Yamato turned to the team, then back to Orochimaru and Kabuto. The air itself felt heavier—thick with killing intent.
' We have no choice but to fight, 'he thought grimly.
His gaze shifted to Naruto… only to find the blond already leaning forward, fists clenched, eyes narrowed in that familiar determination. Chakra rippled off him in small, unfocused bursts—Naruto was seconds away from exploding forward whether Yamato ordered it or not.
He then looked to Sakura, giving her a firm nod—be ready. Sakura immediately tightened her gloves and returned the nod, her muscles tensing, her stance lowering.
Sai simply gave a quiet, almost eerie smile, already pulling ink across his scroll as if he had known they would end up fighting from the moment they arrived.
Naruto didn't wait.
He shot forward like a launched projectile, dirt exploding behind him as he propelled himself straight toward Orochimaru. The snake Sannin's lips curled into a thin, delighted smirk, like a predator welcoming a hunt. Naruto's fist chambered back, swirling with barely-contained chakra inside.
He swung.
Orochimaru casually raised his hand to block, bored confidence in every movement—but Kabuto blurred into the path at the last second.
BOOM—!
The punch landed flush on Kabuto's face. His eyes widened behind his glasses, too late to adjust. The impact detonated like a miniature shockwave, sending him hurtling backward as branches snapped and trees bent from the force.
He crashed through one trunk, then another before disappearing into a cloud of splintered wood and dust.
Orochimaru blinked.
For a heartbeat, even he didn't follow what happened.
He had sensed no significant buildup. Just… a punch.
A punch backed by perfect chakra control.
'So… Tsunade has been teaching him,' Orochimaru realized, eyes narrowing with amused intrigue. ' This could be fun.'
Naruto lowered his fist, exhaling sharply.
"When did he get there," he muttered as he looked toward the treeline where Kabuto had vanished.
Orochimaru's smile widened—thin, hungry, serpent-like.
"Ohhh… Naruto-kun," he hissed softly, voice dripping amusement. "Show me more. Maybe… you're finally ready to meet Sasuke."
The name should've made Naruto explode with rage—but he didn't even register it. His eyes were locked on Orochimaru. His feet were already moving.
Naruto burst forward again, fist coiled for another punch.
WHOOSH—!
Orochimaru tilted his head just enough for the blow to slide past his cheek, his hair fluttering from the force. Naruto didn't pause. He pivoted on his heel, twisting for a sharp backhand.
SWIP—!
Orochimaru ducked under it, his movements unnervingly smooth, almost boneless. Naruto spun his entire body into a roundhouse kick.
FWUP—CRACK!
Orochimaru raised an arm and blocked with the back of his forearm. The impact sent a dull vibration through the bridge—leaves trembling, dust kicking up around their feet.
Naruto landed and immediately threw a jab.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
Orochimaru parried each hit calmly with two fingers and the edge of his hand. His smile never left.
"Impressive," he whispered.
Naruto growled and swept low.
SHHH—WHAM!
Orochimaru leapt, flipping lightly over the sweeping kick. Naruto followed upward with a rising punch the moment Orochimaru landed—
BAM!
Orochimaru caught the fist mid-air, fingers tightening around Naruto's knuckles. Naruto gritted his teeth, muscles bulging as he pushed. Orochimaru's feet slid half a step back through the dirt.
"Oh? Such force… and yet…"
Orochimaru twisted Naruto's wrist.
CRACK—!
Naruto flipped to avoid the follow-up strike, landing on his hands and kicking forward like a spring.
THUD!
Both feet crashed into Orochimaru's chest. Orochimaru winced—not in pain, but in pleasure at the challenge—before sliding backward across the dirt, leaving twin grooves behind him.
Naruto jumped in without hesitation—A furious barrage of punches shot forward, each one faster and sharper than the last. Orochimaru weaved between them, his body swaying like a snake avoiding stomps.
But one punch grazed his cheek.
A thin line of blood formed.
Naruto saw it. And he smirked.
Orochimaru touched the blood, eyes gleaming.
"Good," he whispered.
Naruto lunged again.
BAM
Their fists collided—shockwaves rippling through the air strong enough to rattle branches and kick up spirals of dust.
Team Kakashi could only stare.
Yamato swallowed, eyes fixed on the furious exchange. "How should we help?" he asked, glancing at Sakura.
Sakura shrugged helplessly. "Right now? They're moving too fast. We'd get in Naruto's way."
But Sai had already made up his mind.
Without warning he sprinted forward—but not toward Naruto or Orochimaru. Instead, he shot past the clashing pair, slipping between the shockwaves like a ghost.
He headed straight for Kabuto.
Kabuto was only just pushing himself up, one knee in the dirt. His glasses hung crooked, one lens spiderwebbed with cracks. Dirt and splinters clung to his coat.
'Wow… who knew Naruto had that in him?' he thought darkly.' That pathetic, trembling boy from back then…'
Kabuto's fists curled tight, knuckles popping.' I'm going to kill that brat one day.'
He didn't get far into his murderous fantasy—Sai dropped in front of him with silent precision.
Kabuto's instincts kicked in. He immediately reached for a kunai and lunged—
—but Sai calmly twisted his wrist and forced him down with one smooth, practiced motion.
"Wait," Sai said, emotionless as he pinned him. "I'm not here to fight you. I'm here on a mission from my master. Danzo."
At that name, Kabuto's eyes narrowed. "Danzo, you say? And what does he want?"
"I have a message to relay to Orochimaru," Sai replied, tightening his grip as Kabuto struggled.
Kabuto stopped resisting. His lips curled into an amused smirk. "Well… you'll have to wait. Looks like Master is really enjoying this fight."
As if on cue—
CRASH—CRASH—CRASH—BOOM!
Orochimaru blasted past them, sent flying through multiple tree trunks like a ragdoll, splintering wood in explosive bursts. He rolled into an open clearing and skidded to a halt, carving a trail through the soil.
Kabuto's and Sai's eyes widened at the same time.
In the clearing, Orochimaru pushed himself up slowly.
His skin was shredded, torn open like a cracked shell. He slithered out of the ruined flesh, shedding it with a grotesque wet hiss.
'Such tremendous power…'Orochimaru thought, golden eyes gleaming with fascination. 'And this time, it's his. Not the Nine-Tails.'
A sudden WHOOSH— of air tore across the clearing.
Orochimaru's head snapped upward.
The wind whistled sharply above him.
Naruto was suspended in the air—leaping high, ram chakra coiled beneath his feet—his silhouette framed against the sky.
And in his hand…
A massive shuriken of rotating chakra spun like a tornado in miniature, shrieking loudly as it tore at the air.
The energy warped the space around it.
Orochimaru squinted, his eyes widening just a fraction.
'What is tha—'
TO BE CONTINUED