Yamato's gaze lingered on me for a moment, measuring my resolve.
"…Alright. But be careful, Naruto. Orochimaru is one of the Legendary Sannin—his strength should never be underestimated."
He didn't voice the rest, but I caught the unspoken thought in his eyes. He knew about my Sage Mode. Without that, he would never have agreed to let me face Orochimaru alone.
We exchanged a brief nod—understanding passing between us without a word.
"Let's go," Yamato ordered Sakura and Sai. Without hesitation, the three of them turned and sprinted in the direction Orochimaru had come from, disappearing into the forest's shifting shadows.
Orochimaru's tongue slid slowly over his lips. "Kabuto. Go with them. Don't let those three get anywhere near the base."
Kabuto inclined his head, but the Sannin's eyes were already back on me.
"Kyuubi Jinchūriki… I think I'll enjoy this."
The moment his focus wavered, I brought my hands together. Chakra surged through my body, drawing in the natural energy around us like a flood.
Orochimaru's brow twitched. "Sage Mode?" His voice carried a faint note of interest. Of course, he'd recognize it—he'd chased after this power himself for years without success. "So that's why you dared to face me alone."
The stillness of Sage Mode settled over me, every sense sharpening. My right hand came up, wind chakra screaming into existence.
"Senpō—Fūton: Rasenshuriken!"
Orochimaru's slitted pupils narrowed. He could feel the danger radiating from the sphere in my palm. Even he knew not to take this head-on.
In an instant, I hurled it.
Orochimaru's hands flashed through seals. "Kuchiyose: Sanjū Rashōmon!"
The ground split with a thunderous crack, and three colossal demonic gates rose before him, their grimacing faces glaring down. The Rasenshuriken struck the first gate—
BOOM!
It shattered like paper.
The second—
BOOM!
Splintered into fragments.
The third groaned, its surface splitting under the force, but it held—barely—deflecting the dying storm of blades.
When the dust cleared, cracks spiderwebbed across its face. Orochimaru remained in his summoning stance, eyes gleaming. "What a formidable technique. You nearly destroyed the Triple Rashōmon outright."
He ran his tongue along his teeth. "So this is the power of a Sage. No wonder you're so bold."
The final gate didn't last long. With a dull, echoing crack, it broke apart and crumbled into the earth. Orochimaru's expression cooled as he studied me across the distance.
Farther back, Kabuto glanced over his shoulder as he withdrew. "There's no mistake—that was Lord Orochimaru's Triple Rashōmon," he murmured. "To break through it so quickly… this Jinchūriki isn't simple. But Lord Orochimaru will not fall so easily."
Elsewhere, Sakura had caught sight of the massive chakra burst. "That was Naruto's Rasenshuriken, wasn't it?" she asked sharply.
Yamato and Sai both looked at her. She quickly explained—her voice low but tight—what the technique could do, and why only Naruto could wield it. All the more reason for them to focus on their mission. If they were to reach Sasuke, someone had to keep Orochimaru occupied. Naruto was the best suited for that task.
Back on the riverbank, Orochimaru leaned forward slightly and opened his mouth. A blade slid out, its hilt gripped in his hand as though it were a natural extension of his body. "Kyuubi Jinchūriki… let's begin the second round. I want to see for myself—who is stronger? Sasuke-kun… or you?"
Through Sage Mode's heightened perception, I felt Yamato, Sakura, and Sai pulling farther and farther away. When I was sure they were out of range, I spoke.
"Orochimaru… let's make a deal."
His eyes widened slightly before narrowing again in interest. "Oh? So the loud, naïve brat from before has grown up. You're not here shouting about becoming Hokage anymore. How intriguing."
He lowered his sword slightly, curiosity now outweighing aggression. "Speak, Jinchūriki. Let's hear how you intend to negotiate with me."
"I know you've mastered the Impure World Reincarnation," I said evenly. "I want that jutsu. I'm willing to trade information for it."
For the first time, his expression shifted into something sharper. Orochimaru studied me in silence, a cold smile spreading across his face. "You… want Edo Tensei?"
Inwardly, I could almost feel him reevaluating everything about me. Whatever he'd expected, it wasn't that.
"How amusing," he said at last, voice dripping with disdain. "Hiruzen always prattled on about his Will of Fire… yet even his precious Kyuubi Jinchūriki seeks a forbidden technique. Perhaps that 'will' was nothing more than words after all."
His tongue flicked out again. "Very well, Naruto-kun. Ordinary information will not interest me. What could you possibly offer that would make me hand over Edo Tensei?"