Everyone in Team 7 knew this much—Sasuke's brother, the man named Itachi Uchiha, was Sasuke's absolute trigger.
Because of Itachi, Sasuke had lost his clan, his family, and his honor.
"Sasuke!" Naruto turned around, and sure enough, Sasuke had activated his Sharingan, staring viciously at the Grass ninja.
Sasuke said, "Who are you?!"
"Then let me introduce myself first," Orochimaru said calmly. In front of everyone, he performed a grotesque white snake shedding, brutally tearing off the Grass ninja's face like a mask. "My name is Orochimaru. I'm someone who can give you power, Sasuke."
"What did you say?!"
Orochimaru let out a soft chuckle. "So then… let me personally test it. Compared to your brother, how much value do you, the last Uchiha of Konoha, really have?"
Sasuke hadn't even spoken yet when Naruto snapped first.
"Value?! That's not for you to decide, you bastard!!"
Naruto was about to charge forward—but he was stopped by two people at the same time.
One was Sasuke.
"Naruto, don't interfere. This is my fight."
If he couldn't surpass Itachi, how could he obtain greater power? Those without power only kept losing things—just like back then. He would lose the mother he had just regained, lose the bonds of Team 7… Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi…
The other person was Gaara of the Sand.
Gaara blocked Naruto with his sand, his cold eyes fixed on the man calling himself Orochimaru. That killing intent—far more intense than his own—was something neither Naruto nor Sasuke could handle. Even he himself would struggle unless he used the Feigning Sleep Technique to release Shukaku.
On the other side, Orochimaru split again, like spores dividing, creating an identical copy that lunged at Sasuke.
Sasuke forced himself to suppress his fear. He needed to fight—and earn this man's acknowledgment.
Sharingan, activate.Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
"Still far from enough."Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.
Substitution Jutsu.Uchiha Shuriken!
Orochimaru was struck by the shuriken, but before Sasuke could celebrate, the Orochimaru there melted like mud.
"Earth Style!"Using Earth Style for a substitution?!
Sasuke pulled out a scroll from his ninja pouch. After forming seals, several giant windmill shuriken burst forth from the small scroll.
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!!
Fireballs shot toward Orochimaru one after another. He leapt back repeatedly, narrowly avoiding them—but Sasuke had planned ahead.
"Zzzch—"
The sound of steel wire scraping!
Each flaming windmill shuriken was connected by steel wire. Using both his fingers and teeth, Sasuke ignited the oil-coated wires in an instant!
Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!!
Sasuke darted through the bushes as the burning wires snapped tight, binding Orochimaru in place!
And he didn't stop there.
He struck sparks onto two kunai and hurled them at the other Orochimaru—the one holding Itama captive!
The Orochimaru engulfed in flames let out a piercing scream.
The sound was sharp, nauseating, and deeply unsettling.
Naruto shouted, "Did it work?!"
"Huhuhuh—ahahahaha!"
In the midst of the screams, Orochimaru suddenly burst into delighted laughter, madness tinged with appreciation.
"How interesting, Sasuke-kun. Compared to that child Itachi, you're still a defective product—but you're usable enough."
Within the flames, he rapidly formed several unfamiliar hand seals.
"Here's a little welcome gift for you."
Sasuke immediately leapt back—but he didn't realize Orochimaru's true body was no longer in the fire.
Orochimaru appeared behind him first. Sasuke's continuous backsteps fell perfectly into his trap.
Orochimaru seized him from behind. Sharp snake fangs pierced Sasuke's skin, and black markings spread outward from the bite.
"AAAAAH—!!!"
Sasuke's scream shattered the air.
Naruto completely lost it.
Rage burned away his reason.
"You bastard, let go of Sasuke!!!"
Sasuke's scream overlapped with Naruto's furious punch as he smashed Orochimaru's face to the side! Even Gaara didn't know how Naruto had broken through his sand defense to reach Orochimaru.
"Naruto!" Gaara shouted.
"Na…ruto…" Sasuke managed to look at him once before his eyelids drooped uncontrollably.
Sasuke collapsed to the ground.
Nearby, Itama was still restrained by Orochimaru's clone, a kunai pressed to his throat, blood trickling down his neck.
Naruto snapped.
In his fury, he instinctively reached for the other presence inside him—borrowing its power.
「Interesting. Then I'll lend it to you.」
Naruto didn't notice the deep, mocking tone of that voice.
His rage was focused entirely on Orochimaru.
"What did you do to Sasuke?!!"
Orange-red chakra surged around Naruto, becoming almost tangible. His once sky-blue eyes were replaced by vicious, blood-red beast pupils.
Orochimaru's eyes widened."!!"This brat—has he already learned to use the Nine-Tails' power?!
Sakura gasped."!!"Is this… really Naruto?
Gaara stared."Na…ruto?"
This power. This chakra.
They really were the same.
Gaara's gaze fixed on Naruto, something tight and unfamiliar twisting in his chest. Gaara felt, for the first time, a sense of belonging—someone like me.
Temari and Kankuro stared in shock."So this is… Konoha's…"A jinchuriki?!
Just like Gaara, using this power caused one's mind to degrade into something feral—driven only by instinctive urges for blood and slaughter.
What a terrifying power.
And not only those present felt it.
Far away, two ninjas with exceptional sensory abilities also detected that evil, chilling, fear-inducing chakra of the Nine-Tails.
"That damn Nine-Tails!"
"The Nine-Tails' chakra… don't tell me Kushina—!!"
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