The Next Day
Dawn broke over the horizon, casting an orange glow across the landscape. A faint mist clung to the treetops, crawling across the river like a living veil.
Naruto stepped outside the small cabin they had rested in, stretching his arms high above his head as a yawn escaped him. The cold air stung his skin, but it felt somewhat refreshing.
Unlike the others, he had zero role in the actual talking part of this plan. He knew his limits—covert infiltration and deception weren't his style.
His job was strictly backup, meant to stay hidden and wait for the moment things inevitably went wrong. And with how dangerous this mission was, he was certain something would.
"That's fine," he muttered. "If anything happens… I'll be there"
The group moved quickly through the forest, weaving between towering trees and branches heavy with morning dew. Birds scattered as they passed, the sound of rustling wings echoing faintly through the still air. The atmosphere felt heavy—tense, almost suffocating.
They finally reached the Tenchi Bridge, an old structure of moss-covered stone and weather-eroded wood, suspended above a roaring river. Mist drifted between the supports like ghosts.
Yamato stood at the edge, his chakra shifting subtly as he completed his transformation. The changes were uncanny—his posture, voice, even the intimidating presence of Sasori's aura.
Naruto swallowed. ' That still freaks me out…'
From a safe distance, Naruto leapt into the nearest tree, crouching on a thick branch. He wrapped himself in shadows and foliage, keeping his eyes locked on the bridge.
Sakura positioned herself behind a crumbling boulder, her fists clenched, ready. Sai slid wordlessly behind another tree, expression unreadable.
No one spoke. The world fell into a hush.
The faint wind blew across the bridge. Yamato—as Sasori—took his first calm step forward.
Naruto could feel his heart pounding already, deep down, he knew… shit was about to go down.
There was no going back. The atmosphere on the bridge grew heavy—so quiet that even the river below seemed to hush. Then, from the opposite side of the bridge, a lone silhouette materialized through the drifting fog. Footsteps echoed softly across the planks. A cloak rippled from the cold wind as he finally stepped into view.
Kabuto.
His glasses reflected the dim morning light, and that irritating smug expression was still glued to his face. Naruto clenched his jaw. Even Sakura, tensed up the second she saw him.
' Man, I hate this dude's guts…' Naruto thought, glaring down from the trees.
Kabuto stopped a few paces away from Yamato—who still looked convincingly like Sasori.
Every detail was perfect: the stillness, the calm posture, the emotionless stare. Yamato's voice came out cold and controlled.
"Were you followed?"
Kabuto pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, giving a small grin. "No. Everything is safe on my end."
His tone was calm—too calm. Despite that, he kept glancing around, the way someone does when they know danger is nearby. Military instinct. Or fear of the one he served.
A brief exchange followed, Yamato questioning, Kabuto answering, and with each passing second the weight of the mission pressed down harder. Finally, Kabuto revealed what they were after.
"We have many bases. To avoid being discovered, we relocate weekly. Some are in the Land of Sound, but others are scattered between different nations. Our current base is located on a small island in a lake to the north. In three days, we will be moving again… Uchiha Sasuke is also there."
The moment that name hit the air, the entire world seemed to freeze.
Naruto didn't breathe. Neither did Sakura. And then— Something changed.
A cold, choking wave of killing intent hit them all like crashing water. It seeped into the forest, into the cracks of the bridge, wrapping around them like a suffocating fog. Naruto could feel goosebumps crawl across his skin.
From the shadows beyond Kabuto, a smooth, eerie voice echoed across the bridge.
"Ahh… Sasori. Seeing you like this really takes me back."
The voice slithered through the air like venom.
Orochimaru.
Naruto felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. This wasn't a normal enemy—this was pure malicious intent given form.
He could practically see it creeping across the wood. ' How can they not feel this guy's killing intent? ' he thought, eyes narrowing. ' He's practically drowning in it.'
A snake slid around Kabuto's shoulder and attempted to coil around him, but Kabuto reacted instantly—backstepping and drawing a kunai in a single motion.
"If it weren't for you, I would've been captured, Sasori-sama," Kabuto said sharply, still ready for an attack.
Yamato stayed perfectly still, his expression unreadable even as Sasori. "You tailed him."
Orochimaru stepped into full view, his pale form emerging like a ghost. That twisted smile curled across his lips—one that didn't look human at all.
"What a tone," he hissed, amused. "I simply wanted to thank you. You see, to develop my new jutsu, I would have needed hundreds of test subjects. But thanks to Kabuto… I can use just one countless times. A much more… efficient method."
His voice dripped with poison and satisfaction.
And Naruto knew— This had just become a battle.
Without warning, Kabuto's hand flared with a sharp flash of chakra, glowing faintly blue-green. His fingers sharpened like blades as he lunged forward, aiming directly for Yamato's chest.
"Chakra Scalpel!"
Naruto's eyes widened—Kabuto didn't hesitate for a second.
At the exact same moment, Orochimaru's sleeves exploded open.
"Multi–Shadow Snake Hands."
Dozens of serpents burst outward with a sickening hiss, scales scraping against each other as they shot forward. Fangs glistened, dripping with venom. They shot for Yamato in a swift wave, like a tide of living weapons.
The impact was loud—snakes and chakra colliding with—
CRACK!
Wood splintered and fragments scattered across the bridge.
"A substitution…!"
Sakura clenched her fists.
Kabuto and Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, their attacks dissolving into the morning air.
The real Yamato dropped from above, boots landing on the wooden surface several meters away. His eyes were sharp, his expression hard. He didn't waste even half a second—his hand flashed a coded signal.
Now.
In a blur of motion, three figures burst from the treeline.
Naruto landed first, boots digging into the wood, cloak billowing from the momentum. Sakura was beside him instantly, hands glowing with raw, controlled strength. Sai appeared at the opposite flank, already drawing ink-form creatures from his scroll.
The element of surprise was gone.
The confrontation was real.
Naruto could feel it—Orochimaru's presence pressed on them like a mountain. His chakra churned inside him, swirling violently beneath his skin. Even so, his expression remained firm. His gaze locked onto Orochimaru, fire burning yet steady.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a chilling smile.
"I've seen that face many times," he hissed. "The Kyuubi is here as well. Why don't we have a little fun?"
His voice slithered like a knife across glass. "I'll tell you who is stronger now—Sasuke, or you."
Sakura grit her teeth. Sai remained silent. Kabuto stepped back—ready.
But Naruto didn't rise to the bait. He didn't shout. He didn't lose his temper. He simply stared at Orochimaru with a calm that was unnatural for him.
' I think I can take him…' he thought, hands tightening at his sides. ' The question is… can I actually defeat him?
The bridge trembled from the pressure of their chakra. And the battle was on the edge of exploding.
TO BE CONTINUED