention. No, it was the power he was about to unlock—the rare metal. 

Behind him, Orochimaru watched from the shadows, his golden eyes narrowing with intent. Orochimaru's smile widened. The games were just beginning.