章節 41: NTLHOS:Chapter 41: Confronting the Snake Sannin
Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm
NTLHOS:Chapter 41: Confronting the Snake Sannin
Author's Note:
I had an absolute blast writing this chapter and pouring my heart into every moment! At nearly 7,000 words, it's a big one, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it. Please, no spoilers for this or the upcoming chapter—let's keep the suspense alive! I'd love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to like and comment to let me know how you felt about this intense ride!
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NTLHS Chapter 42: The Fires Of The Uzumaki IS OUT! (7-8K LONG)
NTLHOS: Chapter 43: Mother Daughter Duo IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 44 - The Stage Is Set IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 45: The Gambit Unveiled IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 46: ChangingAllegiance IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 47- The Gathering Storm Clouds IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 48: So the High Council Begins! IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 49: Political Madness Unleashed IS OUT !
Finalllllly Chapter 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NTLHOS: Chapter 50: The Mad Strategist's Gambit IS OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NTLHOS: Chapter 51: WHY The Queen's Gambit? IS OUT !!!!!!!
"The man who faces death unflinching is never truly defeated, for even in the jaws of the serpent, hope endures."
–Tyrion Lannister
HAPPY READING
Last time on NLTHOS:
Orochimaru—the Snake Sannin. The rogue ninja whose name had long been synonymous with terror, darkness, and twisted experiments. His presence in the shinobi world had left a trail of nightmares, his vile ambitions staining the Hidden Leaf's history. A ghost who haunted the shadows, his name was whispered with fear among those who had witnessed or heard tales of his monstrous exploits.
And now, he was here.
Naruto's breath caught as his eyes locked onto something—or rather, someone—that made his blood run cold. It wasn't just the sinister figure of Orochimaru that had unsettled him; it was the sight of the woman on the stone table. Strapped down, writhing in agony, her long red hair, streaked with gray, clung to her sweat-soaked face, which was twisted in pure torment. Her body convulsed under the torturous hands of the robed figures that surrounded her, performing their vile experiments without the slightest hint of anesthesia or mercy. Her screams, hoarse and broken, echoed through the dark chamber, filling the air with a horror that turned Naruto's stomach.
She was an Uzumaki. One of his clan. His blood. The realization struck him like a physical blow. He was not alone in the world. This woman, this tortured soul, shared the same lineage, the same blood that coursed through his veins. The pain and torment she endured fueled an anger so deep and primal within him that he saw red. He would not—could not—let this stand.
-Now:
Anko had located the noble's nephew and had successfully retrieved him to the designated meeting point. Sozin and Carlos were already there, hidden in the shadows, waiting for Naruto to join them. They remained silent, sensing that something darker than they had anticipated was at play. The air was thick with tension as they waited in their crouched positions, hands on their weapons, prepared for anything.
After what felt like an eternity, approximately half an hour of waiting, Naruto appeared at the rendezvous point. His eyes, weary but sharp, scanned the area before he motioned for everyone to gather in a tight circle. They crouched low, their bodies close to the ground, every movement cautious and deliberate.
"What took you so long, Captain?" Anko whispered, her voice tense with irritation and concern. She was never one to tolerate delays, especially when something felt so wrong.
Naruto raised his hand, motioning for complete silence. His eyes darkened with grave seriousness as he leaned in closer, his voice barely audible. "I found who's behind all this," he said, his tone heavy with the weight of the information. "It's Orochimaru, the Snake Sannin."
Sozin's eyes widened in disbelief. "Orochimaru is here?"
Naruto nodded grimly. "Yes."
Anko's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat. Her fists clenched instinctively, knuckles turning white. The rest of the team stiffened, equal parts shocked and unsettled. Sozin cursed under his breath. "Good thing we didn't act too hastily and go for the kill," he muttered. "If it weren't for your personal stealth seals, we might've already been caught. We don't stand a chance against someone of Orochimaru's caliber if we engage recklessly."
Naruto's gaze flickered with weariness and something else that silenced them all. "Listen carefully," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding. "Don't ask any questions. Just follow my orders to the letter. It's for plausible deniability. If things go south, we need a story that won't implicate us any further."
The seriousness of his tone made the team hold their breath. Anko knew better than anyone just how dangerous Orochimaru could be, having once been his apprentice. His abilities, particularly his unparalleled sensory skills, made him nearly impossible to deceive. Even with Naruto's over-the-top precautions and seals, they had been fortunate to avoid detection so far.
"I'm not the original Naruto," Naruto continued, his eyes narrowing. "I'm a clone. The real me is already engaging Orochimaru since he found me."
Sozin, stunned, almost interrupted before catching himself. He couldn't sense any battle—no chakra disturbances, no sounds of conflict.
Before Sozin could retort, Naruto held up his hand, signaling for silence. He met Sozin's gaze with a steely expression. "Understand this, Tiger," Naruto said, stressing each word carefully. "I am engaging Orochimaru right now."
Sozin immediately understood the implication—this was not an ANBU situation. Technically, he was Naruto's senior. Yet Naruto pulling rank meant that, officially, they were not supposed to know anything beyond what he was telling them. Whatever happened tonight, that would be the official story recorded in the mission files. Naruto would take sole responsibility for his actions, keeping the rest of the team in the clear.
"If—or when—the base starts collapsing," Naruto continued, his voice firm, "you're to escape with the target to the nearest hideout. Free as many prisoners as you can without raising suspicion, but don't linger. Prioritize your escape."
Carlos, unsettled by the gravity of the situation, asked quietly, "What about you, Captain?"
Naruto's voice was steady, but there was a grim edge to it. "I'll be fine. Fourteen of my clones are incapacitating the guards and shinobi in the area; it's mostly done. The original me is still holding off Orochimaru," he stressed again, pausing before adding with dark inflection, "If I don't make it, you'll report that I was found by Orochimaru, and that the Grass Village is working with him."
Naruto quickly outlined the layout of the underground facility, describing where he had already taken out Root agents and pinpointing the locations of the prisoners. His orders were clear: free the prisoners quietly, but do not linger. Escape with the target and let fate decide the rest.
"Don't blow your cover at any cost," Naruto commanded, his voice filled with finality. "We can't afford to fail this mission."
Naruto's clone puffed out of existence in a swirl of smoke, and the memories of the encounter flooded into the real Naruto's mind. He was crouched on a high railing in the dimly lit underground chamber, carefully etching the last strokes of a complex seal on a slip of parchment. His senses remained sharp, knowing that he was deep in the snake's lair—both literally and metaphorically.
The atmosphere was suffocating, the stench of rot and chemicals filling the stale air. The stone walls were lined with ancient carvings, illuminated only by the faint glow of scattered torches. Every detail seemed deliberate, every shadow seemed to conceal hidden danger.
Naruto paused after finishing the final stroke of the seal. His mind raced, knowing that a sneak attack on someone like Orochimaru, a master ofKiller Intent, would be futile. Orochimaru could sense even the faintest flicker of hostile intent like a viper tasting the air. Carefully, Naruto rolled up the seal and tucked it into his pouch, lowering the effectiveness of his stealth seals ever so slightly, allowing a faint trace of his chakra to be detected. He couldn't risk being caught off guard; he needed to play his cards wisely.
As he moved again, silently planting seals, his progress was halted by a bone-chilling sound—a slow, deliberate chuckle echoing through the chamber, dripping with malice and amusement.
"Kukuku… We have a guest in my lair, eh… Naruto-kun?" Orochimaru's voice slithered through the darkness, sending shivers down Naruto's spine.
Naruto turned his head toward the voice. There, standing on an elevated platform, Orochimaru stared down at him with gleaming, snake-like eyes. His pale, waxen skin seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. The grin stretching across his thin lips was unsettling, a mockery of human expression.
Orochimaru's long black hair cascaded around his shoulders, his head tilting slightly as if examining Naruto like prey caught in a trap. His snake-like eyes narrowed with sinister amusement as his hand extended outward. From his sleeve, a serpentine hand shot out, elongating unnaturally toward Naruto. The speed was terrifying, and the snake-like appendage snapped through the railing Naruto had been perched on.
Naruto leaped down, twisting his body mid-air to control his descent. He landed lightly on his feet, quickly finding his balance as splinters from the broken railing rained around him.
As soon as Naruto landed, Orochimaru struck again, this time pulling his famed sword,Kusanagi no Tsurugi—the Sword of the Nature King—from his mouth with a sickening, almost casual ease. The sight was grotesque, the legendary blade glinting ominously as it slid from Orochimaru's lips like a serpent's fang.
Naruto wasted no time unsealing his own weapon—Arashi no Megami, the Goddess of Storms—from the seal on his palm. The katana gleamed with a faint blue aura as he channelled his chakra into it, enhancing the blade's cutting edge. It hummed in his hands, ready to meet Orochimaru's infamous sword.
For a moment, the two shinobi sized each other up, both poised to strike.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his mind sharp. "How do you know me?" he asked, trying to buy time while assessing Orochimaru's stance.
Orochimaru laughed, a sound that was equal parts amusement and menace. "Oh, Naruto-kun, you're causing quite the waves these days. Not many can boast of defying my sensei in his own village and live to tell the tale. The world might swallow up the bullshit of you being a product of my experiments, but I know what I have created… And even I would not be foolish enough to poke your mother. She was one of the few I can respect for her ruthlessness."
Naruto's breath caught. "What…?" His voice wavered, caught off guard by the snake's words. His mother…?
Orochimaru's smile widened, his pale face taking on an even more eerie cast. "Oh yes, your mother, the Kushina Uzumaki who defied system like no one else dared challenge—not even I, for all my rogue ways, would provoke the feudal lords. And your mother, well… she painted the world red to reflect the pain and loss."
Naruto felt a surge of anger boiling within him. Orochimaru spoke of his mother as if she were some ruthless, power-hungry figure. But the image clashed violently with the loving image he held of her—an image of sacrifice and warmth. However, he knew there was a sliver of truth in Orochimaru's words; his mother had been a powerful and fierce kunoichi who fought relentlessly for what she believed in, which may or may not have been good for others, especially all the people involved in Uzu's destruction.
Then Orochimaru's gaze drifted down to Naruto's sword. His eyes gleamed with a hungry, almost lustful glint. "KuKuKu... Is that Lord Ashina's sword I see?" Orochimaru's voice slithered with dark intrigue.
The two shinobi prepared for the inevitable clash.
Orochimaru's hands twitched, and then he switched to his bizarre, unnatural sword style, grasping the hilt of theKusanagiwith his teeth. The sight was disturbing—Orochimaru's limbs moved with an almost serpentine grace, twisting and coiling in ways that defied the normal limits of human anatomy. His hands remained free, twitching in anticipation of what was to come.
Naruto remained calm, his grip steady onArashi no Megami. He knew better than to underestimate Orochimaru, whose fluid movements seemed to mimic that of a snake's coils. The Sannin's attacks would be unpredictable, his strikes coming from bizarre angles and with devastating precision.
The battle began in a flash.
Orochimaru lunged forward with terrifying speed, theKusanagi (Grasscutter)slicing through the air with a deadly whistle. Naruto broughtArashi no Megami (Goddess of Storms)up just in time, the two blades clashing with a resonant metallic ring. The impact sent a shockwave through Naruto's arms, the force behind Orochimaru's attack far greater than anticipated. Sparks flew from the blades as Naruto pushed back, his feet grinding against the stone floor, barely holding his ground.
"Your reflexes are impressive, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru hissed around the sword in his mouth, his voice muffled but still seething with malice. "Just like your cursed father. I can see why they've kept you so well protected."
Naruto's expression remained calm, but his mind was racing. Orochimaru's movements were like liquid—his body bending and twisting in ways that should have been impossible. TheKusanagiflashed in the dim light as Orochimaru pressed his attack, his swordplay unorthodox and chaotic. He struck from odd angles, the blade coming at Naruto in ways no normal swordsman would ever attempt.
Naruto parried and countered with precision, his focus unwavering as he infused his sword with his trademark red lightning.Arashi no Megamicrackled with fierce energy, the crimson lightning dancing dangerously along the blade's edge, each strike charged with lethal precision. Orochimaru's predatory grin widened at the sight.
"Red lightning... the only lightning superior to the black," Orochimaru laughed, his voice filled with twisted glee. "KuKuKu… how delightful."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. He kept his storm release techniques in reserve, knowing that Orochimaru was not an opponent to be underestimated. The power coursing through his katana hummed with intensity, giving him a vital edge against the Sannin's unrelenting strikes. But this battle was far more than a simple clash of swords—it was a war of instincts, precision, and strategy.
Every time Orochimaru shifted his stance, Naruto had to anticipate more than just the next blade strike. Orochimaru's entire body was a weapon, each movement fluid and serpentine. His limbs moved with an unnatural grace, slithering through the air like vipers poised to strike. Orochimaru lashed out with terrifying speed, his hands snapping toward Naruto like whips, each attempt a calculated move to ensnare him.
As Orochimaru's left hand shot forward with snake-like speed, aiming for Naruto's wrist, Naruto saw the attack coming. He sidestepped at the last second and countered with a swift horizontal slash.Arashi no Megami'sedge barely missed Orochimaru's chest as the Sannin bent backward unnaturally, his spine curving like rubber.
"Such finesse," Orochimaru mused, his tongue flicking out between his lips as he grinned. "But I wonder… how long can you last against me, eh, Naruto-kun? Your will is strong, but not strong enough."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. He could feel Orochimaru probing him, testing his limits—not just physically, but mentally as well. But Naruto wasn't the same boy he had been—he was a shinobi forged through battle and fire.
Orochimaru lashed out again, this time with a flurry of strikes that came from all directions—his sword slashing, his hands reaching, his feet even kicking with deadly precision. It was a bizarre but highly effective style of fighting, designed to overwhelm his opponent with a relentless barrage of attacks from unpredictable angles.
Naruto moved swiftly, blocking theKusanagiwithMegamiwhile simultaneously dodging Orochimaru's grasping hands. The red lightning around his sword crackled with intensity, each parry sending jolts of electricity through the air. Orochimaru's movements were fast and fluid, but Naruto's blade kept up, the storm-infused chakra giving him the speed and strength to match Orochimaru's ferocity.
Just as Naruto anticipated another sword strike, Orochimaru's foot swung low, catching him in the stomach and sending him flying backward. Naruto twisted in the air, regaining his balance and landing on his feet. His eyes blazed with renewed determination as he charged forward again, his sword coated in the crackling energy of his storm release. The red lightning flared along the length ofArashi no Megami, casting a crimson glow around the blade.
Orochimaru smirked, his snake-like eyes watching Naruto's approach with a mixture of amusement and anticipation. He twisted his body in an unnatural arc, bringing theKusanagiup in a quick, precise thrust aimed directly at Naruto's heart. Naruto knew from his ANBU files that theKusanagiwas not just a blade—it was one of the most poisonous substances known to exist. Even a glancing blow from it could spell disaster.
Naruto's eyes sharpened, his focus unbreakable. He swungArashi no Megamidownward in a sharp arc, deflecting Orochimaru's thrust with a resounding clang. Sparks erupted from the contact, and Naruto didn't hesitate. He brought his foot up in a swift, powerful kick, connecting with Orochimaru's midsection.
Orochimaru was sent skidding back across the stone floor, but the Sannin recovered with eerie grace. His grin never faltered, and he straightened up as if nothing had happened.
"Very good… very good, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru purred then laughed with manic glee, his voice filled with a disturbing mixture of delight and malice. "You're shaping into a fine specimen. It makes me want to test you even more thoroughly… in my lab, of course."
Naruto's was clam. "I'm not here for your games, Sanin."
"Ah, but you are," Orochimaru replied with a mocking laugh, his eyes gleaming with wicked amusement. "Whether you realize it or not, you've entered my domain. And here… you play by my rules."
Naruto knelt on one knee, his breath coming in ragged gasps as sweat dripped from his brow. His grip onArashi no Megamitightened, the red lightning crackling fiercely around the blade. He knew the battle with Orochimaru was far from over. The Sannin watched him closely, eyes gleaming with sinister curiosity, his twisted grin never fading.
Then, to Orochimaru's astonishment, Naruto did something unexpected. Without moving a finger, he sealedArashi no Megamiinto his palm with nothing but sheer intent—no hand signs, no visible chakra flow. The sword disappeared into his hand in a flash of light, leaving Orochimaru momentarily stunned.
Naruto's breath steadied as he made three rapid hand seals, his eyes never leaving Orochimaru's. His gaze hardened, and a knowing smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. He thrust his open palm to the ground, his other hand bracing against his elbow for stability. As his chakra surged, his voice rang out with calm intensity.
"Storm Release: Palm of Annihilation (Ranton: Hakai no Shō!)"
The ground beneath Naruto's palm trembled violently as red plasma energy, crackling with deadly lightning, exploded outward from the point of contact. The energy twisted and surged like a raging tempest, its glow bathing the chamber in an ominous crimson light. The very air around Naruto hummed with power as the destructive force of the jutsu expanded, tearing through the stone floor and spreading outward like a shockwave.
The plasma energy coiled and writhed as it made contact with the ground, and then—like an unleashed storm—it detonated. The stone floor cracked and shattered as enormous fissures split open beneath Orochimaru's feet, sending jagged pieces of rock flying in every direction. The air rippled with the intensity of the blast as the ground heaved and buckled under the overwhelming force of the jutsu.
Orochimaru's eyes widened in surprise at the power of the high S-rank jutsu as the very foundation of his hidden laboratory began to crumble around him. His smile faltered as the chamber shook violently, the walls cracking under the immense pressure. The ceiling began to collapse, raining down massive chunks of stone and debris as Naruto's jutsu tore the base apart from the inside out.
The sheer force of the attack was staggering. Red lightning danced across the shattered remains of the floor, plasma arcs tearing through everything in their path. The underground chamber began to implode as pillars snapped like twigs, and entire sections of the base collapsed in on themselves. The once-ominous laboratory was now a chaotic maelstrom of destruction, with walls caving in and floors giving way under the might of Naruto's Storm Release.
Orochimaru, caught off guard, was forced to leap back as the ground beneath him crumbled into a yawning chasm. His snake-like reflexes allowed him to avoid being swallowed by the collapse, but the grin on his face had faded into a thin line of displeasure.
The air was filled with dust and debris as the base continued to collapse, the sounds of grinding stone and cracking foundations echoing through the ruins. In mere moments, what had been a sprawling underground complex was reduced to a crumbling wreck, buried under tons of rock and rubble.
Naruto knelt, breathing heavily, but still very much in control of the battlefield. His chest rose and fell with the genuine effort he had exerted during the attack, though much of his earlier panting had been a ruse to deceive Orochimaru into underestimating him. Now, standing amidst the wreckage of the crumbling underground lab as he was in the metaphorical eye of the storm, Naruto felt the flickering remnants of his Storm Release energy fading into the air. The base was almost completely obliterated, the vast laboratory reduced to little more than debris and dust.
For a brief moment, Naruto allowed himself a sense of accomplishment. He had destroyed the sinister laboratory, buying precious time for his team and clones to rescue the Uzumaki woman and the other prisoners. But his victory was short-lived.
The rubble shifted, and from within the collapsed stones and broken beams, a figure emerged. It was Orochimaru—battered and bloodied, but unmistakably alive. His skin was burned and charred in places from the red lightning, and chunks of flesh had been stripped away by the plasmic energy that had coursed through the chamber, yet he was not even out of breath. His body, however, was already beginning to regenerate, the wounds sealing themselves up with sickening ease. The man's resilience was as horrifying as it was unnatural.
Naruto's eyes narrowed in disgust as Orochimaru forced himself free from the debris. But before he could react, something even more disturbing happened. Orochimaru's body convulsed, and a second, unharmed Orochimaru emerged from the remains of the first, slithering out of his ruined flesh like a snake shedding its skin. It was a grotesque display of regeneration.
Naruto quickly assessed the situation. He noticed that while Orochimaru had restored himself to full strength, his chakra levels had dropped significantly. Orochimaru had taken a hit—his chakra reserves had been cut by at least 20 percent, but he still possessed enough power to be dangerous.
The Snake Sannin, now fully restored, rose to his feet with an unsettling fluidity, his smile broadening into something far more sinister and malevolent. His voice, thick with dark amusement, reverberated through the chamber.
"Kukuku… Storm Release, hmm?" Orochimaru hissed, his tone laced with eerie delight. "You continue to surprise me, Naruto-kun. But the real question is… can you truly keep up?" His voice dropped, growing darker, more dangerous. "Do you even comprehend the depth of your actions? You've annihilated some of my most prized creations… the pinnacle of my experimentation," he snarled, his gaze darkening with a flash of anger. But just as quickly, a chilling chuckle escaped his lips, his eyes gleaming with perverse amusement. "Yet I must confess, you are far more intriguing than anything I've ever created. Far more destructive. Perhaps, Naruto-kun… you could be the perfect replacement for all that I've lost today."
Naruto remained silent, his expression cold and resolute. He knew that Orochimaru was trying to provoke him, trying to pull him into a deeper confrontation. But Naruto was no fool—he had come here with a mission. He had achieved part of that mission by destroying the lab.
Naruto's gaze remained locked on Orochimaru, his mind racing through potential strategies. He had to keep the Sannin occupied long enough for his team and clones to finish their tasks.
As Orochimaru stalked toward him, his movements unnervingly smooth and predatory, Naruto subtly shifted his stance, preparing for whatever came next. Orochimaru had proven to be a formidable opponent—one who could not only withstand one of his most powerful jutsu but who could regenerate from even the most devastating of attacks. This fight wasn't just about strength; it was about endurance and strategy.
-Orochimaru's voice slithered through the tense air, his tone gleeful and curious. "KuKuKu… The long-lost abilities of the Uzumaki clan resurface in you, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru mused, his eyes gleaming with interest as he circled Naruto. "Such incredible vitality and chakra reserves… a true testament to your lineage. Your chakra control is remarkable. You are a living, breathing legacy of the Uzumaki."
Naruto's gaze narrowed, remaining focused as he sensed Orochimaru's words were more than just admiration—they were calculated probes, designed to unsettle him.
Orochimaru's grin stretched even wider, a gleam of twisted curiosity lighting up his snake-like eyes. "Could it be… solely your mother's bloodline at work here? Or perhaps… the melding of the Kyuubi's chakra with her potent Uzumaki life force? Maybe there's something more… something tied to your father. His heritage is a mystery to me, but I'm certain my sensei knew it well," he hissed, his voice dripping with sinister amusement. "Surely, you've realized it by now, haven't you? The fusion of a jinchūriki's chakra and the Uzumaki clan's unparalleled vitality… such a rare and fascinating combination." A dark chuckle rumbled from his throat. "Oh yes, my sensei might have kept secrets from me, but I'm certain he was well aware of the true potential locked within your bloodline."
"KuKuKu... No matter," Orochimaru hissed. "Shall we test just how far those Uzumaki abilities have come?"
With a flick of his fingers, Orochimaru unleashedKanashibari no Jutsu (Temporary Paralysis Technique), his dark chakra filling the air, paralyzing Naruto's body with an oppressive weight. The sheer force of Orochimaru's killing intent flooded the space, making it feel as though the air itself had turned to iron. Naruto's muscles locked up, his breath hitched in his throat as if an invisible hand was squeezing the life from him.
"Let's see how long you can withstand this," Orochimaru sneered, his grin widening as Naruto's body trembled under the crushing weight of the jutsu.
(Ibiki image of orochimaru)
But Naruto wasn't easily subdued. He could feel Orochimaru's malevolent chakra trying to crush his spirit, but deep inside him, his own immense reserves of chakra swelled. The Uzumaki blood that coursed through his veins surged, and Naruto began to push back against the oppressive force with sheer willpower. His own chakra, potent and defiant, exploded outward like a tidal wave.
With a roar, Naruto broke free of the paralysis, his chakra flaring around him like a violent storm. The oppressive weight of Orochimaru's killing intent shattered, and Naruto stood up, his breath heavy.
Orochimaru's grin twisted into something far more malicious. "Impressive, Naruto-kun. But let's see how you handle this…"
In a flash, Orochimaru weaved a series of hand signs with incredible speed."Fūton: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough)!"A truly massive gust of wind, with sharp blades, tore through the air toward Naruto, threatening to slice him apart.
Naruto's reaction was immediate."Suiton: Suijinheki (Water Release: Water Formation Wall)!"With a single fluid motion and unsealing of his water storage seal, he summoned a towering wall of water to block the incoming wind blades. The collision of elements sent a shockwave through the chamber, water and wind clashing in a chaotic spray of droplets and gusts.
But Orochimaru wasn't done. In the midst of the collision, he leaped forward, hisKusanagiblade flashing as he lunged toward Naruto, splitting the water wall in two.
Naruto sensed the strike, meeting it with his own blade,Arashi no Megami, now crackling with red plasma of storm release. The two blades clashed with a deafening ring, sparks flying as plasmic energy and lightning crackled between them. Orochimaru, undeterred, twisted his body with snake-like fluidity, launching a second strike with terrifying speed.
Naruto countered with a swift parry, redirecting the blade just in time. As the blades separated, Orochimaru's hand lashed out, aiming for Naruto's neck with deadly intent. But Naruto was faster, ducking under the attack and countering with a red lightning-coated powerful knee to Orochimaru's midsection.
The blow landed with a sickening thud, sending Orochimaru skidding back, but his body twisted unnaturally mid-air, his spine bending in a grotesque arc as he recovered with ease. Orochimaru grinned once more, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Raiton: Raijin Bunya (Lightning Release: Thunder God Net!)" Naruto shouted, sending a web of red lightning crackling across the floor, racing toward Orochimaru. The jagged bolts surged toward the Snake Sannin, aiming to trap him in an electrified net.
But Orochimaru, with his impossibly flexible body, contorted himself out of the path of the lightning. His limbs seemed to dislocate and reassemble at will, evading the attack with unnatural precision. He formed a series of hand seals in quick succession."Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique)!"
A humongous sphere of fire erupted from Orochimaru's mouth, barrelling toward Naruto with terrifying speed.
Naruto's hands moved in a blur."Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu (Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique)!"A torrent of water surged forward to meet the fireball, the two forces colliding with explosive force. Steam filled the chamber as the water and fire cancelled each other out, leaving the air thick and suffocating.
But Naruto wasn't finished. His clones, hidden in the shadows, sprang into action. One launched a barrage of kunai infused with explosive tags while another weaved through a complex series of hand signs.
"Fūton: Shinkū Taigyoku (Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere)." A massive ball of compressed wind shot toward Orochimaru, threatening to crush him under its force.
Orochimaru dodged at the last second, but the wind sphere clipped him, sending him crashing into the wall with bone-jarring force. Dust and debris filled the air as Orochimaru struggled to regain his footing.
Naruto's clones pressed the attack, each of them performing their own ninjutsu in tandem—water, wind, and lightning intertwining in a deadly ballet. The air was filled with the sounds of clashing jutsu, and the chamber shook as powerful techniques were unleashed.
Orochimaru, though battered and bloodied, fought back with relentless ferocity. He countered Naruto's clones with swift, brutal precision, each movement calculated to cripple and kill. His hand-to-hand combat skills were as deadly as his ninjutsu, his strikes swift and lethal. The two engaged in a vicious exchange of blows, each attack met with equal force.
Naruto ducked under a high kick, driving his elbow into Orochimaru's ribs with enough force to crack bone. Orochimaru's eyes flashed with pain and anger, but his grin never faded as he twisted his body, slamming his palm into Naruto's chest with a surge of chakra-infused force.
The blow sent Naruto flying backward, crashing through the debris. But before Orochimaru could press his advantage, Naruto's Storm Release chakra flared to life.
"Ranton: Amatsu Kumo (Storm Release: Heavenly Clouds)." Red and blue lightning crackled around Naruto's body, forming into swirling clouds of energy that coiled like living entities. The storm chakra twisted and surged toward Orochimaru, each tendril seeking to pierce and engulf him.
Orochimaru barely managed to dodge the first wave, but the second wave struck him full force, sending arcs of red lightning searing across his body. His skin blistered and blackened under the sheer heat, but Orochimaru fought through the pain, his regenerative abilities already working to heal the damage.
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with a hint of anger, though his grin remained firmly in place. "You've become far more prodigious than I anticipated after our first bout, Naruto-kun. But this fight is far from finished. Let's see how you handle one of your father's sensei's favorite techniques."
With a fluid motion, Orochimaru flicked his hand, his fingers weaving through a rapid series of intricate hand seals at blinding speed. The air around him crackled with dark, malevolent chakra as he channeled his power."Doton: Yomi Numa (Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld)!"The ground beneath Naruto's feet suddenly turned into a dark, viscous swamp, the earth transforming into a treacherous mire that threatened to pull him down with terrifying speed.
Naruto's instincts, honed from countless battles, kicked in immediately. He surged red lightning-infused chakra through his legs, propelling himself upward with explosive force just as the swamp's grip began to close in on him. The air around him crackled as his Storm Release chakra left glowing red streaks in his wake, giving him the appearance of a living tempest.
Orochimaru's grin widened with cruel delight, his snake-like eyes narrowing in anticipation of Naruto's escape. His hands moved swiftly through another series of hand signs, his gaze gleaming with predatory intent."Kuchiyose: Sen'ei Tajashu (Summoning: Hidden Shadow Many Snakes)!"
From Orochimaru's outstretched arm, dozens of serpents erupted forth, their scales glinting ominously in the dim light as they slithered toward Naruto with unnatural speed. Their fangs gleamed with venom, dripping menacingly as they shot through the air like living arrows. The chamber echoed with the sinister hissing of the serpents as they closed in on Naruto from every direction, coiling and striking with deadly precision.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening. In an instant, he summoned a platoon of shadow clones, strategically dispersing them across the battlefield. The clones leaped into action with perfect coordination, intercepting the oncoming serpents with a barrage of kunai and shuriken coated in lightning and wind release chakra. The clash of metal against scales filled the chamber as the clones slashed through the serpentine coils, sending writhing bodies tumbling to the ground. One of Naruto's clones quickly performedKaton: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique), launching a massive fireball at the incoming snakes. But compared to Orochimaru's mastery of theGōkakyū, the clone's jutsu was like a pond next to an ocean—formidable, but still a mere reflection of its true potential.
Meanwhile, the real Naruto moved with calculated speed, weaving through a complex series of hand seals. His breath remained steady as he prepared his counterattack."Fūton: Shinkū Renpa (Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves)!"Drawing in a deep breath, he exhaled with immense force, sending a barrage of compressed wind blades shooting forth from his mouth. The wind blades tore through the air with razor-sharp precision, slicing through the remaining serpents with ease and forcing Orochimaru to leap back to avoid the devastating assault.
The Sannin leaped back with snakelike grace, avoiding the deadly wind blades with fluid movements. His body twisted and contorted in ways that seemed inhuman, bending unnaturally to evade the attack. Despite the danger, his grin never faltered.
The fight raged on, both combatants growing more injured and exhausted with each passing moment. Orochimaru's once-graceful movements began to falter, his body struggling to keep up with the relentless onslaught. Naruto, though equally battered, fought with a fierce determination that refused to be extinguished.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the two combatants paused, standing across from each other in the wreckage of the once-grand laboratory. Blood dripped from Naruto's brow, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Orochimaru's body was riddled with burns and cuts, his face twisted in a mixture of pain and delight.
Suddenly, Naruto looked up to the sky and saw the storm clouds he had been preparing all along. He quickly formed ten hand seals and shouted,"Ranton: Kaminari no Raijin (Storm Release: Clap of the Storm God)!"
Naruto's voice echoed across the open field. Above him, dark storm clouds that swirled started crackling with red lightning that illuminated the landscape in bursts of fiery crimson light. The winds whipped fiercely around him, and the pressure in the air intensified as the storm built up its raw, destructive energy.
Orochimaru, standing a distance away, felt the weight of the power gathering above him. His gleeful smirk faltered for the briefest moment as he realized the enormity of the incoming strike. He instinctively prepared for the worst, summoning one of his massive serpents with a single hand sign. The serpent erupted from the earth beneath him, coiling protectively around its master.
Suddenly, the sky roared with the fury of the storm, and a single, massive bolt of red lightning tore down from the heavens. The bolt descended with terrifying speed and precision, striking the serpent with a deafening explosion of light and sound. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, flattening the surrounding terrain and shaking the earth beneath their feet.
For a moment, the world went silent.
Naruto's eyes narrowed, scanning through the smoke and debris that now filled the air. The bolt had struck its mark with devastating accuracy. As the thick cloud of dust and smoke slowly began to clear, the charred remains of the summoned snake became visible. The creature lay lifeless, its scales blackened and burnt, smoke rising from its body. The sheer force of the lightning bolt had been too much for it to withstand, even as a protective shield.
And then, from the dead serpent's mouth, Orochimaru emerged.
The Sannin was not unscathed. His pale skin was charred and cracked, patches of it peeling away to reveal oozing, bluish-purple blood. The red lightning had scorched him severely; even with the snake's protection, the residual energy had seared his flesh and left him visibly wounded. His clothes were tattered, hanging from his body in singed strips. His hands trembled slightly as they twitched at his sides.
Yet despite the brutal damage, Orochimaru's grin remained. It was weaker than before, but still present—a twisted, mocking smile that revealed his unyielding determination.
"Well, well, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru rasped, his voice strained and hoarse yet brimming with sinister glee. "Just when I believe I've uncovered the full extent of your abilities, you continue to surprise me beyond measure. Had it not been for my vast experience and... quick thinking, this encounter might have very well been the end of me."
He coughed, his body convulsing slightly as more of that strange, bluish blood oozed from his wounds. Despite his apparent delight, it was clear that he was in pain—deep, burning pain. His regenerative abilities were struggling to keep up with the extent of the damage, and for a moment, it seemed as though Orochimaru might actually falter.
But then, in an utterly grotesque display, Orochimaru's body began to writhe and twist unnaturally. His mouth opened wide—far wider than any human mouth should—and from deep within his throat, another form began to emerge. With a sickening squelch, a second Orochimaru crawled out of the burnt and electrocuted shell of his former body. This new body was pale and unscathed, as if freshly reborn. The remnants of his previous form collapsed into a heap of blackened flesh behind him.
He stood tall once again, stretching his limbs as if testing his new form. His mocking smile never wavered, and his eyes gleamed with dark amusement as he wiped the bluish blood from his lips.
"You see, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru continued, his voice stronger now but still tinged with that unnerving delight, "you may wield power far beyond your years, but I am beyond death. As long as I have my ways, I will always return... as I always have."
Naruto gritted his teeth, mounting frustration and palpable fear tightening his chest as he watched Orochimaru shed his damaged body like a snake discarding its skin. The power of Naruto's previous attack had been immense—an S-rank jutsu, capable of obliterating even entire squads of seasoned shinobi. Yet, Orochimaru's cursed existence allowed him to persist, seemingly invulnerable to permanent destruction.
Now, Naruto was beginning to realize why this monster had been the favorite student of the Professor among the Sannin, and why Orochimaru had once been hailed as the prodigy among prodigies. The horror of facing someone so deeply entrenched in the dark arts of regeneration and forbidden jutsu sank into Naruto's mind. This was the true nature of Orochimaru—the snake that could never truly be killed, always returning, always more dangerous than before.
Orochimaru moved like a blur, his strikes relentless and devastating. Naruto fought back with everything he had, but exhaustion and pain weighed him down. A brutal elbow to the gut sent him skidding across the rubble, followed by a crushing kick to his ribs that cracked bone and left him gasping for breath.
Blood dripped down Naruto's face as he struggled to stand, every muscle in his body screaming in agony. His chakra was nearly depleted, flickering weakly around him, while Orochimaru approached with a cold, predatory smile. A final strike slammed Naruto into the ground, his vision blurring as darkness crept in.
Orochimaru loomed over him, his twisted grin widening as he raised his hand for the killing blow. Naruto, bloodied and broken, lay helpless, his breath shallow and his strength fading.
Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of Naruto: The Last Harbinger of Storm!
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NTLHS Chapter 42: The Fires Of The Uzumaki IS OUT! (7-8K LONG)
NTLHOS: Chapter 43: Mother Daughter Duo IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 44 - The Stage Is Set IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 45: The Gambit Unveiled IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 46: ChangingAllegiance IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 47- The Gathering Storm Clouds IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 48: So the High Council Begins! IS OUT!
NTLHOS: Chapter 49: Political Madness Unleashed IS OUT !
Finalllllly Chapter 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NTLHOS: Chapter 50: The Mad Strategist's Gambit IS OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NTLHOS: Chapter 51: WHY The Queen's Gambit? IS OUT !!!!!!!
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