Having suffered a heavy blow from the eruption of the Nine-Tails' power, Orochimaru couldn't help but feel a strong sense of wariness toward Naruto. He leapt into the air, seemingly full of openings mid-flight, but in reality, he subtly held the Kusanagi Sword diagonally in front of him, using himself as bait to test Naruto's condition while maintaining a high level of vigilance—ready to respond to any surprise attack at a moment's notice and retaliate instantly.
However, reality wasn't as complicated as Orochimaru had imagined.
As the distance between him and the collapsed Naruto rapidly shrank, and even after he landed smoothly and grabbed Naruto by the throat like lifting a helpless chick, not a hint of resistance came. It was as if Naruto had lost even the instinctive strength to struggle, leaving him completely powerless—nothing more than a lamb awaiting slaughter in Orochimaru's grasp.
'He's really passed out... Was I being overly cautious?'
Caught between surprise and joy, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes to carefully examine the boy before him.
'Oh? Oh my, I nearly forgot—losing all ability to resist after the Tailed Beast transformation is normal. After all, the risk of going into Tailed Beast Mode as a Jinchūriki isn't exactly minor...'
As his gaze swept across Naruto's battered form, Orochimaru's doubts were quickly dispelled. The boy's horrifying injuries confirmed that he had truly lost consciousness due to exhaustion. Relieved, Orochimaru gave Naruto's mangled body a slight shake, chuckling under his breath, as if mocking the pathetic figure before him to hide his earlier panic.
"Uzumaki Naruto, huh... Even if you carry the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan, in the end, you're still just a snot-nosed brat. No matter how mature you pretend to be, it doesn't change the fact that you're still a kid... That last attack probably pushed your body to its absolute limit. You recklessly unleashed your strongest strike without caring for the consequences. Seems like you can't control the Nine-Tails with your will at all—you just barely managed to direct its power out of sheer rage after watching your comrade die."
With the Tailed Beast transformation fully undone, Naruto's true body was gradually revealed. But compared to the fierce, wild figure from moments ago, he was now horrifying to behold—his skin burnt away, blood soaking through his exposed muscle tissue. Not a single spot remained unscathed.
In the end, Tailed Beast Mode in a berserk state is a double-edged sword for a Jinchūriki. While it grants a massive boost in strength over a short period, the uncontrolled Tailed Beast Chakra that leaks out due to emotional instability is filled with destructive negative energy. It doesn't just enhance the body—it also devours it, eroding it second by second. Naruto's current state was the clearest proof of the price paid when a Jinchūriki enters Tailed Beast Mode without self-control.
Even while acting purely on residual instinct, this kid had unleashed such destructive power... If I could make the Nine-Tails mine... Hmph. As expected, rather than letting this power rot away sealed in a child who can't use it, I'd be better off taking it for myself and making it serve me!
Now certain that Naruto was utterly helpless, and with the boy feeling as weak as a fish on a chopping block, Orochimaru finally relaxed. His gaze toward Naruto grew increasingly greedy, intoxicated by the strength he'd witnessed moments ago. In his mind, he could already see it—himself as the new Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, fully in control, wielding its terrifying power, mowing down all opposition.
"Hahahaha! Excellent! From this moment forward, the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox belongs to me—Orochimaru!"
But as the saying goes, the higher you climb, the harder you fall… As a core member of the original Naruto universe, Orochimaru clearly hadn't learned the dangers of tempting fate.
He forgot one thing—if Naruto was truly as helpless as he appeared, how was his Shadow Clone from earlier still intact?
As if blessed by a certain professional commentator from Naruto's previous life, shouting "A flying dragon's face can't possibly lose!", the long-awaited reversal struck in the very instant Orochimaru dropped his guard in smug delight…
'Or maybe… not.'
Blinded by the thought of claiming the Nine-Tails, Orochimaru didn't notice the subtle anomalies around him. He gathered his remaining chakra into his palm, intent on removing the seal on Naruto's stomach and transferring the Nine-Tails into his own body. But just as his hand approached Naruto's abdomen, a familiar mocking voice rang in his ear, making him instinctively turn his head—and freeze.
At some unknown point, Naruto—who should have been unconscious from chakra exhaustion—had opened his eyes. Not only were they clear and wide awake, but they sparkled with amusement. Despite Orochimaru's hand at his throat, he was perfectly calm, and in a hoarse voice, he teased:
"Surprised, bastard? T-The last guy who got this close without caution... is already dead."
"And you, Orochimaru... you're next."
The words, barely more than a whisper, chilled Orochimaru to the bone. Before he could react, the Shadow Clone behind him suddenly moved—a dark-haired figure emerged, grinning as it launched several shuriken with swift flicks of the wrist, each one whistling through the air toward Orochimaru.
'Hmph. A Shadow Clone… I really did forget. So you still had some energy left after all.'
Though still haunted by the earlier trauma of the Nine-Tails' rampage, Orochimaru momentarily calmed after seeing that all the thrown shuriken missed their mark. With no direct hits, he scoffed.
"Hmph. All that effort, and you can't even aim properly? Maybe you should go back and—huh?!"
He didn't get to finish the taunt.
Suddenly, an overwhelming sensation of being bound spread through his body—only then did Orochimaru realize the shuriken hadn't missed. They had curved midair, forming a circle around him. Attached to each was near-invisible steel wire, now taut and wrapped tightly around him. Using centrifugal force and chakra thread techniques, the wires trapped him in place—and with a sharp thunk, he was yanked backward, slammed into the tall lamp post that Naruto had been leaning against. The two were now completely tied together.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Naruto, who had been lying in wait, didn't give him a chance to struggle. The moment Orochimaru tried to move, flames surged through the wires. In an instant, both Orochimaru and Naruto were engulfed in a blazing inferno.
'That voice… N-No way!'
The fire wasn't especially strong. In peak condition, Orochimaru could have escaped dozens of ways or simply endured it. Even now, weakened and drained, he should have been able to endure with sheer physical toughness.
No, it wasn't the technique that shocked him—it was the voice that called its name.
That soft, youthful tone… If he remembered correctly, it belonged to the same cowardly brat who'd been cowering behind Naruto before, too scared to even glance at him. And Orochimaru had personally slit that boy's throat during the ambush to provoke Naruto's rage. So how… how could he still be alive and launching attacks at a moment like this?!
Could it be… that brat had a secret technique too—something that let him return from the dead?!
'Ay ay… Sasuke's training still has a long way to go. He's taking his time thinking in the middle of a Dragon Fire Jutsu. Guess he needs to keep at it, huh? Oh well, let me spice things up a bit. Time for you to enjoy the secret combo technique we prepared just for you… you bastard, Orochimaru!'
Unlike the confused and shaken Orochimaru, Naruto—no longer lost in grief—was now grinning from ear to ear. He didn't seem the least bit troubled by the fire. In fact, as if completely ignoring the pain, he raised his drooping right hand and, without hesitation, drove the glowing blue sphere spinning in his palm straight into Orochimaru's face.
"Rasengan!"