Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Orochimaru
Illusion?
No... It's killing intent.
Sasuke's eyes filled with crimson, the markings spread, and the Sharingan spun.
Sasuke was shocked and terrified.
He realized that this was an enemy far more formidable than Zabuza.
Haruno Sakura froze; she wanted to flee and was on the verge of breaking down. But seeing Naruto's silhouette ahead, and glancing at Sasuke beside her, she recalled his words from last night.
No, she had to be strong.
With difficulty, she raised her hand and tightly grasped the kunai.
In an instant.
The clash of metal resounded, sparks illuminating their eyes.
Naruto drew his blade, meeting the kunai strike.
He was also amazed.
So fast!
This person's speed was the fastest among all the ninjas he had faced.
The blade slashed again, and at the moment of contact.
"Hadō #11. Tsuzuri Raiden (綴雷電, Bound Lightning)."
Golden lightning flickered and conducted along the blade.
This technique was infallible against Taijutsu users.
But...
This grass ninja was clearly not an ordinary ninja; his reaction was extremely swift. Just as the lightning was about to reach his hand, a crackling sound was heard. His wrist disintegrated, bursting into a swarm of finger-thick small snakes. The lightning exploded, filling the air with a scorched meat scent.
It caused him no harm or impact.
"What kind of technique is that?" The grass ninja retreated, his expression uncertain and wary.
No hand seals...
It's not particularly remarkable; some simple techniques can achieve this level as well.
What was peculiar was the nature of this technique.
Even without in-depth study, his sharp eyes could tell at a glance that it was vastly different from regular "Lightning Release."
Naruto remained silent.
Chakra burst forth, and he dashed forward with Shunpo, slashing his blade.
The grass ninja formed hand seals for a summoning technique.
"Summoning: Snake!"
White smoke dispersed, and a large, blue-gray python appeared out of thin air, coiling around to shield its master.
The snake did not attack, only contracted defensively.
It was both an obstacle and a shield, adjusting its posture to maximize its size advantage, keeping Naruto at bay.
The grass ninja avoided close combat, deploying various ninjutsu.
He was not skilled in Taijutsu.
That bizarre Lightning Release was especially effective against close combat.
No need to seek trouble.
Naruto used Kido techniques, looking for opportunities to break through.
Sasuke strained to keep his eyes open, focusing intently.
But... even with the dual tomoe Sharingan activated, he still struggled to fully capture the details of their battle.
They were both too strong.
Suddenly.
He sensed something was wrong and was about to look to his left.
Naruto had already decisively abandoned the snake, raised his left arm, condensed a chakra light orb to minimize the damage from ninjutsu and kunai, and without hesitation, charged left, stabbing his sword into the ground.
The person in the ground dodged, emerging from within.
"Quite decisive..." The grass ninja raised his kunai, licking his lips, "You really want to protect your companions, huh."
"Aren't you afraid it's a feint?"
Naruto glanced at the wound on his arm, his expression unchanged: "I said before the exam, I will definitely protect my companions."
"Moreover, your target is the Sharingan."
Sasuke clenched his fists, hating his own powerlessness.
He stared at the blood on Naruto, his clothes stained red, the Sharingan seeming even more crimson.
"You really resemble your father." The grass ninja grinned hideously, "Nine-Tails kid, do you want to know who your father is?"
"Konoha didn't tell you."
"It's an answer that will surprise you."
The combination of "Nine-Tails" and "father" formed a truth named "revelation."
His voice was seductive, enticing.
Just waiting for the blond boy opposite to take the bait.
But Naruto remained unmoved: "Using psychological tactics to weaken the opponent doesn't work on me."
"Answers from your mouth are meaningless."
He raised his blade.
"You are stronger than me in my current state; if this continues, you will eventually achieve your goal."
"State your name."
"Not only as respect to me but also to you."
"You are the first ninja to make me use this power."
The grass ninja's pupils dilated, filled with disbelief and mixed with anticipation: "Could it be that you have already mastered that power?"
Sasuke frowned.
What does that sentence mean...
Does Naruto have a power he hasn't used yet?
He pondered.
A chant echoed from Naruto's mouth.
"Rage, Pain, Fear, Corruption..."
Crimson chakra oozed from his body, emanating an evil, menacing aura that enveloped the entire forest.
Sakura couldn't withstand this pressure and retreated involuntarily.
Sasuke was even more astonished.
He can get stronger!
The grass ninja licked his lips, greedily watching as Naruto was gradually enveloped by the Nine-Tails' chakra.
He had seen Uzumaki Kushina use the power of the Nine-Tails before.
But it was entirely different from the method Naruto was displaying now.
Why a blade?
Why incantations?
Just like those strange techniques earlier, they were by no means the abilities of a normal ninja.
The secrets held by the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails were truly fascinating.
His curiosity was piqued.
The final words of the chant resonated.
"Hear The Wailing Bloom!"
"Demon Fox Nine-Tails
Dark red chakra completely enveloped Naruto, who then swallowed this dark red blade, transforming into the fourth tail that swayed behind him.
"It is indeed a Tailed Beast transformation," the grass ninja whispered, "Can he still maintain his sanity?"
Naruto drew another blade: "You know a lot, were you once a ninja of Konoha?"
As he spoke, he closed the distance in an instant.
The grass ninja raised his kunai, barely intercepting—yet it had no effect, the blade was cleanly cut, the cut smooth, reflecting an eerie red light.
In his Tailed Beast form, Naruto's strength, speed, and chakra were amplified several times over.
The slashing attack continued without loss.
The grass ninja retreated, but it was too late.
The blade left a deep gash on his chest, the Tailed Beast chakra clinging to the wound like flames, starting to corrode and devour.
"Truly troublesome," the grass ninja muttered, glancing at his wound.
He extended his hands, forming an unconventional hand seal.
But it wasn't a technique to suppress his injury.
His neck suddenly elongated, flying towards Sasuke.
Naruto wouldn't give him the chance, leaping forward, slashing horizontally with the blade, catching it between his teeth, forcing the neck to retract, and in the blink of an eye, he was above the grass ninja's body. Naruto flipped his wrist, slashing down, and with a boom, dust and smoke billowed.
"Is the enemy... defeated?" Sakura cautiously asked.
Naruto stared into the smoke.
A mutilated body, half the head shattered, most of the bones in the body broken.
A fatal injury, for a normal person, would mean losing half their life.
But this person's chakra was fluctuating violently.
A hand pushed open the lips from inside the mouth, dragging the body, shedding like skin, wet and sticky, crawling out: "The power of a Tailed Beast is indeed troublesome."
"It seems I can't continue playing."
"What a pity, Sasuke, I wanted to give you a gift from your brother."
Sasuke shuddered as if struck by lightning.
Brother?
This guy knows that man!
Naruto wouldn't allow any further nonsense, decisively slashing.
The mutilated body was cut in two.
But no blood was seen, only countless tiny snakes surged inside and out of the body.
The man's voice came from all directions, indistinguishable in direction.
"Uchiha kid."
"If you crave power, if you desire revenge on Uchiha Itachi, come find me."
"The power of Uchiha Itachi... it surpasses both me and this Tailed Beast kid."
"And you, Uzumaki Naruto."
"You intrigue me greatly, if you want to know your father's identity, come find me too."
"I will answer all your questions."
"Remember my name well."
"Orochimaru!"
Naruto looked around, that man's presence was everywhere, similar spiritual signals drifting away rapidly in different directions.
He is really good at escaping...
Sasuke's expression was complex, still immersed in the name "Uchiha Itachi."
Sakura looked at Naruto with concern: "Naruto, are you alright now?"
Wrapped in dark red chakra, evil and ferocious, barely resembling a human.
This made her somewhat worried and a little scared.
Naruto raised his hand, gripping his abdomen, pulling out the Nine-Tails' chakra: "I'm fine."
The chakra solidified into a blade, slowly being withdrawn, returning to its "Nine-Tails" form.
~~~
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