The air was heavy with tension, the thick canopy of the forest muting even the slightest rustle of leaves. The humidity clung to their skin like a second layer, sweat forming at their brows. Team 7 moved cautiously, the silence of the forest unnatural.
Naruto was the first to break it, his voice bubbling with excitement despite their grim surroundings. "Alright, let's find some weaklings and take their scroll. I mean, how hard can it be?"
Sasuke exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You're an idiot if you think this is going to be easy." His Sharingan flickered briefly, scanning for movement. "We don't just charge in blind."
"Blah blah, 'I'm Uchiha Sasuke, I'm better than everyone,'" Naruto mocked, before a rustling in the trees caught their attention.
A lone Grass ninja stumbled into their path, appearing battered and exhausted. "Please…" he gasped, staggering toward them, clutching his side. "I got separated from my team. I need help."
Naruto immediately stepped forward, hand outstretched. "Hey, don't worry, we—"
Sasuke's arm shot out, blocking his path. His expression hardened. "Something's off."
The ninja's lips curled unnaturally, a slow, creeping smile that stretched too far. His tongue flicked out, unnaturally long, eyes gleaming with something beyond human. "How sharp, Sasuke-kun."
Naruto recoiled. "What the hell was that?!"
The ninja's body shifted, the illusion peeling away like wet paper. The transformation was grotesque—features twisting, limbs elongating, bones snapping into place as the disguise fell apart.
Orochimaru stood before them.
Raven's violet eyes sharpened as she watched. So, he's making his move.
Sasuke froze, every fiber of his being screaming at him to run. His Sharingan flared, muscles locking into place, but his body refused to move. Orochimaru's presence was suffocating—something primal, something beyond any opponent they had ever faced.
Naruto's hesitation lasted barely a second before his hands flew into a seal. "Ramen Clone Jutsu!" Thick, golden strands of chakra-infused noodles erupted into existence, dozens of them forming into hardened humanoid figures with shifting, flexible limbs. "Let's see how you handle this!"
The clones lunged, their arms stretching into Ramen Binding Strands, aiming to ensnare the enemy in a sticky, constricting grip. The moment they wrapped around Orochimaru, Naruto grinned. "Gotcha!"
The victory was short-lived.
Orochimaru's lips curled, and without a flicker of movement, he was gone—a blur of motion, a shadow slipping through the noodles as though he were made of mist. The clones snapped backward as if they had caught nothing but air.
Naruto barely had time to react before Orochimaru was behind him. A single strike to his stomach sent him crashing into the dirt, his vision spinning.
A low chuckle. "You rely too much on gimmicks."
Naruto groaned, pushing himself onto his elbows. His chakra stirred, the faint red mist of the Nine-Tails' energy beginning to surface. His rage boiled, the instinctual need to strike back rising like fire in his veins.
Orochimaru's golden slits narrowed in amusement. "Not yet."
His hand shot forward, slamming against Naruto's stomach.
A searing pain ignited through Naruto's core. His entire chakra network seized, twisted, and locked into place as a dark, jagged pattern burned itself onto his skin. The Five-Pronged Seal.
Naruto gasped, his body convulsing as his clones shattered. The faint crimson aura of the Nine-Tails flickered once—then vanished entirely. His limbs felt like lead, his head pounding as if the life had been sucked from his body. He tried to move, but nothing responded. His chakra was locked.
Orochimaru exhaled, flexing his fingers. "Much better."
Sasuke watched in horror as Naruto collapsed motionless, unable to comprehend what just happened. The rush of fear surged through his veins, his Sharingan tracking every movement, but his body refused to act.
Orochimaru turned toward him, that smile still stretched across his face.
"Now then, Sasuke-kun… let's talk about your potential."
Sasuke couldn't breathe.
His instincts screamed at him to fight, to move, to do something. But he couldn't move. Orochimaru was something else entirely, something beyond anything he had ever prepared for. He was prey standing before a predator.
The golden eyes flickered with satisfaction. "You'll understand soon enough."
Then he was behind Sasuke.
Sasuke barely had time to react before sharp fangs sank into his neck.
A burning heat exploded through his body, black markings crawling across his skin like writhing serpents. His breath hitched, his vision swam, and his muscles seized from the sheer pain of it.
The Curse Mark took hold.
Sasuke's scream tore through the forest.
Orochimaru stepped back, admiring his work as Sasuke crumpled into unconsciousness. "You'll come looking for me soon enough," he whispered.
Raven, standing on the edge of the chaos, exhaled slowly, watching as Orochimaru turned his back. She could move now.
She could stop him.
But she didn't.
Instead, she let him vanish into the darkness.
Silence fell over the battlefield, the only sound left was Sasuke's ragged breathing and Naruto's shallow gasps. Sakura stumbled forward, dropping to her knees beside Sasuke, shaking him. "Sasuke! Wake up!" Her voice cracked with fear.
Raven stepped forward and crouched beside Naruto, her violet eyes scanning the Five-Pronged Seal burned into his stomach. She clicked her tongue. Sloppy work.
Her fingers hovered over his abdomen. A simple touch, a precise pulse of chakra, and she could undo it. She exhaled, discreetly forming the counter-seal with her palm.
A pulse of warmth. The kanji burned white-hot for a moment before shattering into nothing.
Naruto inhaled sharply, his muscles twitching as chakra flooded back into his limbs. His fingers flexed, his strength returning without him even realizing what had happened.
He groaned, blinking. "Ugh… what—"
Raven leaned back before he could register her presence. "Don't strain yourself, idiot," she muttered, masking her relief.
She moved to Sasuke next, glancing at the black tendrils of the Cursed Seal stretching across his skin. Her fingers twitched.
She could remove it.
Right here. Right now.
But her lips pressed into a thin line as she stopped herself. This isn't my choice.
Her thoughts lingered on Mikoto. This is her son.
She exhaled through her nose, making her decision. I'll tell her. Let her decide.
She said nothing aloud, her gaze unreadable as she rose to her feet. For now, the mark would stay.
Sakura's hands trembled as she held Sasuke, trying to wake him. Naruto, still groggy, clenched his fists, glaring at the spot where Orochimaru had vanished.
"We were nothing to him…" Naruto whispered, frustration clear in his voice.
Raven's gaze flickered toward the darkened trees, her expression unreadable.
She knew the truth but Sasuke and Itachi would have to learn the hard way.
Join my patreon today to read up to chapter 264 in advance your support is my inspiration join for only 3 to 5$
patreon.com/everstone