By a stream in the Forest of Death.
The Konoha 9 had narrowly escaped death at Orochimaru's hands. Led by Shikamaru, they had safely retreated here.
After taking a breather, they were all in much better shape.
The three members of the Ino-Shika-Cho team had recovered most of their Chakra. Naruto and Sasuke had also woken up and were resting under Sakura's care.
None of them spoke. They just sat quietly.
Sigh~~
Orochimaru had really done a number on them, leaving them with some serious psychological scars.
Naruto and Sasuke, in particular, had been singled out for special treatment and were utterly battered.
Orochimaru had added another seal to the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.
Sasuke had been given the Curse Mark of Heaven, and he was still in unbearable pain.
They were a pair of fellow sufferers!
Compared to them, Sakura—who had only mustered some courage and lost a bit of hair—had it pretty good.
After a long while, Sakura finally broke the silence. Looking worried, she asked, "Sasuke, how are you feeling? Is the curse mark on your neck all right?"
"I'm fine." Sasuke fought to suppress the searing pain coming from the curse mark.
If only Team 7 had been here, Sasuke would have cried out long ago.
But with Hinata and the other five here, Sasuke, who always prided himself on his toughness, could only endure it to preserve his cool, aloof image.
And not only did he have to endure it, he had to look completely unfazed.
There was no helping it~~
Life was hard!
Being a handsome, high-status celebrity was even harder!
Unfortunately, the instant Sasuke finished speaking, the pain from the curse mark hit him so hard that his body went limp and he could no longer sit upright, collapsing to the ground.
"Sasuke~~"
Seeing