Catching Snakes (10) Kurenai Hair

ps: Spitting blood for the third update... seeking recommendations. >Yawenba =.·y·a-wen8.

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The current situation is:

Orochimaru and Naruto stand about ten meters apart. Behind Naruto is Edo Tensei Kushina, who is binding him with chains.

Behind Kushina are Sasuke and Hinata.

On the trees not far behind Sasuke and Hinata, Jiraiya the Sage stands on the left, accompanied by three ANBU and two of Naruto's shadow clones. On the right stands Kakashi, who has activated his Sharingan, also with three ANBU and two of Naruto's shadow clones.

Behind Orochimaru, on the left tree, stands the Third Hokage wielding his Ruyi Staff, along with three ANBU and two of Naruto's shadow clones. On the right is Tsunade with three ANBU and two of Naruto's shadow clones.

The Third Hokage, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kakashi form a square, encircling Orochimaru.

On the trees at the four corners, all of Naruto's shadow clones enter Golden Body Mode. They simultaneously touch the Third Hokage, Tsunade, Kakashi, and the twelve ANBU, and fiery Nine-Tails Fox chakra cloaks instantly cover them.

Jiraiya is currently in Sage Mode. Since he is not the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto knows that if he were to rashly provide him with a different type of chakra, it could backfire and cause the Sage Chakra within him to rebel. Naruto is well aware of the dangers of Sage Mode, which is why he hasn't done so.

"This power..." The twelve ANBU are astonished by the surging chakra within them. The power of the Nine-Tails Fox... it is truly immense.

But fortunately, the village's Jinchuriki has grown into a comrade they can trust.

"Attack!" The Third Hokage waves his hand, giving the order.

Upon hearing this, one ANBU from each of the four corner trees steps back, rapidly forming hand seals. With the Nine-Tails chakra's enhancement, the power of their combined ninjutsu is greatly amplified, transforming into a state they could never have achieved individually—

Barrier Ninjutsu: Four Red Yang Formation!

Boom.

Four walls of flame instantly erupt from the ground, enclosing Orochimaru, Naruto, and the others.

It's a long story, but in reality, only a few breaths passed from the moment the Third Hokage and others appeared via Flying Thunder God Technique, to Naruto's shadow clones transferring chakra in Golden Body Mode, to the Third Hokage's order, and finally to the four ANBU from the barrier squad performing the jutsu!

Otherwise, Orochimaru wouldn't just be looking on with a grim expression.

This is the first time in his life he has faced such a desperate situation.

A near-death experience.

"Heh heh... Teacher Sarutobi, you all think too highly of me..."

Orochimaru licks his dry lips with his tongue, scanning the four trees mockingly.

"You even resorted to using that incredibly ugly Sage Mode, Jiraiya... Tsunade, aren't you going to use the Hundred Healings Technique as well? And Kakashi over there... has that eye of yours evolved into Mangekyo Sharingan? That makes sense... after all, it's that person's eye..."

Kakashi's heart tightens at his words. What does he mean? Does Orochimaru know about Obito? What a terrifyingly unfathomable individual...

"And you, Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! I truly never expected... you to have grown to this extent! If you can perfectly control the Nine-Tails... even Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha back then wouldn't have been much more than this! Hahahaha..."

Orochimaru first sneers, then bursts into unrestrained laughter.

"This is just your final, bitter laugh, Orochimaru. This isn't like you," Jiraiya says, gazing intently at his former close friend.

The laughter abruptly stops.

Orochimaru's gaze turns cold. He bites his finger, forms the hand seals for a summoning jutsu, and slams his hand on the ground!

Let's rewind time slightly.

Before the Chunin Exams even began, Naruto was discussing the upcoming operation plan with the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kakashi.

"That's the plan. After entering the Forest of Death, I'll discreetly leave a Flying Thunder God Technique marker. I'll try to lure Orochimaru into a favorable terrain... To prevent him from escaping through trickery, I'll create shadow clones to stay with the four ANBU from the barrier squad. They'll be ready to use the Flying Thunder God Technique at any moment to bring you, Grandpa Third, Pervy Sage, Grandma Tsunade, and Teacher Kakashi directly to the battlefield!"

Naruto concludes.

"But how will we time the Flying Thunder God Technique?" Kakashi asks.

Naruto, having clearly thought this through, smiles slightly. "I'll create two extra shadow clones... When Orochimaru appears, I'll release one of them... When I'm ready to teleport you all to the battlefield, I'll release the other one!"

"Excellent idea!" Jiraiya exclaims.

"Also, we need to guard against Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation..." the Third Hokage says hoarsely, smoking. According to the original historical progression, he was dragged down by that very jutsu.

"Mm... let's have the Fuinjutsu Squad accompany my shadow clones, just like the 'Shinobi Alliance' did!" Naruto muses, stroking his chin.

Hoo... The Third Hokage nods and exhales a puff of smoke.

Only... Kakashi thinks to himself.

Jiraiya walks up and pats Naruto's shoulder, sighing, "It's going to be tough on you, Naruto... All of us old guys are counting on your Flying Thunder God Technique to truly catch Orochimaru off guard. Otherwise, with his cunning, he might just escape!"

Naruto smiles indifferently. "I am a ninja of Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki! Protecting Konoha is my duty!" His azure eyes are filled with determination and sincerity; it comes from the bottom of his heart.

Tsunade leans against the windowsill, gazing out at the bright sunlight, then at the not-so-tall but already very reliable figure in the room...

In an instant, it's as if three people overlap with him.

Grandpa Hashirama, Grandpa Tobirama, Minato...

"Ah, right!" Naruto suddenly remembers something, and his expression turns serious. He says urgently, "Reverse Summoning Technique! What if Orochimaru uses his Summoned Beast to escape with the Reverse Summoning Technique!?"

Kakashi, standing nearby, is also taken aback. He agrees that this is indeed a major problem.

But who would have thought, the moment Naruto spoke, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the Third Hokage looked at each other, and then...

"Hahaha!"

Tsunade finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. Jiraiya and the Third Hokage beside her couldn't help but smile, leaving only Kakashi and Naruto exchanging confused glances.

Not long after Orochimaru appeared before Team 7.

In some of Konoha's back alleys.

At five locations, five ANBU members wearing radio headsets guarded the Summoning Technique array for a long time. The lively scene on the street outside and their solemn, deathly silence made them seem like inhabitants of two completely different worlds.

"Begin the operation!"

The command finally sounded in their headsets, and instantly, the ANBU at these five locations sprang into action. They transformed from lifeless stone statues and puppets into swift, skilled elites. Pulling kunai from their ninja pouches, they used Lightning Style, Fire Release, or Earth Style... In the blink of an eye, they completely destroyed the Summoning Technique array they had been watching!

Orochimaru activated the Summoning Technique array he had set up, but the Chakra feedback he expected was absent.

"Trying to cause chaos in Konoha one last time? Don't dream about it, Orochimaru!" Tsunade taunted directly.

Orochimaru retracted his hand, the blood used for the Summoning Technique dripping from his fingertips. His voice remained hoarsely strange, but now it carried a hint of bewilderment and confusion. "Can you tell me..." He scanned the impenetrable Four Red Yang Formation barrier that surrounded him on all sides. "Why are you acting like you knew this was coming?"

"I haven't revealed certain things to anyone."

"So... why?"

The Third Hokage replied, "We'll discuss that after this battle is over!" He lifted his Ruyi Staff, surprised to find that the staff he once found so easy to wield had become so heavy. "To avoid making the same mistakes as before with "the original," Konoha will go all out."

"Blame your contract Summoned Beast for being a snake... While it suits you, snakes don't have hands, so they can't form hand seals to use the Reverse Summoning Technique to save you!" Jiraiya prepared for battle.

Orochimaru let out a disdainful scoff.

At this moment, Naruto, still restrained by the Edo Tensei Kushina, silently dispelled all his Shadow Clones that were scattered outside.

He endured the fatigue, then recreated a Golden Shadow Clone beside him.

Behind Kushina, Sasuke and Hinata still had the red Demon Fox Chakra emanating from them.

Naruto breathed shallowly. He took a deep breath and said softly, "Sasuke, Hinata, the battle here will be very dangerous... You should go outside the barrier for now."

Flying Thunder God Technique!

Before Sasuke and Hinata could react, they found themselves outside the barrier. Looking at Naruto and the others inside, separated by the crimson curtain, it was like watching another world.

"Naruto..." Hinata worried. She could feel that Naruto was already very tired.

Not just physically tired, but mentally exhausted as well.

Kushina looked at the golden Chakra spreading from Naruto to herself, resembling Demon Fox tails. She softly called out, "Naruto..."

Naruto smiled slightly and shouted, "Grandpa Hokage! Grandma Tsunade! Pervy Sage! Teacher Kakashi! I... I'm taking Mom away first!" His voice trembled slightly, tinged with a sob. "I want to get Mom away! There will definitely be a way! Don't seal her! Don't seal my Mom!"

Kushina's heart trembled.

Slap, Naruto clapped his hands together. Flying Thunder God Technique!

The mother and son disappeared from the barrier, leaving behind only the Golden Shadow Clone that had been there moments before.

"Here, take this kunai." Naruto's Shadow Clone took out a kunai with his Flying Thunder God mark and handed it to Karin, smiling. "As long as you carry this kunai, I can appear by your side anytime! After this exam is over, Konoha will find a way to rescue you from your former village! Konoha ninjas will not abandon the Uzumaki survivors!"

Karin stared blankly... behind him.

There, another Naruto and a red-haired woman suddenly appeared.

"Her hair... it's so much like my mom's..."