"Curse it…"
Gulp…
Kakuzu's pupils shrank as he clutched his chest with one hand, his knees collapsing into the muddy puddle beneath him.
The light in his eyes began to fade gradually, his breathing rapid, and his mouth released low, guttural groans that carried no meaning.
The torrential rain poured relentlessly, drenching Orochimaru. His pale gold slit-like pupils stared unblinkingly at Kakuzu.
Until the light in Kakuzu's eyes completely extinguished...
Some ninja were known to trigger secret techniques before death, and Orochimaru doesn't like to take that risk.
Snakes are cold-blooded and patient creatures…
Exhaling softly, his breath turned to mist that dissipated into the air.
Orochimaru wiped the bloodstains off his cheek with a hand and turned to leave.
Unbeknownst to him, the lifeless Kakuzu lying in the puddle started to regain the spark in his eyes.
Thick, tentacle-like arms, black and writhing like serpents, slithered silently toward Orochimaru.
Feeling a chill down his back, Orochimaru spun around quickly, his pupils dilating as the black tentacles surged toward him.
Splurt!
"Damn it…"
---
The lightning chakra in Naruto's body coursed wildly as he carried two women down the mountain.
A journey that should have taken ten minutes was reduced to just three.
Sweat dripped from his chin, his breathing labored. The azure blue of his eyes revealed deep fatigue.
He cursed himself for not pre-marking the area with a Flying Thunder God seal before heading up the mountain.
Carrying the two women through a long-distance teleportation could have ended disastrously, possibly costing them limbs. The more Naruto understood the intricacies of space-time ninjutsu, the more cautious he became.
One mistake could lead to irreversible consequences.
The women found an abandoned wooden cabin nearby.
"Are you alright, Naruto?"
Kushina placed Naruto's head on her lap, her fair face full of worry.
"I'm fine, Kushina, just overused my chakra a bit," Naruto replied, leaning into her embrace with a faint smile, his eyes half-closing.
"Idiot, you're too reckless."
Tears streamed from Kushina's eyes, falling onto Naruto's cheek.
"Don't cry. Crying will only give you wrinkles," Naruto teased as he gently wiped her tears away.
"I'm sorry, Naruto-kun. I've become a burden to you and Orochimaru-sensei," said Uchiha Mikoto, her dark eyes clouded with guilt.
She recalled the overwhelming killing intent that man had exuded in the mountain stronghold. For a moment, they had thought they were going to die.
As if remembering something, Mikoto quickly fished out a soldier pill from her ninja pouch.
"This is a soldier pill. Eating it will help you recover your chakra, Naruto."
Naruto wanted to tell her that he had a "power bank" inside him and didn't need the pill. But seeing the anticipation in Mikoto's eyes, he found himself unable to refuse.
"Ahem… Mikoto, I'm completely out of chakra and can't move my body. Could you feed me?"
Hearing this, Mikoto's face turned red. But recalling that Naruto had pushed himself for their sake, she steeled herself.
With trembling hands, she held the pill and brought it to Naruto's lips.
Naruto opened his mouth, taking both the pill and her fingers inside.
Poof!
Mikoto's face instantly turned beet red, as if boiling water had been poured over her. Steam seemed to rise from her head.
"Pervert! Don't bully Mikoto!"
Kushina shifted her position, causing Naruto's head to hit the hard stone floor.
"Hiss…" Naruto inhaled sharply, rubbing his head. That was definitely intentional.
Getting up, he handed a Flying Thunder God kunai to Kushina. "Stay here. If you're in danger, channel chakra into this kunai."
With that, Naruto activated the Flying Thunder God and disappeared.
Kushina gripped the kunai tightly, murmuring to herself, Stay safe, all of you.
---
[Ding! Character quest triggered.]
[Quest objective: Repel Kakuzu and save Orochimaru.]
[Quest reward: Unlock system synthesis panel.]
[Quest failure: No penalty.]
As Naruto reappeared on the mountaintop, the system's notification echoed in his mind.
"Kurama, restore my chakra," Naruto said to the Nine-Tails in his mental world.
"Hmph, do you really think I'm just your portable charger?" the fox grumbled.
Feeling his chakra gradually returning, Naruto smirked. This proud fox...
At the entrance of the mountain stronghold, Naruto arrived just in time to see a black tentacle piercing Orochimaru's chest.
Orochimaru knelt on the ground, his expression twisted in pain.
"Orochimaru, you destroyed one of my hearts. Now I'll use yours to replace it," Kakuzu said, walking toward him with deliberate steps. The destruction of one of his hearts had consumed a significant amount of his chakra to sustain his life functions.
Clang!
There was no time to waste. Naruto drew his Zanpakuto, wind chakra enveloping the blade.
A golden streak of lightning flashed as he slashed at the tentacle. Thanks to the weapon's Lvl 7 'Sharpness', cutting through it felt no different than slicing tofu.
"Orochimaru-sensei, looks like I arrived just in time," Naruto said with a soft laugh, supporting Orochimaru with one hand.
"Yes, I suppose you did," Orochimaru rasped, his voice hoarse with pain.
==================
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