Not Injured, Coward

"Naruto, you're always so slow!"

Naruto's laughter brought Sasuke, who was consumed by fear, back to his senses slightly.

"Hurry up and run, don't just stand there!"

Sasuke knew they stood absolutely no chance against an opponent of this caliber.

Not far away, Naruto, standing on a thick branch, ignored Sasuke's words. Looking at the snake-like Orochimaru, he knew that the person who had just attacked him must be Orochimaru.

"Oh, my, my, you little brat, all I see is you bullying the weak."

"Now that I, Lord Naruto Uzumaki, have arrived, I must teach you a good lesson!"

"Naruto! Hurry and escape! He's not someone we can handle! You can't imagine his strength!"

Sasuke shouted anxiously at the somewhat flippant Naruto.

He felt Naruto was still as naive as ever, completely unaware of the gap between them.

At the same time, Sasuke was actively thinking of a plan, while Sakura just slumped on the ground.

Sasuke wondered how they could possibly escape Orochimaru's clutches.

Orochimaru licked his lips, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "You've got some guts, kid. You're still alive. But it doesn't matter, I'll send you on your way now!"

Orochimaru exploded into motion, like a famished tiger spotting a lamb.

"Wait!"

Seeing Orochimaru about to attack Naruto, Sasuke mustered his courage and shouted.

"Hm?"

Orochimaru stopped and looked at Sasuke.

Sasuke pulled a Heaven Scroll from his pocket. "I'll give you the scroll!"

Orochimaru felt a slight disappointment.

Sasuke's actions were so far from Itachi's.

While it was true that in the natural world, prey would sometimes give up everything to beg for a sliver of survival when there was no other option, that was almost impossible.

Even if they were willing to hand over everything, the chance of survival was almost zero.

As soon as he finished speaking, Sasuke threw the scroll towards Orochimaru.

Seeing this, Naruto was furious and rushed towards the scroll at top speed, snatching it into his hands.

"Sasuke, what are you doing?!"

"Naruto, what are you doing?!"

Both were somewhat angry. Sasuke was blaming Naruto for not following the plan he had devised.

"Don't interfere! Give him the scroll quickly!" Sasuke roared.

He believed that only by giving the scroll to Orochimaru could they buy themselves a chance to survive.

"Sasuke, do you really think the Snake Demon will let us go if we give him the scroll?"

"He wants our lives, do you know that?!"

Naruto was furious at Sasuke's near-begging approach.

He clenched his fist and punched Sasuke square in the face.

The powerful blow sent Sasuke flying three to four meters, blood streaming from his mouth.

The sudden punch stunned Sasuke and shocked Sakura.

Neither of them had expected Naruto to suddenly attack one of their own.

"You're not the Sasuke I know," Naruto said, lowering his head with a dark expression.

"The Sasuke I know is the genius boy who inherited the Uchiha bloodline, the Sasuke who moves forward carrying hardship and destiny,"

"Not a weakling like you, not a coward who tries to gain a chance at survival by begging!"

Naruto's words caused Sasuke's pupils to dilate rapidly. He had hit a nerve.

"Hahaha, he's right. I want your lives. Even if you give me the scrolls, I'll still kill you without hesitation!"

Orochimaru burst into maniacal laughter.

"Snake Demon, shut up!"

An enraged Naruto clenched his fists and charged at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's expression was calm. He summoned a large snake using a summoning jutsu, easily swatting Naruto away.

Immediately, the snake opened its massive maw and lunged at Naruto.

Orochimaru decided to kill this bothersome brat first, then pressure Sasuke to see how far he could go and if he was truly worthy of being his vessel.

Just as the snake was about to swallow Naruto, red chakra suddenly erupted from Naruto's body.

His pupils then turned red, with a vertical black line in the middle, resembling a cornered beast.

"Yaa!"

Naruto roared, his fists raining down like a storm on the giant snake's head.

Unable to withstand such power, the snake was knocked to the ground by Naruto, its life extinguished.

Sasuke and Sakura watched the suddenly stronger Naruto, their hearts filled with shock.

They couldn't believe that the dead last, who usually just talked big and shouted about becoming Hokage, was hiding such immense power.

"Perhaps, we really will be saved..."

At this moment, in Sakura's eyes, Naruto seemed to be radiating hope, so dazzling.

Orochimaru stared at Naruto's pupils and instantly knew who he was.

"Heh heh, a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

"Snake demon, I'll kill you!"

Red chakra enveloped Naruto as he charged at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru calmly spat out a stream of fire, repelling Naruto.

Then, another giant snake appeared, attacking Naruto.

The snake whipped its tail, once again sending Naruto flying.

Although he had gained immense strength by utilizing the Nine-Tails' chakra, In Orochimaru's eyes, this level of power meant nothing.

After sending Naruto flying, the snake turned its attention back to Sasuke.

Seeing Naruto, whose strength had skyrocketed, defeated so easily, Sasuke became even more panicked.

The snake advanced towards him at high speed, but he was frozen in place by fear, unmoving.

Orochimaru watched this scene and shook his head slightly.

Sasuke's performance was truly disappointing.

He couldn't understand why, despite being biological brothers with Itachi, Sasuke was so cowardly.

After all, Itachi, at Sasuke's age, was already an elite Jonin in Konoha's Anbu, having completed numerous extremely difficult missions.

Yet, Sasuke now couldn't even dare to move when frightened by him!

"Forget it, let's see about Uchiha Ye Fan. Perhaps if I transplant Sasuke's eyes onto him, he can also gain the Uchiha bloodline."

Orochimaru casually waved his hand, and the snake's aura surged.

He had decided to kill Sasuke, keeping only his eyes.

Sasuke watched the terrifyingly powerful snake, his pupils dilating rapidly, his mind filled with dread, without even a thought of escape.

Just as the snake was about to strike Sasuke, Naruto's figure suddenly appeared.

Naruto gripped a kunai in both hands, his back to the snake, and plunged it fiercely into the snake's body, blocking the terrifyingly powerful serpent with all his might.

Naruto, covered in blood, panted heavily and slowly raised his head to look at Sasuke, saying, "Are you hurt, scaredy-cat!"

Hearing this, Sasuke's heart clenched, his expression extremely complex.

These were the very words he had said to Naruto when facing Zabuza and the others.

And now, Naruto had returned them to him exactly as they were!

Not far away, Ye Fan watched this scene and sighed, "Naruto's personality hasn't changed much since the first mission. No matter what level of enemy he faces, he's always so tenacious."

"Sasuke, on the other hand, is quite disappointing. He was spirited when facing Haku, but now..."

"Perhaps it's because he's too young and lacks experience."

Glancing at the blood-soaked Naruto, Ye Fan stroked his chin and murmured, "Naruto, I'll avenge you later, buddy."

Now, Ye Fan was pondering another question: whether or not to let Orochimaru give Sasuke the Cursed Seal.