Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 147: There Will Always Be Such People in This World

The members of Team 7 sat together, resting.

Having just defeated an enemy team and endured the hardships of survival in the Forest of Death, the three young ninja were visibly exhausted.

However, just as they were about to relax, a sudden gust of wind swept through, instantly blowing all three of them away!

"What's going on?!"

Naruto Uzumaki jolted awake in shock, grabbing onto a tree branch to steady himself against the violent wind. "What the hell is happening?!"

"We're under attack!"

Sasuke Uchiha's instincts reacted immediately. His eyes turned crimson as he fixed his gaze on the source of the wind.

The enemy...

Their strength was terrifying!

Sasuke hadn't even sensed their approach, nor noticed them casting a jutsu. The only thing he had time to do was shield Sakura Haruno behind him.

"Sasuke-kun..."

Sakura clung nervously to Sasuke's back.

The wind gradually subsided.

Two figures emerged from the distance.

The three members of Team 7 tensed up at once. They could feel the chilling killing intent radiating from the two figures, making their hair stand on end.

This killing intent was overwhelming!

In the eerie depths of the Forest of Death, it felt even more terrifying!

It was so suffocating that the three young ninja felt as if they were staring straight at their own deaths. A fleeting moment of fear and confusion flashed in their eyes.

"This isn't right... this killing intent..."

Sasuke's body trembled. Under this pressure, he found himself frozen. "These two are stronger than Zabuza!"

No...

Not just a little stronger!

The sheer terror they instilled made his body instinctively recoil in fear.

As an Uchiha, he couldn't believe that just sensing the enemy's presence was enough to make him feel dread. That meant these two were far beyond anything they had faced before, even Zabuza Momochi.

A foe this terrifying...

How could they appear in the Chunin Exams?!

"You seem too scared to even move."

Obito Uchiha smirked coldly as he watched Sasuke's reaction. Taking advantage of the moment, he taunted Team 7's leader. "Looks like Kakashi isn't such a great teacher after all..."

So these three brats...

Are Kakashi's students?

If their teacher is trash, his students must be trash too!

"They seem to know Kakashi-sensei..."

Sakura nervously observed Obito. She didn't recognize him and struggled to process his words.

But...

Sakura had no clue who he was.

Her mind had completely frozen, unable to think of a way out of this situation.

"And..."

"They're not afraid of Kakashi..."

Cold sweat dripped down Sasuke's face. He realized there was an insurmountable gap between them and these two enemies.

Unlike Sakura, Sasuke had a sharper mind.

At the very least, he could confirm that these two not only knew Kakashi but had interacted with him before.

They had fought him before!

How was this possible...?

Why would monsters like them appear in the Forest of Death?!

"We're not afraid of them either!"

Naruto leaped down from the tree, landing beside Sasuke and clenching his fists, trying to act fearless.

"Naruto, don't be reckless!"

Sasuke quickly stopped him.

Now was not the time to act impulsively...

This battle was different from the one in the Land of Waves.

Back then, they could rely on their jutsu and fearless resolve. But here, the overwhelming difference in power would render their determination meaningless!

Who the hell were these two?!

"Take the scroll."

Sasuke pulled out their Heaven and Earth Scroll, gritting his teeth as he tossed it toward Orochimaru and Obito. "If you came for the scroll, we give up."

"Sasuke, what are you doing?!"

Naruto lunged to grab it. That scroll was their ticket to passing the second exam! How could he just hand it over?!

"Naruto, stand down!"

Sasuke grabbed Naruto's collar, gritting his teeth as he faced Orochimaru and Obito. "You've got what you wanted. There are enemies everywhere in this forest. Fighting us here doesn't benefit you."

"Sigh..."

Obito let out an amused chuckle.

"Heh... how naive..."

Orochimaru smirked mockingly at Sasuke's foolishness in handing over the scroll.

Orochimaru caught the scroll midair, his smile widening as he asked, "What makes you think... we came for this?"

The next moment—

Orochimaru casually swallowed the scroll whole, as if to prove that their goal had nothing to do with it.

Sasuke's face turned pale.

Not because of how disturbing it was to watch—

But because...

If they weren't here for the scroll—

Then what were they after?!

"...Naruto, take Sakura and run!"

Sasuke's legs trembled, and even more cold sweat dripped from his face.

"I'm not leaving you behind!"

Naruto roared in defiance, pointing at the two enemies. "Sasuke, I know they're strong! But I'll never run away from a fight! I'd rather die than abandon you!"

"Heh..."

"So Jiraiya did a decent job raising this one..."

Orochimaru's smile widened as his gaze shifted from Sasuke to Naruto.

Despite the killing intent he had released, Naruto didn't seem afraid.

Perhaps—

It was a case of ignorance being bliss.

Unlike Sasuke, who could recognize the gap in power, Naruto might simply be too clueless to realize how terrifying they were.

Or maybe...

He was just as much of a fool as Jiraiya.

Unfortunately—

Fools make the best prey.

The real prey...

Didn't seem to be responding the way he had hoped.

"Still want to test them?"

Obito glanced at Sasuke and Naruto. "That one doesn't even have the courage to stand. Seems like this test is pointless."

"Of course."

Orochimaru licked his lips, still watching Sasuke intently. His eyes carried a strange sense of nostalgia. "The world is full of children who believe every step they take is rational...

So—

"They fear hardship. They fear the unknown...

"But...

"There will always be those who refuse to be afraid.

"Sometimes, reckless courage will lead them to ruin...

"But sometimes...

"It gives birth to new hope."

"Ugh, what nonsense."

Obito scoffed, about to respond when—

Naruto charged forward!

That brat...

Was really going for it!

Naruto let out a battle cry as he sprinted toward Orochimaru and Obito, shouting back at Sasuke and Sakura.

"Sasuke!

"I never give up on my comrades!

"The Sasuke I know would never just stand there!"

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"That... idiot..."

Sasuke's arms trembled. He watched Naruto's lone figure charging ahead, feeling his heart sink.

No...

Don't go...

We're no match for them...

No matter what, we can't win.

We'll die...

This time, we'll really die...

Sasuke's heart plummeted.

Until—

A kunai flew straight at Obito!

"Let Naruto go!"

Sasuke's face darkened, gripping two more kunai in his hands. His crimson Sharingan eyes locked onto Obito. His voice was cold as steel:

"Let. Naruto. Go."

In that moment—

The boy who had given up—

Reignited his fighting spirit!

"Predictable..."

Orochimaru smirked, his interest in Sasuke growing stronger. "You thought you lost interest in these little stories, but they'll always be there, waiting in the depths of your memory..."

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