After reading Meihui's lips, Orochimaru chuckled in spite of himself. He found Meihui's words rather amusing.
Teacher Hiruzen, you really have grown old. Your decisions went wrong long ago. Let me put an end to everything you've done.
That was what Orochimaru thought.
Still, he summoned a python. If he was going to put on an act, he might as well see it through.
Meihui and the others looked at the enormous python before them. Having fought Orochimaru for ages, Meihui declared that he was tired and wanted to slack off, leaving Naruto and Sasuke to deal with it.
Naruto and Sasuke found themselves at a loss, but they had no choice but to grit their teeth and fight.
Sasuke attacked first. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Naruto summoned his Shadow Clones too, giving the enormous python the full treatment. Their attacks barely scratched it.
Watching Naruto and Sasuke, Meihui couldn't help giving them a reminder.
"Are you two idiots? Use Chidori! Use Rasengan! Beat it up! What are you doing, giving it a massage?"
Both of them blushed with embarrassment at Meihui's scolding. The enormous python seemed to understand him too, and its gaze turned mocking as it looked at Naruto and Sasuke.
That made them both angry. Getting told off by a person was one thing, but what was with this snake looking down on them?
So they went straight for their big moves, serving up Rasengan and Chidori. With a combination of electrotherapy and a vigorous scrub, they blasted the enormous python apart.
Looking at Naruto and Sasuke, Meihui couldn't help remarking on their progress.
"Naruto already knows how to whip up a Rasengan, and Sasuke has learned Chidori too. He just doesn't have much stamina. A few Chidori and he's all worn out."
"Tsk, tsk. Why do I keep feeling like I've forgotten something?"
As Meihui stood off to the side thinking, he suddenly sensed a wave of malice, but it vanished almost immediately.
Something had happened to Sasuke, though.
"Ah!" Sasuke let out a strange cry and crouched down where he stood.
Beside him, Naruto was anxious. "Sasuke, are you okay?"
Meihui was curious about what had happened as well. Only after asking did he find out.
After the two of them had joined forces to kill the python, a little white snake had appeared and bitten Sasuke. He was still crouched there in pain.
Only then did Meihui remember that Orochimaru hadn't placed the Cursed Seal of Heaven on Sasuke yet. He'd thought Orochimaru had forgotten about it. The man really was greedy.
"What's wrong, Uchiha Sasuke? Where did the snake bite you?"
Meihui hadn't found a Cursed Seal mark on Sasuke's neck, so he asked.
"Ah, no, it's nothing..." Sasuke stammered without giving a clear answer, leaving Meihui puzzled. What was wrong with Uchiha Sasuke?
Still, he patiently explained things to Sasuke.
"If what bit you just now was a little white snake, you need to be careful. It might have been a clone of Orochimaru. Where exactly did it bite you?"
Hearing that, Sasuke realized how serious the situation was. His face flushed as he hesitantly answered.
"It bit... my butt."
"Huh? What? It bit... your butt?" Meihui still wasn't quite sure, but judging by Sasuke's reaction, he clearly wasn't joking. Meanwhile, Naruto was practically dying of laughter.
"Hahaha! Uchiha Sasuke, you actually got bitten on the butt by a snake! I can't take it! This is killing me!" Naruto rocked back and forth with laughter, tears streaming from his eyes.
It was Meihui who spoke up to stop him.
"Naruto, we're professionally trained. No matter how funny something is, we don't laugh-unless we can't help it. Pfft, hahaha!"
Meihui was struggling to keep a straight face too, but he still tried to hold it in, until his face turned bright red.
That left Sasuke thoroughly embarrassed.
Only when Meihui confirmed that it was the Cursed Seal of Heaven did he breathe a sigh of relief. At least it hadn't been a venomous snake. Otherwise, with the bite in that spot... tsk, tsk. That would have been the end of the Hokage's story.
Meihui finally calmed down, but Naruto was still laughing nonstop beside him. Even Meihui couldn't stand watching anymore.
"Ahem. Naruto, stop laughing. Keep it up and you'll have to suck the venom out for Sasuke."
The moment he said that, Naruto shut his mouth, though he still struggled to suppress his laughter.
Before you continue