Sakura's Resolve, Sasuke vs. Orochimaru

"Hiss..."

In the silent forest, a foul-smelling serpent's roar suddenly erupted behind Sasuke's group of three...

Sasuke and Naruto's expressions changed at once.

"Wh-What a huge snake..."

When he turned around, Naruto's jaw dropped at the brown python that was as thick as ten men standing arm in arm.

It was the first time he had ever seen a beast of this caliber...

Sasuke, who was also looking back, was both startled and delighted!

He had not expected a casually summoned giant snake to be the size of a small train...

If Manda came out, wouldn't it crush the Harmony??

"Damn it, he caught up...

That guy isn't after the Scroll!

Sasuke, take Sakura and go first..."

Seeing the giant snake speeding toward them, Naruto gritted his teeth, stopped, and formed Hand Seals with both hands.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique..."

Sasuke had been stealing the spotlight all along. No matter what, Naruto had to win one back this time...

"Naruto..."

Seeing this, Sakura instinctively cried out, feeling Naruto's reliability for the first time.

"I'll be right back..."

The situation was urgent, so Sasuke did not hesitate and immediately agreed.

Under Sakura's surprised gaze, Chakra burst from beneath his feet as he shot dozens of meters away...

"Sasuke-kun, you don't actually need to worry about me.

Go help Naruto..."

Realizing that she had become a burden, Sakura struggled and shouted.

She did not want Naruto to get hurt because of her and be unable to live with herself...

"Don't worry, that guy's really strong...

In the coming battle, I don't want anything to happen to you!"

Without a second thought, Sasuke answered as he quickly searched for a temporary hiding place.

Naruto had the Nine-Tails cheat inside him. How could Orochimaru possibly kill him so easily...

"Sasuke-kun..."

Hearing Sasuke's words that sounded almost like a confession, Sakura's pretty face reddened and her gaze became hazy.

Sasuke-kun really does care about me...

But in the next instant, her eyes reddened in frustration, and her expression turned solemn.

No, she still was not working hard enough!!

At this rate, she would never meet the standard of someone Sasuke-kun could like...

And she did not want to keep being a burden to them both!

She wanted to fight alongside them...

[*I've decided. From now on, I'll spend every bit of my free time training...

I absolutely, absolutely can't let this happen again!*]

People could not teach people.

But events could teach people in an instant...

In less than a breath, Sakura's eyes sank as realization dawned on her!!

Unlike the empty words she had said on the bridge last time, she now truly had the conviction and goal to become stronger.

At the same time

"Boring brat, swallow him..."

Looking at the dozens of Naruto clones that had appeared once more, Orochimaru's eyes brimmed with killing intent as he gave the order.

"Hiss..."

Having received the command, the summoned giant snake's eyes flashed viciously. Its savage jaws opened wide as it lunged at Naruto.

The enormous maw instantly engulfed the many Naruto clones, and a foul stench washed over them...

"I've been waiting for this!!

Wind Style: Multiple Great Breakthrough..."

Though Naruto was scared out of his wits at the sight of those terrifying jaws, he and his clones still unleashed their attack at the same time.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Gales blasted violently from Naruto and his clones, actually forming a wall of wind that sent the summoned giant snake flying back dozens of meters.

This left Orochimaru rather surprised...

But that was all!

"Then stay here and play with him..."

Glancing at Sasuke's retreating back, Orochimaru coldly ordered the python.

He stepped on the snake's head and shot after Sasuke at high speed...

"Don't think you're getting past..."

Naruto shouted and burst forth with Chakra beneath his feet, about to stop Orochimaru.

But the summoned giant snake moved even faster...

Its flexible tail swept through the air like a long whip with a sharp crack...

In the blink of an eye, it violently smashed apart most of Naruto's Shadow Clones!!

Its body then slithered rapidly in front of Naruto, its bloodthirsty gaze fixed on him and the remaining clones as it waited to strike...

"Damn it...

I'll have to take you down first!"

Naruto roared at the sight, calling his clones to swarm forward...

The battle between Naruto and the snake officially began...

Elsewhere.

"Kehehe...

You really are gentle, Sasuke...

So that girl is someone you cherish...

I suddenly have an idea...

If I kill her, will you become stronger!

For example, awaken the Three Tomoe Sharingan..."

Just as Sasuke settled Sakura down and turned back, Orochimaru's voice suddenly rang out, brimming with killing intent.

"You want to die!!"

Sasuke's pupils contracted. His scarlet Two-Tomoe Sharingan fixed on Orochimaru, filled with killing intent.

For the first time, he felt true anger...

Granted, he did not have much affection for the original Sakura...

But after several months together, they had at least formed Bonds that were hard to sever.

If he could not even protect Sakura, how could he face the powerful enemies of the future!

"Kehehe...

Looks like I guessed right. Then let's test it.

If you can satisfy me, I might spare her life..."

Orochimaru's eyes glinted coldly as he taunted him, firing three Kunai in a triangular formation.

Sasuke's Sharingan swiftly captured the trajectories of Orochimaru's Kunai. He casually threw out two Shuriken, which arrived first despite being thrown later...

Bang, bang, bang...

The Shuriken and Kunai collided in midair, instantly changing their attack trajectories...

At nearly the same time, Sasuke's other hand rapidly completed a set of Hand Seals.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique..."

The instant he grasped the flight paths of every Kunai and Shuriken, Sasuke unleashed his attack...

Puff, puff, puff...

More than a dozen small fireballs shot forth, directly sealing off every possible escape route...

And concealed by the other fireballs.

Five of them directly covered five Shuriken and Kunai, hiding deadly intent...

The movements appeared complicated, yet they were completed in an instant.

The next moment

Orochimaru was engulfed by every attack and let out a scream...

But Sasuke remained unmoved by the sight. Instead, he warily watched his surroundings, forming Hand Seals with each hand.

At that very instant, Orochimaru's battered body turned into a stream of earth that scattered across the ground...

"To think you could see through my Substitution Technique. Your Sharingan is quite impressive...

The power contained within it is on par with your brother, Itachi Uchiha!!"

The next breath, Orochimaru reappeared and stared at Sasuke with longing.

"You talk too much...

Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique..."

Sasuke shouted angrily. Opening his mouth, he forcefully blasted out a massive fireball five meters in diameter.

"That attack is too childish..."

Orochimaru sneered disdainfully. His legs twisted and slithered like snakes as he lunged toward Sasuke.

"Now...

Lightning Release: Swift Lightning Arrow..."

As Orochimaru charged toward him, Sasuke's eyes hardened, and he instantly drew a Kunai.

The moment it appeared, the Kunai was infused with Lightning Style and hurled away with the speed of lightning...

"You think using One-Handed Hand Seals to cast different ninjutsu and create a timing gap will be enough?

Too naive..."

Watching the Swift Lightning Kunai hurtle toward him, Orochimaru mocked him again, twisting his body to dodge it once more.

But just as he brushed past the Swift Lightning Kunai, it suddenly exploded with a bang...