The Forest of Death became unbearably quiet.
The birds had stopped singing.
The wind had stopped moving.
Even the trees seemed to hold their breath.
Team Seven stood before Orochimaru, a man whose very presence felt like a warning.
Sakura’s body refused to move.
Every instinct screamed at her to run.
This was not like their battle against Zabuza.
Zabuza was dangerous because he was a killer.
Orochimaru was dangerous because he was something worse.
A person who enjoyed crossing every boundary.
Sasuke stared at him with narrowed eyes.
His Sharingan remained active, analyzing every movement.
But even with his eyes…
He couldn’t understand.
The chakra.
The pressure.
The feeling of standing before someone far beyond their level.
Naruto stepped forward.
“Sakura.”
She looked at him.
“Stay close to Sasuke.”
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Sakura noticed.
Naruto wasn’t scared.
Not because he didn’t understand the danger.
Because he understood it too well.
“Naruto…”
Sasuke glanced at him.
“Who is he?”
Naruto didn’t take his eyes off Orochimaru.
“A monster.”
Orochimaru smiled.
“Such harsh words.”
His voice was almost amused.
“Especially from someone who knows so little about me.”
Naruto’s expression didn’t change.
“You’re Orochimaru of the Legendary Sannin.”
The smile disappeared for the smallest moment.
Only a fraction.
But Naruto noticed.
Orochimaru recovered quickly.
“My.”
He tilted his head.
“You really are fascinating.”
Sakura looked between them.
“Naruto… how do you know him?”
Naruto didn’t answer.
Because there was no answer he could give.
Not without revealing everything.
Orochimaru slowly walked closer.
“I have heard many interesting stories about you.”
Naruto remained silent.
“The Land of Waves.”
“The battle against Zabuza Momochi.”
“The way you convinced a missing-nin to abandon his path.”
Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed.
“That should have been impossible.”
Naruto clenched his fist slightly.
“You did your research.”
“I always do.”
The Sannin smiled.
“Information is the foundation of power.”
Kurama’s voice echoed inside Naruto.
“Be careful.”
“I know.”
“He’s trying to provoke you.”
Naruto remained steady.
“I know.”
Orochimaru stopped several meters away.
“Tell me, Naruto Uzumaki.”
His golden eyes examined him.
“Why?”
Naruto frowned.
“Why do you look at people like you already understand them?”
Silence.
The question struck closer than Naruto expected.
Orochimaru continued.
“You looked at Zabuza and Haku as if you knew their hearts.”
“You looked at Gaara without fear.”
“And now…”
His smile returned.
“You look at me as if you already know what I will do.”
Sasuke glanced at Naruto.
Even he noticed.
Orochimaru was right.
Naruto had been acting strangely.
Naruto answered carefully.
“I don’t need to know someone’s future to understand their choices.”
Orochimaru stared.
A normal answer.
But somehow…
Not a normal answer.
“Interesting.”
The Sannin raised his hand.
A sudden burst of killing intent filled the forest.
Sakura collapsed to her knees.
Sasuke’s breathing became heavier.
The pressure was overwhelming.
But Naruto remained standing.
Orochimaru’s eyes widened slightly.
Impossible.
A twelve-year-old genin should not be able to stand against that level of killing intent.
Then he remembered.
Naruto was not reacting like a child.
He was reacting like a veteran.
“Show me.”
Orochimaru’s voice became excited.
“Show me what you really are.”
The next instant…
He moved.
Sasuke barely saw him.
A blur.
A shadow.
A monster.
Naruto vanished.
The two collided.
The impact shook the trees around them.
Orochimaru’s eyes widened.
Naruto had blocked his strike.
Not perfectly.
Not effortlessly.
But he had reacted.
“Remarkable.”
Orochimaru pulled back.
Naruto landed beside Sasuke and Sakura.
His arm trembled slightly.
The difference in power was obvious.
Even with all his experience…
His current body was still young.
Kurama spoke.
“You’re pushing too hard.”
“I know.”
“Your body cannot handle this.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Naruto looked at Orochimaru.
“Because I can’t let him touch Sasuke.”
Orochimaru smiled.
“There it is.”
He looked toward Sasuke.
“The Uchiha.”
Then back to Naruto.
“And the guardian.”
Naruto’s eyes sharpened.
“You won’t take him.”
Orochimaru laughed softly.
“So confident.”
This time, Sasuke moved.
His Sharingan followed.
He attacked with a combination of strikes he had practiced countless times.
Orochimaru avoided every single one.
But Sasuke did not stop.
He pushed forward.
Faster.
Harder.
More determined.
Naruto watched.
This Sasuke was different.
He wasn’t fighting alone anymore.
He wasn’t desperately chasing power.
He was fighting alongside his teammates.
But Orochimaru noticed too.
“Excellent.”
The Sannin smiled.
“Your hatred burns beautifully.”
Sasuke froze.
The words struck something inside him.
Naruto immediately recognized it.
The opening.
The weakness.
The thing Orochimaru would exploit.
“Don’t listen to him!”
Sasuke looked at Naruto.
Orochimaru laughed.
“You know exactly what I am talking about, don’t you?”
Naruto’s expression darkened.
The snake was dangerous because he didn’t attack the body first.
He attacked the mind.
The past.
The wounds.
The desires people hid.
Orochimaru moved toward Sasuke.
But Naruto appeared between them.
A clash.
A single moment.
Two pairs of eyes met.
Blue.
Golden.
The future Hokage.
The legendary Sannin.
“You really are interesting.”
Orochimaru whispered.
Naruto stared back.
“And you’re exactly the same.”
For the first time…
Orochimaru’s smile faded.
“Exactly the same?”
Naruto realized his mistake.
Too late.
The Sannin leaned closer.
“You speak as if you know me.”
A dangerous curiosity appeared in his eyes.
“How much do you know about me, Naruto Uzumaki?”
The question hung in the air.
Naruto said nothing.
Because he understood.
The battle was no longer just about protecting Sasuke.
Orochimaru was no longer testing their strength.
He was investigating Naruto.
And that made him even more dangerous.
The serpent smiled.
“Very well.”
He stepped back.
“Let’s see how much of you is real.”
The ground beneath Team Seven began to shake.
A massive snake emerged from the earth.
Sakura looked up in horror.
Sasuke tightened his grip.
Naruto stared forward.
The first stage of the Forest of Death had begun.
And this time…
Orochimaru was not interested in creating a vessel.
He was interested in uncovering a mystery.