[Shino's hand seal movements paused.]
["Don't... underestimate me!!!"]
[Zaku Abumi's eyes were bloodshot.]
[Clearly, he couldn't accept his failure.]
[Even more so... seeing a look of disappointment in Orochimaru's eyes.]
[As expected, Auntie Snake knows how to cherish talent.]
["To repay the Lord's favor on the Golden Terrace, to die for the Lord with the Jade Dragon sword?"]
The Chat Room fell silent for a moment.
Senju Tobirama: "The Fourth Hokage should have been you."
Ōnoki: "That is indeed the case, Lord Tobirama."
Ōnoki: "Of course, we are also glad that Konoha has always been under the Third Hokage's rule."
Senju Tobirama: "..."
Orochimaru didn't seem to care upon hearing this.
His ambitions were not there.
Of course, if Black-framed Naruto-kun were willing to be the Hokage and let him return to Konoha... he would be quite interested.
Orochimaru couldn't help but stick out his long tongue and lick his dry lips.
"Soon... as long as I wait for Black-framed Naruto-kun to understand my various research results..."
Suddenly.
Orochimaru's whole body shook, as if he had a sudden realization.
His body couldn't stop trembling.
He was beyond excited.
"No, Black-framed Naruto-kun must have already obtained a lot of information about me from Danzo!"
"So... so!"
A very fervent light burst from Orochimaru's eyes.
"So that's why we didn't truly become enemies in the Forest of Death!"
"Hahaha~"
Thinking of this, Orochimaru laughed uncontrollably.
What could be more pleasing to a snake than this?
The black-framed large screen imagery continued:
[Zaku Abumi raised his arms.]
[His palms opened.]
[A crazed smile curled at the corners of his mouth.]
["Are you going to risk your life for Lord Orochimaru?"]
["Well done, Zaku."]
[Dosu murmured.]
["Hah——!!!"]
[Below, Zaku Abumi roared, clearly about to unleash a powerful move.]
[In Shino's sunglasses, Zaku Abumi's figure was reflected.]
["Take this!"]
[As soon as he finished speaking.]
[He let out a scream.]
[His hands trembled violently.]
[Naruto had long seen through everything.]
[He glanced at Orochimaru.]
[Even knowing they are pawns, even if they are discarded pawns.]
[How could these people not know?]
[But... even if they know, so what?]
[They are still willing to work for Orochimaru.]
[Orochimaru's charisma was indeed somewhat beyond Naruto's imagination.]
[But it makes sense; after all, he is one of the legendary Sannin.]
[He naturally has personal charisma.]
[Actually, these issues seem very simple.]
[The affection might be fake, but the favors are real.]
[Besides, the affection isn't necessarily fake.]
["Orochimaru... interesting~" The corner of Naruto's mouth lifted slightly.]
[And below.]
[Zaku Abumi had already slumped onto the ground.]
[Shino silently retracted his Parasitic Insects.]
[If Naruto hadn't spoken just now.]
[At this moment, Zaku Abumi would not only have lost the hands he was so proud of.]
[Even his life might have been taken by the Parasitic Insects.]
[Shino looked at Zaku Abumi, whose face was filled with resentment and disbelief before turning to dejection.]
["When you first attacked, Parasitic Insects crawled into the devices between your palms."]
["Go get treated."]
["Perhaps there's still time."]
[Whoosh——]
[Gekkō Hayate immediately arrived in front of Zaku Abumi.]
[After checking, he confirmed Zaku Abumi's injuries.]
["It seems it's over... cough, cough, cough..."]
[Winner: Shino Aburame.]
Feng: "Feeding insects with one's own body?"
Feng: "That's a bit... a bit terrifying."
Shino Aburame: "The Aburame Clan is like this."
Feng: "Alright, you guys are tough."
[The second preliminary match ended.]
[Shino also defeated his opponent with overwhelming force.]
[However, compared to Sasuke's clean and efficient victory.]
[Shino took a bit longer, but his methods made many people present feel their scalps tingle.]
[Gaara crossed his arms over his chest.]
[He glanced at Shino, who silently returned to the second-floor balcony.]
["You can't beat him."]
[Kankuro and Temari looked at Gaara in confusion.]
[But Gaara didn't say another word.]
[This left Kankuro scratching his head.]
[Temari, however, widened her eyes as if she had discovered something extraordinary.]
[She opened her small mouth slightly.]
[But seeing Kankuro's confused look, she immediately dismissed the thought.]
['How could there be such a stupid younger brother?']
Kankuro: "..."
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Temari, what do you mean?!"
"Literally." Temari didn't even bother to look at him.
Kankuro: "..."
["Hahaha~!"]
["Laugh!"]
["Be arrogant!"]
["Why aren't you laughing? Why aren't you being arrogant anymore?!"]
[After a moment of silence.]
[Inuzuka Kiba looked at Dosu and Kin across from him, feeling vindicated.]
[Dosu and Kin's expressions were a bit ugly.]
[They glanced at Zaku Abumi, who was being carried away on a stretcher by Medical Ninjas.]
[Afterward, both of their expressions became much more serious.]
["So powerful... Ah~ Sorry~!"]
[Hydrangea murmured.]
[She suddenly remembered she was still here.]
[And the handsome blonde big brother in front of her hadn't given an answer yet.]
["I know." Naruto noticed the gaze coming from beside him.]
[He gave Hydrangea a gentle smile.]
[Hydrangea was stunned; she hurriedly shook her head, then feeling that was wrong, she nodded.]
[Doing this, she still felt it wasn't right, and not daring to stay by Naruto's side any longer, she hurriedly ran back with a blushing face.]
[His gaze moved up from Hydrangea's petite back.]
[The Angel of the Hidden Rain Village.]
[Hydrangea's master.]
[The Akatsuki Organization... White Tiger · Konan.]
[That cool and pretty girl was also looking at him.]
[A rose with thorns?]
[This phrase uncontrollably surfaced in Naruto's mind.]
[The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.]
[Forget it.]
[In that case, if the conditions are met, I'll take her as well.]
[It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.]
[Paper Release is very rare.]
[The two of them looked at each other for a moment.]
[Naruto naturally noticed that the piece of wood Konan was holding was the very piece of Wood Release he had given to Hydrangea earlier.]
[She's holding it directly in her hand?]
[It contained his intense, life-force-filled Chakra.]
[If Naruto wanted to.]
[He could directly invade Konan's body right now.]
[However, his gaze lingered for a moment on Konan's labret piercing.]
[Naruto unconsciously narrowed his eyes.]
['White Tiger... the word "White Tiger" on the ring should be her title in the Akatsuki Organization.']
['A labret piercing?']
['According to the latest intelligence... the Hidden Rain Village has a God.']
['The God's body is covered with "black iron rods" like ornaments.']
['A lot of information obtained from Danzo... and information from Kusagakure.']
['Years ago, when Hanzou was still in his prime... a young organization emerged in the Hidden Rain Village... a new organization for the Hidden Rain Village... the Akatsuki Organization.']
['The original members of the Akatsuki Organization were only three.']
['Yahiko, Nagato, and—Konan.']
['Suspected to have a master-disciple relationship with one of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya...']