First, a prince rides a white horse to rescue a princess.
Next, Chinatsu rides a black horse to rescue her younger brother.
Chinatsu's black horse galloped wildly through the forest, so fast that even she couldn't rein it in. The animal had long since entered full panic mode.
"Hey stop STOP!"
Realizing it was completely out of control, Chinatsu kicked off and leapt down from its back.
The black horse, now free, continued its suicidal charge forward.
"NEIGHHHHH!!!"
BOOM!!!
With a deafening crash, it slammed headfirst into the massive white snake beneath Orochimaru.
The giant serpent lowered its head slightly, glanced at the stunned animal
and without hesitation, opened its jaws and swallowed it whole.
Silence.
"My horse!!!"
Chinatsu froze.
Then exploded.
Her chakra flared violently, her expression twisting with genuine fury.
Yes, she had only known the horse for about an hour.
Yes, it had been terrified of her the entire time.
But that didn't matter.
Chinatsu was a person who valued even the smallest bonds.
She stood there
and mourned for exactly three seconds.
"…I'll avenge you."
Orochimaru watched her with a strange expression.
Originally, Chinatsu had indeed been on his list.
After all, she was an Uchiha.
But based on his intelligence network, she was merely an elite jōnin at best talented, yes, but nowhere near Sasuke's level of potential.
Sasuke, on the other hand, possessed:
The Sharingan
Exceptional natural talent
A young, adaptable body
And most importantly… blood ties to Itachi Uchiha
To Orochimaru, Sasuke had always been the superior vessel.
But now…
Looking at Chinatsu
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
A sense of danger crept into his mind.
Chinatsu slowly raised both hands.
Orochimaru's pupils narrowed.
He focused intently.
Hand seals… what kind?
Snap!
She clapped her hands together.
"…?"
That wasn't a hand seal.
There was no such seal.
For a split second
Orochimaru froze.
Then
His expression changed.
"Wood Release…?!"
Too late.
The ground beneath him exploded.
Massive roots burst forth, twisting and coiling like living creatures, forming a dense forest in an instant far faster than standard ninjutsu activation.
Orochimaru leapt backward, but the trees chased him relentlessly, branches splitting and lunging at every foothold.
He struggled briefly
But was ultimately bound.
Unlike her earlier fight with Kakuzu, Chinatsu didn't hesitate.
She surged forward.
Leaping directly into the forest she had created.
...
Outside the battlefield
Naruto collapsed onto the ground.
"It's… Chinatsu-nee…"
"She's back…"
Relief washed over him.
Sasuke said nothing.
But his eyes
The two tomoe spun violently, faintly trembling as if on the verge of evolution.
Sakura clenched her fists, eyes shining.
So this is… her true strength.
Not just beauty
But overwhelming power.
...
Inside the forest
Orochimaru moved like a phantom, constantly shifting positions.
Every branch was a trap.
Every step
A risk.
"Aren't you supposed to be a snake?" Chinatsu's voice echoed as she chased him. "Why are you jumping around like a monkey?"
Orochimaru suddenly turned.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A powerful gust tore forward
but was instantly blocked by a thick wooden barrier that rose from the ground.
Orochimaru's eyes darkened.
"This level of Wood Release…"
"…impossible."
Even his own experiments like Yamato (Tenzo) in the future timeline couldn't achieve this level of control.
Which meant
This wasn't artificial.
This was genuine.
"…interesting."
His tongue flicked out slowly.
"I want this body."
The killing intent intensified.
Orochimaru abruptly stopped retreating.
He raised his sleeve
Dozens of white snakes burst forth, lunging toward Chinatsu.
She dodged effortlessly.
Closed the distance.
A violent impact erupted
BOOM!!!
Orochimaru was blasted out of the forest, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Moments later
Chinatsu stepped out calmly.
The difference in power
Was obvious.
"Cough… cough…"
Orochimaru rose slowly, smiling despite the damage.
"You really are full of surprises."
"No wonder you survived encounters tied to Itachi Uchiha…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…I've changed my mind."
"Sasuke can wait."
"I want you."
Chinatsu's eyes narrowed.
"Try it."
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
Then
His expression shifted.
Cold.
Calculating.
"Summoning Jutsu."
He slammed his hand onto the ground.
BOOM!
A massive snake burst forth not coffins.
Not Edo Tensei.
Because at this point in the timeline
He could not use that technique here.
The giant serpent roared, its body coiling protectively around him.
Chinatsu exhaled slowly.
Sage Chakra surged.
The markings on her face deepened.
"Good."
"I was worried this would be too easy."
She stepped forward.
Hands rising again.
The forest responded instantly
Trees erupted once more, larger, denser, more violent than before.
The battlefield transformed.
Orochimaru grinned.
"Yes…"
"Show me more."
And just like that
The real battle began.
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