The battle against Orochimaru raged in a ruined clearing, trees splintered by Tsunade's punches and Orochimaru's snakes. Naruto's grin was wild as he summoned a thousand clones, shouting, "Let's end this, snake guy!" But inside, he was cold, calculating. Orochimaru knew he was a Jinchuriki, and his taunts—"You're a weapon, boy, nothing more"—cut deep. They echoed Konoha's whispers, fueling Naruto's resolve. He didn't care about saving the village; he wanted power to escape it, to roam the world and find the truth about the Fourth's choice.The Nine-Tails' chakra surged, red and searing, healing his wounds and powering his clones. He felt the fox's rage, but he pushed back, snarling, "I'm in control!" His clones swarmed Kabuto, overwhelming him, but Orochimaru was another level, dodging effortlessly. Tsunade's strength turned the tide, her fists shattering the ground, and Jiraiya's toads pinned Orochimaru down. Naruto landed a Rasengan, incomplete but powerful, grazing Kabuto and forcing the Sound ninja to retreat.Tsunade watched him, her cynicism softening. "Not bad, kid," she said, agreeing to become Hokage. Naruto grinned, shouting, "Told ya I'm awesome!" but his heart was detached. Tsunade was powerful, but she'd be another Konoha leader, another liar. He'd learned from her, seen what strength could do, but he didn't trust her. His goal was bigger than Konoha—a world where he answered to no one, where the truth was his to claim.Back at the tavern, Jiraiya praised his progress, but Naruto's grin hid his wariness. Jiraiya was too close to the village, too tied to its secrets. The Rasengan, the Nine-Tails, his clones—they were his, not Konoha's. He'd keep training, keep growing, until he was strong enough to leave the village behind and roam the world, chasing answers no one could hide.
