Orochimaru, You Like Dancing, Don't You?

"Hehehe..." Orochimaru had just turned to leave when he looked back and asked one final question. "I'm returning to Konoha. Aren't you going to stop me?"

Shimura Danzō said nothing, choosing silence instead. If he truly wanted to stop Orochimaru, he would not have provided the information that Yamato had already fallen into the Third Hokage's hands. Clearly, he wanted to use Orochimaru to eliminate the Third Hokage.

Orochimaru finally understood. His figure slowly vanished into the darkness, leaving only a puddle of clear water on the floor by the wall.

After leaving Shimura Danzō's hideout, Orochimaru swiftly leaped into the river. He lay flat on the riverbed and allowed the current to carry him downstream.

"The time is about right." Orochimaru had been moving underwater for some time, so he surfaced and observed his surroundings. Only after confirming that no one was following him did he climb out of the river.

With a poof, white smoke rose from Orochimaru's entire body, and he transformed back into Zabuza Momochi.

"Hmph, that brat Naruto really has some tricks up his sleeve." Zabuza Momochi said, "He actually managed to test whether Danzo and Orochimaru were in league with each other."

Time rewound to two days earlier. After the first exam ended, Naruto had gone alone into the forest to find Zabuza Momochi and Haku, who had secretly infiltrated Konoha.

Back then, Naruto had spoken with Zabuza Momochi and Haku for a long time. There had actually been more to that conversation.

"Remember this: until I become Hokage, you must keep your identities hidden and not let anyone notice you. Once I become Hokage, you'll be able to live openly in Konoha." Naruto declared solemnly. "Naruto Uzumaki will protect you."

Zabuza Momochi asked, "What exactly do you want us to do for you?"

"One of Konoha's Three Legendary Ninja, Orochimaru, is about to invade Konoha." Naruto dropped an earth-shattering piece of news.

Zabuza Momochi seemed interested. "A rogue ninja returning to the village that raised him for revenge. Don't you find that ironic?"

"That's exactly why I want to become Hokage." Naruto said seriously. "So that rogue ninja like you will no longer appear."

"Hehehe... Interesting..."

Naruto revealed his plan. "Orochimaru is returning to Konoha, but I don't know whether anyone in the village is colluding with him. If someone really is working with Orochimaru, there can only be one person: Shimura Danzō!"

"Zabuza Momochi, I need you to find Shimura Danzō's hideout in the village, then disguise yourself as Orochimaru and pry information directly from Shimura Danzō."

"But I've never seen Orochimaru."

"Transformation Technique!" Naruto used the Transformation Technique and transformed into Orochimaru's appearance. Then he said, "Orochimaru roughly looks like this. Transform into my current appearance."

"Shimura Danzō isn't an ordinary man. He'll probably see through it easily."

"I came prepared." Naruto said confidently. "You only need to say one person's name. Shimura Danzō won't suspect you then. He'll treat you as the real Orochimaru."

"Konoha's only Wood Release ninja—Yamato! Say that name, and Shimura Danzō will definitely not doubt that you're genuine."

"What?!" Zabuza Momochi was shocked. In this era, there was actually someone who could use Wood Release, and he was hidden within Konoha. Just how many secrets did Konoha possess?

Next, Naruto briefly explained Yamato's information. Zabuza Momochi then accepted Naruto's commission. Of course, Naruto needed to pay Zabuza.

After all, promises were nothing but empty pie in the sky. Only money was practical. Zabuza would not risk his life for Naruto just because Naruto said a few words about becoming Hokage. Only when Naruto produced money would Zabuza be willing to work for him.

Back in the present, the real Orochimaru was facing Naruto in the Forest of Death.

Orochimaru had transformed into a female ninja from Kusagakure and looked down on Naruto with lofty disdain. As one of the legendary Konoha's Three Legendary Ninja, he simply did not regard a Konoha Genin before him as worthy of notice.

Naruto smiled faintly, his expression full of confidence, because he had long known that Orochimaru would not kill him.

Orochimaru invaded Konoha and launched the massive Konoha Crush Plan. Throughout the entire operation, Orochimaru had actually killed only one person: the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto attacked first, opening with the Shadow Clone Technique he was best at. More than a dozen shadow clones surrounded Orochimaru.

"Shadow Clone Technique." Surrounded by more than a dozen shadow clones alone, Orochimaru remained utterly calm. He stood where he was, wanting to see what tricks this Konoha Genin could pull.

Naruto's dozen-plus shadow clones rushed forward together. Orochimaru's body twisted strangely, like a snake constantly writhing. Naruto's mere dozen shadow clones were instantly beaten into nothingness.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto continued forming hand seals. This time, he created over thirty shadow clones at once, using their numbers to surround Orochimaru completely.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Orochimaru's palms retracted into his sleeves, and several green-spotted snakes suddenly shot from his cuffs. The ugly snakes bit apart several of Naruto's shadow clones in succession.

Because Naruto had too many shadow clones, Orochimaru had no choice but to change tactics. "Striking Snake Havoc!" Even more snakes burst from Orochimaru's lower body and attacked in every direction. The venomous snakes turned into sharp arrows, charging one after another at Naruto's shadow clones.

After Orochimaru had dealt with all of Naruto's shadow clones, he saw several steel wires stretched between Naruto's hands. Glancing around, he found Explosive Tags hanging everywhere.

"Explosive Tags!" Orochimaru was immediately alarmed. He was not afraid of the Explosive Tags themselves, but shocked that a Konoha Genin possessed so many. At a rough glance, thirty-nine steel wires crisscrossed the area, every one covered with Explosive Tags—at least one thousand five hundred and sixty-two of them.

Explosive Tags were advanced ninja tools, immensely powerful and no weaker than high-level Fire Release ninjutsu cast by a Jonin. But they were also quite expensive, and few people were willing to use them in such enormous quantities at once.

"Hmph, Orochimaru, you like dancing, don't you?" Naruto said smugly. "Give me a Dance of the Snake. Explode!"

As Naruto shouted "Explode," all one thousand five hundred and sixty-two Explosive Tags detonated in succession. Orochimaru moved with astonishing speed, leaping up and down, dodging left and right, shifting everywhere to evade. A snake-like silhouette darted through more than a thousand brilliant flames.

Relying on his incredible speed, Orochimaru avoided half the Explosive Tag detonations. But then Naruto pulled tight on the steel wires in his hands, shrinking their encirclement. The continuously exploding tags compressed inward, closing in on Orochimaru.

Orochimaru finally felt pressure. He had actually been forced into a desperate situation by a Konoha Genin. Orochimaru rapidly formed hand seals and shouted, "Summoning Technique!"

Orochimaru summoned a giant snake. As the remaining Explosive Tags erupted into flames, the snake was blown charred on the outside and cooked through within. The air filled with the scent of roasted meat.

Naruto looked at the dead giant snake before him. It was merely an ordinary giant snake, not a summoned beast contracted with Orochimaru.

The dead giant snake seemed to move. A large hole split open in its head, and a soft body crawled out from within, making one's scalp tingle.

"Hehehe." Orochimaru laughed. "It seems the Third Hokage has treated you very well, giving you so many Explosive Tags."