The dim, flickering torches lining the walls of the abandoned lair cast eerie shadows as Sasuke and Kimimaro made their way deeper inside. The air was thick with the smell of damp stone and decay. The occasional drip of water echoed through the cavernous halls. Sasuke's sharingan spun lazily, keeping his senses sharp. He was acutely aware of how strange this meeting was, but Kimimaro had insisted.
Kimimaro led the way, his movements silent and deliberate. "Jūgo is... unpredictable," he warned without turning back. "But if you want to understand the Curse Mark, he's the one who can help you."
Sasuke nodded, though his hand hovered near the hilt of his sword. He didn't trust Kimimaro completely, not after years of his allegiance to Orochimaru. But if there was even a chance that this Jūgo could provide answers about the Curse Mark, Sasuke was willing to take the risk.
They entered a large, circular chamber. In its center stood a figure—tall, broad-shouldered, and visibly tense. His orange hair was wild, his piercing eyes scanning the newcomers with suspicion. Sasuke immediately noticed the faint, constant tremor in Jūgo's hands, as if he were holding something barely restrained inside.
"Kimimaro," Jūgo said, his voice deep and gravelly. There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but it was overshadowed by unease. "Why have you brought him here?"
Sasuke Uchiha is one of us, Jūgo. He bears the Curse Mark. He seeks to understand its origins and its limits." Kimimaro stepped forward, his tone calm and soothing.
Jūgo's gaze shifted to Sasuke, and his eyes narrowed. "Another one of my 'copies,' then," he muttered. His hand flexed involuntarily, and Sasuke caught a glimpse of the transformation—his fingers stretched, warped, and grew jagged edges like claws before reverting to normal. "Why should I help him?"
"Because," Kimimaro replied evenly, "he is the one who will carry Orochimaru's will forward."
Sasuke bristled at the statement but said nothing. This wasn't the time to argue. Jūgo tilted his head, studying Sasuke more intently. "The Curse Mark is derived from my blood," he explained. "Orochimaru used my body—my abilities—to create it. I can naturally access senjutsu. That's what it does, the mark on your neck... it's a fragment of me."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "If that's true, then you must know how to remove it."
"Remove it? No. The Curse Mark isn't something you 'remove.' It's a part of you now, just as my rage is a part of me." His expression darkened. Jūgo's lips curled into a bitter smile. "But I can show you how to control it. If you're strong enough."
Before Sasuke could respond, Jūgo's body began to shift. His muscles bulged, his skin darkened, and grotesque spikes erupted from his shoulders. His voice became a guttural growl. "Show me your strength, Uchiha."
Sasuke didn't hesitate. His sharingan flared, and he unsheathed his sword in a blur of motion. Jūgo charged, his transformed arm crashing into the ground where Sasuke had been standing moments before. The impact sent tremors through the chamber, and shards of stone flew in every direction.
The fight was brutal and unrelenting. Jūgo's transformations were unpredictable, his attacks devastating. But Sasuke's speed and precision kept him ahead, and his sharingan allowed him to anticipate Jūgo's wild swings. Kimimaro watched from the sidelines, his expression unreadable.
Finally, Sasuke managed to pin Jūgo against the wall, his Chidori sparking dangerously close to Jūgo's throat. "Enough!" Sasuke growled. "I didn't come here to fight you. I came for answers."
Jūgo's breathing was ragged, his rage beginning to subside. His body slowly returned to its normal form. "You're strong," he admitted reluctantly. "Maybe strong enough."
Before Jūgo could elaborate, slow, deliberate applause echoed through the chamber. Sasuke and Jūgo both turned to see a familiar figure stepping out of the shadows. Kabuto's pale face was illuminated by the torchlight, his golden eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement. He looked more and more like Orochimaru every day.
"Well done, Sasuke," Kabuto said, his voice dripping with mockery. "And you too, Kimimaro. I see Orochimaru-sama's trap worked perfectly."
Sasuke's grip on his sword tightened, and his sharingan focused on Kabuto. "What is this?" he demanded.
Kabuto chuckled, his serpentine tongue flicking out briefly. "Did you really think he would let you wander off on your little quest without supervision? Kimimaro has been keeping a close eye on you this entire time. And now that you've proven yourself against Jūgo..." He spread his arms theatrically. "It's time for the next phase of your training."
Kimimaro stepped forward, his expression as stoic as ever. "I serve Orochimaru," he said simply. "You should have known that."
Sasuke glared at him but said nothing. His mind raced, trying to piece together what Orochimaru's true intentions were.
Kabuto smiled wider, sensing Sasuke's hesitation. "Don't look so surprised, Sasuke. After all, you're the one who came to him seeking power. And power... always comes at a price."