Toru Kujyo looked at the two of them, especially the Uchiha pride and resolve in Sasuke's eyes, and gave a slight nod. Fine. Since Orochimaru's target is Sasuke, let him experience the pressure of being coveted firsthand. Perhaps it will draw out more of his potential.
"In that case," Toru Kujyo said, locking his gaze on Orochimaru again, his calm tone carrying an undeniable pressure, "let's see whether you have what it takes to take him from me."
Orochimaru gave a sickly laugh. "Hehehe... Interesting, so very interesting! Your courage and strength both deserve praise. But I don't have much time to play games with you." He glanced at Sasuke, urgency flickering briefly in his eyes. "I must leave my mark on him as soon as possible!"
Before his words had faded, Orochimaru abruptly vanished!
"Watch out!" Toru Kujyo barked. Almost simultaneously, his own figure blurred.
Thud!
With a dull impact, Toru Kujyo appeared directly in Orochimaru's path. A specially made kunai flickering with faint sparks of electricity had appeared in his hand, and he thrust it straight at Orochimaru's throat!
Fast! Too fast! Both Orochimaru's ambush and Toru Kujyo's interception were so fast that Naruto and Sasuke could barely follow them!
"Oh?" A trace of surprise flashed through Orochimaru's eyes. Facing this lightning-swift strike, he bent his head backward at an unnatural angle and spat something from his mouth!
Clang!
A silver flash shot from his mouth and struck the tip of the electrified kunai with perfect precision. It was a length of razor-sharp sword blade! The kunai snapped on impact!
Taking advantage of that brief delay, Orochimaru moved again, while Toru Kujyo vanished once more, as though dissolving into the air.
In that split second, Sasuke, who had remained on high alert, seized the fleeting opening! He leaped