As the sun rose, Travis stirred, feeling its warmth pressing through the blinds and onto his face. He groaned slightly before sitting up, rubbing his eyes as he began his usual morning ritual—staring at nothing in particur while contempting random thoughts.

  After a few minutes of reflection, he finally got up and went to the bathroom. A spsh of cold water on his face helped shake off the remnants of sleep, and after a quick freshen-up, he was ready to go.

  Stepping outside, he found the rest of the team already gathered. Well, most of them—Naruto was still half-asleep, grumbling about wanting to rest more.

  "You do realize we have a mission, right?" Travis said, nudging Naruto with his foot.

  "I know, I know…" Naruto groaned, stretching his arms. "Doesn't mean I gotta like it…"

  Despite Naruto's reluctance, the team resumed their journey toward Tenchi Bridge, where they were set to rendezvous with the Akatsuki's spy.

  Along the way, Naruto seemed to soften up toward Sai. He no longer burned with outright hatred for him, which was a step in the right direction. Though, to be fair, that was a low bar—he still didn't like him. And knowing how things would unfold, Travis figured it would only get worse from here.

  As night fell, Yamato took charge, using his Wood Release to construct a sturdy wooden cabin for them to rest in. Inside, the team gathered as Yamato id out their pn now that they were nearing their destination.

  "Before we proceed, Sakura, I need you to provide me with a detailed breakdown of Sasori's characteristics—his mannerisms, speech patterns, anything that could help me mimic him as accurately as possible," Yamato instructed.

  Sakura nodded and began recounting everything she could remember about Sasori—his cold demeanor, his clipped and measured way of speaking, the slight arrogance he carried even in casual conversation. Yamato absorbed the details carefully, refining his transformation to ensure the spy wouldn't suspect a thing.

  Meanwhile, Travis sat back, only half-listening as his mind wandered.

  'Man, this arc is kinda boring. Even in the anime, it only got exciting when Naruto went Four-Tails and fought Orochimaru… and Orochimaru bodied him. Just goes to show that the Sannin don't py.'

  He stretched slightly, cracking his neck.

  'Welp, let's just get through this. It's only a matter of time before things heat up.'

  Once the pnning was complete, the team settled in for the night, knowing that tomorrow would be crucial. The tension in the air was undeniable, but they needed rest—this was likely their st moment of peace before things escated.

  The Next Day

  Dawn broke over the horizon, casting an orange glow across the ndscape. Travis stretched his arms, yawning as he stepped out of the cabin. Unlike the others, he had zero role in the actual pn. His job was strictly as backup, which meant staying far away while Yamato handled the meeting.

  The team moved swiftly, arriving at Tenchi Bridge, where Yamato, now fully transformed into Sasori, made his approach. From a safe distance, Travis watched, blending into the trees while Naruto, Sakura, and Sai hid nearby.

  From the opposite side of the bridge, a lone figure emerged from the mist. He stepped forward, revealing his face.

  Kabuto…

  Travis narrowed his eyes. He wasn't exactly a fan of the guy. Even Naruto, hidden from view, tensed up in irritation.

  'Man, I hate this dude's guts.' Naruto thought.

  Yamato—still disguised as Sasori—kept his voice steady. "Were you followed?"

  "No, it's safe," Kabuto responded.

  A small conversation followed, with Kabuto giving up crucial information about Orochimaru's bases.

  "We have many bases. To avoid being discovered, we relocate weekly. Some are in the Land of Sound, but others are scattered in different nations. Our current base is located on a small isnd in a ke to the north. In three days, we will be moving again... Uchiha Sasuke is also there."

  As soon as those words left Kabuto's mouth, the tension shattered.

  A cold, sinister presence filled the air.

  From the shadows, a smooth, eerie voice called out.

  "Ahh… Sasori. Seeing you like this really takes me back."

  Orochimaru.

  'How can they not feel this guy's killing intent?' he thought, eyes locked onto the snake-like figure emerging from the fog. 'He's basically soaked in it.'

  A snake slithered around Kabuto's shoulder, coiling around him in an attempt to restrain him, but Kabuto swiftly leaped back, barely avoiding being caught.

  "If it weren't for you, I would've been captured, Sasori-sama," Kabuto said, adjusting his gsses.

  Yamato didn't flinch. "You tailed him."

  Orochimaru's unsettling smile widened. "What a tone. I simply wanted to thank you. You see, to develop my new jutsu, I would have needed hundreds of test subjects. But thanks to Kabuto... I can use a single one countless times. A much more… efficient method."

  His voice dripped with amusement.

  Without warning, Kabuto's hand fred with chakra as he lunged forward, striking Yamato's wooden disguise.

  ' Multi-Shadow Snake Hands!'

  Dozens of snakes erupted from Orochimaru's sleeves, unching toward Yamato, fangs bared. The attack connected—only for Yamato's form to splinter into wood.

  ' A substitution!'

  The real Yamato nded a few meters away, instantly signaling the others.

  In a blur, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai leaped onto the bridge, their presence now fully revealed. Naruto's chakra fred wildly, the red aura of the Nine-Tails leaking from his body as he locked eyes with Orochimaru, pure rage burning in his gaze.

  The battle was about to begin.

  " I've seen that face many times. The Kyuubi is here too, why don't we have a little fun? I'll tell you, who is stronger now. You or Sasuke."

  Immediately, Naruto's whole body began to ooze out red and orange chakra, swirling around him like a deadly cloak. The dense chakra surrounded his body, crackling like a storm contained within his form. His teeth sharpened into fangs, and his eyes shifted, turning into the fox-like, slit pupils of the Kyuubi's influence. His spiky hair became wilder, standing on end as the power surged through him, filling him with uncontrolble fury.

  " Give Sasuke back!!" He shouted, his voice deepened, now ced with the Kyuubi's growl.

  Kabuto chuckled darkly, unfazed by Naruto's transformation. "It's not a matter of us giving anything, Naruto. Here let me expin it to you. Sasuke came to us under his own free will. It's about time you got over it and start taking the past for what it is. Just like a real man would."

  Sakura's heart pounded in her chest, a sense of helplessness washing over her. She watched Naruto's rage consume him, her words falling on deaf ears. Despite her attempts to reach him, to remind him of who he was, he was lost in his anger, locked onto the singur goal of rescuing Sasuke. With each step forward, Naruto's resolve grew, his body trembling with the power that was now tearing him apart from the inside out. His eyes were locked on Orochimaru, unblinking, unwavering.

  Woosh

  In an instant, Naruto closed the distance between them with a speed that was almost impossible to track. His muscles coiled like a spring ready to release, his foot barely touching the ground as he surged forward with the force of a tidal wave. With a primal roar, he unched himself at Orochimaru. His fist—an unstoppable force—made contact with Orochimaru's cheek with bone-shattering power.

  The impact was catastrophic.

  Orochimaru was sent hurtling through the air, his body crashing into the earth with a resounding crack. Trees splintered under his momentum, and the ground trembled beneath the force of the punch. A deep crater was left in the wake of Orochimaru's body as he skidded across the ndscape, his figure a blur of destruction.

  The forest around them seemed to hold its breath.

  Orochimaru's body slowly began to twitch, then convulsed unnaturally. His form straightened, and his neck contorted as his body uncoiled itself like a serpent. A moment ter, he slithered out from the crater, undeterred, his face shedding like skin, revealing the one beneath, grotesque and unsettling.

  " My, oh my," Orochimaru mused, his voice taking on a mocking tone. "You've certainly become quite the Jinchuuriki."

  His lips curled into a wicked smile, the gleam in his eyes cold and calcuting. "I suppose that expins why you were chosen to watch over him. It would appear my experiment was of some help after all. The Leaf should be a bit more appreciative, wouldn't you agree, dearest guinea pig of mine?" he said, his eyes turning towards Yamato.

  Sakura's pulse raced, a knot of dread tightening in her stomach. 'What does he mean by that?' She thought, her eyes darting to Yamato, hoping for some kind of answer.

  Even Kabuto's eyes flickered with curiosity. He adjusted his gsses, momentarily distracted by Orochimaru's words.

  " Well, since you're all so eager to know…" Orochimaru's voice lilted with amusement as he continued, his hands rising in an almost theatrical motion. "The First Hokage was a shinobi like no other, possessing an ability that made him nearly divine—Wood Release. He could bend Biju to his will, shaping the very battlefield as if it were cy in his hands. And, after obtaining his data, I began experimenting with his DNA, attempting to replicate his power… to create someone who could use that unique style of ninjutsu."

  Naruto, still caught in the throes of his anger, growled menacingly at Orochimaru, his entire body trembling with the intensity of the chakra flowing within him. The Kyuubi's influence roared beneath the surface, urging Naruto forward, urging him to destroy.

  " Let's move on," Orochimaru continued, his eyes narrowing. "Naruto, do you wish to meet Sasuke? All you have to do is defeat me. Maybe I might even let him fight you. I wonder… who has gotten stronger?"

  " He isn't yours!! In my presence don't you dare talk of Sasuke as though he belongs to you!!!" Naruto shouted, his voice shaking with rage as he gred down at Orochimaru. His chakra cloak thickened, now burning with even more fury. Three massive tails sprouted behind him, each one more imposing than the st, as the chakra around him became a storm of violent red and orange waves.

  Travis, who had been watching the scene unfold from a ledge behind them, couldn't help but cringe. His jaw tightened as he observed the intensity of the fight.

  'Man, I hate watching this. It's not good for my heart. No wonder the me fans of this series ship them... they can't beat MHA fans, though. Not to mention JJK fans.' His face darkened, a grim look etched into his features.

  TO BE CONTINUED