Chapter 17: Orochimaru's Attack
Renji glanced at Sakura, who flashed him a knowing smile. "Naruto's such a clingy bug. Don't indulge him too much, or he'll take a mile if you give an inch!"
Renji nodded, his warm smile unwavering. "Mhm."
Sakura blinked, caught off guard. '…Mhm what?! He'll totally do it again! This guy's way too soft on his teammates! He's so gentle, I can't even get mad at him!' Her thoughts raced, torn between frustration and fondness for Renji's leniency.
"Wow! So awesome! What a huge pee!" Naruto strutted out from the bushes, grinning wide as he fumbled with his zipper, oblivious to the tension.
Renji raised an eyebrow, his tone dry. "…That fast?"
Naruto's mouth twitched, his confidence faltering for a split second.
"Naruto, come here," Renji called, waving him over with a casual gesture.
Naruto grinned, bounding toward him. "What's up?"
"Just come here." Renji's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a strange edge. "You used to come when I called. Why're you asking why now?"
"Uh," Naruto scratched his head, striding closer. "Just asking casually, y'know."
"Is that so?" Renji's hand shot out, slapping the figure's cheek with a sharp crack. "But your soul isn't Naruto's!"
Sasuke and Sakura instantly drew their kunai, senses razor-sharp, their bodies tensed for action.
"What're you talking about? Souls? You can't even see those!" The imposter's eyes curved into a mocking smile, his hand already dipping into his ninja pouch.
"You know," Renji said, his voice laced with pity, "I can see souls."
The imposter's face darkened. Before he could react, a grotesque bulge erupted from his chest—his heart had exploded within his body, a gruesome display of Renji's cursed technique. Renji released his grip, and the corpse collapsed, white smoke billowing as it revealed a stranger, not Naruto.
"Eh?!" The real Naruto emerged from the bushes, eyes wide with shock. "Whoa! Someone attacked you guys while I was gone?! Damn it! If I'd been here, they wouldn't have dared, dattebayo!"
Sakura sighed, rolling her eyes. "…That's definitely the real Naruto."
"Naruto," Renji called again, his tone calm but firm.
Naruto blinked, confused. "Huh?"
Renji waved him over. Naruto strode up, stopping in front of him. Renji's smile returned, and he pinched Naruto's chubby cheeks with both hands, stretching them playfully.
"Renji!" Naruto flailed, his voice muffled. "You're gonna ruin my cheeks and make me look ugly!" His panicked mind conjured up some bizarre image of a hideous face.
"Someone tried to steal our scroll by impersonating you while you were away," Sasuke explained, his tone flat as he sheathed his kunai, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Naruto scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "With Renji here, no one's fooling anybody! His bloodline limit lets him touch souls!"
Suddenly, Renji touched his own cheek, blood staining his fingertips. A ferocious gust of wind tore through the forest, leaves spiraling in its wake. A tangible wave of killing intent had sliced his face, sharp and precise.
Orochimaru had arrived.
The wind died, and Renji found himself alone, separated from his team. The ground was littered with leaves shaken loose by the intense malice. Orochimaru's after Sasuke, Renji thought, his eyes narrowing with focus. He leaped onto a high branch, sprinting toward the source of the disturbance, his movements swift and silent.
...
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled patterns on Sasuke's face. A cold voice echoed in his mind, relentless and unyielding. Survive? Barely scrape by? No. His resolve hardened, his body moving on instinct, a blur of motion that left Sakura struggling to keep up. To her, he was an elusive afterimage, darting through the trees with deadly precision.
She sensed it—a primal shift in Sasuke, something unpredictable and powerful awakening within him. Her heart trembled as she watched, awestruck by the intensity radiating from him.
Flames roared across the sky, Sasuke's Fire Release scorching the air, the heat so intense it warped the surroundings. Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief. He's… incredible! The Uchiha blood surged within him, an unstoppable force erupting from his core, his chakra blazing like a wildfire.
Orochimaru's snake-like vertical pupils gleamed with predatory excitement. "Sasuke! That's the look! As expected of the Uchiha! Your blood's stirring, isn't it?" His voice was a low hiss, dripping with anticipation.
Sasuke's speed surged, his movements a blur, but Orochimaru remained just out of reach, his serpentine grace untouchable. A heavy fist slammed into Sasuke's chest, the impact reverberating through his organs. He spat blood, staggering, his body trembling from the blow.
"Sasuke!" Sakura's voice cracked, tears welling as she watched him falter. The gap in strength was crushing—despite Sasuke's breakthrough, Orochimaru held an overwhelming advantage.
Renji observed from a distance, perched on a branch, his expression unreadable. Not yet. It's not my time to step in.
"Hm?!" Sasuke collapsed at Orochimaru's feet, battered and breathless. Orochimaru's expression twitched as explosions erupted across his body—explosive tags Sasuke had planted during their clash. Before he could recover, thin, thread-like iron wires bound him to a tree trunk, tightening with a snap.
"Sharingan..."
"Windmill Triple Attack!" Sasuke's voice echoed through the forest, fierce and unyielding. "Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Flames roared, engulfing Orochimaru, the heat melting his skin as the forest trembled. His borrowed body burned, but his eyes gleamed with twisted delight. Sasuke! What a perfect vessel! His eyes hold even greater potential than Itachi's!
Sasuke slumped against a tree, utterly spent, his chest heaving.
"Sasuke!" Sakura rushed to him, catching him as he swayed, her eyes wide with awe. He defeated that ninja! That's our Sasuke!
Suddenly, Orochimaru's charred form moved, his neck stretching impossibly long, jaws snapping toward Sasuke's neck. Sasuke and Sakura's pupils constricted to pinpricks, frozen in horror.
Blood splattered.
[Ding!]
[Detected 'Cursed Seal of Heaven' with Malice Value 10,000]
['Cursed Seal of Heaven' converted by Cursed Energy, automatically stored as Chakra 10,000]
[Chakra: 36,030 / 100,000,000]
But at that moment…
A sharp, stinging pain shot through Renji's neck, but he brushed it off. Pain was nothing new—he could handle it. The Cursed Seal of Heaven's power surged into him, instantly transforming into pure chakra, fueling his system. Thanks for the generous donation, Orochimaru! Worth the wait. Another bite would be nice! Renji's inner smirk was practically audible.
"Renji!" Sakura's voice rang out, desperate. She tried to stand, to help, but Sasuke's unconscious weight in her arms held her back.
"Sakura, protect Sasuke," Renji called, leaping onto a branch in front of them, his posture steady despite the fresh wound.
Sakura's eyes welled with tears as she looked at Renji's back, his figure a pillar of calm amid the chaos.
Orochimaru's half-burnt outer skin hung in tatters, his cold, snake-like eyes locked on Renji. He watched in disbelief as the Cursed Seal of Heaven vanished from Renji's neck—a phenomenon even he, a master of forbidden techniques, couldn't explain. This kid… what is he?
He needed Sasuke's body, no question. But this fearless interloper was in his way. I'll kill him first. His corpse might be worth studying. Or better yet, capture him alive. Orochimaru's lips curled into a low, chilling laugh that sent shivers through the air.
In a flash, he appeared behind Renji, his speed ten times faster than when he'd fought Sasuke. His palms vibrated with a powerful shockwave, striking Renji's shoulder with a sickening crack.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra: 37,030 / 100,000,000]
Renji's shoulder shattered, the shockwave rippling through his bones, fracturing half his body and jarring his organs. He gritted his teeth, creating distance with a swift leap. His cursed energy surged, healing his injuries in a blink, faster than the bones had broken. Orochimaru's playing favorites, Renji thought dryly. Gentle with Sasuke, but with me? He's out for blood.
It made sense. Sasuke was his prized vessel—Orochimaru couldn't risk damaging him too much. Renji? Renji was fair game. But Renji wasn't upset; after all, Orochimaru was a malice mine. Keep it coming, snake guy. My chakra reserves thank you.
Renji flashed forward, his kunai slashing at Orochimaru's neck with lethal precision. Orochimaru snorted, his body contorting in an impossible dodge, his movements fluid like a serpent. But Renji wasn't done. His other hand erupted in a dazzling white light, purple lightning and silver arcs forming a blazing pillar—the Lightning Blade.
Orochimaru stepped back, his eyes narrowing. Even with his speed, a grotesque wound tore open on his arm. His expression darkened. I underestimated them. This genin… he's wielding Kakashi's technique?
"It seems I'll have to get serious," Orochimaru hissed, licking his lips with a predatory grin.
Rip!
His kunai sliced through Renji's throat, cutting deep into his windpipe.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2000!]
[Chakra: 39,030 / 100,000,000]
"Ahhhh! Renji!" Sakura's scream tore through the forest, her eyes bloodshot with rage and grief. She didn't care how strong Orochimaru was—she only knew he'd killed Renji, and in such a brutal way.
Thud!
Orochimaru glanced down, his eyes widening. Renji's hand, now a long, blade-like appendage, had pierced through his ribs, the sound of cracking bones echoing. Renji spat blood, kicked away by Orochimaru, but his body healed mid-air, landing steadily on a tree trunk.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" Sakura's hand seals were a blur, her chakra pouring into a massive water dragon that surged toward Orochimaru.
Orochimaru clutched his chest, frowning as his body dissolved into countless small snakes, scattering in all directions to evade the attack.
"Ugh!" Re-forming behind Sakura, Orochimaru raised an arm, uninterested in her. But before he could strike, Renji flashed in front, shielding her as she collapsed, her chakra drained from the jutsu.
Orochimaru's lips curved into a satisfied smile as he leaned forward, biting Sasuke's neck. The black Cursed Seal bloomed on Sasuke's skin. He glanced at Renji, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. I'll see you again, kid.
A sudden gust stirred the air, and Orochimaru vanished without a trace.