If Sasuke Doesn't Make It, I'll Be the First to Kill You

"Orochimaru? Heaven's Curse Mark? Earth Seal?" Sakura looked utterly confused. She stared deeply at Sasuke's chest and saw three crescent-shaped curse mark patterns appear there. Then she noticed three tomoe-shaped curse mark patterns on the back of his neck.

Damn it! Naruto really wanted to slap himself. He had not wanted Sakura to know, yet he had let it slip.

Naruto played dumb. "That female ninja from Hidden Grass Village we ran into before said her name was Orochimaru. But Sakura, you were unconscious then, so you didn't know about any of this."

"Then what are the Heaven's Curse Mark and Earth Seal?" Sakura continued asking.

"..." Naruto broke out in a cold sweat, not knowing how to answer.

"Ah—" Sasuke suddenly cried out, startling both Naruto and Sakura.

"Sasuke—" Sakura rushed over with a worried look, staying by Sasuke's side as her anxious eyes fixed on him.

Naruto thought, Sasuke, I never expected you to help me out so much while unconscious. That scream came at exactly the right time.

Sasuke was in terrible condition. His eyes were tightly shut, his hands clenched into fists, and his whole body convulsed. His face had turned greenish-blue, and he gritted his teeth as though enduring unbearable pain.

Within Sasuke's consciousness, he was still fighting Orochimaru. Orochimaru was a terrifying opponent. No matter what he did, he could not harm even a single hair on Orochimaru's head, while Orochimaru clung to Sasuke like a nightmare every moment.

In Sasuke's dream, a giant human-faced snake coiled itself into the shape of a mountain. Its face resembled Orochimaru's, and merely looking at it inspired fear.

Sasuke panted heavily. The enemy before him was simply too powerful. Even after awakening the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, he still could not defeat this formidable foe.

"Sasuke!" The human-faced snake flicked its tongue. "The survival rate for the Heaven's Curse Mark is one in ten. I once planted the Heaven's Curse Mark on my most beloved disciple. After seeing Naruto, I decided to plant both the Heaven's Curse Mark and the Earth Seal on you."

"What?!" Sasuke snapped. "What does Naruto have to do with me?"

"Naruto is far too outstanding. And as my vessel, Sasuke, you can only be even more outstanding. You must surpass Naruto."

"..." Sasuke ground his teeth. He knew Naruto was strong, and he knew Naruto was exceptional, but his immense pride drove him to hurl a kunai at the human-faced snake.

The kunai struck the human-faced snake, but it caused no damage at all. The snake mocked, "Is this all you can do? Compared to Naruto, you're far too weak."

"Damn it!" Sasuke desperately craved power. He wanted to surpass Naruto and defeat the geniuses of every ninja village. Gaara, Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee—every one of them was an opponent he wanted to overcome.

There were so many powerful opponents in this world. If he could not defeat them, how could he kill that hateful man—Itachi Uchiha?!

"Sasuke! I know the desire in your heart!" The human-faced snake opened its huge mouth, and a long-haired man actually slid out from between its jaws. The bizarre sight left Sasuke dumbfounded.

The long-haired man who had slid from the human-faced snake's mouth slowly stood up. He was Orochimaru, covered from head to toe in snake slime, a revolting sight.

"And I can fulfill your desire!" Orochimaru walked up to Sasuke and gently stroked his cheek with his slender fingers.

"This feeling is truly wonderful. It's as if I'm touching my own face." Orochimaru stroked Sasuke's face while saying that it felt like he was touching his own.

Sasuke's face filled with shock as he grabbed his kunai and slashed viciously at Orochimaru.

"Hehehehe..." Orochimaru let out a strange laugh and extended his long tongue. It was incredibly agile, instantly wrapping around the hand holding Sasuke's kunai.

Before Sasuke's terrified eyes, Orochimaru bit down on Sasuke's chest, planting the Earth Seal within him.

"Ah—" Sasuke felt as though his chest were about to explode. He collapsed to the ground, clutching tightly at his chest.

Sakura's expression grew more and more anxious as Sasuke's condition worsened. At a loss, she could only beg Naruto for help. "Naruto, hurry and save Sasuke. You must have a way."

Naruto stared at the two curse marks on Sasuke's body and could not come back to his senses for a long while. After Sakura reminded him, he cursed inwardly, Orochimaru, you're too extreme. The survival rate for one curse mark is only one in ten, yet you were so greedy that you planted two on Sasuke. Doesn't that mean Sasuke's survival rate is only one percent?!

Orochimaru! You actually did something like this! What makes you think Sasuke can pull through?! If Sasuke doesn't make it, I'll be the first to kill you!

"Naruto! Hurry and save Sasuke..." Sakura was nearly in tears.

Naruto quickly took out the Heaven Scroll and the Earth Scroll, opened them both at once, then tossed the two scrolls aside. Thick white smoke rose from them, and a figure appeared within the smoke.

"Long time no see, Naruto." Iruka Umino emerged from the white smoke and said smugly, "Looks like you've been through quite a lot. Congratulations on passing the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Iruka Umino's full name was Iruka Umino. He was an instructor at the Ninja Academy and Naruto's first teacher, while Kakashi was Naruto's second.

Iruka could be considered Naruto's first mentor. Under his guidance, Naruto had successfully graduated from the Ninja Academy and taken his first step toward becoming a Genin.

"Iruka-sensei, there's no time to catch up." Naruto hurriedly said, "Something's wrong with Sasuke. We need to take him to Kakashi quickly."

"Sasuke does look a little strange." Iruka asked, "Why did you take Sasuke's clothes off?"

"That isn't important, okay?" Naruto urged. "If we don't hurry, Sasuke's going to die!"

Iruka looked troubled. "But I'm the messenger. My duty requires me to explain the purpose of this exam and tell you about the next stage."

"There's no need to explain!" Naruto shouted. "None of that is important!"

"Naruto, you're talking nonsense again. Then tell me, what exactly was the purpose of the second round?"

"Iruka-sensei! I'm not joking with you! Sasuke's condition really can't wait!"

Only then did Iruka realize the seriousness of the situation. He quickly picked Sasuke up and went to find Kakashi.

Before leaving, Iruka did not forget to warn him, "Naruto, stay here and don't go anywhere. After I take Sasuke to Kakashi, I'll come back for you. If you can't tell me the purpose of the second round, just wait for your punishment." With that, Iruka left with Sasuke.

Naruto wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and comforted Sakura. "With Kakashi-sensei there, Sasuke will be fine. Don't worry."