"Hey! Is your name Orochimaru?"
Sasuke formulated his battle plan and stepped out from behind the tree.
"Oh? You've heard of me, kid?"
Orochimaru hadn't intended to reveal his identity so early, but since Sasuke called him out directly, he saw no point in hiding it anymore.
"Don't you find it disgusting—an old man like you slithering around in someone else's skin?"
Sasuke recalled how Orochimaru had disguised himself as Sakura moments earlier. The memory made his skin crawl. This guy was a complete freak.
"Hehe... Invisibility, adaptability like flowing water—this is what it means to be a true ninja."
Orochimaru chuckled, showing no shame whatsoever.
"Is that right?"
Sasuke's figure flickered and vanished instantly.
*Body Flicker Technique!*
He reappeared directly in front of Orochimaru, launching an upward kick aimed at his jaw.
But Orochimaru had been ready all along. He deflected the strike with casual ease.
Sasuke unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, but his opponent swayed and weaved like he was dancing, dodging every attack with infuriating grace.
With his Sharingan active, Sasuke could clearly track his opponent's movements, but his body simply couldn't keep up. None of his strikes found their mark.
*This bastard's taijutsu is on a completely different level.*
*That earlier advantage I had against the fake Sakura was just beginner's luck—the element of surprise.*
In a moment of frustrated distraction, Orochimaru's counterattack sent Sasuke flying backward.
Orochimaru leaned forward with a predatory grin. "Ninja Art: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Several venomous serpents burst from his sleeves, lunging toward Sasuke with fangs bared—a nightmarish sight.
"Detonate!"
Sasuke formed a quick hand seal.
*BOOM!*
The explosion caught Orochimaru off-guard, disrupting his snake jutsu.
During their earlier taijutsu exchange, Sasuke had managed to slip two explosive tags onto Orochimaru's back. The detonation did minimal damage, but bought him the breathing room he needed.
Sasuke rolled to his feet and hurled a barrage of shuriken and kunai.
Orochimaru dodged effortlessly, moving to press his advantage—but hadn't noticed the nearly invisible wire connecting the projectiles. Under Sasuke's precise control, the weapons curved back around, binding Orochimaru against a tree trunk.
"Sharingan Windmill: Triple Blade!"
*Got him!*
Elation surged through Sasuke as he prepared his strongest technique.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A concentrated stream of flame roared toward the bound Orochimaru like a blazing serpent.
The fire engulfed his target completely. Screams echoed through the forest.
When the flames died down, Orochimaru stood there...
Completely unharmed.
That sick, excited grin was still plastered across his face.
*How the hell am I supposed to fight this monster?!*
Despair crept into Sasuke's heart.
"Not bad, kid. You've earned the right to see my true power." Orochimaru's voice carried mock appreciation. "Summoning Technique: Giant Serpent!"
A colossal snake—easily a hundred meters long—materialized from nothing. Its massive body smashed through trees like twigs. Acidic saliva dripped from its forked tongue, turning the grass below into smoking wasteland.
"Tell me, boy—is this the kind of power you crave?" Orochimaru's mocking tone cut deep.
The giant serpent struck with impossible speed for something so massive.
Even with his Sharingan predicting the attack, Sasuke's exhausted body couldn't respond fast enough. The shockwave alone sent him tumbling across the ground.
"All those fancy jutsu have drained your chakra reserves." Orochimaru rode his serpent closer, looking almost bored now. "Let me give you one last gift before we finish this."
Orochimaru began weaving hand seals. His neck suddenly extended like a snake's, fangs gleaming as he prepared to deliver the Cursed Seal.
But instead of soft flesh, his teeth met hard, bitter wood.
*Substitution Jutsu?! The brat still has chakra left?*
Irritation flashed across Orochimaru's features. This sloppy performance was beneath him.
He scanned the area, ready to end this farce decisively.
"Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!"
Sasuke's real body erupted from beneath the wooden decoy, delivering a devastating uppercut that launched Orochimaru skyward.
*This strength... how does he still have chakra?*
The thought flickered through Orochimaru's mind before he dismissed it as impossible. No such recovery technique existed.
In truth, when the giant snake had knocked him down earlier, Sasuke had secretly consumed the "High-Quality Military Ration Pill" the system had rewarded him. He'd saved his trump card for exactly this moment.
Mid-air, Sasuke wrapped himself around his enemy like a falling leaf, binding him with bandages. After building tremendous rotational speed, he drove Orochimaru headfirst into the ground.
The impact raised a massive cloud of dust. When it cleared, Sasuke stood panting heavily, facing his fallen opponent.
*Earth Substitution—crack.*
The "Orochimaru" at his feet crumbled into dirt clods.
"What—"
"Ninja Art: Hidden Shadow Multi-Snake Hands!"
The real Orochimaru emerged behind him. Dozens of serpents exploded from his sleeves, coiling around Sasuke's body.
"Enough games!"
Orochimaru just wanted this tedious battle over with. The kid's stubborn persistence was starting to annoy him.
But as the snakes tightened their grip, Sasuke shouted in unison: "I've had enough too!"
"Impossible!"
The Sasuke wrapped in serpents vanished like smoke.
Earlier, using the dust cloud from his Dancing Leaf Shadow as cover, Sasuke had quickly created a shadow clone and hidden his real body.
This was the opening he'd been waiting for!
Too committed to his attack to pull back, Sasuke burst forward with a kunai in each hand.
He knew he probably couldn't kill this monster.
But he'd be damned if he let this arrogant bastard think he could toy with people weaker than him without consequences.
There would always be a price to pay.
*Anyone who messes with Uchiha Sasuke—no matter how strong you think you are—I'll make you regret it!*
"You think you control everything?! Think again!!"
Sasuke's roar echoed through the forest as he drove his kunai deep into Orochimaru's left eye.
For the first time, Orochimaru let out a genuine scream of pain.
Sasuke raised his other hand to thrust the second kunai into Orochimaru's throat.
But the serpents in those sleeves turned with unnatural intelligence, sinking their fangs into Sasuke's arms and torso.
The battle was over.
Despite everything, Sasuke smiled with grim satisfaction. At least he could face himself now.
Countless snakes dragged him to the ground as venom coursed through his system.
Blood streaming from his ruined left eye, Orochimaru actually grinned with genuine appreciation. "Magnificent! As expected of an Uchiha brat. Very good indeed!"
This time he didn't bother with jutsu. He simply walked over and sank his fangs into Sasuke's neck.
"Your performance exceeded all my expectations. I need that strength of yours. And destiny will bring you to me eventually."
Through his fading consciousness, Sasuke watched in horror as Orochimaru's mouth stretched impossibly wide, his entire face distorting grotesquely. The damaged left eye oozed like a crushed fruit.
Then a completely new Orochimaru emerged from that gaping maw, covered in viscous fluid.
This version was handsome with perfect features—nothing like the Kusagakure ninja he'd been fighting.
The sight defied all comprehension, just as Sasuke's seemingly endless chakra reserves had baffled Orochimaru.
Searing pain erupted from the back of Sasuke's neck. The Cursed Seal's power dragged him into merciful unconsciousness.
---
"What an exquisite little specimen."
Orochimaru's voice was hoarse with satisfaction as he slung Sasuke over his shoulder.
After a few quick leaps through the treetops, he arrived where Naruto and Sakura waited. He dropped Sasuke's unconscious form beside them.
"Listen carefully, children."
"This boy is my most precious vessel."
"But I have other... entertaining matters to attend to first."
"Until I return, please take excellent care of him for me."