Naruto: Mastered Your Strategy?

"Itachi?"

Kakashi stood nearby, his confusion evident.

What does this have to do with Itachi?

"Orochimaru, why did you target Sasuke?" Kakashi demanded.

Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister smile, his raspy voice dripping with mockery.

"Why, indeed?"

He tilted his head, a serpent-like gaze boring into Kakashi.

"You're fortunate. You've already obtained it."

Kakashi froze in realization.

"You once lacked it too—your Sharingan," Orochimaru continued, his words cutting.

"I've always coveted it—the power of the Uchiha."

Kakashi's expression darkened. "What exactly is your goal?"

Orochimaru didn't answer immediately. His unsettling gaze shifted to Ren.

"Perhaps the one beside you knows," he said, his smile widening.

"Another one of your pointless ambitions, no doubt," Kakashi retorted coldly.

Unperturbed, Orochimaru chuckled softly. 

"Everyone needs a pursuit. Otherwise, what's the meaning of living?"

He turned his gaze back to Ren. "Don't you agree, Ren-kun?"

Ren stood silent, unmoved, his cold eyes fixed on Orochimaru.

"Kakashi," Orochimaru continued, voice laced with venom. "You've lived so long, yet you're still shackled by your laughable ideals."

"An outcast like you has no right to lecture me," Kakashi snapped.

Orochimaru chuckled, casting a lingering glance between Kakashi and Ren.

"How amusing. It seems someone here understands life better than you, Kakashi."

Kakashi remained silent, his brows furrowed. Orochimaru's cryptic taunts gnawed at him, but he had no time to decipher them. Facing Orochimaru again had stretched his nerves taut.

Then Orochimaru stepped forward.

Kakashi immediately tensed, his hands forming seals in a blur. Crackling electricity surged through his palms, forming the deadly Raikiri.

"Don't come any closer!" Kakashi barked, his voice a mix of warning and determination.

"Even if you're one of the Legendary Sannin, we're prepared to bring you down with us."

Orochimaru paused, his forked tongue flicking out briefly as his eerie eyes met Ren's. "Bring me down with you? Such a bold claim."

His gaze shifted to Kakashi, the intensity of his snake-like pupils weighing on him like an unrelenting pressure. Kakashi felt his chest tighten, his breath hitching as a chilling fear clawed at his insides.

"Fascinating," Orochimaru murmured, his voice dripping with derision.

"I've chosen Sasuke carefully. Rest assured, I will have him."

With that, Orochimaru turned and vanished into the shadows.

Only when Orochimaru's presence had completely dissipated did Kakashi realize he was trembling. The Raikiri in his hand had already flickered out.

"You lost your composure, didn't you, Senpai?" Ren remarked coolly.

Kakashi exhaled deeply, composing himself. "Yeah…" he admitted, his tone heavy.

The scars from his youth still lingered. He vividly remembered the paralyzing fear that Orochimaru's mere gaze had once instilled in him. Even now, the same terror lingered.

"You seemed perfectly calm," Kakashi observed, glancing at Ren.

"I'm not afraid of him," Ren said flatly as he walked away.

Kakashi chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. 

He hasn't faced the real Orochimaru yet. That confidence will fade soon enough, Kakashi mused, recalling his own youthful arrogance.

...

As Ren returned to the arena, he spotted Ino near the restroom entrance. Sakura was walking away, leaving Ino alone, lost in thought.

"Ino," Ren called.

Ino jolted upright, startled.

"Ren-sensei…"

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

"Nothing," she mumbled, averting her eyes and quickly walking away.

When Ren reached the observation platform, Kurenai asked where he had been. He simply replied, "Restroom."

"Using the restroom requires Shunshin no Jutsu now?" she asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.

Ren didn't reply. Meanwhile, Shikamaru and Choji greeted him, noticing Ino's strange behavior.

The electronic display board flickered to reveal the next match: Ino Yamanaka vs. Sakura Haruno.

"Why those two, of all people?" Shikamaru muttered, his expression twisting in mild exasperation.

As Ino's childhood friend, Shikamaru knew all about the history between her and Sakura—how their friendship had been born from Ino standing up for Sakura and how it had fractured over their rivalry for Sasuke.

"But Ino should have the upper hand," Shikamaru murmured as he watched Ino walk silently toward the arena.

"Sakura isn't exactly a powerhouse."

The match drew attention, with Naruto leaning over the railing to cheer for Sakura at the top of his lungs.

The fight began. Neither girl showcased flashy or powerful techniques—only basic taijutsu and the Three Basic Jutsu. Yet the intensity of their back-and-forth exchanges kept the crowd captivated.

At one point, Sakura seemed to provoke Ino, driving her to angrily cut her own hair with a kunai. Onlookers thought she'd lost her temper, but Ino quickly used the strands scattered around the arena to ensnare Sakura in a trap.

"Not bad," Kurenai remarked, impressed.

"Ino's strategy was clever."

Ren, however, remained impassive.

"Was it?"

"What's with that tone?" Kurenai asked, puzzled.

"Your student just pulled off an impressive maneuver. Why aren't you pleased?"

"If her taijutsu skills are only at this level after a month of my training, it means she wasn't fighting seriously from the start," Ren replied, his tone sharp.

Kurenai and Shikamaru stiffened at his words.

Was Ino holding back?

The battle concluded with both girls landing simultaneous punches, leaving them unconscious. Hayate declared the match a tie, disqualifying both.

Ren sighed. He had been harsh with his students before the exams, stressing the importance of giving it their all. Ino had been the most vocal about wanting to succeed for his sake, yet she had chosen this outcome.

Perhaps this was what she truly wanted, Ren thought.

He leapt down to retrieve Ino while Kakashi carried Sakura. They laid both girls together on the platform as their friends—Shikamaru, Choji, Naruto, and Lee—gathered around in concern.

The girls appeared unharmed, merely unconscious. The group relaxed and returned to watching the next match.

Ino was the first to awaken. She saw Sakura beside her and Ren standing nearby.

"Sensei," she whispered.

"I'm sorry. I let you down." Her voice wavered with guilt.

"I'll accept any punishment…"

Down below, Tenten and Temari were squaring off, Lee cheering loudly for Tenten while Guy shouted about the power of youth.

Most eyes were on the arena.

"You've already done something commendable," Ren said quietly.

"Choosing your friendship over victory isn't something to apologize for."

Ino blinked, startled. She realized he had understood her motives but offered no explanation. She looked at Sakura beside her, whose eyes fluttered open moments later.

"There's no punishment," Ren added.

"Just focus on supporting Shikamaru and Choji now."

He walked away, leaving the girls to exchange quiet words.

As Ren returned to his place, a notification caught his attention. The system displayed an update.

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[Name]: Sakura Haruno

[Gender]: Female

[Age]: 12

[Relationship]: Junior

[Affection]: 65

[Difficulty]: S

[First Kiss Reward]: Medical Ninjutsu Mastery

[Full Intimacy Reward]: God's Mark

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