Naruto drinking makes me stronger

Chapter 39 - Snake Bastard Does Something Good

Ding!

Desire reaches its peak—special blessing granted!

Kendo Comprehension ×5 (Temporary)!

Current Comprehension Level: Great Swordsman (Temporary)

"Whoosh!"

Just as Orochimaru gritted his teeth, preparing to unleash a forbidden technique, a figure appeared like a ghost in front of him.

Before his disbelieving eyes, the black and purple blade blocked the massive, hundred-meter slash that had torn through the Triple Rashomon.

Clang!

That overwhelming slash—so powerful it carved through even the strongest defense technique—screeched to a halt.

It couldn't move an inch further.

"Wait... is that the wine bottle?"

Youyu's eyes, bloodshot from intoxication, locked onto the bottle by Orochimaru's side.

A terrifying pressure burst out from him. Orochimaru's spine went ice cold.

"Th-this feeling..."

His snake-like pupils contracted into pinholes. His body stiffened as a deep, primal fear surged through him.

He recognized this sensation. It was the same one he felt back during the Second Shinobi World War—when he, Tsunade, and Jiraiya faced Hanzo the Salamander.

Back then, they had no chance. And now... despite being Konoha's second strongest, despite being far stronger than his younger self, Orochimaru was engulfed in that same fear again.

Youyu's power had surged far beyond what it was when he unleashed the slash.

"What the hell is going on...?! How can someone get this much stronger mid-fight?!"

Gulp.

"Hey, snake-playing bastard," Youyu said, staring hungrily at the wine. "Let's make a deal. You hand over that bottle, and I don't cut you in half. Sound fair?"

He wasn't even joking. Youyu was genuinely afraid the wine might get damaged in the scuffle. If Orochimaru did something reckless, what would happen to the bottle?

"Surrender... to give up the wine?" Orochimaru panted, his face pale. He hesitated. Sarutobi Hiruzen had asked him to deliver the wine—but right now, handing it over felt like defeat.

Hokage Office

"Orochimaru, what are you hesitating for?! Give him the wine!!" Hiruzen practically screamed at the crystal ball.

His heart had nearly stopped just moments ago when he saw Youyu obliterate the Triple Rashomon.

Sure, it was great that Konoha had such a powerful ally, but that same lunatic was now aiming for Orochimaru's neck.

If Youyu killed Orochimaru right here, Konoha would become the laughingstock of the entire shinobi world.

When Youyu blocked that massive slash, Hiruzen had to swallow his heart back down. His stress levels were nearing cardiac arrest.

"Damn you, Orochimaru..." Jiraiya muttered with a complex look.

He knew Orochimaru's pride too well. Asking him to surrender something under threat—especially in front of someone younger—was practically sacrilegious.

Please don't do something stupid, Orochimaru...

"Alright, fine! I won't call you snake-playing bastard anymore—just put down the wine!" Youyu looked genuinely anxious.

If that bottle shattered, even cutting Orochimaru into sashimi wouldn't fix it.

Orochimaru's mouth twitched.

Should I be thankful for not being insulted? Is that where we are now?

But weirdly, that outburst from Youyu seemed to ease the pressure. The tension in the air lifted slightly.

What's the point of arguing with a drunk?

"Deal. You stop the slash—I'll give you the wine."

"Oh?" Youyu's eyes gleamed.

Clang!

Qiushui rang out. In one fluid motion, Youyu swung his blade, intercepting the monstrous black-purple slash.

Whooosh!

The slash that had ripped apart the landscape and destroyed the Triple Rashomon was deflected with ease. It was flung into the sky, exploding through the clouds above like a comet.

BOOM!!!

The storm clouds vanished. Silence followed.

Orochimaru's eye twitched.

That slash, which had seemed nearly unstoppable... was now just a toy.

Frustration gnawed at him.

But he still held his end of the deal.

"Here," he said hoarsely, passing over the wine bottle.

Clink.

"Hahaha! Snake bastard, you're alright."

Youyu sheathed his sword, took the bottle, and gave Orochimaru a hearty pat on the shoulder.

"..."

Orochimaru's face darkened. He'd just been complimented and insulted in the same breath. Again.

Youyu wasted no time.

Gulp—gulp—gulp—HAH!

He chugged down the bottle right there, a blissful expression spreading across his face.

Ding!

Master has reached peak joy. Withdrawing from drunken berserker state...

Blessing removed.

Youyu's red eyes faded back to normal. A fine mist, heavily laced with the smell of alcohol, seeped out of his skin. The booze stored to fuel his drunk state was expelled through his pores.

"Huh?"

He blinked, now sober, and looked at the completely wrecked Orochimaru.

"...Oops."

Ding!

You shocked several high-ranking individuals while drunk!

Reward: Advanced Observation Haki (Proficient level)

(Comparable to a Vice Admiral of the Navy Headquarters)

Youyu wasn't thrilled. The memories were coming back to him now.

Had he... almost chopped Orochimaru in half?

Crap.

The Third Hokage was probably watching through that damn crystal ball the whole time. If that geezer decides to dock his wine rations over this...

Total disaster.

He glanced at Orochimaru's brooding face and scratched his cheek. "Ahaha... Is this the legendary Sannin himself? Lord Orochimaru? What an honor!"

He grabbed Orochimaru's hand with exaggerated enthusiasm.

"..."

Orochimaru's eye twitched. This kid was playing dumb with Olympic-level skill.

"Look, don't rat me out to the old man, alright? If he finds out I nearly cut you up, I might lose my wine privileges."

Back in the Hokage's office:

"That damn brat!" Hiruzen growled.

First, he nearly kills Orochimaru. Now he's acting like nothing happened.

Jiraiya let out a sigh. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath. If Orochimaru had been one second slower, he would've been bisected.

Thank god the old man sent the wine...

"Enough! Why would I report you?!" Orochimaru finally exploded.

What does this guy take him for?!

"Hahaha—relax, relax, Lord Orochimaru. I'm gonna go clean up those chumps over there. After that, let's catch up!"

He was about to say "snake-playing bastard" again but caught the look on Orochimaru's face and stopped mid-sentence.

Can't get the wine cut off now.

"Catch up?" Orochimaru blinked. His brain was short-circuiting.

Catch up over what?! You nearly killed me!

Clang!

"Hey, you Outer Village bastards—prepare to die!"

Youyu cracked his neck and charged toward the foreign genin still lingering in the Forest of Death.

"Crap—he's awake!"

"What do we do?! Our red flower trick doesn't work anymore!"

"We're so dead!!!"

The panicked Outer Village ninja had slapped red flowers on their foreheads earlier, hoping to fool Youyu into sparing them while he was drunk and seeing double.

But now he was sober. And their little flower trick meant nothing.

Even Kisame had joined in. The shark-faced monster had a bright red flower pasted on his forehead, and his expression screamed internal crisis.

The flower didn't work?!

Kill me now. This is humiliating.

"WAIT!!"

Just as Youyu raised his blade, Orochimaru grabbed his arm.

"Huh? What now, snake bastard—ah, I mean, Lord Orochimaru?"

Youyu frowned. He was this close to wrapping it up and getting back to drinking.

If Orochimaru made him miss out again, he'd—

Oh right, the Hokage might be watching.

Time to play it cool.

"The exam's over."

"Huh?" Youyu blinked.

"It's over. Time's up."

Orochimaru stared at him, deadpan. Did this guy really not realize? Look around—the forest was nearly flattened. The Outer Village ninjas were pissing themselves. There wasn't even a need to continue.

"Clang."

"...Alright, fine. Since you said it's over, I'll give you some face."

Youyu sheathed his sword and patted Orochimaru's arm like he was doing him a favor.

Orochimaru bit his lip. He wanted to punch him. But that slash earlier...

Nope. Not worth it.

Youyu hummed a tune, casually strolling toward the central tower. The Outer Village ninjas collapsed to the ground in relief, soaked in sweat.

"...Qimu Youyu," Kisame muttered, ripping the flower off his forehead. His eyes were bloodshot.

As they approached the tower...

"What?! I failed the exam?!"

Youyu stared blankly at the gate guards.

"U-uh... you didn't turn in two scrolls. According to the rules, that means you fail..."

The guards were terrified. They'd seen the footage. This guy was the reason the forest was wrecked.

"Hey! Snake-playing—er, Orochimaru, help me out!"

Youyu looked panicked. He'd been so focused on chopping people up that he forgot the scrolls.

What if the old man flunked him and cut his wine off?!

Orochimaru's eye twitched again.

This guy... is supposed to be a genius?

"Handle it yourself."

He turned and walked into the tower, ignoring the shouts of "Traitor!" "Backstabber!" and "Snake bastard!" that echoed behind him.

A smirk crept onto his lips.

Serves you right, brat.