"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Under the desperate onslaught of Sasuke and Naruto, the three Rain Hidden examinees, who had lost their will to fight before the battle even began, reluctantly admitted defeat and had their scrolls taken.
"It's an Earth Scroll..."
Sakura's hopes were dashed, and she felt a bit dejected.
Ever since Naruto and Sasuke woke up, they had been like different people, silent and withdrawn.
Clearly, the battles with Neji and Lee Rock had made them realize how weak they still were.
Especially Naruto.
If Sasuke's fight with Lee Rock could be considered somewhat evenly matched, and he even managed to save face with the powerful Chidori ninjutsu in the end.
Then Naruto was beaten from beginning to end, with no ability to fight back.
Even Naruto's optimistic personality suffered a severe blow. He was no longer as cocky as when he first entered, and he couldn't even listen to Sakura's comfort, indicating how serious it was.
As a result, when they resumed their journey, the two of them searched for enemies like madmen, fighting as if their lives depended on it.
Even if Sakura was slow to react, she had already realized something was wrong.
But no one was willing to listen to her.
Upon hearing it was an Earth Scroll, Sasuke turned and left, continuing to search for enemies, not even bothering to bandage the wound on his arm.
Naruto was the same, with a fiery glint in his eyes.
If one looked closely, one might even feel that there was a pair of beast-like eyes in Naruto's eyes, greedily waiting.
Continuing forward, Sasuke felt an uncomfortable sensation, as if a pair of eyes were watching him.
Glancing around the surrounding environment, he suddenly used Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu, igniting all the trees behind him, and then quickly left.
Naruto and Sakura didn't know why Sasuke was acting so crazy and could only follow him immediately.
Just then, a black shadow suddenly blocked the path of the three of them, and a smiling voice said, "Oh, such sharp intuition. Is it a power granted by those eyes, or an innate talent?"
A strange woman they had never seen before.
Sasuke ignored her and began to assess the chances of winning or losing in his mind.
After the previous events, Sasuke knew that even with the Chidori mastered in advance, he might not be the strongest among everyone.
So, to successfully advance to the next stage and get revenge on the opponent, he had to be cautious and not repeat his previous mistakes.
"There's no one else around, just this one woman... She's wearing a forehead protector from the Grass Hidden Village, and I don't see any weapons on her... I can fight!"
"Even if she has companions ambushing us, as long as I can instantly kill this woman at the beginning, we'll have the advantage of fighting fewer opponents."
"Chidori!"
The piercing sound rang out again.
To achieve a quick victory and instantly kill the enemy, Sasuke once again used the still-unmastered Chidori and charged bravely towards the opponent.
The woman opposite him, upon seeing this ninjutsu, was first stunned, as if recalling some memory, and then revealed an even more excited smile.
Screech!
"What?!"
Sasuke's wrist was firmly grasped by the woman as she sidestepped. Twice he had used Chidori, and both times it had missed.
Then he heard the woman laugh heartily and say, "It seems you haven't mastered this ninjutsu yet. You're just halfway there."
"Shut up!"
Enraged, Sasuke took out a kunai with his other hand and stabbed directly at her throat.
However, his wrist was also grabbed by the woman with her other hand.
Then the woman leaned close to Sasuke's ear and said, "Let me tell you a secret. The person who taught you this move was actually a coward. He was terrified at the time but still dared to chase after..."
"Let go of Sasuke!"
Naruto and Sakura came to his rescue.
Orochimaru casually released Sasuke and leaped back, creating distance.
Having finally encountered a delicious prey, he naturally wanted to savor it properly.
"Sasuke, are you okay?"
"Sasuke... what's wrong with you?"
Although he was no longer under control, Sasuke was now like a drowning person, breathing with difficulty, his face covered in sweat beads the size of soybeans, and his complexion pale.
It wasn't that Orochimaru had played dirty tricks on him, but like Kakashi back then, under Orochimaru's terrifying killing intent and pressure, he felt as if he saw his own death, unable to control his body.
"Pull yourself together, hey!"
The voice in his ear seemed distant and yet close.
When Sasuke finally recovered, Sakura had already fallen not far away, her life or death unknown.
And Naruto was being choked by the woman and pinned against a tree.
"Although I don't mind you coming out for some fresh air, at this stage, you should stay inside and not cause me any trouble."
After saying some incomprehensible words, the woman pressed her right hand directly onto Naruto's stomach.
Five Elements Seal!
"Ah!"
Accompanied by Naruto's scream, the Five Elements Seal took effect, causing all the red chakra that had begun to surge to recede. Even the faint beast-like eyes in Naruto's eyes disappeared.
It was as if in the blink of an eye, only Sasuke was left.
Staring at the terrifying woman who cast him a playful gaze, Sasuke couldn't help but take two steps back. He had somewhat lost the will to fight.
But at this moment, Naruto, who had been completely ignored, suddenly attacked, scratching the woman's face with a claw. He was then instantly sent flying, crashing into a large tree and falling into a coma.
Naruto's actions finally made Sasuke stop retreating.
Then, a wave of immense shame washed over him!
Even Naruto, whom he looked down upon as a dead last, dared to continue attacking the enemy, while he, like a coward, only thought of escaping.
The intense shame turned into endless rage, causing the veins on Sasuke's neck to bulge. His Two-Tomoe Sharingan stared fixedly at the opponent.
Then he discovered that the scratched face of the woman opposite him was just a human skin mask?!
"As expected of a beast, even living in a human body doesn't change its nature."
Orochimaru said calmly while tearing off his disguise.
In comparison, he felt he had discovered another excellent 'vessel.'
Possessing the Two-Tomoe Sharingan at such a young age, having learned Chidori, and possessing excellent combat intuition...
More importantly, this brat was that guy's little brother!
Ever since his crushing defeat by Itachi, Orochimaru could never forget those eyes.
So, his current idea was to train the brat in front of him to be his vessel for reincarnation, and then go 'personally' defeat his brother. It sounded so interesting, didn't it?
Orochimaru smiled sinisterly and walked step by step towards Sasuke.
But at this moment, Sasuke, who had suppressed his fear with shame and rage, once again attacked Orochimaru.
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