Chapter 9

A few days ago Tsunade gave Team 7 their mission. They have successfully arrived at the bridge.

Similar to the original series. Kakashi disguises himself as Sasori and goes to meet the spy.

But to their surprise it was kabuto that appears. Kakashi tries to get information out of him but is interrupted by the appearance of Orochimaru.

Kabuto tries to ambush Kakashi but fails as Kakashi was already vigilant against him because of Ryu's earlier warning.

As it turns out Ryu was right. The technique binding kabuto had long been dispelled by Orochimaru.

 Orochimaru and kabuto were shocked to find out that it wasn't the real Sasori that came. Seeing that Kakashi has been exposed the rest of the team came out to confront Orochimaru.

"I didn't expect that the situation would turn out like this"

Orochimaru wasn't too worried about them as he turns to look at Naruto.

"It has been a while has it Naruto kun"

"It seems that you are still looking for Sasuke-kun" Orochimaru said "I wonder who would win in a fight you or Sasuke"

Naruto decide not to listen to anymore of Orochimaru's nonsense. He dashes at Orochimaru to attack him.

Orochimaru was surprised at the sudden attack from Naruto but he was able to react and defend himself.

"You have improved since we last meet Naruto kun" Orochimaru said while dodging his attack. They exchange dozens of attack but Naruto couldn't seem to come out on top.

Jumping back Naruto crosses his fingers

{MULTI SHADOW CLONE TECHNIQUE}

Several clones appear as they take turn attacking Orochimaru.

"Not bad Naruto-kun but this won't be enough to get back Sasuke back" Orochimaru said with a grin on his face as he and kabuto take care of the clone.

The original Naruto at the back didn't hear him as he had his eyes closed.

Soon the Nine tail's chakra cloaked Naruto's body with three chakra tails floating at his back.

"Then what about this?"

Before Orochimaru could react he was sent flying into the distance.

"Kakashi sensei I will take care of him. You guys handle kabuto"

Naruto then follows to where Orochimaru was sent.

Orochimaru got up relatively unharmed he was a bit surprised to see Naruto was able to control the Nine tails.

'Seems I have to take this a bit more seriously'

Orochimaru made serval hand signs  

{FORMATION OF TEN THOUSAND SNAKES}

Several thousand snakes crawl out of his mouth as the all charge towards Naruto.

{GAINT NINE TAIL'S CHAKRA RASENGAN BARAGE}

BOOM!!!

Naruto's attack destroys all of the snakes that were coming for him. As he was about to continue attacking he was stopped by Kakashi who appeared in front of him.

"leave him to me Naruto" Kakashi say as he activates his {SHARINGAN}

Due to the butterfly effect caused by Ryu, Kakashi strength wasn't as weak as it was supposed to be. Although he isn't confident in defeating him, he was sure that he could hold him long enough for Naruto to meet Sasuke.

"Both you and Sakura should head out to find Sasuke."

Just then kabuto suddenly jumps out to attacked Kakashi but Karin was able to block it with her chains .

"But we don't know where his hide out is" Sakura said

"Don't worry my clone will take you there" Karin said as she creates a {SHADOW CLONE}

Karin herself had to stay back and fight off Kabuto as it was a bit too much for the current Kakashi to take on both of them at the same time.

Because Orochimaru's hideout was very closes by Karin was able to track it after sensing Sasuke chakra from a distances.

"Oh! You seem confident Kakashi, did you forgot how our last confrontation went already?"

His words hit Kakashi as he remembered how he wasn't able to match Orochimaru back then.

"That was then"

"Now go Naruto! Sakura!!" Karin said to them seeing Orochimaru was focused on them.

The team rushes toward Orochimaru hide out but just as they were about to reaches it, they came to a sudden halt.

In front of the entrance to the hide out Sasuke was already walking out.

"I was wondering what all the commotion was about. It turns out it was only you guys" Sasuke said coolly.

"Sasuke kun" Sakura was in shock seeing Sasuke after a long time.

Sasuke looks at her for a bit then turns to look at Naruto "I thought I told you not to look for me?"

"And I promised to take you back" Naruto said

"Ha what a persistent guy you are Naruto" Sasuke sighed "But I will not be going back only after I resealed my brother from that masked man's control will I come back"

"Why? We can also help you in the village."

"It seems I can't convince you to leave me alone" Sasuke said "but this is a perfect opportunity for you to see my progress"

"I like the sound of that. I will just beat you and bring you back after"

Both of them glare at each other for a few moments then proceed to dash towards themselves. The moment then met they began to fight using their Taijustu.

Although both of them where have an intense fight they had a smile on their face.

Karin clone and Sakura both stood at the side and watch Naruto and Sasuke fight it out. Sakura was really worried about them while Karin was looking like she was in thought.

"he really did become stronger" she said in a low voice.

From what she could feel, she wasn't a match for the him if he was to come at her seriously.

She had always wondered why Ryu had allow Sasuke to leave the village.

*FLASH BACK*

It was a few hours before team 7 left for the mission. Ryu was escorting Karin to the village gate after he finally escaped from the hands of Tsunade.

"My god! Hokage is really not for me" Ryu complained  "how can one deal with so much paper work"  

Karin giggled hearing Ryu complain.

"but it seems that master thinks otherwise"

"And she can keep thinking it because I don't plan to become Hokage"

Ryu said as a matter of fact. It was already plain as day that Tsunade want to groom him to be the next Hokage. But Ryu wasn't having any of that.

One could say that he is the perfect candidate for Hokage, but Ryu knows himself too much. It would be impossible for him to do the work of the Hokage.

"and here I was think I was going be able to fight Orochimaru!"

Ryu said planning to change the topic.

"That is right!! I have wondering this for a long time now" Karin suddenly said

"Wondering what?"

"Ryu nii why haven't you gone to bring Sasuke back to the village?"

This question made Ryu stop walking and look at Karin.

Seeing his look Karin quickly said "I mean with your strength it should be easy to make him come back"

Ryu doesn't immediately answer her question.

"you are right I could go and get him back anytime I wanted to" Ryu answer after think for a bit "but they are a lot of reason that I won't. the main one is that he is able to become stronger with Orochimaru than he will here"

"but aren't you worried that Orochimaru might do something to him"

"Honesty No"

*END*

'I can see why Ryu nii is confident in Sasuke but it is still too risky'

Karin was still worried about what Orochimaru might do to Sasuke.

In the battle both Naruto and Sasuke back away from each other after several intense bouts.

"it seems you have improved a bit Naruto"

"I can say same to you"

"But if this is the limit of your improvement I have to say I'm a bit disappointed"

"What did you say you bastard!!"

Sasuke didn't answer him as he took in a deep breath while holding the hilt of his blade.

{BREATH OF LIGHTNING: FRIST STANCE…

Lightning start to form around Sasuke as he locked on to Naruto with his {SHARINGAN}.

…FLASH AND THUNDER}

In an instant Sasuke disappeared from his spot. He moves at Naruto with blinding speed with his blade unsheathed move towards Naruto's neck.

Naruto was quick to react ducking his head causing the blade only to cut a few strand of his hair. Sasuke doesn't stop as he followed up with another attack.

In the face of Sasuke's fast attacks Naruto had no choice but to use the nine tails chakra to dodge this rest of Sasuke's attacks.

After making distance, Naruto starts yelling angrily at Sasuke.

"What the hell was that!! are you trying to kill me?"

"How do you plan to beat me up if you couldn't even handle that?"

"You bastard"

"That sword style that he used, it feels familiar" Karin said

"It did?"

Sakura asked with a confused look on her face as she hasn't been able to keep up with the battle.

"Although I can't follow their movement, but the technique that Sasuke used feels a lot like Ryu nii's"

Karin is one of the few people who has been around Ryu for a long time, so she was able grasp the feeling when Ryu uses his {BREATH OF THE SUN}. Sasuke who was using {BREATH OF LIGHTNING} was derived by Ryu a few year ago before the attack on Konoha by Orochimaru.

It was given to Sasuke at the 'Valley of The End' when he was leaving by Ryu. During these 2½ years he was able to use it up to {TOTAL CONSENTRATION}.

This is also one of the reason that Ryu was confident that Sasuke was going to be okay because the current Sasuke is way stronger than his original counterpart.

So unless Orochimaru is going to have some protagonist level power up, he is not going to be able to beat Sasuke.

Realizing that he had to take Sasuke serious, Naruto uses his 'Two Tails cloak' form. Seeing Naruto in this form brought back memories for their fight at 'The Valley of the End'.

"we have already seen this fight ended before" Sasuke says as he actives his curse mark.

The flame like pattern appeared on Sasuke's body. "You are still not a match for me."

They proceed to go at each other again. This time the where neck and neck not give each other any chances to take advantage of the other.

Sasuke with his {BREATH OF THE THUNDER} had the advantage in speed and penetration power, but is not able to enough damage to Naruto as he had powerful defense thanks to the Nine Tails chakra protecting him.

Likewise, Naruto was able to do any damage to Sasuke as he was too fast for him.

This causes the battle to be in a stalemate. Both of them realized the problem and back away from each other.

"This fight has gone on for a bit too long" Sasuke said. "let me show you my full power"

Sasuke's chakra flared up as he plans to go into the 2nd form of his curse mark.

Naruto was able to guess what Sasuke was going to do, so he also went into his 'three tail' mode.

But before they could continue their fight, they were interrupted by Orochimaru who had appeared next to Sasuke.

"Ho it seems the things are getting interesting over here"

Orochimaru appeared to fine not showing any signs of taking damage from a fight.

"Orochimaru!! What happened to Kakashi sensei?" Naruto asked with a frown on his face.

Before he could get answer from him, Kakashi appear behind him.

"Kakashi sensei!!" Naruto was happy to see Kakashi was alright.

Kakashi had some bruises on his body but he didn't show any more damage that. Both Karin and kabuto also appeared.

But unlike the others, kabuto was looking battered up while Karin hadn't taking any visible damage.

"it is very surprising that you had grown this much Kakashi" Orochimaru spoke first "to think you would force me to use {body replacement technique}"

He then turns to look at Karin

"Forgive me Orochimaru-sama, I have failed you"

No need to worry, she was just a bad match for you" he said "no matter what she is a disciple of Tsuna-chan and her ability to heal is a perfect counter for your {CHAKRA SCALPEL}"

"Anyhow we have had enough fun for today it is time for us to go Sasuke-kun"

Sasuke pauses for a bit before he releases his curse seal.

"It seems our battle will have to stop here Naruto. Till the next time we meet"

As he said that the three of the start to vanish away.

"Sasuke wait!!"

"let it be Naruto at least we know he is alright for now that is"

.

.

.

"So that is what happened?" Ryu said "It seems that you guys had a hard time"

Ryu was walking back together with Naruto and Karin as he listened to what had happen during their mission.

"It seems that you guys came out a bit weaker that your opponents"

"I almost had him" Naruto grinds his teeth I annoyance "if only I was a little stronger"

When Ryu hear what he said he smiled ad thought I his head 'you don't know how much you have improve compared to your original counterpart'

This was a fact as the original Naruto couldn't do anything as Sasuke just walked all over him. But this time he was able to fight him with the addition of the of {BREATH OF LIGHTNING} that Ryu had given him.

Although he could tell from what they had told him, Sasuke wasn't really trying to kill Naruto like the original. But the fact that he could force Sasuke to use his cruse mark is enough to prove his strength.

That mean that the current Naruto will destroy his original several times over.

"Well don't let it bother you" Ryu said

"But…"

"If it really bothers that much I will teach you a new technique"

"Really?"

"Yeah why not" Ryu said "you were going to have to learn at some point"

 It was decided that they were to meet tomorrow for training.