Orochimaru frowned slightly. "Threads so fine they're almost invisible to the naked eye… Is this manipulation through steel wires?"
"As expected of Sasuke," he continued calmly. "Your shuriken technique is excellent."
That said, such tricks were far from enough to truly threaten him.
With a light somersault, Orochimaru easily escaped the initial trap. However, Sasuke's real killing move was never meant to be the opening act—it was hidden within the final blade.
"The Sharingan Windmill… Three Wings!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The last concealed shuriken slammed violently into Orochimaru's body. Thick steel wires followed, wrapping around him in an instant and pinning him firmly against the trunk of a massive tree.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Raging flames burst forth, swallowing Orochimaru whole. His body appeared to dry, crack, and melt like wax exposed to an inferno.
"Ahhh—!"
The scream that echoed through the forest was chilling, twisted, and utterly inhuman.
Panting heavily, Sasuke was just about to relax—just for a moment—
When Orochimaru's body suddenly emerged from a nearby pool of mud.
Unscathed. Untouched.
"What?!" Sasuke's pupils shrank violently. "How is that possible…?"
Orochimaru chuckled softly, his laughter low and sinister. "A beautiful shuriken technique—one that only the Sharingan can perform. When paired with such powerful Fire Release…"
He fixed his snake-like eyes on Sasuke.
"Sasuke… I truly did not misjudge you."
Sasuke stared at the figure before him in disbelief.
This wasn't human.
No matter how he looked at it, the being standing there defied all common sense. Being targeted by such a monster filled Sasuke with instinctive terror, a fear that sank deep into his bones.
Orochimaru stepped forward.
Sasuke stepped back.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
"Come, Sasuke…" Orochimaru's voice was soft, coaxing, almost affectionate. "Become my vessel. Only by combining our power can we kill that man."
"Stop resisting. Stop hesitating."
In that instant, memories from years ago surged back into Sasuke's mind—the night soaked in blood and despair.
"No!" Sasuke roared. "Don't come any closer!"
Orochimaru smiled, much like a cat savoring the panic of a cornered mouse.
And then—
He stopped.
Two figures stood between him and Sasuke.
Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "What is this?"
"Are you determined to stand in my way?"
Sasuke looked at the backs shielding him, his emotions in turmoil. "…Naruto… Hinata…"
For the first time in his despair, someone stood in front of him without hesitation.
He was no longer alone.
Orochimaru sighed faintly. "Naruto… I don't want to kill you."
"Then get out of here!" Naruto shouted.
Orochimaru laughed mockingly and turned his gaze toward Hinata.
"Those eyes… the Byakugan? A member of the Hyuga Clan."
He smiled thinly. "Unfortunately, you don't interest me."
Hinata activated her Byakugan and assumed her stance.
"It doesn't matter," she said, her voice trembling yet firm. "I will never let you take Sasuke!"
Orochimaru licked his lips, eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "How touching. Truly."
"Sadly, you children are far too naive to stop me."
Boom—
Boom!
Orochimaru didn't move a muscle. Instead, he unleashed his killing intent.
Pure, overwhelming terror flooded the forest.
Naruto and Hinata felt as if their bodies were being torn apart, their vision splintering, blood roaring in their ears. This was fear so profound it could only be understood by experiencing it firsthand.
Even Kakashi Hatake would have been unable to stop this pressure.
Hinata staggered back, her eyes unfocused. Naruto's vision blurred; his knees buckled.
But just before he fell—
Naruto stepped forward.
Forward.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted sharply. "What…?"
"He resisted my killing intent?"
"What kind of child is this?"
The Naruto of today was no longer the dead last.
He had endured countless Lightning Release trials under the system's guidance, survived repeated brushes with death, and crossed lines that could never be erased.
He had killed.
Mizuki.
Zabuza Momochi.
Haku.
The weight of taking a life reshaped one's understanding of death.
Naruto was no longer an innocent child.
He was a ninja.
A real ninja.
Though his body trembled beneath Orochimaru's aura, Naruto refused to retreat.
Hinata and Sasuke stared at him in shock.
"Naruto-kun…"
"Why… why can he still move?" Sasuke whispered.
This was the second time.
The second time Naruto had risked his life for him.
This time, Sasuke felt gratitude instead of resentment.
Being protected… was comforting.
Naruto roared as his chakra erupted violently, his will crashing head-on against Orochimaru's killing intent.
Hinata and Sasuke felt their minds clear.
Orochimaru stared at Naruto in disbelief. "This brat…"
Was it the Nine-Tails?
No.
It was Naruto himself.
"What kind of hell has he endured…?"
"I will never let you take anyone from Team Seven!" Naruto shouted.
"Hinata! Sasuke!"
"Let's go—together!"
"Zabuza's Water Clone!"
Both of them froze.
They understood.
"I'm with you, Naruto-kun!"
"…Yeah."
In that moment, Team Seven's bond reached new heights.
"Wind Release: Strong Wind Hand!"
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Protective Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Their combined power surpassed even the battle in the Land of Waves.
Wind howled. Flames roared.
A colossal fire dragon rose into the sky, devouring everything in its path.
The forest screamed.
With a deafening explosion, Orochimaru—and the land itself—was reduced to scorched ruins.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)