Suguru watched the brewing conflict with interest, his Kaisu-Byakugan tracking even the subtleties of their movement.
Orochimaru's bloodlust radiated in waves, washing over Team 7 like a physical force. Weaker-willed genin would have collapsed immediately, but these three remained standing, albeit frozen in place.
'Interesting,' Suguru thought. 'Has their exposure to Danzo, me, and even the Nibi built up their resistance?'
Sasuke's Sharingan spun faster, his body trembling but refusing to buckle. Beside him, Mitsuko's Byakugan pulsed as she fought against the paralyzing fear.
Even Sakura, the least experienced with such killing intent, managed to maintain her stance, though her face had drained of all color.
Orochimaru tilted his head, seemingly impressed by their resilience. "My, my," he hissed, "What interesting little genin you all are."
Meanwhile…
"Has anyone discovered the dead Kusagakure shinobi yet?" Suguru asked a nearby clone who was tasked with monitoring those outside the Forest of Death.
The clone positioned near the forest's edge responded immediately. "Yes. Anko-senpai found them about three minutes ago. She's moving at top speed toward Orochimaru's location right now."
As if summoned by the thought, Suguru sensed a familiar chakra signature approaching his position. He didn't need to turn to know who it was.
"Anko-senpai," he greeted, his eyes still fixed on the distant confrontation.
Mitarashi Anko landed on the branch beside him, her face tight with urgency. "You! Suguru, right? We have a situation. Orochimaru is—"
"In the forest, yes. I'm aware." Suguru blinked, making sure the Genjutsu on his eyes was still applied. "He's currently facing Team 7."
Anko's eyes widened. "We need to intervene immediately. If he's here, it means—"
"Relax, senpai," Suguru interrupted, his tone casual despite the gravity of the situation. "I have things under control."
Anko scoffed. "You can't possibly think you can defeat Orochimaru."
A small smile played at Suguru's lips. "Perhaps not. But winning and surviving are two different things." He turned to meet her gaze, silver eyes gleaming. "I'm very difficult to hit, you know. And you can't kill what you cannot hit nor find."
Anko's expression shifted as understanding dawned. "Right… You're that… The Ghost of the Land of Rivers," she murmured. "However—"
"Relax." Suguru hushed, returning his attention to Orochimaru and Team 7. "Let's first see how this plays out, shall we?"
The young boy's laughter and nonchalance gave Anko a chill.
* * *
"Formation B," Sasuke's command echoed in the ears of Mitsuko and Sakura.
The two girls nodded, and Mitsuko rushed forward, tearing her body away from that chilling bloodlust. Sakura leaped backward, her hands completing the required seals.
Their opponent swallowed the scroll they needed. There was no way to get it without killing 'her.'
'Genjutsu: Binding!'
Furthermore…
'Genjutsu: Sharingan!'
This was Team 7's Formation B. A two-tiered Genjutsu meant to force an opponent in one place while Mitsuko immobilizes them using her Gentle Fist.
It should've been a foolproof plan.
Unfortunately for them, they were fighting against one of the legendary Sannin.
The disguised Orochimaru used a shattering pulse of chakra that dispersed both Sakura's binding and Sasuke's Sharingan-induced illusion. Team 7's strategy had gone down the drain mid-execution.
Unfortunately, Mistuko had just arrived in front of her foe when she noticed the layered Genjutsu being broken. Still, she did not hesitate, and her hands moved swiftly through the air.
It was a strike that needed to connect.
—Swish!
Unfortunately…
Orochimaru's body bent at an impossible angle. Mitsuko's strike whizzed past.
The wind bristled, but the Hyuga was not yet done. Another palm followed right after her first strike, aiming for Orochimaru's jaw.
However, the Sannin's neck elongated, stretching beyond human limitations as he dodged the Hyuga's precise attacks.
—Fwish! Fwish! Fwish!
Although every strike missed, Mitsuko continued her barrage. Trusting that Sasuke and Sakura could somehow think of a strategy while she kept their opponent preoccupied.
Suguru's eyes narrowed, the crimson of his Sharingan spinning lazily.
He could intervene—should intervene, perhaps—but the opportunity to witness Orochimaru's techniques firsthand was too valuable. Besides, this confrontation was meant to happen.
Suguru wanted to see it happen. What would Sasuke be without his signature Cursed Seal of Heaven?
"Kukuku... what interesting children," Orochimaru's voice carried through the forest. "Especially you, Sasuke-kun."
The Sannin's killing intent washed over the genin team again, like a tidal wave without remorse for the castles on the sand.
Suguru felt it even from his position, a familiar sensation that reminded him of his own hunger when faced with powerful chakra.
"…As expected of Orochimaru-sensei," Suguru shook his head as he withstood the diluted bloodlust.
Others were less fortunate.
—Thud.
Mitsuko collapsed to her knees, and her Byakugan deactivated from the sheer pressure.
Sakura trembled, barely able to maintain her stance.
Only Sasuke remained somewhat functional, his Sharingan blazing as he fought against the paralyzing fear.
"I should step in soon," Suguru contemplated, forming a hand seal to ready a clone. "But not yet. Not until..."
He paused as Orochimaru's neck extended further, fangs bared and aimed directly at Sasuke's exposed neck. The moment had arrived—the cursed seal that would drive Sasuke toward darkness.
Suguru smiled. Now, Sasuke had an extra trump card on hand. Now, however, Suguru wondered what Orochimaru planned to do— was he going to retreat or strike further?
As a proctor, Suguru had to respond accordingly.
Luckily, fate had plans of its own.
"…Hm?"
Suddenly, Suguru noticed movement approaching from elsewhere. The rustling of leaves was a dead giveaway, along with the monstrous chakra accompanying it. He glanced at his clone nearby — it was smiling mischievously.
"Ah,"
Suguru understood from the smile of his clone. It seemed like the situation was about to escalate into greater chaos.
"Let's see Orochimaru face two jinchuriki. Will he try branding Tatsuya too?"
Suguru was eager to see what would happen.
* * *
Orochimaru hurried to brand Sasuke with the Cursed Seal of Heaven. The massive chakra signatures rapidly approaching his location were a telltale sign of meddlesome intrusion.
If there were beings with greater bloodlust than he did at the moment, then those would be the Tailed Beasts. Orochimaru didn't plan on confronting them at this time.
The Akatsuki had plans for them.
'As for that Tatsuya boy..'
Orochimaru had no interest in a weaker bloodline. He did not sense anything special about the boy.
Tatsuya was very different from Sasuke, who was collapsed in pain before him. The latter was a more appropriate vessel.
It was then.
"Rasengan!"
A rage-filled roar had rushed in from above, accompanied by a spiralling blue sphere of chakra smashing into the tree bark.
—BOOM!
The sphere carved a crater in the bark as Orochimaru slipped past Naruto's trajectory. Chaotic wind ruffled his clothes, indicating the speed at which they moved.
However.
—Crack.
The entire tree trembled from the sheer force of the jinchuriki's palm. It creaked, screaming for its life as it was uprooted.
Nearby, Suguru gaped.
"This…"
What the hell was this?
Naruto's hand, which had been holding the Rasengan… was coated in a bubbling crimson aura. Like liquid chakra.
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