Cold Lord Orochimaru

"Little Panda, don't do anything rash!"

Mirai teasingly watched the killing intent erupt from Gaara as he slowly withdrew the bone palm.

The bone palm opened, revealing Temari bound within it and unable to move.

Seeing that Temari was safe and sound, Gaara suppressed the urge to attack.

Kankuro glared at Mirai and said, "Let Temari go!"

Mirai glanced at him and gave a wicked grin. "Why should I?"

"You!"

Kankuro pointed at Mirai, suddenly left speechless.

Yeah, why should he? It wasn't as if they could defeat him.

"Tell me. What will it take for you to let her go?"

Gaara abandoned his usual calmness and looked steadily at Mirai.

"Straightforward. I like Little Pandas like you!"

Mirai clapped his hands and said, "If you want to ransom her back, go collect the Heaven and Earth Scrolls for me!"

"Gaara, Kankuro, hurry and leave! Don't mind me!"

Though Temari was bound, she could still speak. The moment she heard Mirai's demand, she immediately cried out.

With a crisp smack, Mirai's palm landed on Temari's perky backside.

Everyone froze, Temari herself included.

"You!" Temari was overwhelmed with shame and anger.

Being spanked in public was simply too humiliating—so humiliating that she nearly fainted.

"Hm? Still not behaving?"

Mirai raised his hand again.

This time, Temari completely behaved herself...

"Fine, I agree. But you are not allowed to hurt her!"

Gaara turned around and prepared to leave with Kankuro.

"Hold on, you two!"

Gaara and Kankuro stopped, turning to look coldly at Mirai.

"When you see these people, don't try anything funny. Otherwise!"

Mirai tossed a scroll to Kankuro, then threateningly gestured toward Temari, whose face was flushed red with unbearable embarrassment.

"Let's go!"

Gaara gritted his teeth and left with Kankuro.

"From now on, you're my prisoner. I treat prisoners well, but if you try to escape or cause trouble, be careful—I'll deal with you using my palm!"

Hearing Mirai's shamelessly threatening words, Temari fell silent.

With another smack, Mirai gave her another slap.

"Prisoners aren't allowed to ignore me!" Mirai secretly reveled in it.

"I... I understand..."

Temari muttered softly, both ashamed and furious.

Clearly, she was afraid that Mirai's palm would land on her butt again.

"Mirai, you're really something!"

Kiba came to Mirai's side with Akamaru and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Thank you."

Shino merely nodded faintly in thanks.

As for Hinata, she was currently too embarrassed to function.

She wanted to get closer to Mirai, yet was too shy to approach him, so she could only stand where she was with her head lowered.

"Let's go. We still have several days left, so let's relax and enjoy ourselves while we can!"

Mirai slung Temari over his left shoulder, walked up to Hinata, and took her hand.

"We won't disturb your date. Have fun, you two!"

Kiba chuckled and left with Akamaru and Shino.

The moment Kiba mentioned a date, Hinata's whole body stiffened.

She looked up to see Mirai smiling at her, then shyly lowered her head once more.

And so, she let Mirai lead her along by the hand.

Temari buried her head deep, lying motionless against Mirai's shoulder.

Somewhere in the Forest of Death!

"Who the hell is this guy? How is he so strong?!"

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were all injured, panting heavily.

"Sasuke, it's good to finally meet you. I've always wanted to see you!"

Orochimaru stared at Sasuke with his vertical pupils, his eyes filled with desire.

It was desire for Sasuke's body, as well as for Sasuke's Sharingan.

That desire lay deep in his eyes, naked and undisguised.

"Who are you?"

Sasuke stared at Orochimaru and asked with a frown.

He had no impression whatsoever of the man before him.

"Me?" Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth.

"My name is Orochimaru!"

"Orochimaru?"

Sasuke was even more confused. Who was Orochimaru?

Why did he have no impression of this person at all?

It was no wonder Sasuke did not recognize him. The new generation probably did not know that name at all.

After all, Orochimaru belonged to the era of the Fourth Hokage.

"Sasuke, do you want to become stronger?"

Orochimaru saw the confusion in Sasuke's eyes, but he offered no explanation.

He continued to stare at Sasuke with the same fiery gaze as before.

"What exactly do you want?"

Sasuke frowned. What did this man mean?

He had appeared out of nowhere, then started talking out of nowhere about becoming stronger.

"What are you trying to do to Sasuke? I'll never agree to it!"

Naruto stepped in front of Sasuke and fixed his gaze on Orochimaru.

His eyes were filled with determination, as well as the bond he shared with his companion.

"Naruto!"

Seeing Naruto's determined gaze, Sakura could not help clenching her fists.

After glancing at Sasuke, she too turned her gaze toward Orochimaru.

Clearly, she agreed with what Naruto had just said.

It was only that, unlike Naruto, she did not possess such unwavering conviction and courage.

"I only want you to know that if you need strength, if you need power, then you can come to me. I can make you stronger than you have ever been before!"

Orochimaru was extremely confident.

He had absolute faith in the curse mark he had researched.

Seeing Orochimaru's confident appearance, Sasuke became doubtful.

Could what this man said really be true?

Could he truly make him stronger?

The seed of hatred in his heart suddenly took root, and Sasuke actually felt the urge to try.

"I know you won't believe me, but I'll make you believe!"

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Orochimaru's left hand transformed into dozens of white snakes. Flicking their tongues, they shot toward Naruto and the other two.

The three only had time to kill one white snake each before the remaining snakes coiled around and bound them.

With a flicker, Orochimaru arrived before Sasuke.

Hiss...

The white snakes around Naruto and Sakura opened their jaws and bit down on them.

Thud! Thud! Naruto and Sakura collapsed unconscious to the ground one after another.

"I'll let you experience the power of strength first!"

Orochimaru formed hand seals before Sasuke, his left arm transforming once more into a large white snake.

The giant snake opened its jaws and bit down on Sasuke's neck.

The black curse mark flowed through the giant snake and entered Sasuke's body.

Sasuke's consciousness became muddled, and blackness spread across his eyes.

"Ah—!"

Curse marks spread over Sasuke's body, and their enhancement greatly increased his strength.

With a bang, Sasuke snapped the white snake coiled around him apart.

"How is it? This power is much stronger than what you had before, isn't it?"

Orochimaru licked his lips, admiring Sasuke's current appearance with great satisfaction.

With the curse mark invading his body, Sasuke was now in too much pain to speak.

After breaking free from the white snake's restraints, he dropped to one knee on the ground, gasping for breath.

In the end, unable to endure the pain any longer, he passed out.

"This thing can be called powerful?"

A disdainful voice sounded from behind Orochimaru.