Chapter 75: Threatening Orochimaru
Orochimaru could accept injuries of this level; they would heal in a few days. However, a serious injury would interfere with his upcoming plans.
"Wait! You just want the kusanagi sword, right?"
"Besides the kusanagi sword, I want the scroll!"
"No problem, I can give them to you! But I want you to promise not to make a move against me for two months."
Naruto thought for a moment and understood what Orochimaru meant. He was simply afraid that Naruto would interfere in the upcoming Konoha Crush Plan, preventing him from giving his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, a proper send-off.
Naruto nodded and said, "Fine! But you also have to kill two people for me!"
"Who?"
"The two Advisors of Konoha, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado."
Orochimaru thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Those two aren't easy to kill! I can't agree to that request."
"That's your problem! You're currently labeled a Rogue Ninja. Coming to Konoha certainly means you're up to no good, and forbidding me from fighting you for two months proves you're planning something big in Konoha during that time. The only thing you can disrupt lately is the Chunin Exams. Which means... you're going to cause trouble during the Chunin Exams. Are you planning to assassinate the Daimyo? This is getting interesting."
Naruto intentionally provoked Orochimaru to see how he would respond.
Orochimaru's expression soured upon hearing Naruto's analysis. Although Naruto hadn't guessed his true objective, he had correctly identified the general time and place. If Naruto told Hiruzen Sarutobi about these suspicions, his plan would become quite troublesome.
"I can give you the scroll and the kusanagi sword, but those two Advisors are indeed difficult to kill."
"I said that's your problem. I don't care what methods you use, you must kill those two before the final round of the Chunin Exams."
Among the Konoha F4, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado were the most disgusting. They spent all day exploiting their seniority and doing nothing good. If the evil of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura was out in the open, then the evil of those two was hidden in the shadows.
Seeing Naruto act as if he had him completely cornered, Orochimaru also became somewhat angry.
"Brat, you're pushing it too far!"
Naruto glared at Orochimaru and said, "It seems we have nothing to talk about then!"
As he spoke, the Lightning Release Chakrashuriken in Naruto's hand grew another size larger.
"You'd better not think about escaping. You know I'm from the Uzumaki Clan. You must have heard of the Kagura Minds Eye; I'm watching your every move. Such a huge commotion earlier will surely attract the Anbu. By then, even if you want to run, it won't be that easy. I'll give you one last chance. Kill them! Or not!?"
Orochimaru really wanted to use the Eight Branches Technique to fight Naruto, but Narutowas right. With Naruto's strength, if he focused solely on escaping now, he certainly could. However, he feared Naruto's dogged pursuit; if the Anbu were drawn in, he might not be able to escape even if he wanted to.
"Brat! You win!"
After saying that, Orochimaru spat out the kusanagi sword from his mouth, followed by the Earth Scroll.
After placing the two items on the ground, Orochimaru said, "Sooner or later, we will have a battle."
"I'm looking forward to it too! But next time we fight, I'll definitely have learned Genjutsu. At that time, you might not even be able to escape if you wanted to."
Orochimaru gave a cold snort, used Earth Releaseto dive underground, and left.
Sensing through Kagura Minds Eye that ninjas were rapidly approaching, Naruto quickly put away the kusanagi sword and the Earth Scroll, then used the Flying Thunder God to find Hinata.
Anko Mitarashi led the Anbu to the scene where Naruto had fought Orochimaru.
"He just left! We must find Orochimaru."
Naruto used the Flying Thunder God to appear beside Hinata, startling Inuzuka Kiba and Shino.
Naruto quickly looked at the three and said, "Don't be nervous, it's me, Naruto."
Inuzuka Kiba shouted angrily at Naruto, "Naruto, you jerk! Do you know we almost killed you?"
Naruto smiled and didn't say much. Instead, he looked at Inuzuka Kiba and the others and asked, "I have an Earth Scroll here, do you want it?"
Shino and the others immediately became happy when they heard Naruto was there to give them a scroll.
Hinata took out a heaven scroll and said, "We happen to have an Earth Scroll, what we need is a heaven scroll."
Naruto smiled and tossed the heaven scroll to Hinata, saying, "Take it! Now, head to the Central Tower at top speed and try not to stop."
Inuzuka Kiba asked irritably, "Why?"
"How can you be so stupid! Those who haven't collected their scrolls by the second day will definitely lie in ambush near the Central Tower to intercept those of you who have. So you'd better reach the Central Tower within two days."
Inuzuka Kiba and Hinata understood what was going on after hearing this.
"Thanks! What about you guys? Have you collected your scrolls?"
"Don't worry about us. Collecting a scroll is quite easy."
"Then thanks! Let's go!"
Inuzuka Kiba and Shino weren't oblivious; Narutohad clearly come to deliver the scroll for Hinata's sake. How could they not leave the two some private space to talk?
Hinata blushed, lowered her head, and fidgeted with her fingers. "Thank you, Naruto-kun!"
Naruto smiled and said, "If you want to thank me, just don't faint the next time I hold your hand."
Hearing Naruto's words, Hinata's face turned even redder.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you! If I keep going, you'll faint again. I'm off."
After saying that, Naruto used the Flying Thunder God again and returned to where he had first killed the giant snake.
Naruto used Kagura Minds Eye but didn't find Sasuke and the others. He assumed they must have moved out of the range of Kagura Minds Eye's detection, so he hurried in the direction they had left.
When Naruto saw Sasuke and Sakura again, Sasuke had already been branded with the Cursed Seal.
Seeing Naruto arrive, Sakura pointed a Kunai at him and said, "Are you Naruto?"
Seeing Sakura's nervous state, Naruto sighed and activated the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Five Chakra Chains swayed fiercely in the air.
Seeing the Chakra Chains, Sakura knew it was indeed Naruto. She knelt on the ground with tears in her eyes and said, "Naruto, where did you go? Just now, there was a...!"
Before Sakura could finish her sentence, Narutointerrupted her.
"You don't need to say it. I have a general idea of what happened. The guy I was fighting escaped and must have come after Sasuke."
After saying that, Naruto looked at the Cursed Seal on Sasuke's neck.
Naruto placed his hand on Sasuke's neck to examine it and, as expected, couldn't detect any Natural Energy at all.