The oppressive canopy of the Forest of Death loomed overhead, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura moved cautiously, their senses heightened. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of leaves was a potential threat.
Suddenly, a chilling presence enveloped the area. The trio halted, their eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Feel that?" Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible as he felt the chill.
"We're being watched." Sasuke nodded as he looked around.
From the shadows emerged a tall figure, cloaked in the guise of a Kusagakure genin. But the malevolent chakra emanating from him betrayed his true identity.
"Who is he?," Sakura murmured, her voice laced with fear. She could feel the malicious chakra that he was emitting.
The disguised Orochimaru smirked, his golden serpentine eyes gleaming. "Ah, Team 7. I've been eager to meet you."
Without warning, he lunged forward, his speed astonishing. Sasuke barely parried the attack, their kunai clashing with a metallic ring. The force sent Sasuke skidding backward.
"Impressive reflexes," Orochimaru mused. "But I wonder, how deep does your potential run?"
Naruto sprang into action, creating multiple shadow clones that charged at Orochimaru. The shadow clones attacked in unison, but Orochimaru effortlessly evaded them, his movements fluid and precise.
With a swift motion, he dispelled the clones, leaving Naruto momentarily stunned.
Sakura, assessing the situation, reached into her pouch and retrieved the black flare Kakashi had entrusted to her. With a determined expression, she ignited it and hurled it skyward. The flare burst into the sky, its dark smoke signaling distress.
"A signal? Clever. But reinforcements won't arrive in time." Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he observed the flare.
"Now, let's see the extent of your abilities." He turned his attention back to Sasuke, his gaze intense.
As Orochimaru advanced, Sasuke recalled Kakashi's instructions. He had been warned not to reveal his three-tomoe Sharingan or the serpent seal unless absolutely necessary. Trusting Kakashi implicitly, Sasuke had adhered to this advice.
Reaching into his pouch, Sasuke retrieved a scroll marked with a summoning seal. Taking a small vial with Kakashi's blood, he smeared blood across the seal and unfurled the scroll. In a puff of smoke, a massive red snake materialized, Garaga.
"Garaga? What are you doing here!?" Orochimaru's eyes widened in surprise.
"You again, Orochimaru. I've been waiting for this." Garaga hissed, his gaze fixed on Orochimaru.
The three genin gasped upon hearing the name.
Without hesitation, Garaga lunged at Orochimaru, forcing him to evade. Orochimaru's movements were swift, but Garaga's attacks were relentless. The serpent's strikes were precise, aiming to corner Orochimaru.
Realizing the threat Garaga posed, Orochimaru increased his speed, weaving through the trees to avoid the snake's attacks. He knew that Garaga's senjutsu abilities, particularly his petrification technique, could be detrimental.
As the battle intensified, Orochimaru grew increasingly irritated. He had intended to test Sasuke, not engage in a prolonged fight. Sensing multiple chakra signatures approaching, he realized that the flare had summoned reinforcements.
"There will be other opportunities." With a sneer, Orochimaru glanced at Sasuke.
He then melded into the ground, disappearing from sight.
Garaga, sensing Orochimaru's departure, ceased his attacks. Turning to Team 7, he gave them a disdainful look. "You three brats are lucky I was summoned. Though, I doubt you could've handled him alone."
Naruto bristled at the comment. "What did you say, you overgrown worm?"
"Hmph, I will deal with you later," Garaga said arrogantly before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Moments later, several Konoha jonins arrived, including Kakashi. Surveying the scene, Kakashi approached his team.
"Are you all okay?" he inquired, his tone calm. His plan to temporarily make Orochimaru go away had worked.
He didn't want to fight him so as not to make Orochimaru cautious and cause things to go differently from what he wanted.
"Orochimaru attacked us. I believe he was testing our abilities or more like mine." Sasuke nodded. He had felt the rogue ninja's gaze on him nearly all the time.
The jonin exchanged concerned glances. Kakashi's expression remained neutral, but his eyes conveyed a mix of pride when he saw that the three weren't too scared.
"Good job," Kakashi said, placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "You handled the situation well."
With that, he vanished, leaving Team 7 to process the events that had just transpired.
…..
Naruto marched ahead with a grin, swinging his arms like he was on a field trip, forgetting that this was a place full of danger. "Man, this place is great! I bet we'll find some other teams to crush soon!"
"You mean the way you fell into that pit trap this morning?" Sasuke said as he glanced sideways at him.
"That was sabotage!" Naruto shot back. "I was testing its depth!"
Sakura sighed. "Please stay focused, both of you. We're not here for jokes."
Sasuke, perched quietly beside them, kept his eyes low, listening and sensing for chakra. "Something's not right," he muttered. "There are three chakra signatures they are fast and trying to stay hidden."
Kakashi had taught them well. They stopped moving instantly.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his Sharingan already active. "I see them too. Up in the trees. Hidden Rain Village forehead protectors."
"Ambush?" Naruto whispered as he got serious.
"No doubt," Sasuke replied. He didn't take these ninjas seriously.
Without warning, a volley of senbon needles rained down from above. Sasuke and Sakura darted backward while Naruto spun mid-air, slapping a kunai at the incoming projectiles, deflecting most.
From the branches above, three shinobi appeared, each dressed in gray cloaks with breathing apparatuses masking their lower faces.
"You've got a scroll?" the middle one asked, his voice filtered through the device.
"You wanna find out the hard way?!" Naruto cracked his knuckles.
"Idiots," muttered Sasuke. "They think we're easy."
"We're not," Sakura added coolly, forming hand signs.