Orochimaru's hospital room.
"Creak~"
The sound of the door pushing open echoed as Sasuke slowly stepped inside.
Orochimaru licked his lips and said, "So, you've come."
Without saying a word, Sasuke raised his right hand. Lightning sparked in his palm!
"Swish!!"
Chidori Sharp Spear!
The lightning chakra extended, transforming into a long blue-white spear crackling with arcs of electricity!
In an instant, it pierced straight through Orochimaru's body!
"I knew you'd never be satisfied being just my vessel."
Orochimaru grinned, his expression showing no surprise at all.
"Orochimaru, you're weaker than me. That's why I'll never be your vessel."
Sasuke smirked coldly as he slowly closed the distance.
"You've got a sharp tongue, little fledgling of the Uchiha clan."
Sweat beaded on Orochimaru's forehead.
(≖╻≖;)
After three years of his own training, Sasuke had reached unprecedented heights. Add to that Orochimaru's current condition—severely injured—he truly wasn't a match for this Sharingan kid anymore…
Sasuke lifted his chin arrogantly and continued,
"Of course, back then I was a fledgling. Otherwise, how could you have taken me so easily?"
"You dreamed of obtaining the body of the Shinju, but settled for me instead, your second choice."
"Unfortunately for you, even as your fallback, I carry the bloodline of the Uchiha."
"And you? You're nothing but a false genius, soaking your body in jars of medicine, chasing immortality."
"Orochimaru, today you will die!!"
As he spoke, Sasuke violently yanked down the lightning spear!
At the same moment, Orochimaru opened his mouth wide!
"Swish!"
A shadow shot out from within, leaping to Sasuke's back!
Sasuke's Chidori Sharp Spear shattered Orochimaru's shell, then he turned to face Orochimaru's true body!
It was a massive white-scaled serpent!
And disturbingly, this snake not only had hair and a human face, but every single "scale" on its body was made of tiny white snakes!
"So this is your true form… just as revolting as I imagined." Sasuke's voice was ice-cold.
The serpent-Orochimaru hissed, his voice hoarse:
"Come, Sasuke… give me your body!"
With that, he lunged forward!
The battle erupted, blood spraying everywhere!
...
Meanwhile.
Having sealed the Three-Tails, Shinju and Naruto were strolling through the streets of the Land of Water.
Shinju said, "I should've stopped Deidara's explosion. His head alone was worth at least fifty million."
"This whole trip was a waste—we didn't earn a single coin, and all we got was a giant turtle…"
"The worst part is, you can't even make soup with it… ┐(´-｀)┌"
Anyone who understood what he was saying would have spat blood in fury.
That was a tailed beast! A strategic weapon fought over by every great nation!
But in Shinju's eyes? Just a big turtle.
"Why don't we check out the bounty station again?" Naruto suggested.
"No rush."
Shinju waved his hand and let his gaze drift toward a nearby bathhouse…
You can't just think about how to earn money—you've got to know how to spend it too.
Enjoying life is essential! \(≧▽≦)/
...
A few minutes later.
Inside the bathhouse.
Shinju and Naruto slid into the steaming water, sighing in bliss.
"There's nothing in this world a good soak in the hot springs can't cure. վ--0027ᴗ--0027 ի"
Shinju spoke with heartfelt emotion.
Just then, a pale-skinned young man beside him said, "Is that so?"
"Funny, I don't think it can cure my miserable childhood."
The voice was familiar. Shinju turned his head—and saw Sai soaking right next to him!
"What are you doing here?" Shinju asked in pleasant surprise.
Sai spread his hands and pointed toward the other side of the bath.
Following his gesture, Shinju noticed not just Sai, but also Kakashi, Kiba, and Shino with him…
"What a coincidence. (´∇ﾉ｀*)ノ"
Naruto also spotted his fellow Konoha shinobi and cheerfully waved in greeting.
"Sometimes after a mission, it's important to relax properly." Kakashi's eyes curved in a smile as he spoke in contentment.
Kiba added, "Too bad we didn't find Orochimaru in that fortress. If we'd captured him, that would've been perfect."
Naruto reassured him, "There's nothing to regret. You all did your best."
Suddenly, Shinju pointed at Kakashi's face with a realization.
"Wait, Kakashi-sensei, do you seriously keep your mask on even in the hot springs?"
Kakashi casually pointed at Shino nearby.
"And what about him? Shino doesn't even take off his shades in the hot springs. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Shinju explained on Shino's behalf, "That's because the Aburame clan raises insects in their bodies. That's understandable."
"But you, Kakashi-sensei—why do you never show your real face? （ --0027▿ --0027 ）"
Shino nodded in agreement.
"That's right. If I take off my glasses, I'm afraid I might scare you all."
Everyone turned their eyes toward Kakashi.
Naruto, the expert at stirring things up, said,
"Now that I think about it, we've been with Kakashi-sensei all this time, but I've never once seen his full face."
Kiba: "Same here."
Shinju nodded as well. "Me too. I've always been curious."
Sai fanned the flames.
"Judging by his eyes and eyebrows, Kakashi-sensei should be good-looking. Why hide his face? Unless he's got buckteeth, or an underbite? （＾ワ＾）"
Kakashi was exasperated. "Why are you doubting your teacher like this! (′д｀σ)σ"
"But fine—since you're all so curious, today I'll take off the mask!"
With a sigh, Kakashi slowly reached for it.
Everyone's anticipation skyrocketed: (´◊ω◊｀)
Seconds later!
They realized they'd been tricked!
Because beneath Kakashi's mask… was another mask!
Shinju couldn't take it anymore.
"Wood Style: Binding Vines!!"
"Swish! Swish swish!"
Dozens of vines shot up from beneath the bathhouse floor, wrapping straight toward Kakashi!
To protect his secret, Kakashi instinctively leapt back!
That was his shinobi reflex!
But he forgot—he wasn't wearing any clothes in the bath!
And Shinju's vines were fast!
As Kakashi retreated, everything below was revealed in full view!!!
Even worse, one particular dangling "leg" of his brushed right against Shinju's vine!!
Instantly, Kakashi's face turned the color of raw liver!!
It all happened so fast—Kakashi collapsed with a "splash," sprawled on the floor looking like a man crushed by fate!
∠( ᐛ 」∠)_
Shinju and the others rushed forward, worried.
"Are you okay, Kakashi-sensei?!"
Kakashi: (:з っ )っ
"N… no… don't touch me… I'll be safer this way…"
His words came out broken, clearly from enduring immense pain!
Being a good person, Shinju immediately admitted fault.
Afraid Kakashi-sensei might lose his happiness in the… lower half of life, he wrapped vines around Kakashi's leg and channeled healing jutsu through them…
Kakashi's expression instantly became indescribably complex!
(:D)|￣|＿
(•̀ω•́ 」∠)
(:＞)|￣|＿
⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄!!