Whoosh…
A howling gale, like a typhoon tearing through, echoed across half the Forest of Death.
Candidates near Team 7 barely turned toward the sound before the ferocious wind slammed into them.
Those flickering through the trees were hurled into towering trunks.
Others walking the ground were shoved down as if pushed by an invisible force.
Crack… snap…
Boom… rumble…
Amid the wind's roar, faint sounds of breaking and collapsing rang out.
Zooming in, the air in one area twisted like a whirlpool in the sea.
Massive trees bent under the strain, some snapping entirely, crashing to the ground in clouds of dust.
Fortunately, the winds weren't cutting, and the Forest of Death's ancient trees—each thick enough for a dozen people to encircle—were incredibly resilient.
Otherwise, the devastation would've been worse, possibly leveling the area into a wasteland.
Even so, the scene rivaled the Fourth Great Ninja War, when Temari's Wind Release team unleashed Wind Release: Air Current Wild Dance against the Ten-Tails—or perhaps surpassed it.
When the winds died down, Team 7's patch of forest was a ravaged mess.
Naruto Uzumaki's three hundred shadow clones had vanished, blown away by his own Wind Release.
"This… this is the dead-last's power?"
Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, passed back by clones and sheltered behind a giant tree, stared at the wreckage, their eyes trembling.
Sasuke hadn't expected Naruto to wield such strength.
"No way, Naruto's that strong?!" Sakura gasped, hand over her mouth, disbelief in her eyes.
Since they hadn't faced Zabuza in the Land of Waves, Sasuke and Sakura still saw Naruto as the kid toyed with by Kakashi Hatake and spooked by the Demon Brothers.
His only standout trait was his vast chakra and somehow learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
They never imagined he could unleash a natural disaster.
If he was the dead-last, what did that make Sakura, the honor student?
She was the team's weakest link!
"Hahaha…"
A burst of laughter snapped them out of it.
Following the sound, they saw Naruto perched on a fallen tree, hands on hips, cackling triumphantly. "See that? That's my true power! Izayoi, Hinata, smug Sasuke, even that thick-brows—they'll all fall to me!"
"Impressive combo technique. You nearly killed me."
A voice cut through Naruto's laughter, stopping it cold.
Before he could turn or flicker away, two massive snakes coiled around him like ropes, binding him tightly, leaving only his midsection exposed.
An unscathed figure rose slowly from the ground, flashing a mocking grin.
"Damn it, let me go!"
Naruto thrashed, his eyes unknowingly shifting to red, vertical-slit pupils.
Seeing them, Orochimaru chuckled. "It really is you, kid."
"What do you mean, 'it's me'? What're you babbling about?" Naruto shouted. "If you've got guts, free me, and we'll fight fair!"
"Heh…"
Orochimaru smirked. "If you hadn't used that combo, I might've humored you. But now, quiet down."
He lifted Naruto's shirt with one hand. The other hand's fingers glowed with blue chakra flames, forming symbols for wind, fire, water, earth, and lightning.
"Let Naruto go!"
Sasuke's voice closed in, his figure appearing beside Orochimaru, kicking out.
Too slow.
"Five Elements Seal!"
Orochimaru's fingers clawed into Naruto's stomach, while his other hand blocked Sasuke's kick.
Naruto was sent flying; Orochimaru was kicked back.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Sasuke pressed the attack, hands flashing through seals, spitting a spark that swelled into a roaring fire dragon.
Orochimaru, now grounded, peered through the flames at Sasuke's two-tomoe Sharingan, his eyes glinting with greed.
It was like watching Itachi Uchiha train years ago.
Such speed, and two-tomoe Sharingan at this age.
This boy might not be far behind his brother.
He had to claim that body.
Orochimaru formed seals. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."
Boom! A thick, wide wall rose, blocking the fire dragon.
Sasuke, already boosting his speed with Lightning Release chakra, didn't flank. Instead, he drew a kunai, sliced the snakes binding Naruto, and yanked him toward the forest.
"Sasuke, where're you taking me?"
Still cocky, Naruto yelled, "Put me down! I'm gonna make that snake guy regret this!"
"Idiot, haven't you figured it out?" Sasuke hissed. "Your Wind Release didn't scratch him. He's way out of our league."
Naruto sobered up.
Right—he only had that one combo.
The guy could just burrow underground to dodge it.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Sasuke was fast. Alone, Orochimaru might've needed effort to catch him.
But he had a burden.
Before they reached the forest, Orochimaru's voice echoed.
Turning, Sasuke and Naruto nearly froze in terror.
Orochimaru's body twisted, snake-like, chasing them at arrow-like speed.
His ghastly face and wicked grin promised nightmares, even if they escaped.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Naruto formed seals, aiming for hundreds of clones.
But his chakra was in chaos, producing only twenty-odd clones.
They formed seals, readying another Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
The next second, like Sasuke's early Fireball attempts, they sputtered feeble gusts.
"Huh?! What's happening?!" Naruto gaped, incredulous.
"It's that sealing technique!"
Sasuke's forehead beaded with sweat, certain this guy wasn't a genin.
Escape impossible, Sasuke shoved Naruto aside, charging Orochimaru. "Dead-last, I'll buy time. Go get help!"
"No way! I'm not abandoning my teammate!"
Landing, Naruto sprang forward to fight beside Sasuke.
"Get out of here! This isn't the time for stubbornness!" Sasuke yelled, hurling ninja tools. "He's no genin. That commotion must've alerted the proctors. Get help now, and we all survive. Otherwise, you, me, and Sakura are dead!"
"If that's the case, I'm definitely not leaving you!" Naruto's eyes burned with resolve. Forming seals, he shouted, "Shadow Clone Technique!"
Pop, pop! Several clones appeared, scattering toward the forest's edge.
The real Naruto charged Orochimaru.
Unwittingly, his loyalty screwed Sasuke over.
Sasuke, having grasped Lightning Release chakra stimulation, was faster than a weighted Rock Lee.
With his Sharingan's insight, even Orochimaru would need snake-style ninjutsu or Earth Release to catch him.
Naruto's presence shackled Sasuke, forcing him to protect his teammate.
Orochimaru noticed, shifting his focus from Sasuke to Naruto.
In a few exchanges, Sasuke fell into a trap. Both he and Naruto were stuck in a swamp-like ground, bound by snakes like mummies.
As Orochimaru formed seals, his neck stretching toward Sasuke to plant the Curse Mark of Heaven—
Bang!
A figure appeared, fist smashing Orochimaru's face, the force nearly burying it in his skull.
Orochimaru's head shot back like a baseball, his body tumbling after.
The puncher was none other than the late-arriving hero—Izayoi.
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