Orochimaru struggled, but Naruto's overwhelming strength held him tight — he couldn't break free.
"How is this possible?" Orochimaru's snake-like eyes widened. The team led by Haruto had surprised him beyond expectations. He had co only for the Uchiha heir, but now... not only was Haruto shockingly talented, this goofy kid Naruto had suddenly beco terrifyingly powerful.
Naruto's chakra surged violently. The leaking energy condensed into a physical form.
His face twisted into a feral snarl, his vertical pupils glaring at Orochimaru.
"I'm going to kill you."
With a roar, Naruto hurled Orochimaru skyward.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Over a dozen Naruto clones launched after him.
Caught off guard, Orochimaru was pumled relentlessly — tossed around like a ragdoll. Sasuke and Haruto could only watch as Orochimaru floated helplessly, never touching the ground.
"Is that... really Naruto?" Sasuke gulped.
"How did he get this strong? I joked Naruto could take ten n, but now... it's real."
Haruto wasn't surprised. Naruto erupting like this was expected — the real surprise was that he hadn't exploded earlier.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After three full minutes of relentless assault, Naruto stopped. Orochimaru was flung into massive trees before crashing down, dissolving into a puddle of mud.
Panting slightly, Naruto growled, "Now you know I'm not easy to ss with, you snake freak."
Orochimaru lifted his head, coughing blood but smirking. "Heh... didn't expect to get beaten like this. Impressive. But... brat, an injury like this? ans nothing to ."
Suddenly, Orochimaru opened his mouth wide. A new version of himself crawled out from the old body, completely unscathed.
Naruto stared in disbelief. "What kind of monster are you?!"
After a mont, Naruto steeled himself. "I don't care what kind of freak you are. As long as you stand, I'll knock you down again!"
Charging chakra, Naruto rushed in.
Just as he was about to strike, Orochimaru smirked, "You've been tricked. Look behind you."
Naruto turned instinctively—Haruto and Sasuke stood there, unhard.
"Naruto, watch out!" they shouted.
Too late — Orochimaru's tongue lashed out, wrapping around Naruto's body.
"Damn it—!" Naruto struggled, but Orochimaru had already ford a hand seal.
"Sorry, kid. Didn't realize you were the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. The Third Hokage hid you well. I'd love to keep playing, but if I let you rampage any longer, Konoha will co for ."
He pressed his hand to Naruto's stomach.
"Five Elents Seal!"
Naruto's eyes widened. His body went limp and collapsed.
Gazing at the seal on Naruto's exposed abdon, Orochimaru retracted his tongue. "The Fourth Hokage's seal is clever. Even a deliberate gap... so you're being trained? Interesting. The chakra this kid holds is imnse. And when emotionally agitated, he can draw power from the Nine-Tails. If I had ti, I'd study him more."
"What did you do to Naruto?!" Sasuke roared, charging Orochimaru.
Orochimaru sneered. "After all this fun, it's ti to end it."
"Sasuke, wait!" Haruto grabbed him, but it was too late.
Orochimaru's tongue snared Sasuke tightly. Staring into his Sharingan, Orochimaru's expression turned manic.
"You truly have perfect eyes. Just like Itachi's. You've awakened the second tomoe at this age... a genius indeed."
Sasuke thrashed violently. "Who are you?! Working with him?! Where is he?! Where's Itachi?!"
Just hearing Itachi's na made Sasuke visibly unstable.
"You want revenge on Itachi? With your current strength, you wouldn't survive a single attack."
"Tell where he is!"
Orochimaru stared deeply into Sasuke's Sharingan. "I see hatred... and hunger for power. Co find . My subordinates will lead you. Whether information or strength — I can give you what you need to defeat Itachi. Rember this na: Orochimaru."
He lunged forward, neck extending, biting Sasuke's neck. A cursed seal in the shape of three tomoe appeared.
"This is my parting gift."
"Argh...!" Sasuke groaned, collapsing in pain.
Haruto watched with clenched fists. Everything was unfolding as expected. There was no way the three of them could defeat Orochimaru. Just lasting this long was more than he hoped. He had what he needed. It was ti for Orochimaru to leave.
But then Orochimaru did the unexpected.
"That brat hit pretty hard earlier. I think I'll finish him off."
He pointed his Kusanagi blade toward the unconscious Naruto.
Haruto panicked. What's going on? Is this the butterfly effect I caused? Naruto can't die!
Without hesitation, Haruto rushed to block the attack.
Orochimaru chuckled. "Foolish children..."
Too late. Haruto realized the attack was ant for him.
Orochimaru's sword pierced Haruto and pinned him to the ground.
Then his neck extended again, biting Haruto's neck.
"A parting gift... for you too."
"Ahhh—!" Haruto groaned, half-kneeling in pain.
"You must survive. It's rare to find soone like . I await the day you co to . You'll make a fine subordinate."
"In your dreams," Haruto spat. "You perverted freak... I'll never follow you."
Since Orochimaru placed the cursed seal, it was clear he didn't intend to kill him — at least not yet.
Orochimaru grinned. "What an interesting child. I look forward to our next eting."
And with that, he slowly sank into the ground.
Once Orochimaru was gone, Haruto finally relaxed. That man was terrifying — not just in power, but in manipulation, Despicable, Dangerous. Haruto would have to be more careful from now on.
Walking to the unconscious Naruto and Sasuke, Haruto checked their pulses. They were alive.
He pulled out a uniquely shaped kunai.
"I can't hold on much longer. Need to recover before sending the signal."
Suddenly, Haruto's eyes widened.
"...Soone's coming."
Accompanied by the footsteps of "Sasha," several figures approached.
"Sakura, what's wrong?" Haruto looked up to see Team 6 Sakura's squad.
"It's Sakura." Haruto didn't lower his guard.
"Before departure, do you rember the secret code I told you?"
Sakura fluently recited the complex password.
Haruto relaxed and let go of the kunai.
Sakura ran over, tears filling her eyes as she saw Haruto's wounds.
"Haruto, what happened? You're so badly hurt!"
She crouched beside him, checking his injuries.
Haruto waved his hand. "I ran into a troubleso enemy. It's a long story."
Seeing Sakura's anxious expression, Haruto smiled weakly. "Don't worry. Just surface wounds. Looks worse than it is."
But Sakura's tears fell harder. "You're still smiling... even so badly injured!"
Haruto's body looked terrible — sword wounds from Orochimaru, dark-purple snake bite scars.
Still, Haruto wasn't lying. Orochimaru hadn't gone all out. The snakes' venom wasn't lethal, or he'd be dead.
At that mont, Akuni and Yuriko returned after checking Sasuke and Naruto.
"Sasuke and Naruto's condition is strange. Their wounds aren't serious, but both unconscious. Sasuke's vitals fluctuate — might be so strong toxin."
Sakura panicked, examining Haruto again. His condition was similar to Sasuke's. Her panic intensified.
"What do we do? No dical tools!"
Haruto reassured her. "As I said, it's okay. These injuries aren't for you to handle, but they're not fatal. Don't worry."
Sakura cald, carefully treating Haruto's wounds, tears still flowing.
Watching her cry, Haruto stayed silent a long mont.
Then finally said, "Sakura... it's not worth it."
Though harsh, better honest.
"You know... I have Hinata. No matter how much you like , there's no future."
Sakura trembled, lowered her head, silent.
Haruto heard muffled sobs, uneasy.
Akuni snapped, "Haruto! How can you be so heartless? Do you know how much Sakura's done for you? Sakura, forget him. Let's go."
"Akuni." Sakura stopped her, continuing dressing Haruto's wounds, tears like broken beads.
"I know, Haruto. I've always known you don't like . No result was coming. But I tried — like a fool — forcing myself between you and Hinata... even competing with Ino over nothing. You must hate ."
Sakura broke down, sobbing loudly. "But I just... wanted you to notice more. Even if it made you hate ... even if hopeless... I still wanted to be close. Can't you understand?"
Haruto felt uncomfortable. Didn't know what to say. Heavy silence.
Suddenly, an annoying voice broke the silence.
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
Three Sound Ninja appeared, musical symbols on their headbands.
One with gauze on his face sneered, "After seeing that sword kid's strength, I thought Lord Orochimaru's mission to kill Sasuke was hopeless... but looks like this is a great opportunity."
Sakura's group tensed imdiately.
"Seriously? You think you can stop us?" Enemy ninjas laughed.
Their arrogance pressed hard on the group. Sakura's mind raced — what now? Their side had no fighters left. Haruto, Sasuke, Naruto down. The only option — run.
Fortunately, Asaka-sensei taught them powerful movent Jutsu alongside dical ninjutsu.
The battle began. Sakura and others ran fast — but hand-to-hand skills were pitiful. Sound Ninja easily knocked them down.
They lay on the ground, unable to move.
Haruto gritted his teeth in frustration. If not for the others, he could teleport away using Flying Thunder God. But he couldn't leave them behind.
He considered the Eight Gates. But now — adapting to the curse seal, chakra unusable — opening them ant death. Konoha's curse seal suppression could cause irreparable damage. Might kill him.
A short-haired Sound Ninja stepped toward Haruto. "Weren't you acting tough before? Let's see it now!"
He threw a kunai.
Seriously? Haruto thought. These nobodies are Orochimaru's discarded pawns. If I die to trash like this...
He gritted his teeth. No choice. I have to open the Gates—
Suddenly, soone jumped in front.
Sakura. "I won't let you hurt Haruto," she said firmly.
"Oh? How touching," a female Sound Ninja sneered and slapped Sakura hard. "I hate prettier girls."
Sakura staggered but stood again. Blood dripped from ears and nose from sonic jutsu.
The woman punched her stomach.
Sakura collapsed but slowly got up.
Haruto stared. "Sakura... why?"
Sakura struggled, coughed blood, smiled. "Even if you don't like , Haruto... I've always chased after you. Even if just watching from behind."
She turned to him, smiling brightly. "As long as I'm here, I won't let her hurt you."
Haruto recalled from a previous life — people said Sakura had no brains — during Pain's attack, Hinata saved Naruto, Sakura just watched.
But that was unfair.
This was friendship vs love.
Sakura might die for Naruto — but not irrationally. If Sasuke was Naruto, maybe Sakura would do what Hinata did. Because love is irrational.
Asaka arrived just then. "Enough!"
Her powerful chakra pushed the enemies back.
"Sakura, Haruto, retreat now. I'll hold them off."
Sakura nodded.
Haruto helped her up.
"We survive today — we'll grow stronger tomorrow."
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