---
If the Oto-nin and Orochimaru ended up fighting to the death inside, it wasn't Konoha's problem.
Outside the barrier, the Konoha shinobi were watching casually, as if enjoying a show.
Naruto stared at the massive structure of glowing walls and intricate seals, his eyes shining with admiration.
"Is this Sakiya's new technique? That's amazing!"
Sasuke, leaning against a tree, didn't look as impressed.
"Tch. It's boring." He crossed his arms. "By the way, Orochimaru… Didn't we meet that guy during the Chunin Exams?"
Sakura blinked in surprise.
"You don't know?"
She paused, then nodded as she remembered.
"Oh, right. You were in the hospital back then. But you should at least know what happened to the Third Hokage."
"Hmph. Who cares about that guy?" Sasuke muttered.
---
Meanwhile, Kurenai watched the scene unfold.
She knew about Sakiya's reputation—the so-called Angel of the Battlefield. She had heard that the girl was strong.
But this?
Sealing off an entire battlefield—even trapping Orochimaru inside—this was beyond what Kurenai had expected.
Her gaze shifted to Kakashi and Chihiro, who were sitting nearby.
…Reading.
"Are you two seriously reading a book right now?"
Neither of them looked up.
Kurenai sighed. How are they so relaxed?
---
Elsewhere, Kiba and Shino were studying the barrier.
Akamaru sniffed at it, but his sense of smell was completely blocked.
Shino sent his insects toward the wall, watching as they flew straight inside. A few moments later, they came back out—even though the command had been to keep flying forward.
Something was distorting their movements.
Meanwhile, Hinata activated her Byakugan.
She could still see inside, but only for a short distance before her vision was obstructed by something unknown.
Sakuragi and Tsuchiya stood whispering among themselves, deep in discussion.
All around, the Konoha shinobi were relaxed, observing the situation at their own pace.
---
But Sasuke wasn't so patient.
"That's it. I'm going in."
Without hesitation, he walked toward the barrier.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Oi! Sasuke, what are you doing?!"
Sasuke didn't answer.
"Why should I stay out here?"
"You're gonna mess up Sakiya's plan! Sasuke!"
Naruto called after him, but Sasuke never stopped walking.
Panic set in as Naruto glanced around at the others.
"Hello?! Is nobody gonna stop him?!"
Kiba, who had just returned, grinned and patted Naruto on the shoulder.
"Relax. He'll be back soon enough."
Thirty seconds passed. Then a minute.
Sasuke still hadn't come back.
Kiba blinked in surprise. "Wait… why isn't he back?"
Seeing this, Naruto grew anxious. "Then I'm going in too!"
Without hesitation, he rushed into the glowing barrier.
The moment he entered, everything around him became blindingly bright—a vast expanse of white stretching in all directions.
He kept walking forward… and suddenly, he was back outside.
Naruto stood still, blinking in confusion. What just happened?
Kiba grinned, arms crossed. "See? Told you he'd come right back!"
Naruto looked around, completely baffled.
"No way… I was walking forward!"
Frustrated, he ignored Kiba's laughter and tried again.
This time, he tied a strip of cloth around his waist.
Then he tried flying.
Then he tried moving at full speed.
Nothing worked.
No matter what he did, he always ended up back outside.
Eventually, Naruto slumped in defeat.
---
Inside the Barrier
Sakiya watched everything from above, amused.
Her gaze shifted to Sasuke, who was still pressing forward, undeterred.
Curling her lips into a smirk, she finally walked over to him.
Clearing her throat, she called out:
"Ahem. Dark Knight, what exactly are you doing in here? Didn't I say not to enter?"
Hearing her voice, Sasuke turned and saw Sakiya standing there.
"I need to find Orochimaru. I still have unfinished business with him."
Sakiya blinked, caught off guard.
You seriously think you can just take him on?
She folded her arms, giving him a skeptical look. "With your strength? You do realize you'd have a hard time fighting that slippery snake, right?"
Sasuke clenched his fists, looking ahead with determination.
"I know I'm not strong enough yet. That's why I need you to step in if things get too dangerous."
Sakiya raised an eyebrow.
Ah. So that's what this is.
He was treating this like a training ground—a chance to fight without the risk of actually dying.
Shaking her head, she smirked.
"Fine. I'll allow it."
Besides, she was already planning on making Orochimaru pay for attacking Ino.
Might as well let Sasuke warm up first.
With a casual wave of her hand, she gave him the go-ahead.
As the surroundings shifted, Sasuke's vision adjusted, and soon, Orochimaru appeared before him.
Orochimaru's eyes lit up momentarily when he saw Sasuke, but he quickly masked his excitement with an indifferent expression.
"Are you... Kimimaro?" he asked.
Sasuke had just drawn his sword when he froze, narrowing his eyes.
"You forgot me?"
Of course, Orochimaru knew exactly who Sasuke was. He had always coveted an Uchiha body. But Sasuke, at this moment, seemed to have no recollection of their history.
Ignoring any further conversation, Orochimaru activated the curse mark remotely.
"Do you feel it? The heat from the mark?"
Sasuke stiffened. His eyes flickered with confusion.
Meanwhile, Kimimaro, locked in battle against a relentless enemy, suddenly felt a similar burning sensation from his own curse mark.
In that instant, he realized—the opponent attacking him was Orochimaru!
"Orochimaru-sama! It's me, Kimimaro!" he called out.
But his attacker didn't stop. The strikes continued.
---
Back to Sasuke's Battle
Sasuke ignored Orochimaru's games. Gripping his sword, Mikazuki Zongjin, he surrounded himself with crackling lightning chakra.
In an instant, he became a streak of blue light, rushing toward Orochimaru at full speed.
Orochimaru, realizing the curse mark had no effect, smirked. So this really is Sasuke.
Without hesitation, he summoned a swarm of snakes.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Countless pythons lunged at Sasuke.
Sasuke reacted swiftly, his blade slicing through the attacking serpents in rapid succession. However, seeing that his direct assault wasn't working, he took a few steps back.
Orochimaru placed a hand on the ground.
"Evil Serpent Glide!"
Two massive snakes erupted from beneath Sasuke's feet.
At the last second, Sasuke activated his Lightning Chakra Mode, using his enhanced speed to narrowly evade the attack.
That was close. A drop of sweat trickled down his forehead.
Orochimaru, unbothered, licked his lips. "I'm surprised you're facing me alone. Do you really think I won't kill you?"
Sasuke didn't respond. He was already deep in concentration.
Calm the mind. Feel the rhythm of your breathing.
His chakra surged.
Thump-thump.
His heartbeat quickened.
BOOM—
The aura of lightning around him intensified.
Sasuke vanished from his spot.
BOOM—
A small crater formed where he had been standing.
Orochimaru's eyes widened. "Fast!"
Sasuke shot toward him, lightning sparking in his wake.
Orochimaru instinctively raised an arm to block.
But in an instant—
Sasuke had already moved behind him.
With a single, decisive slash—
SHZZZT!
The blade, coated in crackling lightning, sliced Orochimaru clean in half.
Orochimaru's upper body flew backward, severed from his lower half.
But just as Sasuke thought it was over, a sickening sight unfolded before his eyes.
From the wound, a swarm of white snakes slithered out, pulling the two halves back together.
Orochimaru's body restored itself as if nothing had happened.
At the same time, his neck twisted 180 degrees, his eerie yellow eyes locking onto Sasuke.
Sasuke's stomach twisted. "What the hell…?"
He gritted his teeth and raised his sword again, ready to strike—
But he couldn't move.
Looking down, he realized white snakes had wrapped around his wrists and legs, pinning him in place.
"When…?"
Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister grin.
"Simple tricks work best."
Before Sasuke could react, a white snake shot out from Orochimaru's hand—
And sank its fangs into Sasuke's neck.
His vision blurred. His strength drained away.
No… not like this…
Darkness swallowed him.
______________
Follow me on patreon
patreon.com/Silver757