ALL NOVEL Chapter 54: Orochimaru
Naruto POV
As I faced Orochimaru, my focus was solely on him, unaware of what was happening with Sakura and Sasuke. I was fully committed to stopping him and protecting my friends, believing they were still out there looking for the Earth scroll.
While I held my ground, Orochimaru smirked, clearly enjoying the confrontation. "You really think you can stop me, Naruto? The power of the Uchiha is mine for the taking."
Little did I know that while I was distracted, Sakura and Sasuke had successfully dealt with their own opponents and obtained the Earth scroll. They had worked together seamlessly, a testament to their growth and teamwork. However, I remained oblivious to their victory, my attention solely on the threat in front of me.
My determination burned brightly as I prepared to engage Orochimaru, ready to protect my friends and stand against the legendary Sannin, completely unaware of how close my teammates were to completing the second part of the Chunin exams.
"So, it's true that you're after Sasuke," I said, a steely resolve hardening my voice. "In that case, it'll be easy for me to deal with you, the variable that left that old geezer, Hiruzen."
I drew my katana, the blade glinting in the dappled light filtering through the trees, and took a firm stance, ready to engage. Orochimaru mirrored my movements, adopting a defensive position, his serpentine eyes narrowing as he assessed me.
He was like a snake in more ways than one, his gaze cold and calculating. I knew he could summon Manda, his giant serpent, but I also understood the dark price he had to pay for such power—sacrifices. It was a risk he was willing to take, but I was determined not to let him succeed.
With the tension rising between us, the air thick with the anticipation of battle, I steadied my breathing. I was ready to protect Sasuke at all costs, even if it meant facing a Sannin alone.
"Are you actually trying to fight me?" Orochimaru taunted, licking his lips with a long, snake-like tongue. "It's fine; let's see what the son of the Hokage is made of."
"You're going to be surprised if you underestimate me," I replied, gripping my katana tightly as I paced toward him, lightning chakra coursing through the blade. As I charged forward, I could see the moment he realized my speed had caught him off guard. He instinctively blocked my attack, and we were locked in close-quarters combat.
I was exhilarated. Fighting a legendary Sannin, a shinobi of Kage level, was a rare opportunity, and I was relishing every moment. Orochimaru, however, found himself on the defensive; I could sense his frustration as he struggled to land a single blow on me.
"If this goes on like this, I might actually lose," he thought, a flicker of concern crossing his face.
I smirked, taunting him further, "Oh, is this all the power you have? I thought a legendary Sannin would have more to offer, Orochimaru. I'm disappointed."
His eyes narrowed at my mockery. "Hey, brat! Are you mocking me? Then let me show you my real power!" He retreated a bit and began to summon Manda, his giant serpent. I didn't interrupt; I wanted a worthy fight.
With a dramatic flourish, he executed the Summoning Jutsu. A massive cloud of smoke filled the area, and when it cleared, a gigantic purple snake emerged, towering over us. Orochimaru climbed onto its head, a confident grin spreading across his face.
"Hiiii... Orochimaru, you summoned me to fight a brat who hasn't even hit puberty yet?" Manda mocked, his voice booming as he looked down at me. "You know I require sacrifices for my help."
"Yes, yes, I'll provide enough sacrifices! Just help me handle this brat; he's surprisingly strong," Orochimaru replied, urgency creeping into his tone.
As Manda settled into position, I raised an eyebrow, a smirk on my face. "You brought out your summon; now I guess I'll have to get a little serious too." The thrill of battle surged within me, ready to face both Orochimaru and Manda head-on.
I formed the hand signs quickly, channeling my chakra and calling down a massive bolt of lightning from the sky. "Lightning Style: Kirin!" I exclaimed, and a colossal dragon of electricity surged forth, roaring as it streaked toward Orochimaru and Manda.
The thunderous crash echoed through the Forest of Death as the dragon struck both of them. I knew Orochimaru wouldn't die from this attack—he had far too many tricks up his sleeve to allow that. My goal was to capture him, not to kill him.
As the smoke cleared, I activated my Kagura Mind's Eye, honing in on Orochimaru's chakra signature. I sensed a sudden shift as he transformed into a white snake, slithering away from me with alarming speed. But I was ready. Following the trail of his chakra, I raced after him, my senses sharp and focused.
Within moments, I caught up to him. Just as he attempted to evade me, I unleashed a swift series of seals, channeling my chakra into a binding technique with my Admantine Chains.
"You won't escape this time, Orochimaru," I declared, looking down at the sealed Sannin. "I'll make sure you're unable to pursue Sasuke or anyone else again." The thrill of the encounter mixed with the satisfaction of having captured such a formidable foe, but I knew this was only the beginning. There would be more challenges ahead, and I had to stay vigilant.
With Aurora's assistance, I had managed to alter some of Orochimaru's memories, making him my temporary subordinate to handle the "geezers" back in Konoha. Once the seal was in place, I released him, watching as he quickly darted away, knowing he wouldn't dare to confront me again for a while. The aftermath of my lightning attack would surely alert all the nearby proctors, but I had no time to linger on that. I needed to reunite with Sasuke and Sakura.
As I sprinted through the dense forest, I encountered Anko in the middle of my path. She looked both hurried and worried, her eyes wide with concern.
"Naruto, what was that lightning jutsu?" she asked, glancing around as if expecting something to come crashing down from the sky.
"It was nothing, Anko," I replied with a casual shrug, trying to downplay the situation. "I was just fighting your teacher, who already managed to escape from me."
Anko narrowed her eyes, clearly not satisfied with my nonchalance. "You fought Orochimaru? Are you insane? Do you have any idea what he's capable of?"
"Yeah, I do," I responded, a hint of confidence in my voice. "But I handled it. He won't be bothering us for a while." I could see her skepticism but also a flicker of respect in her gaze.
"Just be careful, Naruto," she warned, her tone softening. "You might think you're invincible, but he's not someone to take lightly."
"I know, I know," I assured her, a smile creeping onto my face. "I'm just getting started and Thank you for worrying about me" ,I hugged her. With that, I took off again, determined to find my teammates and share what had just happened.