**Chapter 21: The Power of a Single Strike**
"Hmm... Has Naruto become this terrifying?"
The Third Hokage withdrew his hands from the crystal ball, dispelling the Telescopic Vision Technique. He leaned back in his chair, taking a leisurely puff of his pipe. "Naruto, I'm truly happy for you from the bottom of my heart. You've inherited the Fourth Hokage's will... you are his son..."
"You all, follow me to investigate the interior of the Death Forest."
Anko, clad in a trench coat, exuded a heroic aura.
"Yes, ma'am!"
A group of ninjas roared in unison behind her.
Meanwhile, chaos reigned within the Death Forest.
"What was that sudden change in the sky? And those mutating purple lightning flashes... what's going on?"
Kiba stared at the distant plume of black smoke, his jaw dropping in shock.
Akamaru had already burrowed into Kiba's arms, trying to bury himself even deeper.
"Kiba, let's go. It's clear a fierce battle took place there. And that level of power... it's beyond our capabilities."
Shino frowned, gazing into the distance before calling out to Kiba.
"Of course. I'm not foolish enough to risk my life out of mere curiosity."
Kiba scoffed. "Stop acting like you're the captain all the time. I'm the leader of this squad, remember?"
"Kiba, Shino, stop arguing," Hinata murmured, her gaze fixed on the black smoke rising from the distance. Deep down, she felt someone she cared about was there...
"Ohoho, are you scared? So... this is what fear feels like..."
Gaara's hands and half his face had transformed into the massive sand hands and tanuki face of the One-Tailed Shukaku. His expression was a mix of terror and bloodlust.
"G-Gaara..."
Temari and Kankuro stared at him with a mixture of worry and fear, their eyes fixed on Gaara's crazed gaze and the drool dripping from his lips.
"Blood! The blood I crave!"
After a long silence, a terrifying scream echoed through a section of the Death Forest.
*Thud!*
Landing on a slightly charred tree trunk, Anko stared in shock at the bottomless crater beneath her and the surrounding trees still smoldering with black smoke. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. "What happened here? What could have caused such catastrophic destruction? Could a human really be capable of this?"
"Lady Anko, what should we do? And should we cancel the second exam?"
One of the ninjas behind her, his face equally shocked, murmured the question to Anko.
"Report to Lord Hokage immediately. As for the second exam, proceed as planned," Anko commanded the group of ninjas behind her.
"Yes, Lady Anko!" the ninjas responded in unison, then vanished in a flash toward the Hokage Tower.
"As for me... I still need to investigate this area. But before that..."
Anko recalled the faceless Grass Ninjas. "Orochimaru... you're behind this!"
*Whoosh!*
With a slight bend of her knees, Anko transformed into a black blur and darted into the distance.
"Phew, Sakura, thanks. I'm fine now."
Naruto accepted the towel Sakura offered and pressed it to his forehead, glancing sideways at Sasuke, who sat silently nearby. "Alright, Sasuke, stop staring like an idiot. You won't figure anything out just by staring."
"That's not it..."
Sasuke shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the large section of snake coiled in his arms. "I've already uncovered its secrets, but my Chakra reserves are insufficient, and my Sharingan isn't mature enough to extract the knowledge contained within."
"Oh? You've already figured out that much?" Naruto exclaimed, genuinely impressed. "A genius truly lives up to their reputation..."
"I can sense the immense knowledge and power contained within this snake's body," Sasuke said, clenching his fist. "Now, I must enhance my own strength and seize everything it holds!"
He glanced gratefully at Naruto. "If not for you, Naruto, how could I have obtained such power?"
"Sasuke, keep pushing yourself!" Naruto grinned encouragingly.
"Thank you," Sasuke murmured, his eyes burning with anticipation as he turned to Naruto. "Naruto, the moment I become stronger, I want to spar with you."
"Uh... okay..." Naruto hesitated, inwardly sighing. *He's still so desperate to prove himself.*
"Naruto, rest well here. Sakura, take care of him. I'll retrieve the Heaven Scroll."
Using the snake's body as a belt around his waist, Sasuke took a step and darted into the distance.
"Ugh..."
Naruto stared speechlessly in the direction Sasuke had vanished. "So eager? Looks like I really got under his skin..."
"Sakura, now it's just the two of us, right? Let's get to know each other better..."
Blushing fiercely, Naruto leaned closer to Sakura's delicate frame, rubbing against her repeatedly.
"Naruto, no! What are you doing?" Sakura startled at his sudden advance.
"Come on, come on..." Naruto pressed himself even closer.
"Pervert Naruto, get away! *Bang!* Ow..."
"Damn it, I got too cocky..."
Rubbing his stomach, Naruto glared at Sakura with a wounded expression.
"Hey, kid over there! Stop!"
Just as Sasuke snatched the Heaven Scroll and turned to retreat, several ninjas suddenly blocked his path.
"Get out of my way!"
Sasuke snapped impatiently, "Little brat, how dare you speak to us like that?"
A ninja with the character "死" (death) emblazoned on his robe stepped forward, his expression arrogant. "We were going to let you go after taking the scroll. But now... you're dead! Air Cutter Wave!"
*Boom!*
An incredibly violent shockwave of compressed air slammed into Sasuke, engulfing the forest in smoke and dust as countless trees toppled like dominoes.
"Zaku, you're too reckless! What if you incinerated the scroll we need?" A hunched figure with white bandages covering half his face approached Zaku, scolding him.
"Then we'll just find another group of ninjas and steal their scroll..." Zaku shrugged dismissively, clapping his hands.
*Swish! Crack! Ah...*
In the blink of an eye, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air.
By the time they regained their senses, Zaku's arms hung limply at his sides.
"Sound Ninja Village scum, I advise you to leave now." Sasuke kicked Zaku away, his cold gaze fixed on the remaining two Sound Ninja.
"What? This brat... why does he faintly emanate Lord Orochimaru's aura? And that thing around his waist..."
Tsurugi Misumi's expression turned to shock as he stared fixedly at the snake coiled around Sasuke's waist, his pupils suddenly contracting. "It's Lord Orochimaru's... Could this brat..."
"This... We sincerely apologize... As compensation, we'll offer you the scroll we have. Please let us leave."
Tsurugi Misumi pulled the Heaven Scroll from his robes and laid it flat on the ground, begging Sasuke to spare them.
"Get lost..." Sasuke waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to waste any more time on these weaklings.
"We're truly sorry."
After another apology, Tsurugi Misumi walked over and hoisted Zaku onto his shoulder. "Kin, let's go."
Kin nodded, casting a lingering, apprehensive glance at Sasuke before turning to leave.
"Hmph! Three pathetic fools!" Sasuke scoffed disdainfully, not even sparing a glance at the Heaven Scroll on the ground as he turned and walked away.
..........
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(End of Chapter)