"Naruto, I'm glad you're okay!"
"Sakura, don't worry. My only advantage is that I'm tough. This is nothing!"
Sasuke stared at Naruto right now. He was sure that this was Orochimaru. Although there were no flaws in his Transformation Jutsu, given his two lifetimes of experience, sometimes he knew Naruto better than Naruto himself!
Since all the actors were on the stage, the show had to go on. Moreover, the top priority now was to make Orochimaru more interested in him!
He pretended to discover Orochimaru's Disguise and punched the face that had just argued with him, venting his anger.
"Hey? How did you figure out it wasn't me? I thought my Transformation Jutsu was flawless, and there were no mistakes in my tone and expression."
Orochimaru stood up in a weird posture. Even after getting punched, there was no sign of annoyance on his face. Instead, there was a hint of appreciation.
"Smell!"
Sasuke used a very odd word to describe Naruto.
"Is there a special smell on him that I can't imitate?"
"That guy has an incorrigible stupid smell. No one else can reach that level except him!"
"Haha~ What a wonderful friendship."
Orochimaru's body twisted at an incredible angle. His eyes were full of desire as he looked at Sasuke's young body.
"No, this friendship is not wonderful at all!"
Sasuke shook his head and refused. They had just had an argument, and it was the first time he had been lectured by Naruto. He was very angry now!
Seeing such an excellent vessel, Orochimaru couldn't help but laugh even more eerily. He widened his eyes, and a strong killing intent radiated from his body, scaring the surrounding birds and beasts away. Under the influence of this aura, Sakura stood there blankly, closed her eyes, and passed out.
Sasuke picked up Sakura and dodged Orochimaru's next attack.
He was really curious about Sasuke. Why could this kid look so relaxed and move around freely under his intense killing intent?
The two quickly dashed through the forest. Orochimaru's lower body transformed into a snake and attacked rapidly in the forest, but Sasuke could always dodge skillfully.
"It's no fun to keep going like this. Let's have an open talk?"
Seeing that the situation was about right, Sasuke stopped and looked at Orochimaru. There was no trace of fear in his eyes.
"Talk?! What an interesting kid. Do you know who I am and still dare to talk to me?"
"Your goal is to get the Scroll, right? If you want it, I'll give it to you. If we keep fighting like this, it'll only cause more casualties, right?"
Sasuke took out the group's Heavenly Scroll from his backpack and tossed it high into the air.
Orochimaru thought Sasuke's attitude was nothing like that of someone surrendering the Scroll for mercy.
Just as he was wondering if he should catch it, Naruto quickly soared through the air and stuffed the Scroll into his arms.
"Sasuke, you bastard! How could you so easily hand over your own Scroll to others?"
Naruto glared at Sasuke angrily!
He doesn't know how strong this rival is in front of him, but giving up so easily simply goes against his Ninja Way!
Seeing Naruto's arrogant attitude, he didn't plan to explain much. He just wrinkled his nose slightly in disgust and took a step back.
"Where have you been? You stink!"
................
As soon as Naruto was knocked away, a huge snake emerged behind him when he landed. The snake opened its jaws wide and swallowed him whole. Naruto didn't even have time to react.
When he was about to be digested in the snake's belly, somehow he thought of the happy life in the past few years and the way he quarreled with Sasuke.
They haven't made up yet. He couldn't just die like this! Naruto summoned up his courage. He formed hand seals. He had casually glanced at a jutsu in the Scroll of Seals before and had never used it. Now he decided to give it a try!
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu"
Hundreds of Naruto clones instantly burst open the giant snake's belly, and Naruto ran out of it. However, the unpleasant digestive fluid on his body just wouldn't go away.
"Stop changing the subject! We're discussing why you gave away your scroll so easily!"
Sasuke shrugged indifferently.
"Can't you see for yourself? The strength gap is too big. Of course, I chose to give away the scroll to save my life! After all, we can get the scroll again, but there's only one life. Once it's gone, it's gone!"
"Sasuke! You bastard!"
Naruto was filled with anger. He couldn't understand why Sasuke seemed to have changed completely since their quarrel. He never thought Sasuke would do something like giving away the scroll to save his life.
"Even if you're glaring at me angrily now, it won't help. In terms of a ninja's ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, which can you do better than the rival in front of you? Is it because of your impulsiveness, carelessness, and being sloppy?"
"Come to your senses, Naruto. You're still very weak! In front of the strong, you can only act submissively! You're not qualified to stand with me and discuss whether I'm right or wrong!"
Sasuke's words were like the sharpest blades piercing into Naruto's heart.
Why?
Was it because of their recent quarrel that his words were so harsh? That he didn't care at all about hurting his feelings?
Looking at this meaningless quarrel, Orochimaru should have intervened earlier, but their nonchalant attitudes alerted his instinct as a creature.
What kind of act were these two putting on? He was completely confused. This kid was the Jinchūriki of the Nine - Tailed Fox, right? Now he was adopted by the Uchiha clan and was said to be a rare genius.
It seemed that his reputation didn't match his actual abilities.
"Sorry to interrupt your conversation. I'm in a hurry, so please disappear from here, you two!"
Orochimaru flashed towards Naruto. Just as his attack was about to land, Naruto waved his hand and easily blocked it.
Just now, stimulated by Sasuke's words, the chakra of the Nine - Tailed Fox in his body kept overflowing. The red chakra cloak with three prominent fox tails behind him transformed into big hands that tightly grabbed Orochimaru.
"Um!"
His entire body contorted violently, and his internal organs were on the verge of being crushed. He opened his mouth, and his true form emerged from it.
Looking at the three - tailed Nine - Tailed Fox cloak, he sneered irritably. "That Nine - Tailed brat is such a headache!"
Sasuke stood aside, looking at all this calmly on the surface, but inside he couldn't help worrying about the Chakra Reserves Amount leaked by the three - tailed form. Perhaps it would draw the attention of Konoha's high - ranking officials. He still intended to contact Orochimaru and didn't want to be detected so soon.
"Tsk, what a hassle!"
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