Chapter 60: As The Host Of Konoha, Inviting You To Eat Meatballs Is Also A Way Of Hospitality

On the high platform, Orochimaru stood with a sinister grin, contemplating his situation. He was finally witnessing the consequences of his actions and his thoughts on the state of Konoha. It was as if the death of his beloved teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would be a grand opportunity for Orochimaru to advance in ways that no one could imagine. For years, Konoha's high-ranking officials had failed to recognize the imminent decay of their village. Konoha was losing its former power, and with the death of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, their leadership had faltered.

The village had only survived the Third Great Ninja War due to Minato's leadership, and after his death, Konoha's status in the world had begun to slip. Orochimaru could not help but savor this moment. Sarutobi's inability to find a worthy successor, and the fact that Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, had taken up the mantle, were proof enough for Orochimaru of Konoha's decline.

"Under the leadership of the teacher, Konoha Village is truly declining," Orochimaru mused, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Even if you are going to die old, you can't even find a new Hokage successor."

Sarutobi's blood boiled at his words. His old pupil, who once silently respected him, had turned into a mocking shadow. "Shut up, Orochimaru!" Sarutobi snapped, using every ounce of his strength to regain his composure.

Uzumaki Naruto, standing nearby, felt the crackle of tension in the air. His fist clenched in response to the confrontation. He couldn't understand how Orochimaru, once so restrained, had turned into such a pompous figure. Orochimaru's mocking tone seemed to incite a wave of defiance in Naruto. The young boy, full of confidence, didn't show the slightest sign of fear, a trait that made Orochimaru pause and reconsider.

Naruto's eyes met the mysterious female ninja standing beside Orochimaru. She was calm, composed, and exuded an aura of mastery that Naruto couldn't ignore. Her presence was stronger than that of Zabuza, the deadly swordsman he had fought earlier. He quickly realized that this woman was no ordinary ninja, and her confidence and power were undeniable.

He noticed the forehead protector on her head, a mark of her origins in the weakest of the ninja villages, Caoyin. Yet, despite the village's weak reputation, she carried herself like a seasoned warrior.

"Seems like you're the kind of person who likes to toy with your prey," Naruto muttered, his eyes narrowing as he observed her. "Especially in front of a predator." His words seemed to both amuse and frustrate the woman.

"Let's see if you can live up to your bravado," Orochimaru sneered, his tongue slithering as he licked his lips, an unsettling sign of what was to come. His eyes turned dark, filled with malice as he looked at Naruto and then back at Sasuke, who had been watching the exchange with a cold, calculating gaze.

Naruto, not one to back down, turned to Sasuke and Sakura. "You two go aside. I'll handle this," he said, confident that his training had prepared him for this moment. Sasuke nodded, his expression unreadable as he stepped back with Sakura.

Orochimaru's amusement only deepened. "You think you can fight me? You're nothing but a child."

Naruto grinned. "We'll see about that."

In a flash, Orochimaru's form vanished, leaving behind only an afterimage. Everyone gasped in shock at his speed, a speed that was beyond anything they had seen before. The battle was on.

Naruto managed to react just in time as Orochimaru's first strike came down on him with the force of a snake striking its prey. The two collided with such force that the ground shook beneath them. Their body skills were evenly matched, but Orochimaru quickly ramped up his speed, turning into multiple afterimages as he moved around Naruto, faster than anyone could track.

The spectators were stunned. They couldn't even grasp the direction Orochimaru was moving in, let alone anticipate his attacks. But Naruto, with his sharp instincts, was able to keep up. He was no longer the inexperienced ninja he once was. His speed and reflexes had improved greatly, and despite the overwhelming power of his opponent, he wasn't backing down.

The ground suddenly erupted beneath Naruto's feet as Orochimaru launched himself from underground, aiming to surprise Naruto with another sneak attack. But Naruto was ready. "Shadow Clone Technique!" he shouted, his chakra exploding outward as dozens of clones appeared, each holding a shuriken in hand. They moved in unison, launching their shurikens with deadly precision. The sky was filled with a storm of projectiles, all targeting Orochimaru, who was still half-buried in the ground.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto declared, as the clones and shurikens rained down on their target. Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock as he was forced to retreat again, his body melting into the ground once more, narrowly avoiding the barrage.

"Orochimaru's moves are slick," Naruto muttered to himself. "But he's just a snake. Always hiding in the dirt."

The fight continued at a breakneck pace, with Orochimaru using his ability to travel underground and strike from unexpected angles. But Naruto's relentless attacks kept pushing him back, and he began to realize that this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought.

"I see now," Orochimaru murmured, his eyes narrowing as he realized what was happening. "The boy is learning quickly... too quickly."

But Naruto wasn't concerned with that. "You're not the only one who can move fast, Orochimaru. Time to see what I've learned."

With that, Naruto launched another wave of attacks, his clones working in perfect harmony to outmaneuver Orochimaru's underground movements. But Orochimaru was a master of deception, and he quickly found the main body hidden among the clones. "Got you!" he sneered.

But Naruto wasn't finished. As Orochimaru lunged forward, Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Orochimaru's fist to hit nothing but air. A leg appeared from the smoke, delivering a devastating kick to Orochimaru's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.

Before Orochimaru could recover, Naruto's voice came from above. "Not bad, huh?"

Orochimaru, stunned but determined, stood up, brushing himself off. "You're more than just a child. But you're still too weak to defeat me."

Naruto looked down at him with a smirk. "I don't need to defeat you. I just need to keep you busy long enough to find out what you really want."

Orochimaru's gaze flickered toward Sasuke again, and Naruto's eyes followed the direction. "I knew it," Naruto said with a chuckle. "You're here for Sasuke. That's what all this is about, isn't it?"

Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly. "You think you're so clever, Naruto. But this is far from over."

The two continued their battle, the tension growing with each exchange. In the distance, Sasuke watched with a mix of awe and concern. He knew that Naruto was no longer just a teammate — he was becoming someone who could stand toe to toe with legends.

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