I Will Still Grow Up

Under the forest, the giant white phosphorus snake writhed in pain, and the Long-Tongued Man's detached head turned in surprise.

With a greatsword imbued with biting wind, Naruto, who had cracked the ground and launched himself into the air, pushed with both arms, stabbing into the center of the neck, which was like a rubber pipe.

Blood spurted out exaggeratedly, splashing Naruto's head and chest.

The long neck was severed, with only an inch of skin remaining, yet it felt like the softest substance in the world.

Using the remaining connection as leverage, the head and body were flung apart like a bowstring, away from Naruto, pulling the head back.

Naruto tried to pursue again, but the exposed flesh of the snake's belly, which had corroded his head and body, sent shooting pain and rapid numbness through him upon contact with the Long-Tongued Man's blood.

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Undoubtedly, the blood was poisonous.

The numbness quickly spread throughout his body, his knees buckling.

Swish~

The greatsword was plunged into the ground, and Naruto leaned on it with straight arms, forcing himself to stay upright.

"So that's how it is. You hid inside the snake's belly to withstand the corrosion, waiting for me to make my move?" the Long-Tongued Man said, his head reattached, blood pouring from his mouth as he spoke.

Dense snakes swarmed around the circular wound on his neck, but blood still flowed, with no signs of healing.

Sasuke looked at Naruto, whose flesh was gruesome but whose eyes were wide open, and then at the terrifyingly powerful Long-Tongued Man, who was seemingly unkillable despite a fatal wound.

Trembling, he ran in front of Naruto, pulling a pathetic shuriken from his ninja pouch and holding it across his chest, gritting his teeth tightly.

"I am Orochimaru." The Long-Tongued Man was astonished. The flesh and blood tissue transformed from the snake's insides couldn't repair the wound, not even stop the bleeding. It festered the more it entered, and even chakra threads couldn't stitch it together.

He probably had to use the Shedding Skin Technique to emerge in a new body to survive.

"Naruto, you're truly amazing. As expected of a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, far stronger than Sasuke."

Sasuke's mind, as if guided by an unseen force, began to wonder, what is a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Was that the reason for Naruto's strength?

Orochimaru's eyes were filled with pity. "Sasuke, it seems you know nothing. Konohagakure cannot teach you, nor will they teach you. Only I can give you true power."

"Screw you, trying to sow discord here!" Naruto roared, gathering his strength. "Sasuke is my little brother, I... I am the Conqueror Naruto!"

Sasuke's head buzzed.

Orochimaru paused. He was sincerely trying to tempt him, and this kid wouldn't even reason? He just attacked?

"Sasuke, this brat doesn't understand..."

"You do!" Naruto slammed his left fist into the sword. "Damn it, do normal people show up like you?"

Orochimaru forced a sinister smile, trying to persuade him. "Sasuke, your potential is limitless..."

Naruto: "Ribbit!!!"

Orochimaru's pupils contracted into slits, his fangs bared. "Nine-Tails brat! Don't force me to kill you!"

"Oh, you're not going to kill me? I thought I was dead. Go on."

Naruto fell silent.

A man can be tough or soft.

This old guy is too strong, I can't win. Let the elderly have a chance.

Having lost too much blood, Orochimaru's face was as pale as paper. He had to shed his skin and regenerate. "Sasuke, I will come back for you, with the truth."

With that, his legs gradually sank into the tree trunk. He spat out the Book of Earth with his purple tongue and tossed it down. "A small gift for you."

The scroll landed. Naruto didn't move, and neither did Sasuke.

After three minutes, when Naruto confirmed he could no longer sense anyone, he collapsed with a thud, gasping for air.

"Quickly pick up the scroll! Hide me!"

Sasuke hurriedly complied, carrying Naruto up the tree.

Naruto struggled just to breathe, almost suffocating if he wasn't careful. The poison was spreading through his veins, attacking his internal organs and skin every moment.

It even invaded his mind, blurring his vision and causing frequent hallucinations.

He had been accumulating chakra for an outburst earlier and had no time to suppress it. Only now, as he internally examined his cells, was he shifting to clearing and healing.

Fortunately, he possessed the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline, giving him strong vitality, and the characteristics of Nine-Tails Chakra, preventing him from dying on the spot.

Although Sasuke was displeased with Naruto calling him his little brother, one thing Naruto said was right: that Orochimaru was not a good person.

Looking at this man, covered in wounds, fierce and domineering, who told him to run when danger arose and charged back alone.

He couldn't help but feel his eyes well up, wanting to cry.

Naruto's promise to protect him during the Genin exams was being fulfilled with his life.

Naruto's chest heaved, and he turned his head, spitting out a large amount of blood. "Get me some water."

Sasuke was about to climb down the tree when he saw ninja from Sunagakure in his field of vision and quickly fell silent.

The boy at the front, carrying a gourd and bearing the forehead marking "love," named Gaara, was deeply imprinted in Sasuke's mind due to his intense killing intent.

Seeing them directly push open the door and enter the tall tower, it was clear they had already obtained the scroll and completed their mission.

And now, less than two hours after the second exam began, it was clear how strong his power was.

At this moment, the treetops rustled, and two women, one large and one small, landed before the tower.

Haruno Sakura cried out tearfully, "Naruto! Sasuke!"

Anko Mitarashi frowned deeply, scanning the surrounding signs of battle.

An hour ago, she had been called to examine the body of a Genin candidate found dead beneath a Buddha statue, his face blank.

She recognized at a glance that it was the work of the Dead Soul Technique, used by her master, the former Konoha legend and S-rank missing-nin, Orochimaru.

She immediately entered the forest to search and happened to meet Haruno Sakura, who had come for help. After hearing her description, she instantly understood Orochimaru's target and rushed over.

"Examiner Mitarashi! Hurry and save Naruto, he's been poisoned," Sasuke called from within the treetops.

Anko Mitarashi was surprised. The two children were still alive. In her estimation, they shouldn't have been able to resist Orochimaru and should have already been captured.

She leaped onto a tree and saw Naruto, whose appearance was horrific.

Much of his blond hair had been corroded, revealing patches of bloody scalp. His clothes were reduced to a few rags, and his skin was a mix of purple and black.

She picked up Naruto. "He must be sent back for treatment immediately. Your Chunin Exams end here."

Naruto struggled and pushed her away, his chest bouncing, and he rolled back onto the tree. "Don't move me. I'll be rested after lying down for a bit longer."

Anko Mitarashi naturally wouldn't indulge the child's temper. She picked him up again, bent her arm, and hugged him to her chest, intending to restrain him.

"I said, let go," Naruto's right eyeball turned from blue to red, from round to slit-like. "Let me go."

The Nine-Tails' evil voice whispered incessantly in his mind, urging him to accept its power, to accept its hatred, and that such a minor poison wound would heal in moments.

Naruto didn't need it, though. He could repair himself with Chakra, it was only a matter of time.

Anko Mitarashi was startled. Was the Tailed Beast going to rampage?

Four pythons quickly slithered from her sleeves, binding Naruto's wrists and arms. "Naruto! Calm down! I'm trying to save you!"

"I'm perfectly clear-headed," Naruto stared directly at Anko Mitarashi, the first woman his "thing" had ever touched. "I'll recover soon. Don't make me repeat myself."

Anko Mitarashi's generous heart felt the burgeoning Blood Essence.

A thirteen-year-old boy, not even as tall as her yet, how could he have developed so quickly.

At the same time, the unyielding firmness in Naruto's tone made her realize that if she persisted, Naruto would get serious.

"One day. If you still can't move by then, I'll declare you eliminated."

"Okay."

As soon as Anko Mitarashi released the pythons, Naruto flipped to the side and landed steadily on a branch, saluting the examiner with a flag raised at a forty-five-degree angle.

"Haha! It seems I'm still quite charming!" Anko Mitarashi placed her hands on her hips, shaking with laughter.

Naruto seemed much better.

Some respect came from instinct.

"Examiner Mitarashi, thank you."

He added earnestly, "I'll grow even more."

Their eyes met, and Anko Mitarashi's face suddenly flushed.