"Who the hell are you?" Satoru asked, feigning puzzlement. His expression—baby-fat cheeks and all—was filled with exaggerated doubt.
Hidden not far away, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke watched the scene unfold. Naruto, barely holding in his laughter, whispered, "I didn't think Mr. Bandage could imitate Sasuke that well!"
"Shut up! You're too loud!" Sakura hissed, slapping her hand over his mouth. "Do you want them to hear us?"
She glanced back toward the battlefield and couldn't help but grimace. "And besides," she muttered, "where is he even like Sasuke?"
Her eyes twitched as she watched Satoru, disguised as Sasuke, wearing an over-the-top smirk that screamed mischief.
What a nightmare.
That evil grin made her want to gouge her eyes out. He's ruining Sasuke's image completely!
Sasuke, crouched nearby, silently covered his face with his hand. His second brother's antics were beyond embarrassing. Does he even know the meaning of restraint?
Orochimaru's Focus
Meanwhile, Orochimaru remained unaware of the disguise. He wasn't familiar enough with Sasuke Uchiha to spot the oddities in Satoru's behavior.
Taking two steps closer, he spoke in a low, serpentine voice. "My name is Orochimaru. If you wish to see me again… you'll have to give it your all in this exam."
The Heaven Scroll in his hand suddenly ignited, disintegrating into ash.
Satoru tilted his head, maintaining his nonchalant act. "What nonsense are you spouting? I don't want to see you a second time."
In the dappled sunlight, his pale blue eyes glimmered with subtle calculation. The timing should be right. Orochimaru won't hold back any longer.
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened. His slit pupils constricted as a chilling grin stretched across his face. "That won't do," he hissed. "I've already missed two Uchiha. I won't let a third slip away."
The Curse Mark Attack
Orochimaru's neck elongated grotesquely, snapping forward like a snake. His fanged mouth darted toward Satoru's neck.
Satoru froze in place, his earlier smug expression replaced by genuine shock. His lips twitched as he processed the horrifying sight.
What kind of terrifying flying snake head is this?
His mind screamed. Why does it look so… so wrong? Who asked to see this?!
Orochimaru struck, biting down hard on Satoru's neck. For a moment, he felt triumphant—until an overwhelming stench of rotten citrus hit his senses.
What?!
The putrid sourness filled his mouth, making his stomach churn. Orochimaru recoiled, his face contorting in disgust. He spat violently, his sharp tongue flicking out. "What in the world…?"
Where Satoru had been standing was now a pile of rotting orange pulp.
The Orange Clone
Satoru emerged from the shadows, his expression smug. "Nope, not a regular clone," he quipped. "That was my Orange Clone."
He gestured dramatically. "Years of careful research went into perfecting the texture and stench. It's my pride and joy!"
Far away, Shisui sneezed in the middle of paperwork. For some reason, he was reminded of the younger Satoru obsessing over rotting fruit for a month, claiming it was "important research." The memory was both ridiculous and oddly unsettling.
Back in the forest, Satoru quickly activated his next move. The scattered kunai rearranged themselves, forming a dense lightning grid around Orochimaru. Sparks flew, and the trap snapped shut.
A Bold Plan in Action
The moment the grid trapped Orochimaru, Satoru wasted no time. "Fire Release!" he shouted, sending a wave of flames crashing into the center of the lightning trap. The forest lit up with a fiery glow, the brilliance rivaling the setting sun.
At the same time, Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto sprang into action. Following Satoru's instructions, they detonated a series of explosive tags placed strategically around the battlefield.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The thunderous explosions rattled the forest. Dazzling flames and thick smoke rose high into the sky, visible from miles away.
The Aftermath
Mitarashi Anko, searching for Orochimaru, snapped her head toward the commotion. Her eyes narrowed as she muttered, "What's going on over there?"
Without hesitation, she leapt toward the source of the explosions. This has to be him.
Meanwhile, the trio regrouped with Satoru, their eyes wide with awe at the destruction they had unleashed.
"Did… did we succeed?" Sasuke asked hesitantly, his gaze flicking to Satoru.
Naruto, still in disbelief, shouted, "There's no way he survived that! Right?"
Satoru, however, remained calm. "No," he said matter-of-factly. "He's not dead."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "What?! Are you serious? After all that?!"
Satoru nodded. "This wasn't meant to kill him. Orochimaru isn't the kind of enemy you can just blow up. The goal was to trap him temporarily and cause enough noise to draw attention. He won't chase us—not if it risks exposing his plans."
His tone was level, his usual lazy demeanor replaced by sharp focus. "Let's go. We need to leave before he breaks free."
A Glimpse of Resolve
As they fled, Sasuke stole a glance at Satoru. There was something different about him—this wasn't the carefree second brother he was used to.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he studied Satoru's composed expression. He's… strong. Not just in skill, but in how he thinks. Even without powerful jutsu, he's capable of creating a plan like this.
Sasuke's lips curved into a small smile. Maybe he's not so hopeless after all.
The group disappeared into the forest, leaving the battlefield behind.
Orochimaru's Reaction
Back in the lightning grid, Orochimaru stood still, surrounded by flickering sparks and the lingering heat of the fire. His lips curled into an eerie grin.
"Hehehe…"
His laughter grew louder, echoing through the charred forest. "Interesting… so very interesting!"
He licked his lips, his slit pupils shrinking to pinpoints. "To think I was caught by such an ordinary ninjutsu. And by a half-grown child, no less!"
His mind raced, piecing together what had happened. The boy's strategy, his boldness—it was unlike anything Orochimaru had seen in years.
"It reminds me of… Uchiha Satoru," he whispered, his tone tinged with admiration. "This kind of brilliance… I didn't think I'd see it again."
The murderous aura around him flared, radiating outward like a tidal wave.
"We'll meet again," Orochimaru hissed, his voice carrying through the silent forest. "And next time, I'll make you mine."
His cold, snake-like gaze lingered on the path where Satoru and the others had fled.
>>>>>
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