"This time, our operation plan is- "
"Orochimaru-sama?!"
Inside a secret chamber in Konoha, Orochimaru was in the middle of discussing strategy with his subordinates when his expression abruptly twisted, and a terrifying aura burst forth.
"Orochimaru-sama?!" Kabuto stared at him in shock, pushing his glasses up with one hand, deeply unsettled. What just happened? He had clearly sensed a violent fluctuation in Orochimaru's chakra just now…
"…A clone. It got taken out," Orochimaru said coldly, narrowing his eyes.
"What?!" Kabuto was visibly shaken. "Impossible! Even if it was just an earth clone, it still retained at least ten percent of your real power. How could anyone in the Forest of Death possibly…"
"Hehe… The world is full of delightful surprises," Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "One shot, and it was gone…"
Kabuto's expression darkened as his hand clenched into a fist. "To think that one of Orochimaru-sama's clones could be destroyed in a single blow…"
"Hyuga Kirito. I want every piece of information on this boy. Gather it all. Now."
====
Deep within the Forest of Death.
The Orochimaru clone that had just been shot clean through the head disintegrated into a pile of dirt.
Karin stared, slack-jawed. "Wh-What just happened?!"
"As you can see," Kirito replied calmly, "It was just an Earth Clone."
"No!" Karin's crimson eyes widened. "I know that, but the chakra I sensed… it was so overwhelming… terrifying!"
Kirito shrugged. "You're thinking that if even ten percent of his power felt like that, then what kind of monster must the real body be, right?"
Karin murmured blankly, "I wasn't wrong… right? That kind of chakra… Can a normal human really possess something so terrifying?"
"Alright, alright, don't overthink it." Kirito stepped closer and extended a hand toward her where she was still slumped on the ground.
"U-Um…" She hesitated, biting her lip, then timidly reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Mhm." Kirito pulled her up in one motion.
"Karin, I need your power."
"Eh?! W-Why do you know my name? And… my power…" Karin stared dazedly at the boy around her age, still stunned. Just moments ago, the man who slaughtered her companions had been standing before her, and this boy had taken him out with a snap of his fingers.
"Just who… are you?"
====
Elsewhere in the Forest of Death.
The Sand trio stood in a clearing littered with bits of dark blood and dismembered limbs. Kankuro picked up a scroll from the ground.
"Alright, we've got both scrolls now. We should head straight to the tower."
"No," Gaara said, his voice low and hollow. Though he was forcing himself to suppress it, the murderous intent boiling inside him was screaming to be released. "More blood. This isn't nearly enough."
"Ugh…" Not far away, another Genin team had witnessed everything from the shadows. It was none other than Hinata, Kiba, and Shino.
They had seen the carnage, the bloodbath, clearly.
"Stop it, Gaara!" Kankuro grit his teeth. "We already got the scrolls we need!"
Temari tried to reason with him. "Come on, Gaara, calm down. Don't go overboard. We still have a real- "
"Hmm~?" Just then, a figure emerged from the bushes.
"Tch. What kind of cursed forest is this? It's all trees!" The girl who stepped out was none other than Asuna. She had been tricked by Danzo's subordinates using genjutsu and unknowingly wandered into the Forest of Death.
"Well, well. What a coincidence," Kankuro sneered. He hadn't forgotten how this girl almost stabbed him back then. Petty as he was, he never let a grudge go.
"Don't escalate this, Kankuro!" Temari scolded, still trying to stay rational. She turned to Asuna with a confused frown. "Hey, you're not a Konoha ninja. What are you doing here?"
"Here…?" Asuna frowned. Of course, she knew how she ended up here, but this wasn't the time to explain anything. These people didn't seem friendly, especially that red-haired midget with the gourd on his back. His twisted expression made it seem like the world owed him a fortune. He was glaring at her like she was already dead.
"Tch! Take that up with Gaara," Kankuro said with a smirk, clearly enjoying the show.
Gaara's killing intent surged as his cold gaze fixed on Asuna. "He said he wasn't interested in me… Then maybe if I kill you here, he'll react."
"What?! Her Highness?!" Kiba and the others hiding in the shadows nearly lost it. They could hardly believe their eyes. How had the pampered Princess of the Land of Fire ended up in a hellhole like this? And of all people, how had she run right into the Sand trio?
The Inuzuka and Aburame clans were both renowned in Konoha, and as nobles, Kiba and Shino were well aware of Asuna's true identity. They also knew that if anything happened to the princess while she was under Konoha's protection, the wrath of the Fire Daimyo would be devastating.
"Why… why them of all people…" Kiba clenched his fists, torn. If it were any other enemy, he wouldn't hesitate to step in and save the princess. But these Sand shinobi weren't ones to be trifled with.
"You…" Asuna could clearly sense Gaara's murderous intent. She didn't know why a boy who looked so young had such eyes, but it was clear, she was in danger.
"Asuna…" Hinata clenched her fists and then, with a spark of resolve, stepped forward.
"W-Wait! Hinata, what are you doing?!" Kiba and Shino were both stunned. The usually timid Hinata was… stepping out on her own?!
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