Chapter 21 – The Snake's Mark
Naruto's clone raised his hands slightly, his tone casual but cautious.
"Emm… so can you go back? With that commotion, the guards might already be on their way here."
Orochimaru chuckled softly, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.
"What's the rush? I haven't even met my target yet."
Naruto tilted his head, feigning innocence.
"So you're after Sasuke or what?"
Orochimaru's smile widened unnaturally.
"Yes… by taking over his body, I will gain the power of the Sharingan."
Naruto blinked, as if genuinely thinking.
"Then why not go after Itachi? His Sharingan is better than Sasuke's, right?"
For a brief moment, Orochimaru didn't react.
Naruto suddenly smacked his palm with realization.
"Ohhhh… don't tell me you got your ass kicked by Itachi, so you came for his weaker brother?"
Orochimaru's expression twitched slightly.
Naruto leaned forward with a grin.
"See? I was right. You got beaten by Itachi and ran here. Tsk tsk… and here I thought you were a big deal."
"You talk too much, brat."
Orochimaru hissed, his killing intent flaring.
Naruto's grin widened.
"Got you, snake bitch."
His eyes sharpened instantly.
"Genjutsu: Pseudo Tsukuyomi."
For a split second, the illusion wrapped around Orochimaru.
Then—
He laughed.
"Fufufufu…"
The genjutsu shattered like glass.
"You are far from capable of trapping me in something like this."
In the next instant, Orochimaru moved.
His body blurred as he tore through Naruto's clones one after another, dismantling them effortlessly. The forest returned to silence as the last clone dispersed into smoke.
Orochimaru turned his gaze toward the central tower.
"I found you."
With a sinister chuckle, he vanished.
---
Team 7 moved swiftly through the forest, maintaining formation as they advanced.
Sakura suddenly tensed.
"Something's coming."
Before anyone could react—
A killing intent crashed over them.
"Fufufufu… we finally meet, Uchiha Sasuke."
Orochimaru appeared before them.
Naruto and Sakura reacted instantly.
Sakura's hair extended rapidly, surging forward to bind Orochimaru, while Naruto formed hand signs and unleashed a Wind Style attack. Sasuke followed up with a Fire Style jutsu, combining their attacks seamlessly.
For a moment, it looked coordinated.
But Orochimaru was on another level.
The battle turned one-sided as he evaded, countered, and overwhelmed them with terrifying ease. Within minutes, Naruto and Sakura were forced down, their defenses shattered.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, refusing to fall.
Orochimaru smirked.
"Such potential…"
In a flash, he struck.
He bit down on Sasuke's neck—
And then Naruto's.
Both of them screamed as a burning mark spread across their skin.
Sakura's eyes widened in horror.
"NARUTO! SASUKE!"
Orochimaru stepped back, satisfied.
"Grow stronger…"
And then he disappeared.
---
Naruto groaned as he slowly regained consciousness.
"Damn… what did that snake bastard do?"
Beside him, Sasuke clenched his teeth, holding his neck.
"He put some kind of mark on us…"
Naruto touched his neck, feeling the strange seal pulsing faintly.
"Tch… this isn't normal."
Sakura rushed to their side, panic clear in her eyes.
"Are you two okay?"
Without waiting for an answer, her hair extended and gently lifted both of them. She moved them to a safer, concealed location away from danger.
"We need to be careful…"
After resting briefly, Team 7 continued forward.
They avoided unnecessary fights, but after defeating one opposing team and securing the required scroll, they finally reached the central tower.
As soon as they entered—
"Ino! Hinata!" Naruto called out.
The two girls rushed toward him immediately.
"Are you okay? Why do you look like that?" Ino asked, grabbing his arm.
Hinata's eyes scanned him worriedly.
"Naruto-kun… you're hurt."
Naruto forced a small smile.
"It's nothing. I'll be fine."
Though they didn't look convinced, both girls stayed by his side, supporting him as the next phase began.
---
The elimination rounds started soon after.
Naruto faced Kiba.
Kiba rushed in confidently, but the gap between them was overwhelming. Within moments, Naruto countered every move and defeated him cleanly.
"Too slow," Naruto said with a smirk.
Hinata faced Neji next.
The atmosphere turned tense as the Hyūga cousins stood opposite each other. Neji attacked with precision, but Hinata matched him step for step, her Gentle Fist sharper and more refined than before.
In the end—
She won.
Neji stood frozen, disbelief in his eyes.
"Impossible…"
---
Ino faced Sakura in her match.
Neither held back, but both limited themselves to hair manipulation techniques. Their attacks clashed repeatedly, binding, striking, and countering in a fast-paced battle.
Sakura pushed hard.
But in the end—
Ino won.
Naruto walked over and ruffled Ino's hair with a grin.
"Nice one."
Then he looked at Sakura.
"Don't worry. Next time, work harder."
Sakura nodded, determination burning in her eyes.
"I will."
---
With the final match concluded, the elimination rounds came to an end.
The remaining participants were given a week to rest and prepare for the final stage.
As everyone dispersed, Naruto unconsciously touched the mark on his neck.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Orochimaru…