"Can Orochimaru really be trusted?" Sakura questioned repeatedly.
"Definitely not. But with me here, whether it's Orochimaru or Giant Snake-maru, he'll have to behave himself." Naruto looked at Orochimaru beside him. "Isn't that right?"
"Naruto-kun is absolutely right." Orochimaru smiled pleasantly, looking utterly inscrutable. "If Naruto tells me to go east, I won't go west. If Naruto tells me to stand, I'll stand. If he tells me to sit, I'll sit."
"Um..." Sakura found it truly difficult to believe, but she also knew Naruto's strength, leaving her with no choice.
"Then we can only take Neji back to the village first." Ino carried Neji on her back. Neji was extremely weak at the moment; the surgery to remove the Caged Bird Cursed Seal had temporarily left him unable to move.
"Have a safe trip." Naruto waved them off as Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, and Neji departed.
"Naruto!" Yamato beside him could no longer endure it. "Why aren't you taking Orochimaru back to Konoha?"
"Before heading back to Konoha, we're making a trip to Sand Village in the Land of Wind first!" Naruto took Hinata's hand.
Hinata took Orochimaru's hand, while Orochimaru wore a sly smile and placed his large hand directly on Yamato's shoulder.
Yamato suddenly had a bad feeling. Since when had Naruto and Orochimaru become so in sync? Their cooperation was as though they had discussed it beforehand.
Naruto and Hinata had always been highly in tune. The moment Naruto took Hinata's hand, she immediately understood his intent, so she took Orochimaru's hand.
Orochimaru also instantly understood Naruto's intention, which was why he placed his palm on Yamato's shoulder.
Of the four, three displayed perfect coordination. Only Yamato seemed like an outsider.
But before Yamato could resist, Naruto used the Flying Thunder God Technique, and all four vanished in