The Perfect Jinchuriki

Fight to Survive

The tension between Naruto, Sasuke, and the Sound ninja was electric, filling the forest air with an intense, charged silence. Sasuke's eyes gleamed with excitement, his adrenaline spiking as he felt the thrill of a real challenge coursing through him."Now *this* is the kind of fight I want," he muttered, clenching his fists. "This rush... this excitement... this will be awesome."Naruto mirrored his enthusiasm, his eyes narrowed with determination as he clasped his hand into a fist and pressed it into his other palm. "Couldn't agree more, Sasuke."Without another word, Naruto dashed forward, creating ten clones that followed in his wake. This time, Sasuke didn't hold him back. Instead, he leaped forward to follow the clones, forming a seamless attack strategy with Naruto.The clones charged at the Sound ninja, each one attempting to strike. One by one, they were dispersed, but their attacks created enough distraction for Sasuke to slip between them, weaving a series of rapid hand signs."*Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!*" Sasuke roared, expelling a massive fireball toward the Sound ninja.The Sound ninja dodged, but in a surprising twist, the fireball transformed into Naruto, who hurled a barrage of shuriken at her. The shuriken mid-air transformed into more shadow clones, each charging up a Jutsu as they surrounded her."*Wind Style: Gale Palm!*" they shouted in unison, releasing powerful gusts of wind that forced the Sound ninja into retreat. She leapt to a nearby tree branch, only to feel her body suddenly freeze, paralyzed by seals that Naruto's clones had placed strategically around her."What... is this?" she murmured, panic flashing in her eyes. She struggled, but the paralyzing seals held her fast.That was all Sasuke needed. With a fierce look, he took a deep breath, his chakra surging as he prepared a devastating attack. "*Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!*" he yelled, a searing stream of fire blasting directly toward the immobilized ninja.The flame engulfed her entirely, swallowing her in a roaring inferno. Naruto and Sasuke watched as the flames licked higher, until finally, they dissipated, revealing the Sound ninja's burnt face. But to their horror, her skin peeled away, exposing another face beneath—a pale, grinning visage that stared back at them with an unsettling calm."What... who *is* this?" Naruto whispered, feeling a chill run down his spine as he met her hollow, dead-eyed gaze.The ninja's eyes flashed with malicious intent as she freed herself from the paralyzing seals and, without a moment's hesitation, lashed out, kicking both of them with enough force to send them sprawling. She moved with blinding speed, her agility unsettling and snake-like. But she halted as she saw Naruto sprinting toward her, his fist coated with thick layers of rock—a new Earth Style Jutsu he had been working on.Naruto's rock-covered fist slammed into her, the sheer force of the blow sending her hurtling back. She crashed into a tree, splintering the trunk, but before she could regain her footing, Naruto appeared right in front of her and delivered another powerful punch.She flew through the air, rebounding from tree to tree as Naruto's fists continued to strike her. The Sound ninja's mind raced, her disbelief palpable. "Shadow clones...? No... no, there's only one chakra signature. He's *moving that fast?* It's impossible! No genin can move like that!"Just as she tried to escape, she saw Sasuke in her path, kunai in hand. He unleashed a flurry of kunai that flew past her, embedding themselves in the ground and nearby trees. Thinking he had missed, she sneered and turned to flee, only to feel a tightening sensation around her body."What—?" she gasped, realizing too late that the kunai had been thrown in a strategic pattern. Chakra threads looped around her, binding her tightly."Perfect timing," Sasuke said, his Sharingan spinning as he and Naruto approached with grim satisfaction. They both exchanged a silent nod, each of them forming a plan in sync.The Sound ninja struggled against her binds, her eyes widening in panic as she noticed Naruto's eyes. His pupils had narrowed, splitting into feral slits. "So... that's it. *The Kyuubi.*"But before she could say anything, she realized she was surrounded by multiple sealing tags. "*Fourteen* seals? Even a jonin couldn't escape this!" she muttered, her voice filled with alarm as the realization sank in.Around her, six Naruto clones and six Sasuke clones appeared, each one's chakra signature distinct and formidable."Collaboration Ninjutsu: *Multiple Supercharged Solar Flare Cannon!*" the clones shouted, releasing powerful beams of energy that converged upon her.The area around her ignited in blinding light as the intense heat enveloped her, the scorching beams continuing until even the clones had to disperse due to the unbearable heat. As the last trace of the attack faded, the Sound ninja was left burnt and barely alive, coughing as she struggled to rise.But then, to Naruto and Sasuke's shock, her jaw opened unnaturally wide, and from her mouth crawled a completely different person—pale-skinned, snake-like, with an aura of pure malice.Naruto took a step back, his eyes narrowing as he observed the new figure. "She... she looks like a snake."Sasuke barely had time to respond as Naruto collapsed, his chakra exhausted. "Naruto!" Sasuke called, his voice laced with concern. But Naruto had already fainted, his reserves depleted.The pale figure turned toward Sasuke, his voice smooth and dangerous. "No... it's just me and you now," he said with a sinister grin, his tongue flicking out like a serpent's."Who... who are you?" Sasuke demanded, his Sharingan blazing.The man's gaze settled on Sasuke, a dark gleam in his eyes. "My name is Orochimaru. I know much about you, Sasuke... and about your brother, Itachi Uchiha."Sasuke's face contorted in anger, his fists clenching. "How do you know about my brother? Tell me where I can find him!"Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "In time, Sasuke. In time." Without warning, his neck extended, stretching impossibly long until he wrapped it around Sasuke's body. Sasuke struggled, but the grip was iron-tight.Orochimaru leaned close, his voice a mere whisper in Sasuke's ear. "One day, you will come to me, Sasuke... in search of power." With a chilling calmness, he bit down on Sasuke's neck, a dark mark searing itself into his skin. Sasuke let out a scream, the pain unlike anything he had felt before, as the mark spread like fire across his body.Orochimaru released him, watching as Sasuke collapsed, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. "You will find your brother, Sasuke... but not until you are ready to embrace true strength," he said, his words laced with a promise of power. Sasuke's vision blurred, his voice barely a whisper as he tried to reach for Orochimaru."I... will... find... you... Itachi," he murmured, slipping into unconsciousness as the pain overwhelmed him.Orochimaru turned his attention to Naruto, lying unconscious on the ground. "Now, let's take a look at you, little Kyuubi," he muttered, his hand reaching to inspect the seal on Naruto's stomach. But just as he touched it, Naruto's hand shot up, grabbing Orochimaru's wrist in a vice-like grip."Like I'd let you do that!" Naruto growled, his voice thick with defiance as he forced himself to stand. His eyes burned with ferocity, the Kyuubi's influence clear in the slitted pupils that glowed with fierce red.Orochimaru sneered. "So... it's you, Kyuubi. The Fourth Hokage really did seal you inside this brat," he said, his tone laced with mocking.Naruto smirked, summoning five clones around him. "Let's see if you can still laugh after this!" he challenged. Together, they rushed at Orochimaru, fists and kicks flying in a synchronized attack.Orochimaru deflected the initial blows, blocking each punch with ease. "You're strong, but the Kyuubi is wearing you down, little brat."Naruto gritted his teeth, his chakra flaring as he performed another jutsu. "*Wind Style: Spiraling Wind Cannon!*" A thick beam of wind shot toward Orochimaru, but he dodged gracefully, avoiding the attack as dust and debris clouded the area."Did you really think that would work?" Orochimaru taunted, but as the dust settled, he was met with Naruto's determined gaze."*I don't run away,*" Naruto declared as red chakra began to envelop him, forming a fierce fox-shaped cloak with a single tail emerging. His eyes burned even brighter, filled with raw power and unrelenting resolve.Seeing Naruto's transformation, Orochimaru knew he had to act quickly. He dashed forward, his hand reaching Naruto's stomach. With blinding speed, he slapped a suppressing seal onto Naruto's abdomen, cutting off the Kyuubi's chakra flow.Naruto gasped, feeling his strength drain as he coughed up blood, his vision blurring. But with one last surge of defiance, he channeled the remaining Kyuubi chakra into his fist and struck Orochimaru with all his might.The force of the punch cracked Orochimaru's ribs, sending him hurtling through several trees before he finally crashed into a massive boulder. Naruto collapsed, the last of the Kyuubi's chakra dissipating, as darkness overtook him and he lost consciousness.In the eerie silence that followed, Orochimaru emerged from the rubble, a twisted smile on his face. "Impressive, Naruto Uzumaki," he whispered, brushing off the dust. "Both of you have potential... and I will be waiting."With a final glance at the unconscious forms of Naruto and Sasuke, Orochimaru disappeared into the shadows of the Forest of Death, leaving behind a trail of sinister intent.