TCoH—Chapter 3.18 [41]

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Chapter 3.18 [41]

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As much as Hinata loved her friends, there was a part of her life that she kept separate from them, not through any maliciousness, but because she saw it as her responsibility, not theirs. So, she took the opportunity to break free from them for a few hours with open hands.

She was no stranger to the Hyuuga’s ills, namely the Caged Bird Seal granting the Main House pre-eminence over the Branch House. However, safeguarding the Byakugan was a legitimate issue. The Uchiha’s Sharigan was both a blessing and a curse. It required the would-be plunderer to have it activated permanently, rendering it a constant parasite on one’s chakra reserves.

The Byakugan had no such issue—and required a conscious rather than constant supply of chakra. Otherwise, it provided slightly sharper vision than the norm, or in other words, there was no difference between a Byakugan wielded by a non-Hyuuga and a Hyuuga.

In that sense, Hinata understood the need to safeguard their clan’s eye. She was the victim of an attempted kidnapping on her birthday carried out for that purpose, but that was as far as her understanding extended.

But she lacked the power to change anything. It was a fact that followed her across her life—a weight on her shoulders that made it difficult to advance—that she’d never been more aware of than when her father saw fit to enlighten her on “the truth” as he called it.

It was an afternoon no different to any other. She and her father had been seated over a low table, attended to by a servant from the Branch House with her head bent low as she poured them their tea before exiting with the same silence with which she served them.

“As I understand,” he had begun, considering her down the bridge of his nose, “Asuma Sarutobi has seen fit to enter your team into the coming Chunin Exams.”

She had nodded at the time. “Yes, he has, father.”

“And to my knowledge, Maito Gai has also deemed Neji’s team fit to take these exams.”

“He has?”

“What have I told you about asking nonsensical questions?”

Hinata had resisted the urge to frown, though part of her wished now that she had. “Apologies, father.”

He had neither accepted nor rebuked her apology, instead fixing her with a stare different to any other she could remember him levelling at her—and what he proceeded to reveal that day infuriated her to her core.

Every explanation he then uttered damned the Main House ten times over and only proved why the clan had to change. Her father, Hiashi Hyuuga, head of the Hyuuga clan; revealed the truth to her, not out of guilt or a desire to change the clan. No, he had revealed the truth to warn her so she could be aware of her cousin’s completely justified hatred against their clan in case he did something rash.

Something in her snapped that day. She couldn’t sit by and watch things any longer—but realistically, there was little she could do to change the clan at the moment.

But there was somewhere she could start—or rather, someone she could start with.

“...What did you say?” Neji uttered, his raised guard hovering between action and inaction.

Hinata met Neji's gaze without flinching. Her chest felt tight, her heart thudding in her ears, but she stood her ground. “I said I want to change the clan, starting with you.”

Neji's eyes narrowed dangerously. There was a long pause before, the kind that preceded a storm. Rock Lee and Tenten stood quietly at his side, both observing the tension with cautious eyes.

“You want to change the clan? Do you even understand what you’re saying?”

Hinata swallowed but didn't back down. She had prepared for this reaction, knowing full well how her words would be received… but she also knew that if she didn’t say them, no one would and nothing would change.

Neji's voice grew colder as he continued, his words coming faster. “You’ll become the heir to the Main House soon. Your sister will be branded and sent to the Branch House. You are—and will become—the symbol of everything wrong with this accursed clan. And what, you think you can just walk up to me and say you’re going to fix things? Wave a hand and make it all disappear—are you delusional?"

Each word struck like a hammer, but Hinata didn't flinch. She had thought about this confrontation for days, going over what she would say, and how she would handle Neji’s anger.

His pain was justified, but that didn't make her words any less important.

“I didn’t know the truth about what happened to my uncle until recently,” she said quietly, “but now I do and I can’t just naively sit back and accept things... not anymore”

For a moment, Neji said nothing. His gaze bored into her, his pale eyes a stark reminder of their shared bloodline.

Then his lips curled into a sneer.

“And what exactly is it you think you can change?” His fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. “You’re wandering these exams in over your head, as always. Weak. Naive. Thinking you can make a difference when you can barely stand up to your father. Don’t insult me with your empty promises.”

She felt the sting of Neji’s words, but she refused to let it show. She knew what he thought of her—what most of the Hyuuga clan thought of her until she chose to change. Weak. Unworthy.

A failure to the clan.

Tenten exchanged a glance with Lee, uncertainty flashing across her face. She shifted her weight as if debating whether to step in, but Lee subtly shook his head, indicating that they should let the confrontation play out.

Hinata met his gaze and saw curiosity there.

She took a step closer to Neji, her voice soft but unwavering. “I’m not asking for your forgiveness, Neji, and I’m not asking you to trust me, either. But I’m not going to stand by and let Hanabi go through the same thing you did. She’s my sister, and I won’t let our clan ruin her life.”

Neji’s eyes widened slightly, his expression caught between disbelief and anger. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out at first. He looked at her like she had grown two heads, as though the idea that she, of all people, standing up for anything was utterly absurd.

She didn’t blame him.

“You have no idea what you're talking about,” he said finally with his voice shaking under the weight of a barely suppressed rage. “You think this is some noble crusade? That you can change the clan by making speeches and promises? You don’t understand a thing! You were always fated for a life away presiding over the Branch House. It defines your life just as my cage defines mine, Lady Hinata.”

He turned on his heel, his back rigid with fury as he stormed away from her.

Tenten hesitated for a moment, casting a sympathetic glance in Hinata's direction, but followed him at a brisk pace.  For a moment, Hinata simply stood there, watching Neji's retreating figure. She had known this wouldn’t be easy—had known Neji would reject her outright—but seeing the depth of his hatred still stung more than anticipated.

She felt a presence beside her and turned to see Rock Lee watching her closely, his expression thoughtful. “You know, Neji can be difficult to reach. He’s very… set in his ways, I suppose, but I respect what you’re trying to do.”

Hinata blinked, surprised by the unexpected support. “You do?”

“Of course.” Lee nodded firmly, his eyes shining with his characteristic optimism. “I’ve always believed that hard work and determination can overcome anything—even fate.”

Hinata looked down at her hands, her fingers curling into fists. She wanted to believe that. She wanted to believe she could change things, but Neji's words still echoed in her mind. Words barked and grunted over the years at her lack of resolve that never quite left her despite the elders’ disapproving stares quickly turning into appraisal.

“Neji is strong,” she said softly, almost to herself, “much stronger than me, and I’ve never been able to…” She trailed off, unsure how to finish the thought without denying her resolve.

Lee, however, understood. He smiled at her, his bright smile beating back the hesitance. “He’s stronger than me too—but strength isn’t everything. Determination counts for just as much. Maybe even more.” His smile widened as he gestured broadly. “I thought you were like Neji in that regard because you skipped the morning training despite Naruto and Choji coming but you proved me wrong, Hinata, and I think you’ll prove Neji wrong too."

There was something infectious about Lee’s optimism, something that made her want to believe that she could do it—that she could make a difference. She straightened her posture with a slow nod. Lee was right. This was her chance to prove that she could stand up to her clan, the elders, and her father.

To change the clan’s fate and thereby change her own.

With a determined nod, she turned on her heel, her focus sharper than it had ever been.

——————————— 

Choji crouched low behind the thick underbrush, his pulse racing beneath the weight of the fading daylight. Sweat gathered at his temples and he was quiet and composed by years of training. He’d been tracking the Hidden Grass team for what felt like hours—each painstaking movement requiring precision. It wasn’t easy, not without Hinata’s Byakugan to guide him.

The task had fallen entirely on him, and he’d done it the hard way until a chance presented itself.

The Grass team moved just beyond the treeline, barely visible in the low light. They were close now, their chatter faint and guards lowered. Choji’s chakra buzzed faintly through his arms and legs. He could catch them by surprise if he timed this right—strike fast, take their scroll, and disappear into the woods before they even realised what had happened.

Minimal risk, no unnecessary death.

He leaned forward, ready to make his move, when the stillness of the forest was broken by a voice, sharp and cold, piercing through the trees above.

“Why can’t I find it?” The words slithered through the air like an unshakable fog.

Against his plans, Choji froze. He shifted lower, careful not to rustle the bushes in his efforts to hide and his body ached with tension.

“Maybe it was nothing,” a female voice followed, cautious, though there was something guarded in her tone. Choji couldn’t see her clearly through the trees, but the urgency in her voice was unmistakable. “We’ve already taken down one team but don't have the scroll we need. Shouldn't we hurry??”

The wind barely stirred the trees, yet there was an unsettling quietness to it, as though the forest itself held its breath to see who had come.

The other voice’s response was laced with venom. “It’s not enough,” he hissed, frustration simmering. “I felt it earlier. Someone out there... their killing intent was... tantalising, but now?” There was a long pause. “Now it’s gone. They’re hiding from me.”

Choji clenched his fists. He didn’t dare move now that he could see them. Gaara of the Sand—the red-haired boy with the forehead tattoo; the same one Naruto had warned him about—was out there hunting for something more dangerous than scrolls.

There was another voice, a gruff male this time, though Choji couldn’t see him or the girl who’d spoken earlier. “Maybe we should leave it, yeah? They’re gone and if they're really as powerful as you say, we’ll find them near the tower.”

But Gaara remained unyielding. “I’m not leaving until I find them,” he said, his voice low and dark. “I’ll tear apart every team that crosses my path if I have to.”

Choji stayed still, not even daring to shift his weight. Gaara’s presence brought with it an overwhelming sense of danger—and Naruto’s warning replayed itself in his mind. Stay away from Gaara and Fuu—both were Jinchuriki.

But Gaara, Naruto had said, was way worse, and Choji instinctively knew it.

Just by the seconds of overhead conversation, he was more than a ruthless competitor in this exam—he was a killer, the kind that wouldn’t hesitate to destroy anyone in his way. Choji was closer to him than he ever wanted to be, with nothing but a few bushes and trees between him and them.

The Sand trio eventually moved on, their footsteps fading into the distance. The forest exhaled in their absence, but the dread lingered. Choji’s heart continued to pound as the tension refused to leave his body. His quarry had long since vanished, nor could he stay still…  but he couldn’t move too quickly either.

Not with Gaara still close enough to hear a snapped twig or rustled leaves. He remained low, breathing through his nose as quietly as he could, forcing himself to wait. Every second stretched painfully long. Finally, when he felt it was safe, Choji rose, still cautious with every step.

Gaara was gone, but the encounter left a mark—a reminder that this exam was more than just a test of skill. Some people weren’t playing by the same rules as him. Some were in this for blood, not scrolls.

Choji pressed on, trying to shake off the feeling that every shadow held a threat. He couldn’t afford to lose focus, but the encounter had rattled him. The near brush with Gaara had stirred something deep, a gnawing unease that made every rustle in the trees sound far too close, the scroll challenge between him and his friends long since forgotten.

The woods grew darker with its trees casting long shadows that tangled with the underbrush. He still hadn’t found another team and the sun was steadily dipping below the horizon.

Soon, it would be too dark to track anyone without making noise.

With the afternoon’s battles slowly winding down, lingering too long without a scroll was dangerous, especially when those specialising in stealth would make their move. He weighed his options when the faint whistle of a kunai sliced through the air, embedding itself in the tree beside him with a dull thunk.

Choji stiffened, instinctively stepping back, but before he could retreat any further, three ninja emerged from the cover of the trees, their Hidden Rain forehead protectors catching the last of the dimming light.

He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his voice urgent but calm. “I don’t have a scroll.”

The leader of the group, taller than the others with a thin, dangerous smirk, shook his head. His kunai twirled lazily between his fingers as he took a step forward. “We don’t care about your scroll.”

The threat hung in the air between them, unmistakable. This wasn’t about the exam—this was something else, something worse. Choji could see it in the coldness of their eyes, in the way they stood, tension coiled in their bodies like springs waiting to snap.

He hated it.

“We just need to let off some steam,” the Rain ninja added, his smile widening. “And what better way to do so than beating around some kid from the Great Five?”

There was no reasoning with them. Choji knew that right off the bat. They didn’t care if he had a scroll or not. They weren’t here to trade blows over some prize—they wanted a fight, and they wouldn’t stop until they had it.

The first ninja rushed him with a flash of steel, kunai aimed for his throat. Choji dodged, but the blade grazed his arm. Pain flared, but he pushed it aside, spinning on his heel to counter. His hand flew to his belt pouch, fingers closing around a smoke bomb.

He slammed it to the ground, the thick plume filling the air and he backed up into the trees, trying to use the cover to catch his breath, but his opponents were fast, and the second Rain ninja was already closing in from the side. The fight was coming at him too quickly, the strikes too precise.

Choji blocked what he could, parried when necessary, but his footing slipped and he fell to the ground. Seizing the moment, the third Rain ninja darted in low, slicing a deep cut along his side. He winced, stumbling forward; his breath caught as blood began to soak his shirt.

There wasn’t much time. They were moving in again, faster now, so Choji coated his fists in hardened earth and expanded his arms, sending chakra flooding through his muscles. With his Partial Expansion Jutsu activated, his limbs swelled with power as he swung in wide arcs.

His massive fist caught one of the attackers dead-on, sending him crashing into the ground with a bone-rattling thud. But the other two didn't hesitate despite their fallen comrade. Choji moved slower than them, weighed down by the sheer bulk of his jutsu. One ninja lunged, another kunai flashing through the dark, and Choji caught the blade on his guarded forearm, sparks flying.

Planting his feet, he swung through the attack and pivoted. There was a sickening crack, followed by silence—he didn’t look back.

The final attacker hesitated for a moment, taking in the scene. He threw another flurry of kunai, forcing Choji to raise his arms to block while he charged. The impact saw the Rain ninja collide with a tree and before he could look up, Choji was on him, planting his head deep into the ground.

Finally, the forest was quiet again—no noises, no whispers, just the steady heave of his laboured breaths. He stood still, panting, blood dripping from his wounds. He hadn’t wanted this.

The fight, the deaths—none of it had been part of his plan. His gaze fell on the leader’s body. A scroll lay there in the dirt, tied to his belt. Slowly, Choji reached down and unhooked it, the weight of it unfamiliar in his hand.

He stood there for a long moment, the forest around him dark and still. He could still hear the Rain ninja’s final breaths echoing in his ears, but they were already fading. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. But as the last light drained from the sky, Choji knew it was too late to change what had happened.

“It didn’t have to come to this,” he muttered.

But even as the words left his mouth, he understood that in their world, it always did.

——————————— 

“Tell me, Naruto…” Orochimaru hummed. “What makes us so similar?”

I frowned. Similar? He couldn’t be serious. This was a monster who’d kidnapped children for his experiments. How could he think we were alike in any way?

But before I could respond, he moved. Fast. Too fast.

The air crackled as Orochimaru’s hand shot forward, stretching impossibly long like a viper striking its prey. Instinct took over, and I barely dodged, his fingertips grazing my cheek as I twisted out of the way. The impact shattered the tree behind me, splintering it with a loud crack.

No warning. No build-up. He was already attacking.

I spun, launching a barrage of shuriken in retaliation, but he slipped between them with inhuman grace, each blade missing by mere inches as he closed the distance. He was already in front of me again, his snake-like body coiling and uncoiling with unnatural speed. Pain exploded in my side, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself to keep moving.

Orochimaru followed up with a roundhouse kick, and I ducked under it, lashing out with an enhanced punch to the ribs. He twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding it, and I had to jump back to avoid his next attack—the flicker of chakra-infused kunai aimed right at my throat before it retracted.

He was toying with me.

I pushed off the ground, summoning chakra to my feet as I lunged at him, landing a solid hit on his shoulder. He barely reacted, sliding back a few feet with a thin smile.

“So, you do have some fight in you,” he murmured, eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction.

“Why don’t you answer your question?” I snarled, my voice rougher than I intended. “You said we were similar—what the hell do you mean by that?”

His grin widened, but he weaved through a series of hand seals with lightning speed instead of answering before raising his arms. I dodged only because I knew what was coming next—writhing snakes burst out of his sleeves, impossibly long and just as fast, with their jaws unhinging as they lunged at me.

I jumped to the side, avoiding three, but the fourth caught my leg. The pain was sharp and immediate, but I didn’t hesitate—given time, I’d heal. I formed the Rasengan in my palm and slammed it down into the snake’s head. The creatures exploded in mangled, fleshy bits seconds before they vanished in a cloud of smoke.

I rolled away, panting, blood seeping through the fabric of my cargo pants. Getting bitten by his poisoned snakes was a bad idea considering I was still fighting off the earlier poison from the Sound Three, but I'd live.

The bigger problem was why Orochimaru had chosen to visit me.

“Those snakes,” I said, allowing the horror within to show on my face, “You’re Orochimaru of the Sannin.”

He chuckled. “How astute of you, Naruto Uzumaki. Now, prove to me that you are worthy of an answer, and I may offer you the opportunity of a lifetime, hm?”

I bristled, the words twisting something deep inside me. Worthy? Who the hell did he think he was?

“I don’t need anything from you,” I spat, pushing through the pain. “Why are you even here? What do you want from me?”

“Oh, don’t play coy now. That old dotard would have never let you learn the Rasengan without revealing your father’s identity to you.”

Orochimaru’s eyes gleamed with a sickly light, watching my reaction like a snake preparing to coil around its prey. My heart pounded, and my mind spiralled, but I couldn’t let myself fall into his twisted game. A thought came to me, cutting through the fog he was trying to wrap around me.

A way to take back control of the conversation.

“Is that why you’re doing all this?” I asked, my voice sharper than before, but my chest still tight with unease. “Because you’re still bitter you didn’t become the Fourth Hokage?”

Orochimaru’s smile faltered for just a second, and then, without warning, he threw his head back and laughed. It wasn’t just a chuckle or a sinister snicker—it was a full, unhinged cackle that rang out through the forest.

The sound crawled under my skin while he laughed so hard that his body trembled, hands clasped together in front of him as if he was holding himself upright just to keep from falling over. It went on and on, stretching longer than it should have, filling the space between us with something dark and oppressive.

My grip on my kunai tightened, but I stayed rooted in place, watching him laugh like a maniac. Finally, he calmed, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye with a long, pale finger.

“Oh, Naruto,” Orochimaru purred, his voice dripping with amusement, “That… that is truly rich. Bitter? About something as meaningless as becoming the Fourth Hokage?” He stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate, the mockery still evident in his grin. “Let me tell you something about that precious little title: the Hokage seat is nothing but a glorified prison. A place for the village’s chosen fool to sit and pretend they have power—as my teacher so wondrously demonstrates.”

His eyes narrowed, and I could feel the malice beneath his words like a poison slowly seeping into the air.

“I was passed over for a position that holds no real value,” he said, his voice suddenly cold, like ice crawling up my spine. “A title given to someone with no true understanding of what lies beyond the limits of that pathetic village.”

“Then why bring it up?” I shot back with a smirk, forcing the words past the unease building in my chest. “If it doesn’t matter, why get me to question you? You’re still hung up on it, aren’t you?”

For a split second, something flickered in his eyes—something deeper, darker. His smile remained, but there was a tightness to it now.

“You still don’t understand, do you?” Orochimaru said softly, like I was a child who couldn’t grasp something simple. “This has never been about becoming Hokage. This is about surpassing that title—surpassing the very limitations of human existence.”

I clenched my fists, my pulse quickening as his words slithered into my ears.

Orochimaru’s eyes glimmered with that same sickly light as he leaned in slightly. “Do you know why I’m here, Naruto? It’s because I see it in you, the same hunger, the same drive. You may be the spitting image of Minato Namikaze… but you are like me.”

My heart pounded harder. “I-I’m nothing like you.”

“Really?” Orochimaru’s smile widened again, his voice almost taunting. “You’ve already proven otherwise. You fight with a ferocity, a willingness to kill—and beyond that—revelry. The Rasengan… the way you drew poor Zaku in by mocking the death of his comrades—oh yes, I saw all of it.”

My breath hitched, and I felt the blood drain from my face. He knew. He knew what I had done—but that wasn’t because I wanted to kill them. I wanted to inconvenience his plans in whatever way I could and it wasn’t like I’d gone out intending to kill them.

They wanted to kill me.

“I didn’t—”

“You didn’t have a choice?” Orochimaru finished for me, his voice lilting with amusement. “Is that what you tell yourself? That it was the only option?” His grin grew wider, sharper. “You enjoyed it, didn’t you? The thrill of breaking him. The power coursing through your veins. Just like I do.”

I shook my head, stepping back, my stomach twisting. “No… I’m not like that.”

Orochimaru clicked his tongue, wagging his finger. “Oh, but you are. Maybe you’re still in denial, but I can see it, Naruto, even if you choose to blind yourself. We are not so different, you and I.”

“You’re a criminal who betrayed everyone who ever cared for you,” I shot back. “You kidnapped people, children, experimented on them—in what way are we the same?”

“You and I,” he continued, his voice dropping to a low, intimate tone, “are bound by the same fate. Rejected, misunderstood, feared. The wings of our ambition clipped before we can even take flight. But you see, I broke free, and I can help you do the same.”

I swallowed the knee-jerk urge to scoff… but a very small part of me realised that Orochimaru was telling the truth, so instead, something entirely different slipped from my mouth.

“...Help me how?”

He paused, watching me with those predatory eyes, and then his lips curled into that same twisted grin. “I could give you what you’ve always wanted. You could see your mother again—and despite our once rivalry—your father as well.”

My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I froze. My parents. The thought of them, of seeing them again—it clawed at me, a desperate, painful longing that I couldn’t ignore.

He stepped closer, his voice barely a whisper now, his words like a poison seeping into my mind. “All you have to do… is join me. Join me, Naruto, and you can have everything you’ve ever wanted—your parents, a home, people who will not curse you for the accident of your birth.”

My mouth went dry. “T-That’s impossible. They’re gone.”

“Oh, I assure you, it’s quite possible. You know of my work and what I’m capable of.” He raised a hand, and the air seemed to grow colder. “It was why I was outcast from the village—they feared me, as they fear you. So, join me, Naruto, and I will bring your parents back to you.”

I felt my chest tighten, the offer wrapping around my mind like a vice. True reincarnation was something only Nagato was capable of, but given time… Orochimaru might be able to do it. My father was sitting in the Shinigami’s stomach right now, but he could certainly bring back my mother.

I clenched my fists, trying to push the thought away, but it lingered.

“And all I have to do is join you?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Orochimaru’s smile softened. “It would be a small price to pay, wouldn’t it? To have your family back? To be with them again and fill the hole created by their absence. I know your ties to this village are but a few.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. For a moment, I actually considered what it would be like to have her alive and well until I saw his eyes. Cold. Calculating. Amused.

I took a deep breath, shaking my head. “No,” I said, my voice stronger this time.

The air between us felt suffocating, the weight of his offer pressing down on me, tightening around my chest. The thought of seeing them, of finally knowing them, was like a current dragging me under.

But then, through the haze, I saw Orochimaru’s eyes and realised this wasn’t about me. It was about him, and accepting his offer would mean turning my back on everyone who’d become a part of my life. Turning my back on Ayame and Teuchi; Hayato, Nori, and Ko; Asuma, Choji, and Hinata.

It would make me exactly like Orochimaru, who abandoned Anko Mitarashi for his selfish pursuits. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe and rise above the manipulation—to think.

“No,” I repeated, my voice barely a whisper at first, but then stronger. “No, I won’t become a monster like you.”

Instead of his smile fading, it widened—as if my defiance amused him. “Oh? And what kind of monster am I that the village doesn’t think the same of you?”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath caught in my throat as memories of my childhood flashed before me—those cold, judging stares, the whispered hatred, the loneliness—but I shoved it down, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

…Even if he was right in a way. “That’s not the same, and you know it,” I growled, but my voice wavered for just a second.

He cocked an eyebrow at the sound.

“I can see what you’re doing, and I won’t fall for it,” I said, taking a breath. “Whatever scheme you’ve got, whatever you’re selling, I’m not buying any of it.”

“Pity,” he murmured, his voice soft, almost regretful. “I had hoped you would see reason.”

And then, without warning, his face twisted into something monstrous, his features contorting as his eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. The air around him crackled with malice, and in an instant, the game was over. The offer was gone.

Orochimaru moved, faster than I could react, his hand shooting out toward me like a snake ready to strike.

But I was ready.

I dodged, the world blurring as I dragged chakra to my feet, leaping back just in time. Orochimaru’s hand slammed into the ground where I had been standing, splintering the earth beneath it. His hand cracked the earth like a whip, jagged lines splintering out from the point of impact.

The force behind it—it could’ve caved in my skull, shattered my ribs, killed me in one blow. I felt the shockwave ripple through the ground under my feet and channelled chakra into my legs, launching into the trees. The wind whipped past my face as I leapt from one branch to the next.

Orochimaru moved faster than anyone I’d ever fought before. One second, he was on the ground, and the next, he was in the air, his snake-like body twisting through the branches with inhuman agility. His eyes gleamed, cold and predatory, as he descended toward me like a shadow.

I barely dodged in time, throwing myself to the side as his foot crashed into the branch I had just been standing on, splintering it into pieces. I hit the ground hard, rolling to absorb the impact before springing to my feet. Pain shot through my leg, the bite from his snake earlier still throbbing, but I couldn’t afford to stop now.

He landed gracefully in front of me, his face twisted in that eerie, unnatural grin. I could feel the familiar swirl of chakra in my gut as I prepared for my next move, blasting him with a Great Breakthrough.

I exhaled, sending a powerful gust of wind tearing through the forest. Trees snapped like twigs, the force of the wind ripping them out of the ground as it roared toward Orochimaru. But he just laughed, his body twisting unnaturally as he dodged the attack.

“I expected more from you, Naruto,” he said, his voice mocking. “Is this the best you can do?”

He was on me again. His hand shot out, and I barely managed to block it. The force of the impact sent a shockwave up my arm, almost knocking me off balance. But I held firm, gritting my teeth as I pushed back.

“Impressive reflexes,” Orochimaru mused, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. “But how long can you keep up?”

He struck again, faster this time, his fingers stretching unnaturally as they aimed for my throat. I ducked under the attack, lashing out with a kunai, but he twisted out of the way again, so, I formed another Rasengan in my hand, the swirling ball of chakra glowing brightly in the dim light of the forest.

Orochimaru’s eyes flicked to it, his grin widening.

“Ah, the Rasengan,” he purred, almost admiringly. “A beautiful jutsu. Let’s see if you can use it as effectively as you did against Zaku, shall we?”

I charged at him, Rasengan in hand, aiming for his chest. He didn’t move—he just watched, that smug grin still plastered on his face as I closed the distance.

But just as I was about to hit him, his body split apart. His torso peeled apart like a snake shedding its skin. I passed right through the space where his chest should’ve been and stumbled, nearly losing my balance as the Rasengan drilled into the ground.

“What the—!” Before I could even register what had happened, the Rasengan blew me into the air and Orochimaru’s hand raced towards me, fingers outstretched.

He clenched tight around my throat, reeling me in and slamming the air out of me with a punch to the gut. I gasped, struggling to break free, but his strength was overwhelming.

My vision blurred under his tightened grip.

I had to think fast. I channelled chakra into my legs and kicked back, slamming my heel into him. The impact loosened his grip just enough for me to twist free, stumbling forward as I gasped for air.

I spun around to face him, but he was already moving again—and faster than I could keep up with. His movements were a blur, his body twisting and contorting in ways that didn’t seem human.

Before I knew it, he swept at my legs, knocking me off balance. The taste of blood filled my mouth as I struggled to get back up.

“Is this all you have?” Orochimaru’s voice taunted me. “You can’t even keep up, Naruto. And you think you’re ready to face the truth about your past?”

I forced myself to my feet, my chest heaving as I glared at him. My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan, something that could give me the upper hand. Then it hit me. He was underestimating me.

He thought he had me beaten, and I could use that.

“Yeah?” I called out, my voice ragged but defiant. “You think you know everything about me, huh? Just because you’ve been watching from the shadows?”

Orochimaru’s eyes glinted from the darkness, but he didn’t respond. I pressed on.

“You think I’m weak,” I continued, my voice growing stronger, fueled by feigned anger. “But I’m still standing, aren’t I?”

Orochimaru’s mocking grin stretched wide as his fingers tightened around my arm, but this time, I wasn’t just reacting—I had a plan. The Rasengan had been my ace in the hole against the Sound 3, but it wasn’t enough against someone like him.

I needed more.

I leapt back, creating some distance between us, and as soon as my feet touched the ground, I began forming the Rasengan. The swirling sphere of blue chakra spun rapidly in my hand, the familiar hum filling the air, but this time, I wasn’t stopping there.

“Is that all?” he hissed, his voice dripping with condescension. “You really think you can defeat me with the same attack?”

Instead of answering, I smirked at him, and his amused expression faltered as he noticed the shift in my chakra, his snake-like eyes narrowing with sudden interest. I ignored his taunt, focusing everything on the task at hand. The Rasengan pulsed in my palm, the rotation fast and controlled.

But now came the harder part.

Wind chakra surged through my body, wild and unpredictable, but I forced it into the Rasengan. The spinning ball of energy resisted at first, the chaotic wind fighting against the containment, but I gritted my teeth and kept pushing, controlling the momentum.

The humming ball turned pale, the soft blue light shifting to a near-white as the sound of rushing winds filled the clearing. Trails of sharp, invisible blades spun around the edges of the ball, creating a whine that pierced the air, like a violent storm contained in the palm of my hand.

Orochimaru’s eyes flicked to the jutsu, and for the first time, I saw it—a flicker of genuine surprise. His voice was softer now, almost curious. “Interesting…” 

I could take advantage of the surprise.

The Wind-Release: Rasengan roared in my hand, barely held together by my containment. It was unstable, dangerous and far from complete—but powerful. More powerful than anything I’d ever wielded before.

I charged at him, the wind screaming in my ears as I pushed off the ground with everything I had. Orochimaru’s body tensed, his smirk gone, replaced by something much colder, much more calculating. He knew this wasn’t just another attack—this was something different.

He moved to twist out of the way, but I kept my arm by my side until the last moment, pivoting to slam it into his chest, and for a split second, everything went silent. Orochimaru’s eyes widened in shock as the jutsu tore into him, the violent wind chakra grinding, cutting, and shredding through his body.

I felt the resistance as the Rasengan met his flesh, and I felt the raw power of the wind chakra tearing into him. Orochimaru’s mouth twisted into a grimace as the jutsu dug deeper, the force of it pushing him back.

And like it did against Zaku, it exploded—and the shockwave sent both of us flying backwards. Trees snapped like twigs, debris flying in all directions as the ground shook beneath us. I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of me, and my right hand burned and was probably raked by dozens of cuts.

I rolled to my feet, panting, and my vision blurred from the impact.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, lay slumped against a ruined tree, having crashed through two others before he stopped. The front of his cloak was in tatters, revealing the pale skin beneath.

But the smile was back.

“I-Impressive,” he rasped. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he didn’t seem to care. “You’ve exceeded my expectations. To think you could use wind nature with such precision and maintain the destructiveness… even your father couldn’t manage that.”

His body twitched, the wounds on his chest slowly knitting themselves back together. I felt a surge of frustration as I watched the cuts heal.

“That was… exhilarating,” he continued, straightening up as if the damage had been nothing more than an inconvenience. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, his grin stretching wider. “With talent like that, I can see why you so readily refused my offer.”

I didn’t respond, my breathing still heavy in my chest. But I wasn’t going to show weakness.

Orochimaru took a step forward. “You’ve grown strong. Stronger than I expected. And yet… you’re still holding back, aren’t you?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“The Nine-Tails… I know it’s within you, that unbounded strength. You’re afraid of it, aren’t you? Which is why you haven’t used it.”

I stayed silent, glaring at him.

“I could help you tame that power and help you use it to realise your ambitions.”

“I already said no,” I spat—I took strength in those words, using them to erect a wall between himself and me. “I’m not like you!”

He let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “So you keep saying, but sooner or later, you will see the truth in my words. We’re more alike than you’re willing to admit.”

Orochimaru’s body began to twist unnaturally, his limbs elongating, skin shifting like it was too loose for his bones. It was as if he were preparing to shed his skin like a snake, his presence becoming more alien by the second.

“But alas, I will not offer a third time,” He sighed dramatically, “and I have more pressing matters to attend to. It seems our time together is up, for now.”

I didn’t lower my guard, nor did I look away from him. The pain in my limbs and the burn in my right hand reminded me I wasn’t at full strength either, and even if I was, I knew I wouldn’t have been able to beat him.

His figure shimmered and his body elongated further. I met his eyes, slit and gleaming with some unspoken promise.

“Rest assured, we will meet again,” he said softly, his voice barely a whisper now.

With that, he melted away, vanishing into the darkened forest like a bad dream, leaving only the lingering scent of decay and a cold, creeping silence.

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