Chapter Sixteen: The Serpent in Disguise
The thick, tangled woods of the Forest of Death loomed around Team 7, each shadow concealing potential threats as they navigated the dangerous terrain. They kept their senses alert, moving quickly yet cautiously through the dense forest, knowing that the test was far from just a survival challenge. Unknown to them, however, an ominous presence was already tracking them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
As they pressed forward, a figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees—an unassuming Grass Village genin with pale skin and unusually intense eyes. Naruto immediately felt something unsettling about this person, but he shook it off, chalking it up to the stress of the test.
The Grass genin's gaze shifted between each of them, and his lips curled into a faint, unsettling smile. "Team 7, huh?" he said, his voice a chilling whisper that seemed to snake its way around them. "Such a strong-looking team. Especially you, Uchiha."
Sasuke tensed, realizing the figure's piercing gaze was fixated solely on him. There was something wrong here—something dangerous hiding behind the stranger's calm facade.
Naruto, sensing Sasuke's hesitation, stepped forward. "Who are you? And what do you want with us?"
The Grass genin's smile deepened, ignoring Naruto's question. "I wonder if you're truly as powerful as they say, Uchiha." His hand slipped into his kunai pouch, pulling out a blade. In a flash, he lunged toward Sasuke, striking with a speed and precision that left little room to react.
Sasuke dodged the initial strike and returned with a counterattack, barely missing as the genin moved with inhuman agility. "Naruto, back me up!" Sasuke shouted.
Naruto nodded, charging in with lightning crackling around his fists, a skill he'd recently learned from the tiger clan. Using what chakra he had left, Naruto channeled the lightning down his arm and swung at the Grass genin, the crackling energy lighting up the dim forest.
The genin jumped back, but his smile never wavered. "Interesting… Lightning Release, too?"
Without missing a beat, Naruto pushed forward with a flurry of kicks and punches infused with lightning chakra, forcing the genin to stay on the defensive. The Grass genin avoided each strike with minimal movement, seemingly toying with Naruto as if he were nothing more than a diversion. But Naruto pressed on, determined not to back down.
"Stop playing around!" Sasuke yelled, flinging a series of kunai that the Grass genin deflected effortlessly. Sasuke activated his Sharingan, narrowing his gaze, hoping it would give him the edge to predict the opponent's next moves.
For a moment, Sasuke's eyes widened in realization. This was no ordinary genin. This person was more dangerous than anyone they'd ever faced.
Naruto, catching the look in Sasuke's eyes, sensed the fear and urgency. "Who are you?" he demanded, charging up his chakra for a powerful wind-infused strike.
The Grass genin finally dropped the facade, chuckling darkly. "You'll find out soon enough." His transformation was subtle but terrifying, as his facial features changed, revealing a snake-like smirk. "You may call me Orochimaru."
Orochimaru. The name alone sent a chill through Sasuke's and Naruto's spines. The infamous rogue ninja, one of the Legendary Sannin, was standing before them.
"Enough games," Orochimaru whispered, his tongue flicking out as he eyed them both with sinister intent. "It's time to test the Uchiha's resolve."
Sasuke instinctively gripped his kunai, ready to fight, but his hand trembled slightly. Naruto could see the fear creeping into Sasuke's eyes, and his own resolve hardened. "We're not letting him get the best of us!" he shouted, grabbing Sasuke by the shoulder to steady him.
Sasuke swallowed, nodding, his Sharingan whirling into focus. The two charged Orochimaru together, their teamwork and synergy sharper than ever. Naruto kept his distance, launching lightning-infused wind attacks, while Sasuke closed in, aiming precise strikes at Orochimaru's vital points. For a moment, it seemed like they might gain the upper hand, as Orochimaru was forced to dodge and parry their attacks, his expression flickering with intrigue.
"Impressive… you two are stronger than I anticipated," Orochimaru said with a faint smirk, blocking Sasuke's strike with his forearm. In one swift motion, he knocked Sasuke off his feet, sending him sprawling onto the ground.
Naruto grit his teeth, focusing his chakra for one last attack. He formed a few hand seals and raised his hand, summoning a crackling lightning blade. He thrust forward with all his strength, aiming straight for Orochimaru's heart.
But Orochimaru sidestepped with a fluid grace that bordered on inhuman. He grabbed Naruto by the collar, lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. "You have spirit," Orochimaru sneered, his grip tightening. "But spirit alone isn't enough."
With a quick motion, he flung Naruto to the ground, and Naruto's vision spun, his body hitting the earth with a force that knocked the breath from his lungs. He struggled to rise, but his chakra reserves were almost drained, and his body was screaming in pain.
Sasuke, barely able to stand, looked from Naruto to Orochimaru. Desperation flashed in his eyes as he reached for the Heaven Scroll in his pouch. "If… if I give you this… will you leave us alone?"
Orochimaru's eyes glittered with amusement, but before he could respond, Naruto forced himself to his feet. "Don't you dare, Sasuke!" he spat, stumbling forward to stand between Sasuke and Orochimaru. "You're stronger than this! We're both stronger than this!"
Naruto's words hit Sasuke like a slap, and his fear slowly gave way to anger. He took a shaky breath, nodding as he readied himself for one more attempt. Together, the two of them charged at Orochimaru once again, fighting with everything they had.
But Orochimaru was done playing. With a casual flick of his wrist, he deflected their attacks, sending Sasuke crashing into a tree and leaving Naruto panting and kneeling on the ground. "Impressive, for mere genin," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But it's time to end this."
Naruto glared up at him, his eyes burning with determination. He struggled to gather his remaining chakra, intending to summon one of his tiger allies. But before he could complete the technique, Orochimaru struck him hard, his vision going black as he fell to the ground, defeated.
Orochimaru approached the unconscious Naruto and Sasuke, examining them with a predatory glint in his eyes. "Such potential…" he murmured, leaning down and biting Sasuke's neck, leaving a searing curse mark behind. He repeated the action with Naruto, his fangs sinking into the flesh of Naruto's neck as the mark took hold.
Stepping back, Orochimaru looked down at the two with a twisted smile. "These marks will help you grow… and perhaps, one day, be worthy of challenging me again."
He turned to the horrified Sakura, who had been frozen in fear the entire time. With a mocking smile, he said, "Take care of them… if you can." And with that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving a deadly silence in his wake.
Sakura rushed to her teammates, her heart racing as she tried to rouse them. The sight of the curse marks on their necks sent a chill through her. She knew they were in deeper danger than they'd ever imagined. But for now, her only goal was to keep them safe, no matter what lay ahead.