Seeing the smile spreading across Naruto's face—that particular predatory expression that meant someone was about to have a very bad time—Sasuke knew with absolute certainty that Orochimaru was in serious trouble.
Good, Sasuke thought with grim satisfaction. The snake bastard deserves whatever's coming.
But rather than dwelling on it, Sasuke got to work. He closed his eyes, focusing inward, and activated the Flying Thunder God technique. His consciousness reached out, searching for the chakra signature of the mark he'd placed on Orochimaru during their fight in the Forest of Death.
The connection sparked to life almost immediately, but then something unexpected happened.
"Huh?" The sound escaped Sasuke's lips before he could stop it. His eyes snapped open, confusion written across his face.
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked immediately, picking up on the surprise in Sasuke's voice. "Is there a problem?"
Sasuke shook his head slowly. "No, no problem. It's just..."
Strange, he thought, not finishing the sentence aloud.
The last time he'd sensed Orochimaru's location—which had been just yesterday, actually—the mark had placed the snake Sannin firmly within Konoha Village. Specifically at a hotel, where Orochimaru had been masquerading as that woman. Even if Orochimaru had left the hotel temporarily, the signature should still have been somewhere within the village boundaries.
But this time, the Flying Thunder God mark was pinging from somewhere much farther away. Significantly farther. The chakra connection stretched thin across distance, leading to a location well outside Konoha's walls.
Did Orochimaru give up on whatever plots he had against Naruto? Sasuke wondered. Did something scare him off? Or is this a trap?
The timing seemed suspicious. But then again, maybe Orochimaru had simply decided discretion was the better part of valor after being reduced to a crying child during their last encounter.
"Well?" Naruto prompted. "Are we going or not?"
"We're going," Sasuke confirmed, pushing aside his concerns.
He activated the Flying Thunder God properly this time, channeling chakra into the technique. Space began to warp around them, reality bending to accommodate the space-time ninjutsu.
Naruto immediately triggered his Instantaneous Movement, matching Sasuke's timing perfectly. He kept the cockroach cage gripped firmly in his right hand and positioned himself directly behind Sasuke, maintaining physical contact. The last thing he needed was to get lost in the dimensional rifts between locations.
The world blurred, twisted, reformed.
The remote location Sasuke's mark had led them to was actually one of Orochimaru's laboratories.
The snake Sannin maintained several such facilities scattered throughout the Land of Fire and beyond, each one serving different experimental purposes. This particular lab was located in a hidden cave system approximately thirty kilometers from Konoha, deep enough underground that even sensory ninja would have difficulty detecting it.
Orochimaru had arrived here just yesterday evening, after soaking in the hotel's hot springs following his humiliating encounter with Naruto. He'd slipped out of Konoha Village under cover of darkness, using transformation jutsu and careful chakra suppression to avoid detection.
Of course, his departure from the village didn't mean he'd abandoned his strategy regarding Naruto. Far from it. Orochimaru never gave up on an obsession, and Naruto's immortal body represented the ultimate prize. The perfect vessel. The key to eternal existence without the limitations of his current body-swapping technique.
No, Orochimaru had simply returned to his laboratory because he hadn't performed any hands-on experiments in far too long, and his fingers were starting to itch.
Though Orochimaru's "itchy hands" meant something very different from Terumi Mei's "itchy hands."
"Such a perfect specimen," Orochimaru murmured, gazing down at the body on his dissection table.
The corpse belonged to a woman, perhaps mid-twenties, with unremarkable features but excellent physical condition. Fresh, too—delivered just this morning by one of his subordinates from Sound Village. Death had occurred less than eight hours ago, which meant minimal decomposition. Ideal for study.
Orochimaru wore sterile gloves and held a scalpel with the comfortable familiarity of long practice. His hands moved with practiced precision as he began the dissection, making the initial Y-incision across the chest with smooth, confident strokes.
In truth, Orochimaru knew human anatomy better than perhaps anyone alive. He'd studied it for decades, dissected hundreds of bodies, experimented on thousands of living subjects. His mastery of flesh, bone, and chakra pathways had enabled the creation of his Impure World Reincarnation technique and his body-transfer jutsu.
But familiarity didn't breed contempt in Orochimaru's case. It bred hunger for more knowledge. More understanding. Deeper secrets.
The corpses he found most valuable were those of powerful ninja. Individuals blessed with unique bloodline limits, special abilities, genetic advantages that normal shinobi lacked. People whose bodies contained mysteries worth unraveling.
"Kimimaro doesn't have much time left," Orochimaru mused aloud as he worked, peeling back skin to reveal the muscular layer beneath. "When he finally dies, I'll need to preserve his body immediately. Corpses from the Kaguya clan are exceptionally rare. That bone manipulation ability... so much potential for study."
He wasn't simply indulging a morbid quirk. Each dissection taught him something new about how chakra interfaced with physical matter. How bloodline limits manifested at the cellular level. How to replicate or enhance natural abilities through artificial means.
Such a shame I only obtained minimal samples from the First and Second Hokage, Orochimaru thought with genuine regret as he continued his work. If I'd secured more of their tissue, my Impure World Reincarnation could be so much stronger. Strong enough to potentially match Naruto's physical abilities.
The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, remained the gold standard even decades after death. His cells were legendary in the shinobi black market, sought after by researchers and rogue ninja alike. Even a single cell from Hashirama could multiply a person's strength several times over when transplanted properly.
How could anyone not be fascinated by that potential?
Orochimaru's dissection skills were exceptional, honed through countless hours of practice. His knowledge of human anatomy meant he could work quickly without sacrificing precision. Within thirty minutes, he'd completed a thorough examination of the corpse's major organs, chakra pathways, and skeletal structure.
He set down the scalpel and stripped off the bloodied gloves, dropping them in a disposal bin. At some point during the procedure, he'd switched from his Tsukisha Hime disguise back to his natural appearance—or at least, the appearance he wore when working. The pale skin, the purple marking around his eyes, the serpentine features that marked him as distinctly inhuman.
A hint of satisfaction colored his expression as he reviewed his findings.
"If I could dissect Naruto even once, I'd have no regrets left in this life," Orochimaru murmured to himself, the words carrying an almost reverent quality. "Though of course, his body is like gold and iron. A standard scalpel couldn't possibly cut through that level of physical conditioning. I'd need something stronger. Perhaps a chakra-enhanced surgical saw..."
The mental image made him genuinely excited. Normally, when excited, Orochimaru would extend his tongue and lick his lips in that characteristic serpentine gesture. But he'd been trying to break that habit recently to maintain his Tsukisha Hime persona more convincingly.
At least I don't have to worry about licking the mask bald anymore, he thought with dark amusement.
Naruto's face flashed through Orochimaru's mind. Those blue eyes. That impossible strength. That body that could withstand techniques even the legendary Sannin struggled against.
Suddenly, without warning, Orochimaru frowned.
A bad premonition crawled up his spine like ice water. His instincts—honed through decades of survival as a missing-nin, sharpened by countless near-death experiences—screamed danger.
He spun around sharply.
Two figures were materializing in the middle of his laboratory, emerging from the warped space of a Flying Thunder God arrival. Their forms solidified rapidly: one blonde, one dark-haired, both unmistakably recognizable.
Naruto and Sasuke.
"..." Orochimaru's mind went blank for a moment.
So that's where the premonition came from, he realized with sinking dread.
He'd imagined various scenarios for his next meeting with Naruto. Had planned different approaches, prepared contingency strategies, rehearsed persuasive arguments. But none of those plans had involved Naruto appearing directly in his secret laboratory with zero warning.
Looking at the way Naruto and Sasuke were positioned—Naruto with that predatory smile, Sasuke with cold determination in his eyes—Orochimaru felt a powerful urge to run away immediately.
"Orochimaru, it's been so long!" Naruto stepped forward, greeting him with cheerful enthusiasm completely at odds with the dangerous glint in his eyes. "How have you been?"
Actually, we just met yesterday, Sasuke thought but wisely kept to himself. When you were trying to seduce Naruto.
If he revealed that particular detail now, Naruto would probably beat him up before dealing with Orochimaru. Better to let that revelation wait for maximum comedic impact.
"The Flying Thunder God technique?" Orochimaru's gaze snapped to Sasuke, pieces falling into place. "Of course. You used it during our encounter in the Forest of Death. You marked me then."
His voice held grudging respect mixed with alarm. The Fourth Hokage's signature technique, mastered by a twelve-year-old Uchiha. Troublesome didn't begin to cover it.
"That's right, it's Flying Thunder God," Naruto confirmed, his smile widening. "I have to say, Orochimaru, I'm genuinely impressed. I crushed you into paste during our last fight, but here you are, alive and well. You really do live up to your reputation as one of the Legendary Three Sannin, as an S-rank rogue ninja."
The admiration in Naruto's voice sounded almost sincere. Almost.
Orochimaru managed to recover some of his composure. If Naruto was interested in his resurrection technique, perhaps that could be leveraged. Information was currency, after all.
"This is the Impure World Reincarnation, the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique," Orochimaru explained smoothly, slipping into his most persuasive tone. "If Naruto-kun wishes to learn it, I'd be happy to teach you. Consider it a gift between fellow researchers."
"Oh? You'd just give it to me?" Naruto's expression shifted to exaggerated disbelief. "I didn't realize Orochimaru-san was such a generous person. Or are you planning to hide tricks inside the technique? Traps that would activate once I tried using it?"
The accusation was delivered with a smile, but the underlying message was clear: I'm not stupid enough to trust you.
"How could you think such a thing?" Orochimaru pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I would never do something so underhanded. Besides, for talented individuals like Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun, I genuinely want to establish friendly relations. A simple ninjutsu technique is nothing compared to potential collaboration."
Though if Naruto-kun were willing to share his training method with me, Orochimaru thought privately, I wouldn't just give him one technique. I'd hand over my entire life's work in ninjutsu research. Every forbidden technique, every experiment result, every scrap of knowledge I've accumulated.
Of course, Naruto would never agree to such an exchange. People like him never shared their core secrets unless someone offered something even more valuable in return. And what could be more valuable than immortality through physical perfection?
"Orochimaru," Naruto said, still advancing slowly, "I actually have quite a few questions I want to ask you. Since we're already here, why don't we have a nice, long chat?"
Each step brought Naruto closer. His posture was relaxed, casual even, but something in his eyes promised violence.
At first, Orochimaru maintained his composure. His face remained neutral, merely watchful and slightly wary. This was manageable. He could handle an interrogation. Could deflect, misdirect, offer partial truths that satisfied without revealing anything critical.
But then Orochimaru's gaze dropped slightly, noticing what Naruto held in his right hand.
A small cage.
Filled with cockroaches.
Dozens of them, crawling over each other, antennae waving, legs skittering against the wire mesh. Their dark bodies caught the laboratory's fluorescent light, making them look almost glossy. Alive and active and there.
Orochimaru's pupils constricted to pinpoints. His heart, which normally beat with the slow confidence of someone who'd conquered death multiple times, suddenly lurched in his chest. His lips went pale, then faintly blue as blood drained from his face.
"Stop!" The word burst from Orochimaru's throat before he could control it. He threw up both hands in a warding gesture, backing away instinctively. "That's close enough, Naruto-kun! You can ask me anything you want from right there. I'll answer honestly. I promise!"
His voice, usually smooth and controlled, carried unmistakable panic.
"Really?" Naruto didn't stop walking. If anything, his pace increased slightly. The smile on his face took on a sharper edge. "You'll answer honestly? Just like that?"
He lifted the cockroach cage slightly, letting it swing in his grip. The insects inside shifted with the movement, creating a rustling sound that made Orochimaru flinch.
"I find that hard to believe, Orochimaru," Naruto continued conversationally. "You're one of Konoha's most famous strategists. You've eaten more salt than I've eaten rice, as the saying goes. You've survived decades as a missing-nin through deception and manipulation. If I trust your word without verification, I'd probably end up losing everything, including my pants."
The homespun wisdom was delivered with cheerful menace.
Orochimaru's retreat continued, his back hitting the wall of the laboratory. Nowhere left to go. The cage of cockroaches kept getting closer, carried inexorably forward by Naruto's steady advance.
"Don't come here!" Orochimaru's voice cracked, rising in pitch. The legendary Sannin, who'd faced down the Third Hokage without flinching, who'd stared death in the face countless times and laughed, was rapidly losing his composure. "Please! Just—just stay back!"
The fear in his voice was genuine. Raw. Thirty percent panic, seventy percent pure phobia-driven terror.
Behind Naruto, Sasuke watched the scene unfold with something that might have been dark satisfaction. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes held a glimmer of grim amusement.
This is what you get, Sasuke thought, for trying to use us as vessels. For experimenting on innocent people. For playing with lives like they're tools.
The cockroaches continued their oblivious skittering, completely unaware of the psychological devastation they were causing.
And Naruto kept walking forward, smile never wavering, cage held steady.