A young man in a black robe, his white hair swaying slightly, and bandages wrapped around his arms, emerged from the shadows. Next to him stood Naruto, looking somewhat disheveled.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed in confusion. Why is Naruto with Second Brother?
The situation was too chaotic to ask questions, so Sasuke remained silent for now.
On the other side, Satoru spoke, his tone flat and expressionless.
"This is disgusting."
His pale blue eyes glanced briefly at the slimy pile of snake and flesh that had emerged from Orochimaru's body. Satoru's gaze then shifted to Orochimaru himself.
He regretted it instantly. Why had he bothered looking so closely? Beneath the familiar but unsettling face was a serpentine lower body. Orochimaru perched on a tree, his snake-like tail coiling around the branch, his golden, slit pupils locked on Satoru.
"What kind of twisted theater is this?" Satoru muttered, touching the bandages on his face, a twitch at the corner of his mouth betraying his disgust.
He found it baffling. How had Orochimaru embraced such an absurd form?
A Tense Encounter
"Is it really you?" Orochimaru hissed, his smile broadening as memories surfaced.
"Hehehe... Nice to see you again," he said, his tone filled with venomous amusement.
A moment later, a wave of murderous intent surged from Orochimaru, flooding the area. Unlike the restrained pressure he had displayed during the exam, this killing aura was unleashed without restraint. It bore down on everyone present like a suffocating storm.
The intensity left Sasuke and Sakura frozen in place. Even Naruto, who had been brimming with confidence, was caught off guard.
This murderous aura... it's worse than before, Naruto thought, his azure eyes flickering with a mix of shock and wariness.
But Satoru? He didn't so much as flinch. His pale blue eyes remained calm as he shook his head.
Orochimaru's attempt to intimidate him was futile. Murderous intent was a tactic Satoru himself had used countless times—it held no novelty for him.
Leaning casually against a tree, Satoru folded his arms and smiled lazily. "Well," he said sincerely, "how happy are you?"
Orochimaru's expression faltered, the question catching him off guard. A trace of doubt flickered in his slit pupils. The strange, familiar feeling of irritation gnawed at him.
It was as though this man's very existence grated on him.
Sasuke's Growing Doubt
Sasuke watched the scene in stunned silence. Second Brother… is this really the time for jokes?
The situation was critical, and yet Satoru seemed completely unaffected by Orochimaru's overwhelming aura. Sasuke's chest tightened. Could his brother really stand against such a dangerous foe? Or had he come here with Naruto only to meet his end?
Sasuke steeled himself, preparing for the worst. If things went south, he'd have to grab Naruto and Sakura and make a run for it—even if it meant abandoning their scroll.
On the other side, Sakura couldn't help but marvel at Satoru's composure. How is he completely unaffected? she wondered. Or… are we just that weak?
Naruto, however, felt no such doubt. After Satoru had saved him earlier, he was convinced of his strength. "This weird ninja won't stand a chance against Mr. Bandage," Naruto thought confidently.
A Verbal Sparring Match
"Tsk, Orochimaru," Satoru sneered, shaking his head. "Are you bullying children now? I didn't think your hobbies could get any worse."
He stood casually, his words dripping with mockery. "What, attacking while the adults are away? That's low, even for you."
Naruto, picking up on Satoru's tone, added enthusiastically, "Yeah! Bullying the weak? You're pathetic!"
Orochimaru's expression darkened, his gaze narrowing. These two pests…
The murderous aura around him intensified, a cold fury radiating from his snake-like frame. Sasuke's Sharingan spun as he carefully observed Orochimaru's movements, his thoughts racing.
This isn't going to end well. Even if Second Brother and Naruto work together, there's no guarantee we can win.
Sasuke's jaw clenched. He had to act.
A Desperate Gamble
"Wait," Sasuke called out, stepping forward.
All eyes turned to him as he reached into his bag and retrieved their Heaven Scroll.
"What are you doing?" Naruto shouted, his voice filled with disbelief.
Sasuke ignored him. "Take this," he said to Orochimaru, holding the scroll aloft. "Take it and leave us alone."
Satoru raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He hadn't expected Sasuke to surrender the scroll so easily.
"Sasuke, what are you doing?!" Naruto yelled, his frustration boiling over. "You can't just hand it over! That won't make him leave us alone!"
Sasuke's face darkened as he snapped, "Shut up, Naruto! This is the only way to save us!"
Orochimaru's lips curled into an amused smile. "How thoughtful," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "The prey hopes to placate the predator by offering a morsel. How quaint."
But the scroll was never Orochimaru's true goal. He was here for something far more valuable.
Satoru Intervenes
As Sasuke tossed the scroll toward Orochimaru, Satoru acted. With a swift motion, he flung a shuriken, intercepting the scroll midair and sending it tumbling harmlessly to the ground.
"Sasuke," Satoru said sharply, his pale blue eyes locking onto his brother. "Never count on mercy from your enemies. Even if you give him the scroll, he won't let you go."
Naruto, emboldened by Satoru's actions, pointed accusingly at Sasuke. "See?! I told you! That's not the Sasuke I know—what are you even thinking?"
Sasuke's hands clenched into fists. "I'm doing this for all of us!" he snapped. "If you think you can fight him, go ahead and try!"
"Is that so?" Orochimaru interjected smoothly, his tone laced with amusement. "Then let's see how far you'll go to protect your friends, Sasuke Uchiha."
The Fight Escalates
Orochimaru's coiled body tensed as he prepared to strike. But before he could move, Naruto leapt forward, his fists blazing with determination.
"I don't care how strong you are!" Naruto shouted. "I'll protect my team no matter what!"
At the same time, Satoru stepped in front of Sasuke, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. "You'll have to get through me first," he said calmly.
Orochimaru's slit pupils narrowed, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Interesting," he hissed. "Let's see if you're as strong as you are bold."
The forest seemed to hold its breath as the tension reached its breaking point.
>>>>>
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