Orochimaru Retreats

Azure lightning tore through the darkness of the dense forest in an instant.

The sizzling current blasted against their eardrums, while the high heat ionized the air and filled it with a pungent, scorched smell.

"Lightning Release, Chidori! (Justice Shock!)"

Sasuke shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow. The two tomoe in his Sharingan spun into afterimages, while the black markings of the Cursed Seal crawled from his neck toward the corners of his eyes.

There was only one thought in his mind.

I can't lose.

I can't lose this badly in front of Naruto.

The lightning blade drove straight at Orochimaru's face, and even the surrounding tree trunks cracked with fine fractures from its force.

Yet Orochimaru stood where he was without moving so much as a foot.

A trace of mockery flickered through his vertical pupils before they were covered by indifference.

"Interesting little brat."

He could not even be bothered to look up. He raised his left hand and bit his fingertip.

The instant blood seeped out, he formed seals with one hand in a blur.

Boar → Dog → Rooster → Monkey → Ram,

"Summoning Technique: Triple Rashomon."

Rumble—

Three enormous pitch-black gates rose from the earth. Ferocious demon-face carvings glared from the doors as layer upon layer of baleful energy swept toward them. It was the Summoning Technique: Triple Rashomon.

The demon face on the first gate met Sasuke's Chidori head-on.

A deafening explosion erupted!

Blue light collided viciously with black markings. The violent shockwave sent fallen leaves flying for dozens of meters, while tree trunks as thick as bowls snapped in half.

Sakura screamed and clung to a tree trunk. Karin instinctively grabbed Naruto's clothes as well, and the aftershocks from the clashing forces made even her chakra tremble.

But the instant the smoke cleared, the entire area fell silent.

Sasuke knelt on one knee, his entire right arm twitching uncontrollably. The skin between his thumb and forefinger had split open, and blood dripped from his fingertips. The lightning from his Chidori had long since faded.

Meanwhile, there was only a shallow mark on the demon face of the first Rashomon gate, less than half an inch deep.

He had not even managed to break through the first gate.

The enormous gap in strength was like a basin of icy water, extinguishing all his pride.

But the black markings of the Cursed Seal took advantage of his weakness and spread wildly through his veins. It felt as though countless ants were gnawing at his bones, and amid the agony and humiliation, his reason was gradually swallowed away.

"Take a rest."

Naruto's calm voice came from behind him. There was not the slightest hint of mockery in it, yet Sasuke's entire body stiffened.

He looked up and saw Naruto slowly walk past him. With his back to Sasuke, he faced the three Rashomon gates that had yet to vanish, as well as the cold man behind them.

His blond hair fluttered slightly in the shockwave. With both hands in his pockets and his chin raised, the boy's arrogance practically overflowed from his voice.

"So you're Orochimaru? You dared lay a hand on one of mine?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sasuke suddenly let out a suppressed roar behind him.

Naruto turned around and saw that the black Cursed Seal had already spread across half of Sasuke's face.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body trembling, yet he still braced himself against the ground and slowly forced himself to his feet.

His scarlet Sharingan locked firmly onto Naruto. His voice carried the delirium and obsession of someone drunk on power.

"I feel... like I'm stronger than you now!"

The violent chakra brought by the Cursed Seal rampaged through his body. That unprecedented sensation of power made him feel as though he were floating.

It was as if he could tear apart everything before him with a mere thought, including Naruto, who had always weighed on his heart.

Naruto looked at him and suddenly snorted, his tone utterly casual.

"Just incomplete power. It's merely ordinary Sage Chakra—enough to fool an ignorant little brat like you."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Cursed Seal on Sasuke's face. A knowing smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"This thing has a second form too. But judging by you, that stinking snake hasn't been willing to unlock it for you yet."

The moment those words fell, Orochimaru's vertical pupils shrank into thin slits.

He had spent half his life extracting the Cursed Seal bit by bit from Jugo's Senjutsu origin. In the entire Ninja World, aside from himself, no one could see through the true nature of it at a glance.

How did this brat know?

A bone-chilling killing intent instantly surged from him, flooding the entire forest.

Like a giant python lurking in the abyss, finally baring its fangs.

The coldness of a top predator was thick and clinging, carrying an oppressive force that could freeze blood as it instantly enveloped the four of them.

Sakura's face turned deathly pale. She collapsed behind the tree, forgetting even how to breathe.

Karin's sensory ability ached from the piercing killing intent, and every hair on her body stood on end.

She could clearly sense that this chakra was entangled with the resentment of countless dead people. Like a snake den piled high with bones, it was so cold that it made her soul tremble.

Her grip on the dagger turned her knuckles white as she instinctively shrank farther behind Naruto.

Even Sasuke, whose mind had been overwhelmed by the Cursed Seal, suddenly stiffened.

The violent chakra inside him was suppressed into sluggishness for an instant by that killing intent, and a chill seeped through the gaps in his bones.

Only Naruto remained where he was, not even frowning.

He even picked at his ear before turning to Orochimaru and snapping irritably.

"Whoa there, you stinking snake, you're really getting worked up now, huh? You're forcing me to use my ultimate move?"

Before he could finish, there was a boom!

Golden Nine-Tails Chakra exploded from Naruto's body in an instant!

The thick chakra surged like flames, and two powerful tails extended from it, slowly swaying.

His azure eyes instantly turned scarlet, transforming into the Nine-Tails' vertical pupils.

Two-Tails Mode, activated!

The all-consuming malice of Nine-Tails Chakra collided violently in the forest with Orochimaru's abyssal, freezing killing intent.

The surrounding trees were instantly ground into splinters by the two forces. Fine cracks spread across the ground, and even the air became as thick as cement. Every breath made their lungs ache.

For the first time, Orochimaru's expression changed.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

He had forgotten that the most terrifying beast was hidden inside this brat's body.

His mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons in an instant.

His primary purpose in coming here today had been to plant the Cursed Seal on Sasuke and secure his future vessel.

His ultimate target was the Third Hokage at the Chunin Ninja Exams arena, where he would carry out the revenge plan he had prepared for years.

Fight Naruto head-on now?

No.

The disturbance from Nine-Tails Chakra was too great. Once they started fighting, Konoha's ANBU, the Hokage's personal guards, and perhaps even the Third Hokage himself would arrive within three minutes.

Besides, the reincarnation vessel he was currently using was nowhere near its peak condition.

If he fought Naruto, who had unleashed Nine-Tails Chakra, to the death, then even if he won, he would be severely weakened. At that point, forget dealing with the Third Hokage—whether he could even leave the Forest of Death alive would be uncertain.

Sasuke had already received the Cursed Seal. The vessel could not run away.

As for this Nine-Tails brat... there would be plenty of time in the future.

The moment he reached his decision, Orochimaru's body abruptly turned into a puddle of sludge and melted into the shadow beneath his feet.

Only a cold laugh remained, along with a lightly spoken, "Nine-Tails brat, we will meet again," echoing through the forest before he vanished without a trace.

Even the three Triple Rashomon gates exploded into smoke along with his disappearance, scattering in the wind.

The forest, which had been filled with drawn swords and overwhelming killing intent just moments ago, instantly fell silent except for the sound of wind rustling through the leaves.

The Nine-Tails Chakra around Naruto instantly receded. He stared in the direction Orochimaru had disappeared, completely dumbfounded.

He stood there for three seconds before finally exploding into profanity.

"What the hell? I had my pants off, and this is what you show me? He ran?!"

"Where the hell was that Three Sannin swagger?! That was it?!"

At that moment, Karin suddenly sensed something and pointed ahead. "Big Brother Naruto, there's something over there!"