Chapter 67: Hand Over Sasuke—Now!
"What's going on? What's wrong?" Sakura asked in confusion, noticing the sudden shift in Renji's expression, her own gaze sharpening into seriousness as alarm bells rang.
Renji glanced at Sakura, then across to Naruto on the opposite side, and shook his head subtly. "Nothing to worry about—just stay sharp."
The situation on Tenchi Bridge flipped in an instant, chaos erupting from calm.
Suddenly, out of nowhere.
Kabuto Yakushi, who had been standing still mid-conversation, found himself ensnared by the crushing coils of a massive python that struck without warning.
Orochimaru's pale, serpentine figure materialized right behind Kabuto Yakushi, emerging from the shadows like a nightmare given form.
Kabuto Yakushi reacted with lightning reflexes, honed from years of betrayal and survival.
He twisted free swiftly, dodging the python's grip and landing beside Kakashi, kunai drawn and pointed directly at Orochimaru's throat in a flash.
His hood, which had concealed his identity so well, was now mangled and twisted into a useless ball by the python's powerful jaws.
"Kabuto, that getup of yours really stirs up some old memories, doesn't it?" Orochimaru's lips curled into a wicked, knowing smile, his cold, piercing gaze raking up and down Yakushi Kabuto's form appraisingly.
"Did you tail Kabuto all the way here?" Kakashi shot back immediately, maintaining his Sasori facade under pressure.
"What, I was just mulling over how to thank you properly. That child you handed over to me turned out to be a real treasure trove..." Orochimaru replied with mock regret, addressing Kakashi in his Sasori disguise while eyeing Kabuto Yakushi.
"I've been itching to develop a brand-new Ninjutsu technique, but human experimentation demands over a hundred fresh bodies to yield results. Thanks to this kid's exceptional Medical Ninjutsu skills, I can reuse the battered experimental subjects over and over, patching them up for another round..."
"But honestly, the pool of available subjects is still frustratingly limited, no matter how I stretch it..." Orochimaru continued, his voice dripping with chilling enthusiasm, a cheerful smile plastered on his grotesque face as he detailed the horrors.
Kakashi's eyes darted between Orochimaru and the Kabuto Yakushi standing nearby, weighing his precarious options.
He knew full well that taking on Orochimaru solo was a suicide mission—he didn't stand a chance alone against that monster.
But signaling Renji and the others to rush in now would blow his cover wide open, and Kabuto Yakushi would likely slip away in the ensuing confusion, intel lost forever.
On the flip side, if Kakashi stuck around to tangle with Orochimaru alongside Kabuto, his unique fighting style and techniques would scream his true identity to anyone paying attention!
Trapped in hesitation over how to navigate this mess flawlessly, a sharp gleam suddenly flashed right in front of Kakashi's vision.
A razor-sharp kunai sliced toward his neck with deadly intent.
Kakashi's instincts kicked in—he startled but dodged fluidly, leaping back to create crucial distance from Kabuto Yakushi, who had turned on him in a brutal betrayal attack.
It was a stroke of luck he knew Kabuto's treacherous nature inside out; his guard against the spy had never wavered for a second.
Otherwise, that kunai might have sliced right through his throat.
Though he evaded the strike, the force of the action shattered his Transformation Jutsu.
With a loud 'bang,' white smoke erupted and was swiftly scattered by the howling wind, reverting Kakashi to his original silver-haired form in full view.
"Kakashi..." Orochimaru arched an eyebrow, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his features.
He'd originally tracked here expecting Sasori, but snagging this unexpected prize was a delightful twist.
A specific figure instantly crystallized in his scheming mind.
Orochimaru's lips twisted into a sinister, predatory smile brimming with dark anticipation.
Before Orochimaru could voice it, Kabuto Yakushi beat him to it, articulating the exact thought.
"Since Kakashi's shown up here, that means Renji must be lurking nearby too!"
Kabuto Yakushi peered behind Kakashi, his eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.
Not just Lord Orochimaru—Kabuto himself, aligned perfectly with his master's twisted will, burned with insatiable curiosity about dissecting and studying Renji's enigmatic body.
And to think, they were destined to be partners in that grand vision!
Kabuto Yakushi could hardly wait to witness what marvels—or horrors—Renji might unleash in the days ahead.
Renji and Sakura blurred into motion, shunshining to Kakashi's side in a heartbeat.
Spotting Kakashi's exposure, Naruto and Sai likewise emerged from cover, positioning themselves behind Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi respectively.
They effectively sandwiched the villains, blocking all escape routes from front and rear in a pincer formation.
Upon laying eyes on Renji's figure, both Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi broke into eerie, synchronized smiles that promised malice.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra (72,459,500 / 100,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra (72,460,500 / 100,000,000)]
Exchanging "gifts" upon reunion—this was an longstanding, twisted custom between Renji, Orochimaru, and Kabuto Yakushi, a ritual of hostility.
Renji welcomed the sudden influx of malice from them with open arms, converting it seamlessly.
"All too familiar faces gathered here!" Orochimaru surveyed the group with predatory interest, his gaze sliding over Renji before settling on Naruto. "Even the Nine-Tails vessel has tagged along."
He couldn't even be bothered to recall Naruto's actual name.
To him, the boy was nothing more than a disposable container for the rampaging Nine-Tails chakra beast.
That objectifying tone and dismissive attitude grated on Naruto, furrowing his brows in rising anger.
Orochimaru's attention lingered on Sai, a sarcastic smirk creeping across his pallid face. "What's this now? Did you scrounge up a Sasuke replacement to fill the void?"
Kabuto Yakushi sized up Sai appraisingly, one eyebrow arched as a malicious smile played on his lips.
Don't tell me—it actually bears a striking resemblance.
This purported Sasuke stand-in had a face as smooth and flawless as polished jade, framed by long, narrow phoenix eyes that lent him an almost feminine allure.
Moreover, his aura was a chilling blend of cold detachment and subtle softness, reminiscent of a sleek, cold-blooded predator lurking in wait.
Sasuke's iciness was surface-level and fiery, but this substitute's chill seeped straight into his bones, an inherent frostiness.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +3000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +3000!]
[Chakra (72,463,500 / 100,000,000)]
Renji, absorbing the fresh Malice Value surge, shot a baffled stare toward Sai across from him.
Orochimaru called you the Sasuke substitute—not me!
So why the hell are you dumping all this hate my way?
Though utterly speechless and perplexed by the misplaced animosity, Renji grudgingly accepted the windfall of Chakra anyway.
"I share zero common ground with trash who ditched Konoha to run with rogue ninjas like you," Sai declared, staring down Orochimaru but flicking his peripheral vision toward Renji, his voice faint and cutting.
"You bastard!" Before Orochimaru could retaliate, Naruto lunged first, grabbing Sai by the collar in a flash of fury. "I warned you already! You're forbidden from badmouthing Sasuke like that!"
Orochimaru: "…"
Kabuto Yakushi: "…"
They could spark an internal squabble at a moment like this; engaging them in combat might just drag everyone's IQ down to their level, what a farce.
Yet Renji somehow managed to endure and wrangle this band of idiots without losing his cool.
"Naruto!" Renji interjected firmly, fixing him with a stern glare. "Let go of Sai right now!"
Naruto was far too prone to these impulsive outbursts!
Renji would bet that Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi were inwardly mocking him as the handler of such fools at this very instant!
Sai locked eyes with Naruto, who still clutched his collar, lips quirking upward slightly as his brows lifted in smug victory.
"Did you catch that? Renji just ordered you to release me," Sai taunted, slapping Naruto's hand away dismissively before smoothing out his rumpled collar with deliberate calm.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1!]
[Chakra (72,463,501 / 100,000,000)]
Renji: "…"
He couldn't even muster the energy to bother collecting such a pathetic dribble of Malice Value!
The source was crystal clear, no mystery there.
No one else in existence would generate a measly one-point Malice Value toward him besides Naruto!
After all, accidentally stepping on a stranger's foot in a crowd would net at least a solid 5 points of resentment!
Naruto finally released his grip, dropping his gaze to the ground as his mouth tugged downward in a pout, shoulders slumping.
Renji… Renji had never once been harsh or scolding with him before…
But just now, for this sharp-tongued jerk… he'd turned stern and commanding toward him…
Naruto sniffled quietly, fighting back the sting in his eyes.
Orochimaru wanted no part of watching the Nine-Tails vessel wallow in such pathetic misery any longer.
It was downright revolting and beneath his notice!
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra (72,464,501 / 100,000,000)]
"Since you've all conveniently shown up, why not entertain me with a little playtime today!" Orochimaru hissed, his interest piqued.
Truth be told, he was curious to gauge just how much this Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—always yammering on about dragging Sasuke back—had actually grown in strength and power.
"Let me witness firsthand who's gotten stronger in the end—you or Sasuke himself!"
Hearing Sasuke's name slither from Orochimaru's foul mouth ignited Naruto anew, his eyes flushing crimson as his sharp fangs began to protrude menacingly.
"Hand over Sasuke—now!" Naruto roared.
In an explosive instant.
Naruto's body became shrouded in a deep red Chakra Tailed Beast cloak, the demonic energy manifesting with violent fury.
His pupils shifted to vertical slits, blazing fully crimson with feral intensity.
He dropped into a predatory crouch like a snarling fox, his razor-sharp claws gouging deep, jagged scratches into the bridge's stone surface, cracking it under the pressure.
As the number of swirling tails behind him multiplied and intensified, thin trickles of blood began seeping from his nostrils, staining his face.
The overwhelming, suffocating pressure of the Tailed Beast aura radiated outward from Naruto as its epicenter, pressing down on everyone nearby like an invisible tidal wave of raw power.
At this chaotic core of the storm, Naruto himself wasn't faring well, the transformation exacting a brutal toll.
He felt trapped inside a blistering furnace, where the blood surging through his countless veins had morphed into rivers of scorching lava, relentlessly burning away at his flesh, organs, and fragile sanity with merciless heat.
It was as if his entire existence teetered on the brink of incineration to ash, consumed from within.
Intense, searing pain clawed at his mind, dragging his rationality downward in a relentless plummet toward oblivion.
----
For every 100 total Power Stones, I'll drop another +1 bonus chapter!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read future chapters early, just search "Demonic_Fiction" on "P4trƐon" (link in the synopsis)