Through his mastery of Observation Haki, Naruto sensed someone approaching.
'The presence felt familiar… it was undoubtedly Sasuke.'
There was no time to dwell on why Sasuke had appeared. Naruto quickly used the Transformation Technique to take on the form of Yasuo.
Of course, the clothes he was wearing were still the Akatsuki's cloak.
The Akatsuki's attire was naturally loose-fitting, and Yasuo's height was only 165 cm. So once Naruto transformed, the robes fit him perfectly.
Paired with the Shikai version of the Zanpakuto, his attire made Naruto look like a solitary and proud samurai.
Whoosh!
At that moment, a figure darted out from Otogakure. When it stopped, Naruto saw the familiar image: a young man wearing a pure white kimono and dark blue trousers. On the back of the kimono was a small Uchiha Clan's emblem.
His dark gray arm guards extended from his forearms to his hands, and a purple rope belt, identical to Orochimaru's, was tied around his waist. At his side hung the Kusanagi Sword.
Just as Naruto had sensed, it was Sasuke.
"Itachi… it's you!"
Sasuke had rushed over upon hearing the sounds of combat. Before he could inquire about Orochimaru's situation, his gaze locked onto Uchiha Itachi, the man he hated most in the world.
"…"
Itachi didn't say anything, but activated his scarlet Sharingan and looked at Sasuke indifferently.
It wasn't that he was trying to act aloof… he was simply caught off guard and unsure of what to say.
Sensing the tension in the air, Naruto, determined not to blow his cover, strode towards Sasuke and casually sized him up.
"My name is Yasuo. Who are you, and how do you know Itachi-kun?"
Naruto was glad that the Transformation Technique was also a reward from the system. After all, any reward from the system was perfect.
At this moment, when he used the Transformation Technique, his aura shifted to match Yasuo's free-spirited, wandering swordsman persona. Even the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan couldn't see through his disguise.
"If you don't want to die, then get out of my way!"
Sasuke's cold voice broke the silence as he drew the Kusanagi Sword from his waist.
"Oh? You brat..."
Naruto almost cursed Sasuke outright, but stopped himself halfway through. Realizing he was in Yasuo's guise, he knew speaking too much like his usual self might arouse Sasuke's suspicion.
Changing his tone, Naruto snorted coldly, "Impudent child, daring to act rudely towards me. I see you also wield a blade. According to the traditions of samurai, I'll give you a chance: if you can defeat me, I will overlook your insults. But if I win, you..."
"Enough talk!"
Before Naruto could finish his words, Sasuke's figure blurred. He flipped the Kusanagi Sword in his hand and lunged at Naruto with a fierce attack.
"Attacking an old man like me out of the blue? Where are your manners?"
Naruto deftly drew his Zanpakuto. Its jet-black blade twisted slightly as it deflected Sasuke's strike, redirecting the attack. Then, with a quick thrust forward, the blade's tip pressed firmly against Sasuke's neck.
With just a bit more force, Sasuke would be bleeding on the ground.
However, Sasuke showed no sign of panic. His dark eyes quickly transformed into scarlet, the three tomoe of his Sharingan spinning rapidly. He prepared to use Genjutsu to restrain Naruto, even if just for a second… enough time for a counterattack.
Unfortunately for Sasuke, he never got the chance.
Although Naruto is not wearing the Sharingan contact lenses, don't forget that Itachi is by his side.
The moment Itachi saw Sasuke activated his Sharingan, his Mangekyo Sharingan Sharingan had already seized control.
Seeing Sasuke's eyes became unfocused, Naruto asked, "How long can you hold him?"
"With my current strength, about a minute." Itachi replied.
With the Weapon Blessing, Itachi can use the Mangekyo Sharingan without restraint. Even though Sasuke had a three-tomoe Sharingan, he remained firmly controlled for a full minute.
Hearing this, Naruto's mind raced as his eyes darted back and forth. After about ten seconds, he formulated a plan.
In a flash, Naruto appeared before the three unconscious figures on the ground. He removed the black Chakra rods embedded in their bodies, placed his finger on his forehead, and channeled life-filled green energy, releasing it through his Zanpakuto.
The Shikai ability of Naruto's Zanpakuto was simple yet versatile, it could double any system reward, either in quantity or potency.
By utilizing this feature, the Rapid Healing, which was originally capable of healing one person, can now be used to heal two people simultaneously.
With a wave of vibrant green energy, Kakuzu and Hidan woke up almost instantly. Aside from their tattered clothes, their bodies were completely restored.
Meanwhile, the Weapon Blessing, amplified through the Zanpakuto, had an extraordinary effect on Samehada. The doubled buff caused Samehada to glow with an intense golden light, nearly white-hot in brilliance. This rejuvenated Samehada worked even faster than the healing ability, restoring Kisame's injuries in no time.
Taking advantage of the brief moment of peace, Naruto swapped his passive skill, Lady Charmer, for Aura of Menace. (T/N: Changed Charm Technique to Lady Charmer for better name title.)
[Aura of Menace: Passive ability. Enhances intimidation factor, creating an aura of dread that instills fear in others.]
Seeing the three people wake up, Naruto explained: "Time is short, so listen carefully. From this moment on, my name is Yasuo. If any of you dare let my real identity slip, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Looking at Naruto's ferocious appearance and menacing demeanor, the three of them nodded furiously in agreement, not daring to question what had happened.
"Naru... Yasuo-kun, if you're trying to maintain secrecy, why wake those three up?" Itachi was a little confused.
Naruto spread his hands helplessly and said: "There's no time to explain. You'll understand soon enough why I did this."
Just as Naruto finished speaking, Sasuke's eyes began to refocus and he had broken free from the Genjutsu.
Upon regaining his senses, Sasuke swiftly retreated to Orochimaru's side.
Seeing the three Akatsuki members now on their feet, Sasuke frowned and said, "Orochimaru, the people responsible for capturing Naruto are right here. You hold these four off, I'll take down Itachi and force him to reveal Naruto's whereabouts."
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru and Itachi exchanged knowing glances, marveling at Naruto's clever strategy.
After all, Orochimaru has obtained power rivaling that of the Sage of Six Paths. So, if only Naruto and Itachi are left on the scene, then if Sasuke wants to deal with Itachi, Naruto will be the only one left to deal with Orochimaru.
However, if Naruto managed to hold his own against Orochimaru, Sasuke might suspect that Orochimaru was pulling his punches.
Thus, the involvement of the three revived Akatsuki members added a layer of chaos to the battlefield.
With Orochimaru now up against four formidable foes, it would make sense for the fight to remain undecided for a while. This made the entire setup flawless.
In truth, it wasn't about Naruto being exceptionally smart, and he simply understood Sasuke's mindset all too well.
Sasuke's sole target was Itachi. He didn't care about anyone else's life or death.
However, once the dust settled, Sasuke was sure to notice something amiss. This foresight was what drove Naruto to concoct this elaborate plan.
"You're trying to escape without a fight? Are you admitting defeat? Don't blame me for being merciless!"
Naruto snorted and lunged towards Sasuke.
"Anyone trying to deal with Sasuke will have to get past me first!" Orochimaru's figure blurred as he intercepted Naruto.
Playing along, Naruto taunted, "Hmph, just you? Brothers, let's cut this bastard down and then deal with that brat. Itachi, don't kill the boy… he's mine to handle!"
With just a few lines, Naruto not only maintained his cover as Yasuo, but also gave a convincing reason to spare Sasuke's life.
His quick thinking and acting skills were so on point that it's not strange if he wins the Best Actor Award...