A Fated Encounter

Feeling the threat in Tenka's words, Orochimaru did not dare refuse!

In the past, he would never have allowed anyone to threaten him like this, not even the leader of that organization he had once belonged to!

Because he was confident that even if he could not win, he could still save his own life!

But...

Against Tenka, Orochimaru had no confidence whatsoever. He had truly sensed the aura of death just now!

Real death—the kind that even his Curse Mark could not bring him back from!

He opened his mouth, spat out a scroll, and threw it toward Tenka!

Looking at the viscous liquid covering it, Tenka formed a one-handed seal. A stream of water suddenly appeared from thin air and washed over the scroll!

Once it was clean, Tenka reached toward the scroll on the ground, and it flew backward into his hand!

"Your soul!"

"Is too weak!"

"If you do not find a way to make up for it, you will suffer at the Third's hands!"

After saying that, Tenka turned and walked over to the three children, tossing the scroll to Sasuke.

"Sign your name on it, then leave a handprint!"

Sasuke did as instructed. Then Tenka taught him the hand seals for the Summoning Technique!

He told Sasuke to find time to practice it on his own before his figure vanished in an instant!

"Should we kill this guy while we have the chance?"

Naruto stared at Orochimaru with a fierce expression. He had been completely suppressed in the fight just now, and it had left him feeling awful!

"Let's go!"

"Sensei still has a use for him. Do not disrupt Sensei's plans!"

Sasuke stopped him.

"Wait!"

Naruto called out and ran over to Orochimaru, pulling a scroll from his robes!

"We can go now!"

Naruto ran excitedly back to Sasuke and Sakura with the scroll in hand.

Orochimaru was utterly baffled. This kid was way too reckless, wasn't he?

I have not lost my ability to fight. Is he really not afraid I will kill him?

Watching the three of them leave, Orochimaru's gaze settled on Sasuke, and he felt a hint of regret!

He did not dare make a move. Who knew where that freak from earlier might be watching him from!

"Hm?"

"Here so soon?"

"Forget it. I will not see you this time!"

After saying that, Orochimaru transformed into a snake and slipped into a crack, disappearing from sight!

A minute or two later, a figure appeared at the scene!

Seeing the devastation all around her, Anko grew even more anxious. She could only hope no one had been hurt.

"Gone?"

Anko carefully sensed for Orochimaru's presence and glanced toward the place where he had last disappeared!

Elsewhere, Naruto and the other two found a place to rest and recover!

"What should we do?"

"Now that we have gathered the scrolls, should we go to the Central Tower, or...?"

Naruto was eager to do something. They had already agreed that once they collected the scrolls, they would go rest at the Central Tower. But after getting beaten down by Orochimaru again, he felt frustrated and wanted to stir up some trouble to vent!

"Do not cause trouble. Hurry to the Central Tower!"

"If you want to fight, there will be plenty of chances later!"

Sasuke knew Naruto well. One look at his expression was enough for him to roughly guess what he was thinking.

Still unwilling to give up, Naruto turned to Sakura, hoping she would have a different opinion!

"Sasuke, if Naruto wants to have some fun, then let's go along with him!"

"That Orochimaru probably will not dare come after us again!"

"Besides, we have five days. Once we get to the tower, we cannot go anywhere anyway. It would be pretty boring!"

Under Naruto's gaze, Sakura slowly spoke. As his teammate, she still had to consider Naruto's feelings.

Sakura had truly changed, and changed greatly. In the past, she would never have contradicted something Sasuke had decided!

Naruto immediately became excited and looked at Sasuke again. He still very much wanted Sasuke's support.

"Fine!"

Sasuke looked at Naruto's expectant expression and considered that Sakura was right. Staying in the tower for five days would indeed be boring!

"Are you two done resting?"

"If you are, then let's go!"

Naruto looked at the two of them. He was already eager to go have some fun!

"You lead the way!"

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged a glance, then stood and looked at Naruto. Since they were accompanying him, they would let him call the shots for the remaining days!

"Okay!"

As though guided by fate or something else, Sakura and Sasuke followed Naruto for about half an hour!

"Help!"

A cry for help suddenly came from the forest ahead!

Without a second thought, Naruto charged over first. Perhaps his skills had made him bold, or perhaps he had finally found a chance to release the frustration in his heart!

"Roar!"

As Naruto rushed over, he saw a black bear roaring as it swung its claws toward a little red-haired girl!

The red-haired girl trembled all over. She no longer had the strength to dodge. Without time to think, Naruto instantly accelerated!

"Rasengan!"

"Boom!"

"Awoo..."

The black bear flew backward with a scream. A hole the size of two fists had opened in its chest, blood pouring endlessly from it!

It fell to the ground, twitched a few times, and went still!

"Hey!"

"Are you all right?"

The red-haired girl opened her eyes and saw Naruto standing in front of her. The black bear from before lay motionless on the ground!

"I-I'm fine!"

"My name is Karin Uzumaki. Thank you for saving me!"

"Uzumaki?"

"Huh?"

"You have the same surname as me!"

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and you are Karin Uzumaki. Could we be related?"

Naruto was extremely curious as he kept studying the timid Karin before him. This was the first time he had met someone with the same surname as his!

Hearing Naruto's words, Karin froze as well. Apart from her mother, she had never met anyone else with the Uzumaki surname either!

"Maybe... maybe?"

Perhaps because they both bore the Uzumaki name, the two felt an instinctive closeness toward each other!

Karin was no longer quite as frightened, even though in her senses, the chakra inside Naruto was incredibly dark and terrifying!

"Where are your teammates?"

"They thought I was holding them back, so they abandoned me and went to look for scrolls on their own!"

"Bastards!"

"How can teammates just abandon someone like that?"

Naruto was furious. Not long ago, the three of them had encountered such a powerful enemy!

Yet they had all worked together with one heart. No one had considered abandoning the other two and fleeing alone!

And now... there were actually teammates like this. Naruto desperately wanted to punch someone!

"Naruto!"

"What is it?"

Sakura and Sasuke had caught up as well. Seeing Naruto's furious expression, they were deeply puzzled!

Could the girl in front of them have made him angry? Sakura examined Karin!

"Huh?"

"Your arm..."

Sakura truly was more observant, as girls often were. Through the torn opening in Karin's sleeve, she saw rows upon rows of bite marks!

Karin panicked and hurriedly tugged at the torn cloth to cover them up!

This was an eternal pain in her heart, as well as the source of her deep inferiority!

What girl did not want a pair of flawless, pale arms? But her...

Seeing Karin's reaction, Naruto quickly stepped forward and lifted her sleeve!

He was stunned by the dense bite marks covering her arm!