Naruto: Starting By Saving Mikoto

The fabric of reality bent and broke around it, creating a rift where the sword passed, the sound of space crumbling echoing ominously through the ruined alley.

Orochimaru's eyes widened in horror as the sword swung down, the air splitting with a deep, haunting resonance.

The strike didn't just cut; it severed the very space between them, the distortion ripping through the battlefield with unstoppable force.

Manda recoiled in terror, instinctively withdrawing.

Orochimaru, for the first time, found himself staring not with confidence, but with fear. Hiro's Susanoo, a towering black figure wielding a sword that seemed to tear the very fabric of space, exuded a power Orochimaru hadn't anticipated.

The sword swung down once more, and Orochimaru, in a rare moment of panic, barely dodged the strike.

The edge of the blade grazed his side, leaving a jagged tear in his robe and, more disturbingly, a wound that didn't immediately regenerate.

The space around where the blade had passed rippled unnaturally, distorting reality for a brief moment.

Orochimaru's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his wound. "What... what is this? A sword that shatters space?" His voice wavered, though he quickly regained his composure, his signature smile faltering slightly.

Hiro, panting heavily, felt the Susanoo beginning to falter. "Shit, chakra's running out," he muttered, his breath ragged. He knew he couldn't maintain it any longer.

The massive form of the Susanoo started to flicker, its once imposing presence dimming as Hiro struggled to stay upright.

At that moment, Orochimaru's sharp gaze caught sight of something else—a chakra signature approaching rapidly. Tsunade.

"Tch," Orochimaru clicked his tongue, realizing the unfavorable turn of events.

As Hiro's Susanoo faded entirely, Orochimaru straightened up, pressing a hand to his regenerating wound. His expression shifted, annoyance mixed with a calculated retreat.

Orochimaru's golden eyes locked onto Hiro, but his words were directed to the rapidly approaching figure of Tsunade. "Don't Think This Is Over Next Time You Won't Be lucky!" he hissed.

"Don't meddle in my affairs, Tsunade."

Tsunade stormed into the clearing, chakra pulsing through her body. Her gaze swept over the destruction Hiro and Orochimaru had wrought, the town around them reduced to ruins.

The cracks in the earth, the shattered buildings, and the terror-stricken faces of fleeing civilians told her everything she needed to know.

"You almost turned this whole town to ruins!" she shouted, her voice booming with fury. "And you have the nerve to tell me not to meddle? Don't be ridiculous, Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed at Tsunade's words, but he quickly smirked, already preparing to slip away. "We'll meet again, Boy. And next time... there will be no interference."

Without another word, Orochimaru's form shifted, dissolving into countless slithering snakes, each vanishing into the cracks and shadows, leaving the battlefield behind.

As the last trace of Orochimaru disappeared, Tsunade stood over Hiro, arms crossed, her brow furrowed with a mixture of concern and exasperation. "You alright?" she asked, though her tone remained stern.

Hiro nodded weakly, still catching his breath. "Thanks... but I didn't expect him to run."

Tsunade shook her head. "Cowards know when they're at a disadvantage." She surveyed the destruction one last time. "But next time, don't drag a whole town into your fight."

Tsunade's arrival wasn't as swift as it could have been, and for a good reason.

She and Shizune had been working tirelessly to evacuate the civilians. The moment she saw Manda, Tsunade knew exactly who was behind the chaos, and the power Orochimaru had.

Recognizing the potential devastation, she made the quick decision to prioritize getting the townspeople to safety first.

She had confidence in Hiro. knowing he could hold Orochimaru back long enough for her to secure the civilians.

"I knew you could handle him, at least for a while," Tsunade said, her voice calmer now as she stepped closer to Hiro.

"That's why it took me longer to get here. I had to get the civilians out before things got worse." She glanced around at the destruction surrounding them, then at the spot where Orochimaru had disappeared. "I'm glad I did."

Hiro, still winded from the battle, gave her a nod, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He hadn't known she was evacuating the civilians—and to be honest, at that moment, he didn't care about them.

His focus had been solely on Fighting against Orochimaru. "I wasn't sure how long I could last," Hiro admitted, his voice tired. "His power… it's on another level."

Tsunade caught the underlying exhaustion in his tone, but also his drive. "You did well," she said, her stern expression softening slightly.

"But don't push yourself too hard next time. Orochimaru still has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. I doubt he used everything against you."

She paused, studying him for a moment longer, as if assessing how much more he could take. Then she sighed, her leadership instincts kicking in.

"For now, get some rest. You need to recover your chakra, and I need to assess the damage this fight caused." With that, she turned, leaving Hiro to his thoughts as she prepared to deal with the aftermath of the chaos.

As Tsunade walked off, Hiro's gaze lingered on her retreating form. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, but something else brewed beneath the surface—a sense of growing determination.

Orochimaru had retreated this time, but Hiro knew deep down that it wasn't the end. The snake would return, and the next confrontation would be even more dangerous.

Just as Hiro steadied himself to move, Shizune appeared by his side, her hands glowing with healing chakra.

"Hold still, Hiro," she said firmly. "You've used up a lot of chakra, and you've got some serious wounds."

"I'm fine, really," Hiro began to argue, but Shizune shot him a look that silenced him.

"No arguments. You're in no condition to fight again if something happens," she replied, her tone brooking no refusal.

As Shizune worked on healing him, Hiro's mind began to race. Orochimaru had seen his Susanoo—and now the news of it would spread.

Hiro knew there were eyes everywhere, and word of his power would reach people. Some, like Orochimaru, would see it as a threat; others might see it as a weapon to manipulate.

But Hiro couldn't bring himself to care. He was already strong enough to take on most enemies. Only if it were someone like Madara Uchiha or a umm Maybe Nine Tails? then he need to worry. Everyone else? They didn't matter.

or is he getting too arrogant?