"Such exceptional sensory perception... You actually detected me even while I was using Earth Style to burrow underground," Orochimaru said with a chilling smile as his long, crimson tongue licked his lips. His serpent-like eyes locked onto Karin.
"Red hair... Hehehe. Looks like I've stumbled upon an excellent little test subject."
"You... you want her, right?! Then take her! She's got nothing to do with me! Just don't kill me!" The last surviving Grass ninja instantly threw Karin under the bus in an effort to save his own skin.
Karin could only stare in disbelief at the comrade who had once fought alongside her day and night. Words failed her.
Splurt! Orochimaru casually tore him apart, blood spraying in every direction, but to him, it was just another mundane moment. He remained expressionless. "What a shame. Weak and useless. Not even worth keeping alive."
Step by step, Orochimaru approached Karin, tongue flicking hungrily.
"Child... do you know why you're still alive? It's because you're useful."
Karin's heart was collapsing in despair. One comrade had abandoned her. Another had just been brutally slaughtered. And the monster before her... was beyond terrifying. She didn't even have the strength to resist.
Darkness filled her thoughts.
Why...? Why does this have to happen to me? Why is no one coming to save me...? Anyone… anyone at all... please…
And then, perhaps by miracle, that final, desperate prayer was answered.
"..."
Orochimaru's steps halted. His snake-like pupils narrowed toward the woods ahead.
"Who's there?"
Truth be told, there was nothing he despised more than being interrupted during a hunt. And those who interrupted him, well, they rarely met pleasant ends.
Rustle.
A figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees.
Black-haired, dark-eyed, it was none other than Kirito, who had entered the Forest of Death. The moment he appeared, his eyes locked directly onto Karin. His face lit up with surprise and delight.
"Oh! Jackpot. If it's you, you'll definitely come in handy!"
"Hehehe... The ignorant are always so bold," Orochimaru chuckled, casting a curious glance at the intruder. Yet upon sensing Kirito's chakra, he quickly lost interest. Nothing about this boy struck him as noteworthy.
And things that didn't interest Orochimaru?
He usually ignored them, unless they got in his way.
Kirito then shifted his gaze to Orochimaru and frowned.
"Disgusting. Didn't expect to see you here."
"Hehehe… Oh? You recognize me, boy?" Orochimaru grinned with a twisted amusement, like a scientist toying with a lab rat.
"Sure do," Kirito said plainly. "Konoha S-Rank traitor. One of the Three Perverts, Orochimaru."
"..."
The words hung heavy in the air. Orochimaru blinked, momentarily stunned. Then his expression turned dark… before breaking into a sinister grin again.
"Boy… you've piqued my interest. Tell me, how did you come to know my identity? And what was that? Three Perverts? Hahaha! I've never heard anyone describe the Legendary Sannin like that!"
"H-Hey…" Karin's mouth fell open in shock. She couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Someone actually dared to taunt this monster? Did he want to die?
Kirito's voice remained calm.
"Sorry if I offended you. But I'm not here for you. That girl, can I take her with me?"
"Eh?!" Karin blinked in confusion. She didn't know Kirito at all. Why was he asking for her specifically?
Out of instinct, she extended her sensory perception toward him. Her brow furrowed slightly.
His chakra… is average… but something about him feels… different.
"Oh?" Orochimaru also found Kirito's request rather curious. "Why do you want the girl?"
"Cut the act." Kirito gave him a sidelong glance. "She's a descendant of the Uzumaki clan. You already had your eyes on her, didn't you?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed dangerously. His gaze pierced into Kirito like daggers. "Interesting… Very interesting."
What Kirito said surprised him deeply. Orochimaru had indeed suspected Karin's Uzumaki heritage, based on her red hair and chakra signature, but it was only a theory. He hadn't confirmed it yet. Yet this boy…
"Tell me your name, boy. Come with me."
"I refuse."
"Hehehe… Sorry, but in my world, refuse isn't an option." Orochimaru grinned wickedly and began slowly walking toward Kirito.
"Well, that's… inconvenient." Kirito flicked his wrist, and in a flash, a long, matte-black sniper rifle materialized in his hand, an M700 lightweight sniper rifle.
"Hm?" Orochimaru's curiosity was truly piqued now. "No hand seals… No blood-based summoning contracts… How did you do that? And what is that weapon?"
He squinted at the strange tool.
"But you don't actually think that pulling out some weird contraption is going to, hmm?!"
His words stopped cold.
BOOM!
A deafening crack split the air.
A bullet ripped straight through Orochimaru's forehead.
A clean shot, center of the brow. The entry wound was about the size of a thumb.
"..."
Orochimaru's body froze.
His skin turned dark and rigid, like stone petrifying in real time.
"…Heh… I take back what I said… That weapon… it's fascinating…"
His voice began to fade.
"…Tell me your name… boy…"
"Hyūga Kirito," Kirito replied coolly, holstering the sniper rifle without a second glance.
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