Desolation

At this moment, Naruto was locked in a back-and-forth battle with Orochimaru. Seeing Orochimaru dodge a Rasengan, the latter chuckled, "Hehe, Naruto-kun, I find myself liking you more and more. How about it? Any interest in leaving Konoha and coming to my side? I can make you far more powerful."

Naruto laughed, "Orochimaru, you'd better worry about yourself. Soon, I'll be dragging you before the Third Hokage."

Orochimaru smiled, "I must decline. I have many things left to do, so I won't be playing with you any longer."

Seeing Orochimaru about to leave, Naruto sneered, "Orochimaru, do you really think you can just walk away?"

Orochimaru chuckled, "Although your strength has exceeded my expectations, if I truly wish to leave, I believe you cannot stop me."

Just then, a scream from Sasuke echoed through the air. Orochimaru smiled, "I really must be going now, Naruto-kun. I hope we can spar again next time."

Hearing Sasuke's scream, Naruto realized he had fallen for Orochimaru's trap; he knew Sasuke must have been branded with the Cursed Seal. Enraged, he roared, "Orochimaru, do you really think you can get away?"

Orochimaru watched Naruto in astonishment as an incredibly powerful chakra suddenly erupted from the boy's body, condensing into the shape of a fox with five tails.

Orochimaru gasped, "Nine-Tails," before quickly retreating. The moment Naruto unleashed the Nine-Tails chakra, it alerted every examinee within the Forest of Death.

In particular, the Shukaku residing within Gaara immediately began to riot. Fortunately, Gaara managed to suppress it just in time. Glancing toward Naruto's location, Gaara hurried over. Though Temari and Kankuro were not as sensitive as Gaara, they too sensed the overwhelming chakra.

Temari asked in confusion, "How could there be such terrifying chakra? And looking at Gaara, he seems so agitated. Could it be..." Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances, both seeing deep fear reflected in the other's eyes.

It wasn't just Gaara; Neji had also seen Naruto in his Nine-Tails Mode through his White Eye, exclaiming in shock, "That guy really is a monster."

Tenten asked, "Neji, do you know who is unleashing such terrifying chakra?"

Neji didn't answer her, only saying, "Let's go, let's take a look." With that, the three of them chased toward Naruto's position.

Hinata was the most worried of all. The moment Naruto unleashed the Nine-Tails chakra, she knew, and she rushed toward him. Kiba and Shino were puzzled but didn't dare ask, as Hinata's current demeanor was too terrifying.

Shikamaru was also heading toward Naruto. Ino asked curiously, "Shikamaru, is it really Naruto?"

Shikamaru nodded and said, "Yeah, it can't be anyone else."

Choji remarked, "Even though we knew Naruto was the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, I never imagined its power would be this terrifying."

Shikamaru replied, "Indeed. But any enemy capable of forcing Naruto to use such immense power must be extraordinary. We must hurry and help."

Ino asked doubtfully, "But what can we do if we go there?"

Shikamaru replied, "I don't know, but we have to go."

Just as everyone was rushing toward Naruto's location, Naruto and Orochimaru had already traded dozens of blows. Naruto used the Nine-Tails' tails to lash out at Orochimaru repeatedly. After dodging each attack, Orochimaru performed hand seals and shouted, "Ninja Art: Snake Formation."

Orochimaru pressed his hands to the ground, vomiting countless small snakes. Each snake spat out a sharp blade as they swarmed toward Naruto. Naruto swept his hands forward, and in an instant, all the snakes were annihilated.

Seeing that the Snake Formation was ineffective, Orochimaru tried to retreat. Suddenly, a Nine-Tails tail erupted from the ground beneath his feet, transforming into a sharp claw that instantly tore Orochimaru in two.

Orochimaru used the Shedding Technique to emerge from his bisected body. (How disgusting.) Naruto looked at Orochimaru, who acted as if nothing had happened, and said, "I don't know if I'm the monster or you are. This is fucking disgusting—it's disgusting to the core."

Orochimaru chuckled, "Hehe, I didn't expect you to be so humorous, Naruto-kun."

Naruto raged, "Humorous my ass! Go to hell, you disgusting freak!" Naruto suddenly released countless chains from his body, wrapping them around the Nine-Tails' chakra shroud.

Watching the Nine-Tails being enveloped, Orochimaru felt his anxiety spike. Naruto didn't waste any more breath, commanding the five tails to strike at Orochimaru. This time, Orochimaru didn't dare be arrogant and hurriedly dodged.

However, his arm was still grazed. Seeing the wound being continuously eroded by the sealing power and the Nine-Tails' chakra, Orochimaru decisively severed his own arm. As the limb fell, it disintegrated into ash.

Orochimaru remarked with a sigh, "It seems if I were truly hit by that, I would really die."

At this moment, Sakura arrived carrying Sasuke and shouted to Naruto, "Naruto, hurry and save Sasuke! He seems to have been poisoned!"

Looking at the disheveled Sakura and the unconscious Sasuke, Naruto was instantly blinded by rage. "Orochimaru, you dare hurt Sasuke? I'll have your life!" With that, Naruto began to condense his chakra.

By now, the others in the Forest of Death had also arrived. Gaara looked at Naruto and muttered, "He is a monster just like me. Hahaha, a monster just like me."

Behind Gaara, Temari and Kankuro stared at Naruto in shock. In fact, it wasn't just them; everyone else was watching Naruto with equal astonishment.

Hinata looked at Naruto with concern and wanted to go to him, but Kiba held her back. Hinata pleaded, "Let go of me, Kiba! I need to be by Naruto-kun's side!"

Kiba said nervously, "Hinata, calm down. Naruto is fine for now."

Shikamaru walked over and said, "Hinata, Kiba is right. We are the ones who need to worry. We're too close. If that chakra sphere Naruto is condensing explodes, we'll be caught in the blast."

Everyone realized their predicament; they were far too close, and it was dangerous. Neji spoke up, "Everyone, come here. Shikamaru, use your Nara clan's Shadow Possession to pull Sasuke and Sakura over. Hinata, I need your help."

Shikamaru didn't hesitate, using his shadow to pull Sakura over. Hearing Neji call her, Hinata said, "But... but Naruto-kun..."

Neji walked up to Hinata and said, "Hinata, don't worry. I guarantee that big idiot Naruto will be fine. Right now, we must combine our efforts to use Rotation to block the shockwaves of their battle. Or do you want to watch Kiba and the others die?"

Hearing this from Neji, Hinata finally snapped out of it. She said to Neji, "I understand, Neji-niisan. I will protect everyone."

Neji nodded, "Everyone, stand together. Soon, Hinata and I will use Rotation so that no one is hurt by the aftermath."

As Hinata and Neji stood together, Hinata suddenly asked, "Neji-niisan, do you not hate me anymore?"

Neji replied calmly, "I do, but I don't hate you. I hate the bastard who made those clan rules. My father spoke with me, and I've thought it through. What I want to protect is you, my cousin, not the 'young mistress' of the Hyuga clan."

Hinata was moved, "Neji-niisan, you..."

Neji said, "Alright, it's coming."

While Naruto was condensing his chakra, Orochimaru already knew what he was planning. He quickly put some distance between them, pressed his hands to the ground, and performed the seals: "Summoning: Triple Rashomon."

Orochimaru summoned three massive gates to block Naruto's path. By now, Naruto had been completely consumed by rage; only one thought remained in his mind: to destroy this disgusting creature who had harmed Sasuke.

Naruto roared, "Block it if you can! Go to hell, Orochimaru! Tailed Beast Bomb!" A Tailed Beast Bomb was fired from the mouth of the Nine-Tails.

Neji shouted, "Now! Rotation!" Neji and Hinata unleashed Rotation together, shielding everyone. Gaara also released his Sand Shield, while Temari and Kankuro hurriedly hid behind him.

A massive explosion rang out, and Orochimaru's Triple Rashomon was instantly shattered, though the power of the Tailed Beast Bomb had been significantly depleted. Orochimaru immediately channeled all his chakra to cast Earth Style Wall, blocking the remainder of the blast.

Although he had blocked it, Orochimaru was still sent flying by the shockwave. Once the dust settled, everyone stared in silence at the altered landscape; the Forest of Death had been blasted into a giant crater over thirty meters in diameter. Everyone stood there, stunned, unable to utter a single word.

Naruto looked toward the fallen Orochimaru and said, "Still alive, huh? Fine, then I'll give you another one and see how long you can hold out." With that, he began to condense another Tailed Beast Bomb.

Shikamaru watched the growing sphere of energy and muttered, "Again? Naruto, that lunatic. Neji, how much chakra do you have left?"

Neji replied, "That last blast drained a third of my chakra. I can still hold on."

Just then, the youth wearing the ghost mask appeared beside Orochimaru and said to Naruto, "That won't do. Orochimaru cannot die here yet, so I am taking him with me. You don't have any objections, do you?"

Naruto felt a strange sensation looking at the youth, sensing some kind of connection between them, but he had no time to dwell on such things now.

Naruto said coldly, "Do you really think you can save him?"

The youth laughed, "If you were willing to disregard the consequences, then of course I couldn't save him. But are you?"

From the moment the youth suddenly appeared, Naruto knew he possessed space-time ninjutsu; if he truly wanted to run, there was nothing Naruto could do to stop him. Furthermore, if he were to pursue him without regard for the consequences, he might end up destroying Konoha.

The power of the Nine-Tails was simply too immense; one slip could cause irreparable damage to Konoha.

Naruto said indifferently, "Fine, you may take Orochimaru, but you must tell me what is going on with Sasuke."

The youth chuckled, "Heh, no problem. Sasuke has simply been branded with Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. I believe you will handle it. I'll be going now."

Naruto watched as the youth used space-time ninjutsu to spirit Orochimaru away. He could only sigh helplessly, "So, in the end, Sasuke was still branded with the Cursed Seal. Is there really no way to change it?" At that moment, Naruto looked incredibly dejected.