After a while...
The electrical currents gradually subsided, and Temari and Kankuro began to regain control of their bodies.
"It's a good thing no one wandered through here," Kankuro said, exhaling in relief. "Otherwise, things could've gone south quickly."
Not only could their scroll have been stolen, but their very lives might have been at risk.
"Unlikely," Temari replied, shaking her head. "This attack was indiscriminate. Not only were we struck inside, but anyone trying to approach from outside would've been electrocuted as well."
Kankuro nodded slightly. "Good point. Still, we got lucky this time. That guy in the bandages… his strength is something else."
"Not just strength," Temari added, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and wariness. "His speed is incredible, and he managed to hold his own against Gaara for so long. And more than that…"
Kankuro paused, searching for the right words, then sighed. "He's just so clever."
"Exactly," Temari agreed. "I've never seen someone so unpredictable. You can't tell what he's planning until it's already too late."
She fell into thought. Gaara and that guy…
Her expression shifted abruptly. "Wait. I haven't heard Gaara speak for a while now."
Kankuro frowned, glancing toward Gaara. "You're right."
Both of them turned their attention to Gaara. What they saw left them stunned.
Gaara stood motionless, still holding the black umbrella, paralyzed by the lingering electricity.
A Quick Fix
"This…?" Temari muttered, pulling the fan from her back. She swung it forcefully, sending a gust of wind toward Gaara. The black umbrella flew from his grip, and the electric currents dissipated instantly.
"Gaara, are you okay?" Temari asked with concern.
Kankuro looked at Gaara with a mixture of disbelief and respect. "Who is that guy? A black-robed stranger who could push Gaara to this extent? Incredible."
Gaara blinked slowly, as if breaking out of a trance. "I'm fine," he muttered, retracting his sand into the gourd strapped to his back. Without another word, he turned away.
"Let's go."
Unnoticed Details
Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances. Now that their initial panic had subsided, they finally took a closer look at Gaara's appearance.
"What's wrong?" Gaara asked, his voice indifferent.
Temari hesitated, unsure how to phrase it. "Um… it's nothing. It's just…"
Kankuro broke into laughter. "Your new hairstyle isn't bad, Gaara!"
"Hahahaha!" Temari couldn't hold back her laughter any longer.
Gaara's usually sharp and intimidating appearance had been replaced with a comically spiky, fried look—his red hair sticking straight up, wild and unruly from the electrical discharge.
Gaara frowned, confused by their reaction. Finally, he reached up and summoned a sand eye to examine his reflection.
What he saw silenced him.
"..."
A fried, spiky red hairdo stared back at him—a ridiculous mess that bore a strange resemblance to Sasuke Uchiha's hairstyle.
The air grew cold. Gaara's voice dropped, low and menacing. "I'll crush him."
The murderous aura that radiated from Gaara made the entire area fall silent, more intense than ever before.
Meanwhile...
Satoru sprinted through the trees, accompanied by Hozuki and Shiro.
"Let's split up," Satoru suggested, holding his chin as though deep in thought. "We'll cover more ground that way."
His short white hair swayed in the wind, and his black robes flapped as he moved.
Hozuki and Shiro exchanged glances, silently agreeing. Without hesitation, they branched off in separate directions, vanishing into the forest.
A Different Battle
Elsewhere, Orochimaru stood before Sasuke Uchiha, his pale face partially hidden in the shadows. He smiled unsettlingly.
"You're after our Earth Scroll, aren't you?" he asked in a low, teasing tone.
Orochimaru's serpentine eyes gleamed as he studied Sasuke. The last of the Uchiha clan. The younger brother of the two I desire most. How will he fare?
Excitement bubbled within him. He stuck out his tongue, swallowing the Earth Scroll whole like a python devouring its prey.
"Let's begin," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation. "Fight for the scroll. Fight for your life!"
Sasuke's Resolve
Sasuke and Sakura froze under the oppressive wave of murderous intent emanating from Orochimaru.
"Is this an illusion?" Sasuke whispered, cold sweat dripping down his face.
"No," he answered himself. "It's real… pure, unfiltered killing intent. Just looking at him makes me feel like I'm dying."
He glanced at Sakura, who was trembling uncontrollably. "Sakura-chan..."
Sasuke's mind raced. They couldn't win. They had to escape.
But his body wouldn't respond. He was paralyzed, locked in place by fear.
"Can't move anymore?" Orochimaru said with mock disappointment. "How dull. You're nothing like your brother."
Sasuke clenched his fists, his face twisting with frustration. Move. Move, damn it!
Finally, with immense effort, he reached for a shuriken tied to his leg. His hand shook as he gripped it, struggling to hold on.
Pain flashed as he stabbed the kunai into his own thigh, jolting himself out of his paralysis. Blood flowed freely, but it cleared his mind.
He grabbed Sakura, lifting her into his arms, and fled.
"Interesting," Orochimaru mused, his tongue flicking out. "Using pain to dispel fear. Not bad. The Uchiha clan truly is fascinating."
The Chase
Sasuke dashed through the forest, only to be confronted by a massive python. The serpent's cold eyes locked onto him.
"Stay back!" Sasuke shouted, hurling a barrage of shuriken at the beast. The python collapsed, motionless.
"Is it over?" Sasuke asked, breathing heavily.
But then, to his horror, the python's body shifted. A figure emerged from its mouth.
It was Orochimaru.
Covered in slime, Orochimaru smirked. "The prey must never lose focus, Uchiha. Tension must remain high, especially in the presence of a predator."
Sasuke's blood ran cold as Orochimaru slithered toward him, his body coiling like a snake. The murderous aura radiating from Orochimaru was suffocating.
A Sudden Interruption
"Brush, brush!"
The sharp sound of shuriken cutting through the air echoed as the weapons intercepted Orochimaru's attack.
Sasuke, Sakura, and even Orochimaru turned toward the source of the intervention.
Standing in the distance was a familiar figure.
It was him.
>>>>>
Complete Story available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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