Note: if you want to get access to +10 Advance Chapters before everyone else and help me Translate More Chapters For You join my patreon.com/flokixy
( Translator: I miss some paragraphs for almost all the chapters and I added them sorry )
"You bastard!"
Naruto roared, completely ignoring Sasuke and Sakura's shouts, and charged at Orochimaru!
However, the difference in strength between the two sides would not change according to Naruto's will. Orochimaru didn't even make a move; the giant snake just swung its tail and sent Naruto flying!
The enormous force caused Naruto's eyes to bulge, and his body arched into the shape of a shrimp. He broke through a dozen thick branches in a row, then slammed into a tree trunk with a loud crash, finally stopping!
Cough! Naruto spat out a large mouthful of blood. The giant snake's attack had instantly dealt him a heavy blow!
However, precisely because of this, a power sealed within him, belonging to the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, finally manifested at this critical moment of life and death. Naruto's eyes instantly turned into bestial, scarlet slits!
Having dealt with the annoying brat, Orochimaru controlled the giant snake, which was over a hundred meters long, to crash towards Sasuke like a speeding train!
"Sasuke-kun, what will you do now?" Orochimaru was eagerly awaiting Sasuke's response.
Sasuke, however, had only just recovered from the shock of Naruto being heavily injured. By the time he saw the giant snake's attack, it was too late to dodge!
"Sasuke! Get out of the way!" Sakura shouted in panic, unable to do anything.
But at that moment!
Boom!!!!
Borrowing the power of the Nine-Tails, Naruto instantly stood in front of Sasuke, using his back to block the giant snake's impact!
Even though blood was seeping from the corners of his mouth, he still forced a smile and said to Sasuke, "Coward! Do you think he'll let us go if you surrender to him? This isn't the Sasuke I know at all!"
Naruto's actions moved Sasuke, but before he could respond, Orochimaru, standing on top of the giant snake's head, grabbed Naruto. "Oh, this power… So it really is the Nine-Tails. I didn't expect you to still be alive, brat. But I don't have time for you right now. Don't get in my way."
Orochimaru opened his right hand, forming a tiger claw, and the five characters for Wood, Metal, Water, Fire, and Earth appeared on his fingertips!
"Sealing Jutsu: Five Elements Seal!"
Bang! Orochimaru's right hand slammed into Naruto's abdomen, and the Five Elements Seal instantly blocked the Nine-Tails' chakra that was leaking out of Naruto's body. Naruto lost the Nine-Tails' power, and his eyes immediately returned to normal.
Orochimaru casually threw Naruto aside. Sakura quickly used a kunai to pin Naruto to the tree trunk, preventing the unconscious Naruto from falling to the ground.
In the distance, Karin looked at Naruto and asked Mujie in confusion, "Why didn't Orochimaru kill Naruto? Naruto provoked him so much, and he had several opportunities to strike, so why did he let him go in the end, just leaving him on the side?"
Mujie looked at Naruto and let out a chuckle. "Because, that's a privilege belonging to the partners of justice. Like us bad guys, we'll always let them go for various reasons."
Mujie's explanation didn't answer the questions in Karin's heart, so he continued, "Fate always favors some special people, like Naruto Uzumaki. If he weren't the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, he would have been on the verge of death the moment he was heavily injured, but he's just seriously injured now."
But the power of the Nine-Tails saved him. Orochimaru, wary of killing a jinchūriki and provoking Konoha into madness, suppressed his murderous intent. Naruto's survival wasn't due to his loud protests—it was predetermined from the moment of his birth. Even I desired the power of the Nine-Tails within him, but even if we managed to seize it now, there's no way we could escape Konoha's pursuit. It's nothing more than wishful thinking."
Karin glanced at Naruto. "But didn't he pay for that power with a miserable childhood?"
"Miserable? It was just some cold treatment. Compared to us, he lived in paradise."
Karin always preferred wearing long-sleeved clothes that covered her arms—not out of personal preference, but because her arms were covered in scars from countless bites. Scars that would never fade.
The two continued watching as Naruto's actions stirred something deep within Sasuke. Sakura then reignited his fighting spirit with her words.
A revived Sasuke unleashed a flashy display of taijutsu, managing to inflict a grand total of 2.5 damage on Orochimaru. To their surprise, Orochimaru seemed rather pleased with this.
After burning Naruto's team's scrolls, Orochimaru personally branded Sasuke with the Heaven's Curse Mark—a seal with only a ten percent survival rate—hoping the boy would evolve further and become the perfect vessel. With that, he sank into the earth and disappeared.
Of course, for someone like Sasuke, the reincarnation of Indra, a ten percent chance might as well be a hundred percent guarantee.
Mujin watched the helpless Sakura and the shattered Team 7, a mischievous idea forming in his mind. He turned to Karin and said, "Pretending to be a good person is also part of being a qualified villain. Let's delay them just a little longer."
"Mm," Karin replied. She didn't know what Mujin had planned, but it didn't matter. Whatever he said, she would do.
The two attempted to put on kind, harmless smiles, but no matter how hard they tried, their expressions looked more like grimaces.
After all, such expressions were unnecessary in Grass Hidden Village.
Mujin and Karin burst out laughing at each other's ridiculous faces, which ironically made them look much more natural.
They made some noise, catching the attention of the still-panicked Sakura, who immediately raised her kunai in defense.
"Who's there! Don't hide! I've already noticed you!"
Mujin and Karin stepped forward with seemingly harmless expressions, raising their hands. "No, no, no! My name is Mujin, and this is Karin. We're here to help you."
"Help me?" Sakura hesitated, gripping her kunai tighter. "Who would believe such lies! Everyone here is an enemy!"
Mujin quickly explained, "We saw everything just now—that monstrous man burned your scrolls. You don't have anything we need anymore. We truly mean no harm. Look, we're medical ninjas from Grass Hidden Village. If your comrades aren't treated soon, they'll die."
At that moment, Sasuke, lying on the ground, bit through his lip in pain, while Naruto, weakened by the Five Elements Seal, appeared to be on the verge of collapse. Overwhelmed, Sakura faltered for a moment.
Taking advantage of her distraction, Karin instantly appeared before her and snatched the kunai from her hand!
Then, she handed it back.
"You see," Karin said, her speech initially stumbling but growing smoother as she went on, "if we had malicious intentions, we could've attacked you already. We simply want to stay true to our goal of becoming medical ninjas."
By now, Sakura finally lowered her guard. After all, if they had intended to harm her, they could've killed her moments ago.
"Please! Save Sasuke and Naruto!"
Mujin nodded. "We'll do our best."
While Karin tended to Sasuke's wounds, Mujin approached Naruto and pretended to examine him.
The Nine-Tails was right in front of him, yet there was nothing he could do.
Well then, let me play a small joke on you.
Turning his back to Sakura, Mujin began forming hand seals…
Secret Technique: Timed Release Jutsu!
And…
Sealing Technique: Three Realms Seal Array!
Mujin placed his hands on Naruto's abdomen, and a flood of runes seeped into his body, hiding deep within.
The Timed Release Jutsu would trigger the Three Realms Seal at a designated time. Until then, neither technique would affect Naruto, ensuring they wouldn't be detected by Jiraiya later.
Once Mujin finished, Karin successfully put Sasuke to sleep (via physical means). She turned to Sakura and said, "Your comrade is no longer in danger. That man's technique seems to guide bodily evolution. This process requires nutrients—I'll leave some soldier pills. Have him take one when he's in pain; it'll ease his suffering."
Mujin added, "Though we're medical ninjas, we're not naive enough to go all out helping our opponents. We'll ensure your comrades survive, but the rest is up to you."
"That's more than enough! Thank you so much!" Sakura bowed deeply, her earlier despair fading.
Sakura's gratitude made Karin feel slightly awkward. She hastily shoved some healing medicine and explosive tags into Sakura's hands. "H-here, take these and use them!"
Mujin: "…"
"Well, we're leaving. Find a place to hide yourself."
With that, the two departed.
"Grass Hidden Village… What a kindhearted village," Sakura murmured, watching their retreating figures. Her expression finally relaxed.
…Wait?
Sakura rubbed her eyes vigorously, but when she opened them again, the two were gone.
Had she just… seen a grotesque, twisted human head tied to Karin's waist?
"Must be… a trick of the light…"
"Ugh…" Sakura looked at Naruto and Sasuke, her mouth contorting into a worried "ww" shape. "A-although I feel a bit guilty toward those two, I should probably check them again!"