Naruto stepped forward and approached Sasuke.
"Naruto!" Sasuke suddenly called out Naruto's name.
"Sasuke!" Naruto responded reflexively, shouting Sasuke's name out of the blue.
Naruto was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself if he had gone crazy. Shouting each other's names like this was just like some sort of signal.
"You've become a Jonin."
"It doesn't matter. Once you guys grow up, your strength will far surpass that of a Jonin." Naruto decided to continue leading Sasuke astray. "Sasuke, do you know that there are many excellent Kunoichi in the Land of Wind, the Land of Lightning, the Land of Water, and the Land of Earth?"
"Ah, what the heck are you trying to say?"
"Sasuke, kidnap all the Kunoichi from other countries and bring them back to Konoha," Naruto said with a grin. "It's up to you to weaken the strength of other countries and increase Konoha's power."
Naruto's words woke Sasuke up as if from a dream, opening a brand - new door for him.
"Right?" As Naruto led Sasuke into Orochimaru's lair, he kept persuading Sasuke. "A wise man doesn't poach from his own backyard. The women in Konoha can't show off your strength. Why not reach out to the ninja villages in other countries?"
"Naruto, you always manage to give me new inspiration."
"Naruto!" Sakura and Ino launched a joint attack on Naruto. The two women delivered a combined flying kick, their long and slender legs kicking straight at Naruto.
Suddenly, white smoke billowed from Naruto's body, and he disappeared into thin air.
"Darn it, it's Naruto's shadow clone," Sakura said angrily. "How dare he lead Sasuke astray."
"Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!" Ino's eyes were practically spitting fire.
Sakura and Ino, who had just been fighting with each other, then joined forces to chase Naruto and fearlessly rushed into Orochimaru's lair.
Before long, Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino were completely dumbfounded.
In the laboratory, Orochimaru was hard at work, fiddling with all sorts of experimental equipment, big and small.
Even more amazingly, Neji was helping Orochimaru out.
"Hey, you're here," Naruto, who had been waiting there for a long time, waved to the three newcomers.
Sakura was stunned. "Why is this happening?"
Ino was in shock. "Is that Orochimaru? What is he doing?"
Based on Sasuke's understanding of Naruto, no matter how unreasonable things seemed before him, they must have something to do with Naruto.
"Naruto, give me an explanation. What on earth is going on?" Sasuke asked Naruto, but his eyes were on Yamato.
Sasuke thought to himself: This is Yamato. When we just left the village, Hokage Tsunade told us to cooperate well with this guy.
"Let me explain," Orochimaru put down his work and smiled proudly.
"I was defeated by Naruto. I'm no match for him whatsoever, so I surrendered to Naruto."
Sasuke was shocked!
Sakura and Ino were also greatly surprised.
Yamato then turned his face, looking haggard, and kept nodding there to prove that Orochimaru was telling the truth.
"What? Naruto is quite good at this."
Ino lost to Naruto during the Chunin Exams three years ago, even though she used her Mind Body Switch Technique[b]Mind Body Switch Technique[/b] on him. So, Ino still had a psychological shadow regarding Naruto.
After all, the Mind Body Switch Technique[b]Mind Body Switch Technique[/b] was Ino's most proficient ninjutsu[b]ninjutsu[/b]. She had used her best move but was still defeated by Naruto. How could she not be haunted by that?
Sasuke thought to himself, "As expected of Naruto, the man I've always been trying to catch up with."
"All the preparations are done. Now, for the main event," Orochimaru said, looking at Naruto and waiting for his signal.
Naruto nodded, indicating his approval.
Orochimaru said to Neji, "There's only a one - in - a - hundred chance of breaking the Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[b]Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[/b]. You need to be prepared to die."
Neji's eyes were firm, and he stood up straight. "Let's do it!"
Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino, who had just arrived, were confused. They had no idea what was going on.
Hinata walked over and explained the situation to them.
"Then, follow me," Orochimaru said, leading Neji to another room.
As they watched Neji and Orochimaru enter the other room, Sakura and Ino began to worry. After all, they were all from the same village. How could they not be concerned?
"Why?" Sakura was puzzled. "Why would he risk his life like this?"
"I understand him," Sasuke said, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.
"Why is everyone so trusting of Orochimaru?" Ino finally voiced her long - held concerns. "Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage. Why isn't anyone worried about him?"
Yamato suddenly turned his face at that moment. His face was deathly pale, with heavy dark circles under his eyes. After hearing Ino's words, he even showed a relieved smile, which made him look even more eerie.
Yamato agreed with Ino. Orochimaru can't be trusted.
"Because I'm here," Naruto stepped forward and said authoritatively. "As long as I'm here, you can relax. Orochimaru won't harm you, unless I'm dead."
Yamato's expression became extremely bitter. His expression seemed to say, "Do you understand now? This strange situation is all because of Naruto..."
Everyone waited silently. As time passed, no one said a word.
Only Naruto was sitting on the sofa, holding Hinata in his arms, seemingly studying some new ninjutsu[b]ninjutsu[/b].
The door opened, and Orochimaru walked out.
Sakura and Ino rushed forward and anxiously asked about Neji's condition.
"There's nothing to say. Go and see for yourselves. It failed anyway," Orochimaru said coldly.
"What!" Sakura couldn't believe it and roared, "You're the culprit!"
"It can't be," Naruto mused. "A one - in - a - hundred chance means it's gotta work. That's what I've learned from years of watching anime."
At this moment, Sakura and Ino were itching for a fight. They planned to take Orochimaru down for Neji's sake.
Naruto stood up and walked into the room. Just then, everyone rushed into the room.
Inside the large room, there was a lone operating table in the middle, and Neji was lying on it.
Yamato quickly checked Neji's body and found that he still had vital signs, but he was extremely weak.
"Neji isn't dead." Yamato looked delighted.
When everyone heard Yamato's words, they all felt relieved.
"Of course he isn't." Orochimaru walked over.
Ino couldn't take it anymore and snapped angrily, "Why did you say the operation failed?"
"The operation definitely failed." Orochimaru pointed at Neji's forehead. "The Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[b]Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[/b] is still there, but it's very faint. The operation couldn't completely remove the Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[b]Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[/b]."
At this time, Neji, who was lying on the operating table, woke up and weakly said, "Then how can I remove the Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[b]Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[/b] on me?"
"The Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[b]Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird[/b] is already very weak now. As long as you use your willpower, I believe it'll break down in a while." Once Orochimaru said this, Neji smiled, and so did Naruto.
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