You Don't Have What It Takes to Snarl at Orochimaru!

"Are you hurt, Naruto!"

"Ah, I'm okay!"

Naruto and Sasuke stood atop the giant tree, both covered in blood and bearing the marks of battle.

Below them, Sakura sat slumped on the ground, her body limp with fear.

The one responsible for all this was a Grass Ninja with unnaturally pale skin and a vicious look.

Compared to the battered Naruto and his teammates, he didn't have a single wound. He hadn't even gotten much dust on him.

Clearly, this battle hadn't forced him to use his full strength.

Even so, seeing Naruto and Sasuke hold out this long seemed to earn them a note of praise in his voice:

"You're braver than I expected!"

"Of course we are! Konoha ninja aren't afraid of dying! You snake-playing creep, don't get so cocky!"

Naruto was still as hot-tempered as ever. Even against a powerful enemy, he had no intention of backing down.

Sasuke, however, was much more clearheaded about the situation.

"Naruto, our enemy's too strong. We should focus on keeping the team safe.

He seems to be toying with us, and most of his attention is on me.

I'll hold him off. You get Sakura out of here, then launch a distress flare when you get the chance!"

"No!"

Naruto immediately rejected Sasuke's suggestion.

"Sasuke, I'm tougher than you. If someone's staying behind, why can't it be me?"

"Do you really need to ask why...?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto with complete seriousness.

"Because I'm worried about you!"

"Huh?"

At Sasuke's answer, Naruto immediately sensed something was off and let out a confused sound.

Sakura, down below, heard him too. Despite being frightened by the Grass Ninja's presence, she called out:

"Sasuke, if you're worried, shouldn't you be worried about me? I'm a girl!"

Sasuke glanced down at Sakura without expression, then turned his eyes back to Naruto. A hint of tenderness entered his gaze.

"Naruto, don't say things just to provoke me. I can only fight without worrying once I know you're safe!"

"Sasuke, how can you say that to Naruto..."

Sakura raised her voice even more.

"You should be saying that to me!"

"Uh... You're acting really weird today..."

Naruto rubbed the goosebumps on his arm, unconsciously avoiding Sasuke's gaze.

Perhaps to put an end to the awkwardness as soon as possible, he attacked the Grass Ninja again.

"Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

With a sharp shout, Naruto created more than thirty clones, hoping to overwhelm the Grass Ninja with sheer numbers.

But the Grass Ninja faced the tactic—which would have troubled even an ordinary Chunin—with calm ease.

With a cry of "Shadow Snake Hand!" seven or eight snakes suddenly sprang from the Grass Ninja's right hand.

Their fangs were sharp, and their whipping bodies cut through the air with a fierce rush.

None of Naruto's clones stood a chance against them.

In the blink of an eye, every last one of Naruto's clones had been wiped out!

"It's not over yet—Nine-Tails Chakra Mode!"

The Hokage had always insisted that the village keep the Nine-Tails' seal a secret, but Kazeka hadn't taken it seriously at all.

Not only had he told Naruto everything, he had also helped him develop a rough method of drawing on the Nine-Tails Chakra inside him.

Now Naruto's body was cloaked in a layer of volatile, powerful Chakra, like a transparent fox's coat.

Feeling the energy surging inside him, Naruto growled and charged straight at the Grass Ninja, engaging him in close combat!

"Naruto, you're always getting yourself into trouble!"

Seeing Naruto in danger, Sasuke cursed under his breath. Worried, he joined the fight too.

They hadn't fought together often, but the two moved with uncanny harmony, as if they could read each other's minds.

Even so, the Grass Ninja still had the upper hand. From his relaxed expression, he seemed to have strength to spare.

As for Sakura, she couldn't keep up with a battle at this level at all!

"Sasuke, why did you stay...?"

Seeing Sasuke step in, Naruto grew anxious.

"If you'd taken Sakura and run while I was fighting him, you might've had a chance!"

"How could I do that...?"

Sasuke wasn't the least bit annoyed by Naruto's scolding. In fact, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Your safety matters more to me than my own life. If anything happened to you, I'd never forgive myself!"

"Ahhh!!!"

Naruto hadn't even had a chance to respond before Sakura down below lost it.

"Sasuke, don't say things like that to Naruto! Say them to me instead! Maybe if you said them enough, I'd agree to go on a date with you!"

"Sakura..."

Taking a punch to the cheek from the Grass Ninja, Naruto turned to ask Sakura:

"If I said that, would you go on a date with me?"

"No!"

"Ah, I see..."

Sakura's instant rejection disappointed Naruto, but what bothered him even more were Sasuke's words and the intense look in his eyes.

Naruto made the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode around his body flare up a little, trying to drive away the chill creeping through him. Then he asked worriedly:

"Sasuke, are you okay? Did something happen to you during the fight with this Grass Ninja?"

"Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just worried about you..."

As the battle grew more intense, Sasuke spoke again.

"Naruto, fall back and use the Clone Technique to support my attacks.

That'll let you move more freely, create more openings, and keep you from getting hurt.

You have no idea how awful it feels to see you injured!"

"The strategy's fine, but could you please talk normally?!"

Sasuke's strategy really could create more openings, but Naruto still felt deeply uncomfortable.

Naruto wasn't the only one. Even the Grass Ninja furrowed his brow, his gaze darting between Naruto and Sasuke!

As for Sakura, she kept protesting from below.

But before long, the awkward scene took another turn: Kazeka and two others appeared.

"You dared to challenge a Konoha team all by yourself? You've got some nerve.

Now there are two teams of ninja against just you. You should give up.

Tell us your name and hand over your scroll. We might let you live..."

As the saying went, even if you were losing, you shouldn't lose face. Kiba Inuzuka planned to overwhelm the Grass Ninja with his presence right from the start.

But the Grass Ninja merely sneered at Kiba Inuzuka. Clearly, he didn't take him seriously at all.

Provoked by the taunt, Kiba Inuzuka flared with anger.

"You dare sneer at me? Who are you? Answer me, you bastard!"

"Give it a rest, Kiba..."

Kazeka patted Kiba Inuzuka on the shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

"It's obvious. You don't have what it takes to snarl at Orochimaru!"

Kiba Inuzuka: "..."