Inside the Fortress, outside the pitch-black dungeon.
Two Sand Ninja guards were talking in hushed voices.
"I heard the sealing ritual was interrupted. The Wind Shadow and the others are dealing with the enemy. I wonder how it's going."
"Huh? Should we go out and help?"
"Just do your job. What good would we be?"
"But..."
"But what? The Wind Shadow is powerful, he doesn't need you. Besides, if even the Wind Shadow can't handle it, you'd just be another casualty!"
At that moment, a timid female voice came from inside the prison: "Um, when can you save my companions? They've lost too much blood and have already fainted."
It was a girl with red hair, her beautiful face slightly haggard, her tone full of entreaty.
Beside her lay two boys of similar age, their clothes tattered, their bodies covered in messy bloodstains, their eyes closed, their brows furrowed in pain.
Her hands were tightly clasped together, and she glanced at her companions from time to time, her worry evident.
Hearing this, one of the Sand Ninja guards frowned and turned back to scold, "What's the rush? Didn't we promise you that as long as you help us complete the sealing, we'll treat your companions immediately? What, do you want to break the rules?"
"But..." Tears welled up in the girl's eyes, but she still suppressed the fear in her heart and pleaded cautiously, "They're almost at their limit..."
"You're anxious, but we're even more anxious. No one wants the sealing ritual to be disrupted, right?" The other Sand Ninja's tone was full of threat: "If you annoy us, hmph, I wouldn't mind killing one of them to vent my anger!"
As soon as he said this, the girl was startled and didn't dare to say anything more, she could only hold her companions' hands tightly, praying in her heart that they would be alright.
Just then, a violent roar suddenly came from overhead, and the entire prison was shaking, causing everyone to cover their ears.
"What's going on? Is someone attacking the Fortress?"
"Based on my years of experience following the Wind Shadow, this must be caused by his Ninjutsu."
"So strong, so envious... Huh, why do you look so worried?"
"Idiot, to force the Wind Shadow to use Ninjutsu of this level, the opponent must be very troublesome..."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was another loud bang!
The lights in the prison flickered, and the thick rock walls began to shake, cracks appearing from top to bottom. The two men looked at each other, their faces a little ugly.
At that moment, one of the Sand Ninja suddenly turned his head and stared at a dark corner, his tone grim:
"Who's there? Get out here!"
The other person also became alert instantly, casting a wary gaze in that direction, while drawing a Kunai, ready for battle.
There was a slight sound of footsteps in the darkness, and a thin, tall figure walked out from the corner. The flickering light shone on his face, outlining clear features in the shadows.
It was a pale-faced boy with long, straight black hair falling naturally, and two golden vertical pupils emitting a cold and dangerous light in the darkness.
Being stared at by him was like being locked on by a venomous snake, sending chills down one's spine.
"Stop! Who are you? If you dare to take another step forward, don't blame us for being impolite!" A Sand Ninja shouted sharply.
The other person stepped forward directly, exuding a faint murderous aura, "Daring to invade the dungeon, you must be an intruder!"
Orochimaru indeed paused, raised both hands, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Sorry, I'm lost. Can you help me?"
"Lost? Do you think we're idiots?" The Sand Ninja snorted. "This place is heavily guarded. If you were really lost, how could you have found your way here!"
"Ah, you mean those guards..." Orochimaru raised his head, revealing a sinister look. "They were all killed by me."
"!!!"
A chill ran through their hearts. Just as they were about to act, Orochimaru suddenly chuckled.
One of the Sand Ninja took out a scroll, shook it open, and the word "Puppet" was clearly printed on it. He said with an angry expression, "Damn it, after doing something like this, you actually dare to show your face!"
"That's because..." Orochimaru tilted his head. "I'm distracting you, you idiots."
Suddenly, both of them felt a chill run down their spines. A cool sensation touched the skin on the back of their necks, and a numbing chill shot from their tailbones to the top of their heads!
They looked horrified and subconsciously reached for their backs, but it was too late. As a stinging pain came from their necks, they suddenly lost their strength and collapsed to the ground.
Two small White Phosphorus Vipers crawled over their heads and quickly returned to Orochimaru's body, disappearing into his sleeves.
Orochimaru walked straight past their bodies and came to the cage, using his hoarse voice to ask:
"Uzumaki Haruna, right?"
"Ah." Haruna shrank her neck, not daring to answer for a moment. The person in front of her didn't look like a good person at all.
By the dim light, Orochimaru saw her red hair and directly confirmed her identity. Without asking any further questions, he turned to look at the two dying Uzumaki clansmen inside, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Those two... are they your companions?"
A trace of sadness flashed through Haruna's heart. She had heard earlier that someone was disrupting the sealing ritual, and it must be the person in front of her.
She wasn't a fool. The Uzumaki clansmen were frequently disappearing. To the outside world, they were simply walking treasure troves. Now that the person had found her, how could she not know the other party's intentions?
So, there were only two fates in front of her:
Either be obediently abducted by the other party and become the next strongman's prey.
Or be killed on the spot and die young.
But no matter which option, because the sealing ritual was disrupted, her two companions were doomed.
At this thought, sorrow arose spontaneously, and tears fell down her cheeks like broken pearls, "drip, drip" shattering on the ground.
"Just give me a quick death. If I'm going to die, I want to die with my companions." She opened her teary eyes, her delicate and young face filled with determination.
"What are you talking about?" Orochimaru tilted his head in confusion. "I'm here to save you?"
"Huh?" Haruna was slightly stunned, suspecting she had misheard. "Save me?"
"Yes, entrusted by the Uzumaki Clan Head, to save..." Orochimaru slightly changed his wording, "to save... you!"
"You're not here to kill us?" she asked blankly.
Orochimaru gave her a strange look. "The benefits of killing you are far less than saving you. You are more valuable alive."
As he spoke, he had already torn off the sealing tag, his right hand wrapped in a layer of blue light, and he chopped off the shackles with a palm strike.
"Let's go." He held out his hand to Haruna.
At this moment, a look of horror suddenly flashed across the little girl's face, and she screamed, "Careful!"
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