Naruto raging whirlpool

Tayuya bent down and hoisted Naruto's exhausted, sleeping body over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, "Aghh!!" her muscles cried under his weight. She began to walk away just as Neji regained consciousness, he saw them and assumed the worst. "Hey! Come back! Where are you taking him?" His voice was weak but loud enough to be heard, yet Tayuya ignored his calls and pressed on.

Neji struggled to rise, patches of his skin turned violet from the point blank monstrous roar that shook his entire body. Every movement was an agonizing endeavor, his muscles spasmed, barely within his control as he forced himself upright, the stark reality of his condition sank in—a sharp, searing pain tore through his chest, and the metallic tang of blood filled his mouth. A small sliver of blood trickled from his lips, a grim indicator of the injuries within. Just as he tried to steady himself, a gnarled root ensnared his ankle, sending him crashing back to the ground. A spray of blood left his mouth as a cry of pain escaped his prideful lips, his vision blurred, the edges darkened as he called out weakly for Tayuya to stop. "Stop!... We should... have... never trusted... an enemy..." he croaked, his voice barely a whisper.

With the last of his strength, Neji watched as Tayuya leapt onto a branch, her form becoming a silhouette against the bright sky. She moved with the grace of a predator, quickly disappearing from sight. Neji's vision faded completely, and he fainted, the image of Tayuya vanishing into the trees forever etched itself in his mind.

Tayuya advanced, carrying Naruto through the Valley of the End. The towering statues of Madara and Hashirama loomed over them, their stone faces etched with eternal conflict. The air was thick with the history and the weight of past conflicts. She navigated the terrain with practiced ease, her steps sure and steady despite the uneven ground.

Crossing the border into the Land of Sound, Tayuya felt a sense of urgency. The maze-like forests grew dense, their shadows lengthened as the sun dipped below the horizon. Every turn she made was done so to cover her any trace that could expose her location and destination, a habit every sound shinobi practiced all due to their Lord's secretive nature.

The extended path took its toll on her, especially after all the battles she had endured. Tayuya's breaths came in ragged gasps, her muscles screaming in protest, but she persisted. The dense foliage parted to reveal a set of stairs leading underground, the entrance barely visible in the dim light. Shadows danced on the walls from the flickering torches, casting an ominous glow.

As they descended, a sound ninja leapt out of the darkness, a kunai aimed directly at Naruto's heart. Anticipating the attack, Tayuya moved with lightning speed, intercepting the assailant with a swift, brutal kick. The ninja crumpled to the ground like a rag doll, unconscious.

Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief as he woke up from the sudden jolt. "What the—? Is that a spy or something?"

"No, that's just how we greet each other around here," Tayuya replied dryly, continuing down the corridor.

Naruto, still shocked, made a big deal out of it. "What are you going on about? Aren't you comrades, you know, fellow sound shinobi?"

Tayuya sighed, her expression weary. "If only it were that simple."

The underground labyrinth seemed endless, like a serpentine puzzle designed to confound any intruders. The maze of passages twisted and turned, each one identical to the last. Torches lined the walls, their flames flickered, casting eerie shadows that seemed to watch their every move. Finally, they arrived in front of a humble door, its plain wooden frame blended in with the rest. Tayuya placed Naruto down and knocked on the door once.

An irritated voice responded from within. "Who is it?"

Tayuya dropped to one knee, speaking in a subservient tone. "Lord Orochimaru, it was I, Tayuya. I have returned from my mission."

Orochimaru's reply was uncaring. "Yes, I had already received news. The boy had long been escorted here, so... tell me, why are you disturbing my rest?"

Beads of sweat rolled down Tayuya's face. She could feel his piercing gaze even through the door that separated them. "Forgive my ignorance, lord Orochimaru. I have brought another that might interest you. His name is Naruto Uzumaki. He has proven to be strong, full of talent and potential." Tayuya lowered her head further, praying that she may survive this encounter.

A heavy silence filled the air, thick with tension. Then, footsteps approached the door. The handle turned, and a servant stepped out, holding the door open to reveal Orochimaru. His eyes immediately locked onto Naruto.

"You… the one who killed my aide and turned him against me," Orochimaru hissed.

Naruto flinched at the accusation. "His blood is a stain on my hands, but I never turned him against you," he said, clenching his teeth as the unsavory memory flooded his mind.

With a swift, brutal kick, Orochimaru sent Naruto crashing into a wall. Cracks spread across the surface like a spider's web as Naruto slid to the ground. Orochimaru's voice was cold and merciless. "Actions have consequences, boy. Every choice you've made set off a chain of events that spread like the touch of a curse. Even now, with a Jinchuriki in my possession, I have lost far more than I could ever gain from the likes of you."

"The repercussions of your reckless decisions cost me more than you could ever imagine, and now those very decisions have brought you before me. Your naive defiance has cost me, and for that, you will feel the depths of my wrath." His eyes bored into Naruto's with a mixture of disdain and cruel amusement. "Take him away... make sure he doesn't die," Orochimaru ordered Tayuya before he disappeared into his dark room. The door creaked as it slammed shut behind him.

Tayuya lifted Naruto once more and carried him further into the secret hideout, placing him on the floor inside a solitary cage. The cold, damp walls seemed to close in around him, like the jaws of a beast. She left him there with nothing but a loaf of stale bread. Tayuya lingered for a moment. "I hope you know what you are doing. This place... it's a hell you can leave only through death."

With that, she left, the bars closed by themselves with resounding metallic clanks behind her as they were covered in countless seals, ones Naruto had never seen before.

Into the darkness of the cell. Mould clung to the walls, suffocating him with its damp, oppressive presence. Despite the weight of his surroundings, his will stood firm. He had made a promise, and he would see it through, no matter the cost.