"How… how is this possible "

Sakura's eyes widened in horror, her hand flying to her mouth.

Naruto also shouted in disbelief. "That guy can still stand?!"

The man chuckled darkly, reaching up to tear away the dangling scraps of false skin from his face. With a casual flick, he cast them aside.

Beneath was revealed a pale, gaunt face, its features sharpened by an unsettling waxy complexion. His snake-like golden pupils glimmered with amusement, and a twisted smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"It's…!" Sasuke's pupils trembled, as if he recognized the figure.

"Ah! It's that snake-skinned freak!" Naruto shouted, pointing straight at him.

The tall, slender man stepped fully from the shadows. He dusted off his clothes, tilted his neck, and a sharp crackling sound echoed from his joints.

His cold, reptilian eyes locked greedily on Sasuke, and his sinister smile deepened. "As expected of that man's younger brother. Excellent… excellent."

"Damn it. So all that before… were we really just scared stiff by this guy's aura?"

Naruto's expression twisted with embarrassment, as if he'd done something shameful. Sakura, too, wore a conflicted look.

At that moment, Orochimaru froze.

"…?"

His pupils narrowed, scanning their faces. He was caught off guard.

What was this? After revealing his true identity, the fear on their faces was gone?

Instead, he sensed… regret?

As though being frightened of him was a disgrace?

Shouldn't his true form be more terrifying than any Grass-nin disguise?

"…What amusing brats."

He muttered under his breath, then gave a low, eerie chuckle, shadows dancing in his eyes.

"Hehehe…"

Orochimaru's tone dipped, smooth and serpentine, as he addressed Sasuke. "In you, I see the shadow of Uchiha Itachi."

Sasuke staggered a step forward, his voice trembling with urgency. "What do you know?!"

Does he… know something about my brother?!

Naruto and Sakura stiffened.

Itachi? Sasuke's brother?!

They exchanged a quick glance, worry flashing between them.

"Hehehe…"

Orochimaru's smile widened at Sasuke's reaction. "Yes, that's it. That hunger for power… that hatred! Wonderful!"

He slowly spread his arms in an inviting gesture, his voice dripping with temptation. "Come with me, Sasuke. Forget your brother. With your talent, and with the strength I can give you, even Uchiha Itachi will mean nothing. Only I can grant you the power you need."

His words slithered into the air, a poison sweet as honey.

But what answered him was not awe or rage.

Instead, Sasuke rolled his eyes and cut him off with disdain. "Tch. As if! You think you can beat Nissan? Shameless liar."

"That's right!" Naruto jumped in, jabbing a finger at him. "If you go up against Itachi, you'll be lucky to escape with both arms still attached!"

The words froze Orochimaru's smile.

"You " His pupils shrank, his face darkening to an ashen shade.

That memory his most humiliating failure stabbed at him. Back when he was still with Akatsuki, he had tried to steal Uchiha Itachi's eyes. Instead, Itachi had dismantled him effortlessly, severing his left hand in an instant.

"You…!" Orochimaru's expression twitched violently.

But before he could react further, his eyes narrowed. He had sensed something. His steps halted abruptly.

"Tch…"

Suddenly, his gaze snapped back to Sasuke, burning with feverish intensity. "Sasuke! Let me give you a gift!"

His hands blurred through hand signs.

Then his neck stretched grotesquely, elongating like a serpent's as his head lunged at Sasuke with terrifying speed, the air reeking of blood and venom.

"Oh no!"

Sasuke and Naruto felt their hearts seize with dread. Exhausted from battle, their chakra reserves were nearly empty. It was too late to dodge this sudden, fatal strike!

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"Rumble!

A wall of solid earth shot up in front of Sasuke and Naruto, blocking Orochimaru's strike in the nick of time.

Three fierce dog heads were carved into the wall's surface, their stone fangs bared.

Bang!

Orochimaru's extended neck slammed into the barrier with a dull crash.

Behind the wall, Sasuke and Naruto snapped back to themselves, eyes wide with surprise.

Sakura, pale but relieved, pressed a trembling hand to her chest. "Finally… it was useful."

On the other side, Orochimaru landed lightly, his golden snake eyes narrowing as he glared at the wall that had appeared from nowhere.

"Hmph. What a pity."

His body suddenly slithered downward, melting into the earth like liquid mud.

"No way it disappeared?!"

Naruto's eyes bulged as he stared at the patch of soil where only a residue of mud remained. Within seconds, even that trace was gone.

What kind of snake-skinned monster is this?!

A sinister laugh echoed through the forest.

The laughter came from everywhere at once, coiling between the trees and chilling the air.

"Uchiha Sasuke !"

"Remember my words. If you hunger for power… if you crave revenge against Uchiha Itachi, seek me out. Only I can give you the strength to defeat him. Hehehe…"

Sasuke stood motionless, fists clenching and unclenching, his expression unreadable.

Naruto and Sakura stiffened, dread crawling into their hearts.

Naruto couldn't hold back, springing to his feet. "Hey, Sasuke! You're not seriously thinking of going to that creep, are you?!"

Sakura, ignoring her exhaustion, rushed over with panic in her eyes. "Sasuke-kun! Are you okay? Don't listen to his nonsense!"

Sasuke blinked, startled by their concern. Then his lips curved in a cold laugh.

"That weakling? He was crushed instantly by Nissan. What's he pretending for? Who would go crawling to him?"

Sakura exhaled in relief.

Naruto flopped back to the ground, equally reassured.

"Idiot. How could I ever leave Konoha?" Sasuke shot Naruto an unimpressed glance.

"But… Orochimaru might know something about that impostor," he added, his tone sharpening.

Naruto pointed at the wall in front of them, his eyes going wide. "Hey why are there dog heads carved on this thing? Look at those three ugly faces!"

"Ugly?!" Sakura's brows furrowed. "What's ugly about it? It's always looked like this!"

Hands on her hips, she glared at Naruto. "And besides, this is Kakashi-sensei's technique. How would I know why it's carved like that?"

As the two bickered, Sasuke allowed himself a faint smile.

A man humiliated by my brother wants to lure me away? Ridiculous.

Ever since those strange dreams began, everything had changed.

His strength had grown by leaps and bounds gains he could never have imagined before.

And because of that mysterious dream surrounding Team 7, he had even less reason to leave.

If I left Konoha… what if I could never enter that dream again?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Forest of Death Mitarashi Anko raced at full speed through the dense jungle, sweat beading on her forehead.

Ever since the second exam began, an unease had gnawed at her heart.

Earlier in the exam tower, the Heaven Curse Mark on her neck had throbbed faintly. The dull sting frightened her, though for a moment she thought it might only be her imagination.

But not long ago, Hatake Kakashi had sought her out in haste. He told her that Konoha's higher-ups suspected someone dangerous had infiltrated the candidates someone they feared might already be inside the Forest of Death. He asked her to assist the ANBU in the search.

Coupled with the strange reaction of her curse mark, Anko had no doubts. The one behind it could only be Orochimaru.

Now, as the suffocating chill in the air thickened, her instincts screamed the truth.

She skidded to a halt, dropped to one knee, and scanned the towering trees with wary eyes.

After all this running, the faint, eerie presence had led her here and then stopped abruptly.

"What's going on? He's clearly nearby. Why did the trail vanish here?"

She pressed her fingers to the side of her neck, where the three magatama-shaped marks were etched, her face tightening with both anger and unease.

"Long time no see, Anko."

The sinister, hoarse voice slithered through the silent forest.

Anko's eyes flew wide.

A figure peeled itself from the trunk of a massive tree, as if it had grown out of the bark itself.

A tall, thin man emerged, golden slit-pupils glinting coldly, a half-smile tugging at his pale lips.

"Orochimaru!" Anko's heart lurched, her pupils shrinking.

"I found you! You're really here!"

Her cry was not of fear, but of grim satisfaction. The reaction made Orochimaru pause.

Strange… why isn't she afraid? Why does she look almost… relieved?

Before he could muse further, several shadowy figures appeared among the trees. They moved soundlessly, stepping from the darkness to surround him.

Anko had not come alone.

"Yo, Orochimaru."

The greeting drifted lazily from behind her.

Kakashi stepped forward, emerging from the shadows with several ANBU at his back.

He stood casually atop a branch, one hand in his pocket, his visible eye calm but the pressure of his killing intent was unmistakable.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Kakashi said evenly. "But this time, Konoha won't let you have your way. And this time… I won't let you escape."

"Kakashi?" Orochimaru's eyes flickered, then he chuckled. "Hehehe… Konoha reacts faster than it used to."

His gaze slid across the surrounding ANBU, and his lips curled in disdain. "Still, do you really think this handful of minnows can stop me?"

Even encircled, his composure was absolute.

Anko's anger boiled over. "Orochimaru, you won't get away! Today will be your "

"Anko. Calm down."

Kakashi dropped beside her, raising one hand to halt her. His single eye never left Orochimaru.

"Don't rush in."

He slowly reached up with his right hand, pushing back his forehead protector to bare the scarlet Sharingan spinning in his left eye.

"I've had a theory," Kakashi said evenly. "And I'd like you to help me test it… Orochimaru-senpai."

"Oh?" Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed on the Sharingan, and a crooked smile spread across his lips.

"Fortunate boy," he hissed, his tone mocking. "You stumble upon a Sharingan, and now you think you're Uchiha?"

But before he could finish, Kakashi's Sharingan flared with red light.

"Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion Shackling Stakes Technique!"

....

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