Chihare’s research was finally coming to a close.
What kind of stimuli would have an effect on chakra in what kind of situation? Now that she had one answer to this question, she could do multiple regression analysis and get a rough idea of where to go next. The stage of testing blindly was over. The rest was logic, now that she’d made it this far.
She completed the prototype for her pluripotent applicator just three days after Naruto found the increased chakra with the Byakugan.
“A messenger from the institute is supposed to come this afternoon to pick up the prototype,” she said to Naruto when she went to his office to make her report. “So the experiment is over for the time being. Thank you so much for all of your help.”
“Same here,” he replied, grinning from ear-to-ear. “I just know your research is going to help the people of Konoha. Thanks for all your hard work!”
Chihare awkwardly averted her eyes. Even now at the end of it all, she still wasn’t used to how dazzling this person was. She left the Hokage’s office with a peculiar feeling of regret.
That afternoon.
As promised, Naruto met up with Orochimaru on the cliff of Hokage Rock. He was there to show him his proficiency with the Byakugan while wearing the goggles.
“I suppose you’ve managed to master it somewhat then?” Orochimaru said.
“Never underestimate the Hokage!” Naruto replied enthusiastically and snapped the band of the goggles on around his temples.
Of course, his expertise was still a long way from that of Hinata and Hanabi. But he was more than able to identify the chakra of people close to him and grasp his surroundings within a range of three hundred feet or so. Helping with Chihare’s experiment and using the goggles every day was a big part of why he’d been able to reach this level of skill.
Orochimaru turned to Naruto, grabbed the goggles on his forehead, and slid them down over Naruto’s eyes. He pulled the lever himself to turn the Byakugan on and stared at the blue eyes through the lenses.
“Tell me what part of my body I’m concentrating my chakra in,” he instructed.
“Right hand.” Naruto replied immediately, and Orochimaru’s long tongue happily flicked out from between his thin lips.
“All right, how about now?”
“Left foot?”
“Now?”
“Mm … Right elbow?”
“Okay. Now?”
“Chin.”
Each time Naruto got it right, Orochimaru’s yellow eyes turned up, approaching the shape of crescent moons, until finally, the look on his face was an obvious grin.
“That’s good sensing,” he told the Hokage.
“Well, thanks.” Naruto knew that was supposed to be a compliment, but it was creepy somehow. He scowled and then abruptly sensed a strong chakra outside of the village, so he turned his face in that direction.
“… !”
This chakra. It was Sasuke and Sakura. From the speed it was moving, they appeared to be using Susano’o. Kakashi had also returned safely to Konohagakure the previous day, so this meant that everyone would soon be back from the Land of Redaku.
That’s great. Everyone made it home safely.
“What? What is it?” Orochimaru furrowed his brow doubtfully as he watched the sudden change in Naruto’s movement.
“Oh, no. Um. It’s nothing!” Naruto said hurriedly, and as if to distract Orochimaru, he looked toward the old city.
He spotted a familiar silhouette standing next to the half-destroyed house with the camphor tree. Chihare. Seeing her reminded him that she had said she was handing over the prototype. And as he watched, two men in white lab coats, looking very much like scientists, walked up and called out to her.
“Hmm?” He squinted and focused on the movement of the men. Judging from their carriage and the amount of chakra, they were probably both shinobi. What was that about? Did that mean they were both scientists and shinobi?
One of the men approached Chihare, smiling. As soon as he accepted the attaché case from her, he threw a fist into her solar plexus.
“That guy!”
When Chihare doubled over, the other man threw a burlap sack over her head.
Naruto moved to jump down from the cliff, but one of Orochimaru’s snakes wound its way around his ankles, causing him to pitch forward and slam face first into the rocky ledge.
“Orochimaru! What are you doing?!”
“I could ask you the same thing. I can’t see the way you can, so you will have to explain to me what happened.”
“Chihare’s been abducted. It’s the guys from Kengakuin!” Naruto said and pulled the snake away to try and jump once more.
This time, a large serpent wound itself around his stomach. He nearly fell, but managed to brace himself somehow.
“Get out of my way!” he said angrily as he plucked at the snake around his waist.
Only it wasn’t a large serpent. It was Orochimaru. The scaly body was that of a snake, but the face was Orochimaru’s.
“Eee …”
Creepy!
Naruto automatically let go, and a tongue stretched out to lick his open palm.
“Calm down,” the snake said. “I’m telling you to give them a bit of rope here.”
Come on.
“Chihare is a scientist. They won’t kill her before they confirm that her blueprints are correct.”
“And when will that be?!”
“Who knows? Maybe three days?” Orochimaru replied casually, and this time, Naruto managed to push him off and look out across the village for Chihare.
The two men were fleeing, leaping from roof to roof. This was clearly the movement of shinobi. One of the men had the bag with Chihare inside hoisted over his shoulder.
Orochimaru said she likely wouldn’t be killed right away, but that was no guarantee. Naruto kicked at the ground to go after them, but the snake man interfered for a third time.
“If you try to move again, I’m going to kill you.” Orochimaru stood blocking his way.