Orochimaru the Freak, Naruto the Master Actor Puts on a Show

The dull sound of a blade piercing flesh was especially piercing in the silent arena. Yet Orochimaru merely lowered his head to glance at the blade in his chest, the shock on his face slowly turning into a strange confusion.

He had even forgotten the pain. His body twisted grotesquely, and his tongue instinctively touched the blood-dripping blade as he muttered, "The force behind this blade... feels familiar... Where have I seen it before...?"

Before his words had even faded.

His neck suddenly twisted at an angle that defied human anatomy, his mouth opening wider than his head.

"Living Corpse Reincarnation!"

Viscous fluid splattered everywhere as a huge, deathly pale snake crawled out of his mouth, transforming into a human the instant it landed.

The new body was still pale and slender, its sleeves still empty, but that forked tongue had become like a sharp sword, gleaming with icy light.

"Die!"

Orochimaru let out a hiss, his sword-like tongue piercing straight toward Naruto's face with a shriek through the air.

Naruto drew his blade to block it, the scarlet six-pointed Mangekyō Sharingan slowly turning in his eyes.

"Looks like the shadow Itachi left on you back then wasn't deep enough."

"You still dared charge forward after seeing the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

"I may not have Itachi's Tsukuyomi, but don't underestimate the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan! Genjutsu, activate."

Orochimaru might have been impossible to kill, but with every reincarnation, his spiritual power grew weaker and weaker!

Orochimaru's body suddenly froze.

His tongue-sword stiffened just three inches from Naruto's throat. His eyes bulged wide as he remained motionless in his pouncing posture.

Three seconds later.

His entire body trembled, and he violently broke free of the genjutsu before roaring and lunging again.

The genjutsu activated again.

He froze again.

Lunge. Freeze.

Lunge. Freeze.

The entire arena fell silent in an instant. Everyone stared dumbfoundedly at the center of the field.

Orochimaru, who had just been arrogant and declared that he would destroy Konoha, was now twitching and jerking his way forward like some freak.

Naruto folded his arms and watched Freakmaru with great interest.

"Nice dancing."

"How about a Thomas full spin next?"

"Did Itachi mess with you like this for three days and three nights back then, giving you psychological trauma?"

The Lightning Cutter in Kakashi's hand fizzled out with a crackle.

His mouth hung open, and even his Sharingan had gone blank with shock.

This was Orochimaru, one of the legendary Three Sannin? Why did he look like a toy with its switch flipped on?

Having watched enough, Naruto drew the Nine-Life Demon Tail Blade from his waist with a backhand motion.

A flash of cold light.

Squelch.

Squelch, squelch, squelch.

The blade moved so fast it became an afterimage, striking only places that were not fatal but hurt to the core. He stabbed Orochimaru until he resembled a leaking green spray bottle.

Green blood splashed all over Naruto's black robe. Orochimaru twitched as he glared wide-eyed, scenes frantically flashing through his mind.

"Damn it... stabbed again..."

"This stabbing technique... is fucking familiar..."

"Fast, precise, ruthless, always stabbing between the ribs, then deliberately twisting the blade halfway..."

"Who the hell was that bastard again?!"

"Scatter!"

Orochimaru roared, and his body suddenly exploded into thousands upon thousands of little snakes as thick as fingers, darting in every direction.

The densely packed snake swarm writhed across the ground with rustling sounds, making everyone's scalps tingle.

Orochimaru truly was Orochimaru. He had escaped the Death God's scythe, escaped the genjutsu, and endured Naruto's dozen or so strikes head-on. His health bar was absurdly thick, practically cheating. Naruto had injured him, but killing him was still far too difficult.

Jiraiya immediately formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Blazing flames swept outward, burning the snake swarm until it let out shrill hisses. Yet countless tiny snakes still slipped through gaps in the flames and vanished into every corner of the arena.

With his Mangekyo Sharingan running at full force, Naruto still could not tell which little snake was the true body.

"Guess you ran fast enough." Naruto curled his lip, utterly unmoved.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was today's real target. Orochimaru was merely an extra.

Golden light flashed beneath his feet, and he vanished from where he stood.

The next second.

An identical Black-Robed Naruto emerged from the shadows, standing where he had just been with his back to everyone.

Almost at the same time.

A golden figure came scrambling through the shattered breach in the arena, his face full of panic and tears as he ran while screaming himself hoarse.

"I received my Shadow Clone's memories! Orochimaru was so terrifying! He killed my Shadow Clone!"

"Teacher Jiraiya! Teacher Kakashi! How is Old Man Third?"

Everyone froze.

Just then.

A large snake that had slipped through the net suddenly shot out from behind a pillar. Its tongue transformed into a sharp sword and precisely pierced the heart of the black-robed figure standing with his back to the crowd.

"Pfft!"

The black-robed figure went limp and dispersed into a cloud of white smoke.

The Shadow Clone was released.

Naruto had just rushed in front of Jiraiya when he threw himself around his leg with a thump. His shoulders shook as he sobbed, smearing snot and tears all over Jiraiya's pants.

"That was so scary, sob sob sob... That person in black was so fierce... Orochimaru was so fierce too..."

"I was almost scared to death, sob sob sob..."

Jiraiya looked down at Naruto, who was crying his eyes out in his arms, then at the still-smoking remains of the Shadow Clone on the ground. His mind buzzed, nearly crashing.

"No, something's wrong. Something is definitely wrong. That black-robed person had blond hair... Flying Thunder God... Mangekyō Sharingan!"

"And that smooth, practiced way of stabbing people! He was clearly a repeat offender!"

"No, that black-robed person definitely wasn't Naruto. The old Third said his dream was to become Hokage, didn't he? Could a Hokage act like that?"

And now this brat was hugging his leg, crying like a three-year-old whose ramen had been stolen, yelling that he was scared?

Kakashi stood beside them, his Sharingan spinning so fast it looked ready to smoke.

He had clearly seen it. In the second before that black-robed person vanished, his movement rhythm—even the angle at which he shook his head—had been exactly the same as Naruto's when he rushed in.

But he had no evidence.

Shadow Clones could share memories. That made sense.

The Shadow Clone got blown up, and the original body got frightened and ran over. That made sense too.

Everything was seamless, yet he could not shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Might Guy slapped his thigh, tears welling in his eyes as his clenched fists cracked. "Naruto-kun is too great! Even though he was so afraid, he still risked his life to rush in and save everyone! This is the youth of burning passion!"

Kurenai wiped away her tears and nodded. "Yes, Naruto was truly brave."

Iruka let out a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the ground, clutching his chest. "Thank goodness... As long as Naruto is all right..."

Jiraiya's mouth twitched. Burning youth, my ass.

He lowered his head and stared sharply at Naruto's hair swirl, his gaze as keen as an eagle's.

He had taught Naruto for a month. No matter what, he knew Naruto was not the type to cry and whimper like this!

"Naruto, why did you do this? But if I expose him in front of everyone, what will happen to Konoha? He is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! Minato, your son... is he really that person?"

Naruto sensed the gaze above him and cried even harder, deliberately burrowing farther into Jiraiya's arms as his little hands tightly gripped Jiraiya's clothes.

But inside, he was already laughing his head off.

Life was a play, and it all depended on acting.

Ah, what fun!

If you have evidence, then bring it out.

No evidence?

Then you're slandering this pure and innocent Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

At the center of the arena.

The Third's body had already become nearly transparent.

Jiraiya thought of the Toad Sage's prophecy. It was because of that prophecy that he had embarked on the path he now walked.

Jiraiya secretly frowned. "I went to the Hokage Building earlier. Danzo is dead, and the Third Hokage is gone too. Konoha is now leaderless, and the situation is a complete mess."

Then his tone shifted. He looked at Naruto beside him with suspicion in his eyes. "Danzo was a veteran powerhouse. Who could have killed him without anyone noticing?"