"You see? I told you. If we don't beat this guy down, he won't let us go."
Seeing Orochimaru admit it, Naruto didn't hesitate at all. He created several shadow clones and charged toward Orochimaru together. Having just arrived, he didn't know the opponent's strength, but even if he did, he wouldn't be afraid anyway.
However, just as Naruto reached Orochimaru, several sounds of shadow clones dispelling rang out. The next moment, Naruto flew back even faster than he had come.
"Damn it!"
Although he had taken a hit from Orochimaru and had several shadow clones scattered, Naruto looked completely unaffected. Seeing this, Orochimaru stared at him with interest for a while.
"So it's the kid with the Nine-Tails sealed inside, the Uchiha survivor, a jinchūriki, and a super genius. This team is actually quite interesting."
Although Orochimaru hadn't attacked, just meeting his gaze made Naruto break out in goosebumps all over, instinctively making him want to keep fighting.
"Hey, Naruto, you idiot, don't rush in alone! We'll attack together."
After Orochimaru shattered his fantasy, Sasuke actually calmed down instead. Since kindness wouldn't work, they had to team up against the enemy next. Going one by one was completely idiotic.
After being called back by Sasuke, Naruto nodded as well. The three quickly exchanged glances and roughly understood the plan for what came next. After all, they hadn't been teammates for so long for nothing.
"Let's go!"
With that, Sasuke and Naruto charged toward Orochimaru at the same time. During this, Sasuke's Sharingan spun wildly, while Naruto's pupils slowly began shifting toward vertical slits. Clearly, when facing a powerful enemy, he had unconsciously begun drawing on the Nine-Tails' chakra.
While the two of them acted, Furina naturally didn't stay idle. After using Water Cutting Wave to cover them for a bit, she hid herself using the environment, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Normally, this tactic would have no issues. But in the face of absolute overwhelming strength, such things were just empty talk.
Perhaps because Team 7's luxurious lineup had piqued his interest, Orochimaru actually got a little serious for once.
After dodging Furina's ninjutsu, facing the two who rushed right up to him, Orochimaru took them both down in just a few moves. This wasn't because the two were weak, but because the difference in speed and power was simply too great.
"Ah!"
After falling to the ground, red chakra slowly began to appear on Naruto's body surface. Orochimaru naturally knew what Naruto's change meant. Normally, he wouldn't mind playing with the Nine-Tails jinchūriki for a bit, but right now...
"Five Elements Seal."
Lightning, Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth chakra appeared in sequence on Orochimaru's fingers. Then, he ripped open Naruto's clothes and raised his hand to slam the seal onto his stomach.
Although Naruto and Sasuke being taken down by Orochimaru in just a few strikes was somewhat unexpected, and Furina hadn't thought he would go all out against a few kids, no matter how surprised she was, she couldn't just stand by and watch Orochimaru seal Naruto.
Right before Orochimaru could complete the seal, Furina used Body Flicker to appear beside him. The drill wrapped in high-speed water currents thrust toward him at the same time.
If Orochimaru insisted on sealing Naruto, then even standing still, he wouldn't be able to escape this strike.
But facing Furina's attack right in front of him, this time Orochimaru had no intention of retreating. His hand continued pressing down toward Naruto without pause, while his other hand pulled the Kusanagi Blade from his mouth, barely blocking Furina's assault in the nick of time.
"Hmph hmph." After completing the seal, Naruto, whose Nine-Tails chakra had been cut off, immediately fainted. Then Orochimaru's other hand gripped the sword hilt as well, and the two engaged in a contest of strength.
After switching to both hands, Furina was naturally no match for Orochimaru in raw power. With a sudden burst of force from him, she was directly sent flying.
"Shit." After stabilizing herself mid-flight, Furina saw Orochimaru grab Sasuke again and leave a strawberry mark on his neck. Although Furina knew this would probably happen, wasn't this way too fast?
After dealing with Naruto and Sasuke, Orochimaru turned his gaze back to Furina. Just meeting his eyes for a moment sent a wave of chills through her. She remembered that the way he had looked at Sasuke earlier seemed similar.
After a certain bad possibility flashed through her mind, Furina instantly steeled her resolve. She would use every means possible to prevent what might happen next. Planting strawberries or whatever no way, absolutely no way.
But just as Furina was about to summon her three seafood companions to fight desperately for her innocence, Orochimaru's next words made her abandon the idea of summoning them. Instead, she let out a relieved sigh.
"No need to look at me so warily. I won't attack you next. After all, they'll need someone to take care of them later."
Furina didn't doubt Orochimaru's words. After thinking about it, Orochimaru wouldn't possibly leave his "dad" lying alone in the wilderness with no one to look after him. If some passerby finished him off with a sneak attack, all his plans would go down the drain.
"Then I'll thank Your Excellency for showing mercy. By the way, going back to the first question: are you really a ninja from the Village Hidden in the Sound?"
Seeing that Furina not only didn't question the truth of his words but even turned around to ask him a question, Orochimaru couldn't help feeling a bit puzzled. Wasn't she afraid he would attack again?
But attacking again was just a fleeting thought. Furina's question actually suited him perfectly, because even if she hadn't asked, he would have revealed it openly anyway.
"You've asked me the same question twice now. If I don't answer properly, it would be my fault instead. Since you're so curious, then let me show you."
With that, Orochimaru tore off the human skin mask he was wearing, revealing his true face, and introduced himself.
"My name is Orochimaru. Sasuke, I know you need power to take revenge on that man. And I've just given it to you. Experience it well. Then you'll know exactly where to find what you need most."
Turning his head to look at Sasuke, who was gritting his teeth and struggling to stand up, Orochimaru gave a light chuckle before beginning his seduction. Almost every word struck right at Sasuke's heart. The title of the ninja world's number-one kidnapper was well-earned.
"So it's one of the legendary Sannin, Mr. Orochimaru. I've long heard of your great name. I knew that kind of oppressive pressure couldn't belong to some nobody. It makes sense that it's you."
"Hmph hmph. You little girl sure know how to talk."
From the slight upward curve of Orochimaru's lips at that moment, it was clear that Furina's words pleased him greatly. To him, flattery from mediocrities was worthless, while Furina was clearly no mediocrity.
She was someone he actually looked up to. Even if her words were just polite and not real praise, he still felt quite good about it.