Chapter 62: Swollen-Headed Naruto, The Guy Who Shows Up Right on Time

Woooooo...

A fierce wind howled like a typhoon sweeping through, echoing across half of the Forest of Death.

Especially those examinees who were near Team 7—just as they turned their heads toward the direction of the noise, the violent gust had already swept through.

Those who were mid-flash-step were blown away, crashing into towering trees.

Those on foot were knocked flat, as if shoved by an invisible force.

Crack...

Rumble...

Amid the roaring winds, one could faintly hear the sound of branches snapping and trees collapsing.

As the view zoomed in, the air in one area had visibly twisted, forming a whirlpool like that of a raging sea.

The towering trees caught within the vortex bent like blades of grass before finally snapping, slamming into the ground with a thunderous crash and kicking up clouds of dust.

Luckily, the wind wasn't sharp, and because the Forest of Death was an ancient, untamed jungle, every tree was as thick as a dozen people could hug around—strong and resilient.

Otherwise, even more trees would have broken, potentially reducing the whole area to a wasteland.

Even so, the scene was no less intense than when the Wind Style Unit led by Temari launched Wind Style: Scythe Dance at the Ten Tails during the Fourth Great Ninja War—perhaps even stronger.

When the winds finally died down, the area where Team 7 had been was a complete mess.

All 300 of Naruto Uzumaki's shadow clones had vanished—wiped out by the wind-style attack he unleashed himself.

"This... this is the strength of the dead last?"

Hidden behind a massive tree used as cover by a clone, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno stared at the ruined forest, visibly shaken.

Clearly, Sasuke hadn't expected Naruto Uzumaki to possess such power.

"No way... Naruto is that strong?!" Sakura clutched her mouth in disbelief.

Because they hadn't encountered Zabuza in the Land of Waves mission, Sasuke and Sakura's impression of Naruto was still stuck at the phase where he was toyed with by Kakashi and scared silly by the Demon Brothers.

The only slightly impressive part was his large chakra pool and the unknown source from which he learned the Multi Shadow Clone Technique.

But now... Naruto had unleashed power that bordered on a natural disaster!

If he was the "dead last," then what did that make her, the so-called top student?

Turns out... she was actually the weakest in the group!

"Hahahaha—!"

Just then, a loud laugh echoed through the area.

They looked in the direction of the sound.

There stood Naruto Uzumaki atop a fallen tree, hands on his hips, laughing triumphantly. "Heh! See that?! That's what I'm really made of! Doesn't matter if it's Izayoi, Hinata, smug-face Sasuke, or even bushy-brows—all of them are going to taste defeat at the hands of yours truly!"

"Pretty impressive combo attack. You almost killed me."

Suddenly, a voice sounded beside Naruto's ear, cutting his laughter short.

Before Naruto could turn or teleport away, two large snakes shot out like ropes and bound his body, leaving only his stomach exposed.

A completely unharmed figure slowly rose from the ground, looking at him with a mocking smile.

"Damn it! Let me go!"

Naruto struggled furiously, and his eyes unconsciously turned into red, vertical pupils.

Seeing those eyes, Orochimaru chuckled. "So it really is you, brat."

"What do you mean, it's me? What are you talking about?!" Naruto shouted. "Let me go and fight me fair and square!"

"Hehe..." Orochimaru smirked. "If you hadn't used that combo just now, I wouldn't have minded playing a bit. But now, you'd better sit still."

With that, Orochimaru lifted Naruto's shirt with one hand. His other hand was wreathed in blue chakra flames, forming the kanji for wind, fire, water, earth, and lightning.

"Let go of Naruto!"

Just then, Sasuke's voice rang out from the distance. He suddenly appeared beside Orochimaru and delivered a powerful kick.

But he was just a second too late.

"Five Elements Seal!"

Orochimaru's clawed hand struck Naruto's stomach with a sealing jutsu, while his other hand blocked Sasuke's kick.

Naruto was sent flying by the palm strike, and Orochimaru was also knocked back by Sasuke's kick.

"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

Sasuke pressed his advantage, quickly forming hand signs. A small flame burst from his mouth and expanded into a flaming dragon, roaring toward Orochimaru.

As he landed, Orochimaru's eyes locked onto Sasuke's dual tomoe Sharingan with a greedy look.

In that moment, he was reminded of the time he secretly watched Itachi train.

That speed... and at such a young age, already awakening dual tomoe.

Perhaps this boy was not inferior to his older brother.

He had to have that body.

So Orochimaru quickly formed a hand seal: "Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

Boom!

A massive stone wall burst from the ground, blocking the incoming fire dragon.

Sasuke, already using Lightning Chakra to stimulate his cells and increase his speed, didn't follow up immediately. Instead, he drew a kunai and swiftly slashed through the snakes binding Naruto.

He grabbed Naruto and bolted into the woods.

"Sasuke, where are you taking me?!"

Naruto, still full of adrenaline, yelled, "Put me down! I'm gonna kick that snake guy's ass!"

"Idiot! Don't you get it yet?" Sasuke snapped. "Even a wind-style of that level couldn't scratch him. We're not in the same league!"

Only then did Naruto sober up.

Right... he only had that one combo technique.

And the opponent could just use Earth Style to dive underground and avoid it entirely.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Sasuke's speed was fast. If he'd been alone, Orochimaru might've taken a bit longer to catch up.

Unfortunately, he was carrying dead weight.

Before they could even re-enter the forest, Orochimaru's voice rang in their ears.

They turned—nearly scared stiff.

Orochimaru was slithering like a human-serpent hybrid, launching at them like an arrow.

That terrifying face, that twisted grin—even if they survived, the trauma would linger.

"Multi Shadow Clone Technique!"

Naruto quickly formed hand signs, trying to summon hundreds of clones again.

But his chakra was so disrupted that he could only summon twenty-something clones.

Those clones quickly formed seals for Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.

But the next second—they each barely spat out a weak puff of air, like Sasuke's first try at Fireball Technique.

"Eh?! What the hell?!" Naruto widened his eyes in disbelief.

"It's the sealing jutsu from earlier!"

Sasuke was sweating cold, now fully convinced this guy was no Genin.

Seeing that even fleeing was no longer an option, Sasuke suddenly threw Naruto aside and rushed toward Orochimaru, yelling:

"Dead last! I'll buy you time—go get help!"

"No way! I'd never abandon my teammates!"

Naruto got up, determination in his eyes. "There's no way I'm running!"

"Just go! This isn't the time to be stubborn!" Sasuke shouted, hurling ninja tools at Orochimaru. "That guy's no Genin! That earlier commotion must've alerted the proctors. If you go now, we might all survive. If not—me, you, and Sakura are all dead!"

"Then I definitely can't abandon you." Naruto said firmly. He made a hand seal again: "Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof! Poof!

Several clones appeared around Naruto and immediately split up, racing toward the edge of the Forest of Death to get help.

As for the real Naruto—he rushed straight toward Orochimaru.

Unaware, his loyalty would actually become Sasuke's burden.

Having already begun to master the use of lightning chakra to boost his speed, Sasuke was now even faster than a weighted Lee.

Combined with his Sharingan's perception, even Orochimaru needed to use snake techniques or Earth Style to catch him.

But with Naruto on the field, Sasuke couldn't go all-out and had to protect his teammate.

Orochimaru noticed this and changed targets—from Sasuke to Naruto.

Within a few rounds, Sasuke fell into a trap. Both he and Naruto were caught in swampy terrain that bound their legs, then wrapped up in snakes like two dumplings.

Orochimaru formed seals, stretched his neck out, and flew at Sasuke's neck—preparing to plant the Cursed Seal of Heaven.

BANG!

A figure appeared out of nowhere, landing a solid punch right on Orochimaru's face, so hard it looked like his skull caved in.

Orochimaru's head was sent flying like a baseball, his body flung away as well.

The one who threw the punch?

The always-last-second arrival—Izayoi.