CHAPTER 18
The tension in the air was thick as Naruto turned to his team, his expression hardened with determination.
"Let's go. Our mission is clear—Orochimaru dies today. Once and for all."
The group nodded in unison, fully aware of the monster they were about to face. Each of them had witnessed firsthand just how dangerous Orochimaru was. They knew that if they captured him, he'd find a way to escape, just like he had before.
"We strike fast, we strike hard. If we give him even a second to breathe, he'll slip away like a snake in the grass. No mistakes. No mercy."
Kakashi, standing beside him, let out a small sigh, but his single visible eye was sharp with focus.
"I don't like to be ruthless, but... this is Orochimaru we're talking about. I'm with you, Naruto."
Sakura clenched her fists.
"That snake ruined so many lives. He doesn't deserve another chance to slither away."
Ino simply nodded..
Sasuke stood slightly apart from the group, his gaze cold.
"I've wanted to cut that bastard down for years. He's mine."
Naruto turned to him.
"You'll get your chance, but we're doing this together. No lone-wolf stunts, got it?"
Sasuke scoffed but didn't argue.
Naruto placed two fingers on his forehead and focused. In an instant, he teleported them all using Kai-Kai, warping them to the Tenchi Bridge, the location of their ambush.
The wind howled through the trees, carrying the scent of damp wood and old stone. The worn-out wooden planks of the bridge creaked under Naruto's feet as he took a step forward. He quickly used Transformation Magic, altering his appearance to resemble Sasori's Hiruko puppet, complete with the Akatsuki cloak.
From the shadows of the bridge, a figure approached.
"It has been a long time, Sasori-sama. Five years, to be precise."
Naruto narrowed his eyes behind the disguise. The voice was familiar, and as the figure stepped closer, the moonlight revealed Kabuto Yakushi, wearing a cloak that barely hid his sly smile.
Kabuto is the spy?! Naruto thought. That makes even less sense.
For years, Kabuto had been Orochimaru's most loyal subordinate. If he had truly been a spy for Sasori, then what had he been doing all this time? Unless…
Orochimaru knows about this meeting.
Naruto didn't let his suspicions show. Instead, he played along.
"Were you followed?" he asked in a controlled, emotionless tone.
Kabuto shook his head.
"No, it's safe."
Naruto tilted his head.
"How are you feeling?"
Kabuto hesitated slightly.
"When your jutsu lifted and I realized who I was, I felt somewhat disoriented. I'm still a bit lightheaded."
Naruto's patience snapped. There was no point in dragging this out. He spoke directly into the mental link Ino had created between the team.
"The target is already here. No more waiting—attack now."
In an instant, he canceled the transformation and lunged forward, grabbing Kabuto by the throat. But before he could strike, something unexpected happened—
A pair of Sharingan eyes stared back at him.
"Kukuku… it seems we meet again, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru said, his voice dripping with amusement.
Naruto's grip tightened, but Orochimaru's smirk remained.
"You're trying to put me under Genjutsu? Good luck with that. Kurama hates it when people look at us with those eyes."
Orochimaru's smirk faltered just as Naruto threw him backward, sending him crashing into Kabuto, who barely managed to catch him.
Orochimaru dusted himself off and chuckled. "This is surprising… I expected to kill Sasori, but taking you down instead will be just as satisfying."
Then, his expression twisted into something far more dangerous.
His eyes shifted, the pupils morphing as a spiraling void appeared in the center of each eye.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Four figures emerged from the swirling space-time distortion behind him.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he recognized them—Orochimaru's elite subordinates.
His teammates instantly moved into battle stances.
Sasuke, however, smirked.
"This is getting interesting."
Orochimaru's gaze settled on him.
"Uchiha Sasuke… how delightful. Leave Naruto to me. Capture the Uchiha."
His four subordinates rushed toward Sasuke.
"Too bad. You should have brought more men."
He leapt from the bridge onto the solid ground below, his opponents following.
Orochimaru turned his attention back to Naruto.
"It was foolish of you to bring Sasuke here, Naruto-kun."
Naruto smirked.
"And it was foolish of you to send them after him."
Orochimaru tilted his head in curiosity.
"Sasuke's been trained by one of your fellow Sannin. He's more than capable of handling whatever you throw at him."
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"Perhaps once, that was true. But now?"
He raised his hand, revealing a strange seal glowing on his palm. Naruto's eyes narrowed as multiple floating blades materialized around Orochimaru, humming with eerie chakra.
"This… is going to be fun."
Orochimaru whispered.
With Sasuke…
Sasuke stood firm, his sword gleaming under the pale light as he faced the four of Orochimaru's underlings. The air around them was tense, the faint rustling of the trees barely audible over the pounding of his heart. His Sharingan spun, analyzing every movement of his enemies.
"Can't run anymore, can you, brat?"
Sasuke didn't flinch. Instead, he smirked, tilting his head slightly.
"You're the ones who should have run."
Before the enemy could react, three figures suddenly landed beside Sasuke in a blur of speed—Ino, Sakura, and Kakashi. Their presence made Orochimaru's subordinates hesitate for just a moment.
"You took your time." Sasuke muttered, but there was no irritation in his voice—just a cold focus.
Kakashi's lone eye narrowed.
"We had to make sure Naruto wasn't walking into a trap."
The leader of Orochimaru's squad let out a growl.
"What are you three waiting for? Attack those Konoha scum!"
His underlings nodded before charging forward, each one picking a target.
With Sakura…
"Tch. Just my luck—I got the weak one."
Sakura's eye twitched at the insult, her fists clenching at her sides. She turned her gaze toward the one who had spoken—a scrawny-looking man in a lab coat, thin-rimmed glasses resting on his nose. He had an air of arrogance about him, despite his unimpressive frame.
Her lips curled into a smirk.
"I should be the one saying that. Are you even a fighter? You look like you belong in a library, not on a battlefield."
The man's smirk widened as he adjusted his glasses.
"Oh, but you underestimate me, little girl."
His voice was laced with amusement as he took a deep breath.
Sakura barely had time to react before the man's body twisted and warped, his skin bubbling as his flesh expanded and contorted.
His legs fused together, forming a thick, scaly tail, while his arms stretched unnaturally, fingers webbing between them. His face elongated, his mouth stretching into something monstrous, rows of sharp teeth gleaming under the light.
Sakura took an instinctive step back, eyes narrowing.
"The hell…?"
If Naruto were here, he would have recognized this transformation immediately. He had encountered something similar during his time in ANBU. But Sakura had no reference for it. To her, it just looked like a bizarre, over-the-top cosplay gone wrong.
She exhaled through her nose, shaking her head.
"You think turning into a fish is supposed to scare me? That's adorable."
She cracked her knuckles, her chakra surging as she took a fighting stance.
"Let's see how well you fight when I turn that overgrown goldfish body into fish paste."
Amachi let out a gurgling, distorted laugh..
Amachi VS Haruno Sakura Begins…
Amachi smirked as he stood before Sakura, his mutated fish-like form looming over her. His gills flared as he took a deep breath, his muscles bulging unnaturally. His sharp claws glistened under the dim light, and his webbed hands flexed, preparing for an attack.
Sakura remained in a defensive stance, observing him carefully. She had fought against strong opponents before, but this was different. Amachi wasn't just a fighter; he was a scientist, someone who had twisted his own body using unnatural experiments.
With a sudden burst of speed, Amachi appeared right in front of her.
"Hyakumaigawara Seiken!"
Amachi roared as he launched a devastating punch straight into Sakura's stomach.
The impact was brutal. Sakura felt the wind rush out of her lungs as she was sent flying backward, crashing into a massive boulder. The rock cracked upon impact, leaving a deep dent in its surface. Dust and debris filled the air.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then, the dust settled, revealing Sakura pulling herself out of the crater. She dusted off her clothes and rolled her shoulders, cracking her neck. There was no fear in her eyes—only determination.
"That's all you got?" she asked, a smirk playing on her lips.
Amachi's face twitched in annoyance.
"You should have stayed down. This next attack will be your last!"
He surged forward, his movements fluid yet powerful.
"Nanasenmaigawara Mawashigeri!"
Amachi launched a spinning roundhouse kick toward Sakura's head.
Sakura didn't flinch. At the last second, she raised her leg and countered with her own roundhouse kick. Their kicks collided, sending a powerful shockwave through the ground.
For a brief moment, they remained locked in that position, neither backing down. Amachi smirked.
"Not bad. You're stronger than I expected."
Sakura smirked right back.
"But you're not."
Without warning, she increased the power in her kick, forcing Amachi's leg aside. The scientist stumbled backward, momentarily caught off guard.
He clicked his tongue in irritation and reached into his belt, pulling out a peculiar-looking blade. He strapped it onto his wrist, and with a quick motion, it extended into a long, curved edge.
"Let's see how you handle this."
With a flick of his hand, he manipulated the water around them, forming several sharp water arrows.
"Yabusame!" he shouted as he launched them toward Sakura at high speed.
Sakura's eyes narrowed. She quickly slammed her fists into the ground, pulling up a large chunk of earth and using it as a shield. The water arrows struck the rock, causing small cracks but failing to penetrate through.
Seeing an opening, she didn't waste time. She hurled the massive chunk of earth straight at Amachi.
He chuckled darkly.
"Wanto Giri!"
With a single slash of his blade, he sliced through the flying rock, splitting it cleanly in half.
But before he could react further, Sakura was already upon him.
"Surprise, motherfucker!"
Amachi barely had time to process what was happening before Sakura emerged from the broken debris. With perfect timing, she delivered a powerful downward kick aimed straight at his skull.
"Konoha Otoshi!"
The force of her attack sent Amachi crashing into the ground, his head slamming into the dirt with an earth-shattering impact. A large crater formed beneath him, the sheer force of Sakura's strength sending tremors through the battlefield.
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Sakura stepped back, breathing evenly. She watched as Amachi's body twitched slightly before his monstrous form reverted back to his normal human state. Blood trickled from his forehead, his consciousness completely gone.
She scoffed.
"That was disappointing."
She turned around, dusting off her hands as if the fight had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Behind her, Amachi lay motionless, blood pooling beneath him.
Sakura's eyes shifted toward her teammates.
"All done here."
The battle was over. And Amachi? He had been completely and utterly defeated.
Amachi VS Haruno Sakura Ends…
Haruno Sakura Wins…
With Ino…
Suigetsu grinned, rolling his shoulders as he sized up his opponent.
"Man, I was really hoping to fight the guy who killed Zabuza-san. That would've been fun. But instead, I get you… the blonde chick."
Ino raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. She had seen all kinds of arrogant opponents before, but this guy? He was on a different level of dumb. His blue hair was messy, his grin wide and cocky, and he carried a massive sword that almost looked too big for his lanky frame.
She crossed her arms.
"Wow. A cocky swordsman with no sense of respect. Never seen that before."
Suigetsu let out a laugh.
"You say that now, but let's see how long you can keep up that attitude, princess."
Ino's sharp eyes locked onto his weapon, and she instantly recognized it.
"Wait a second… Is that the Kubikiribōchō?"
Suigetsu visibly deflated, his excitement taking a hit. He pouted like a child who had just been told his toy wasn't as cool as he thought.
"No… It's not."
He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"It's just a replica. Looks like the real thing, but it doesn't have the ability to regenerate using blood."
Ino smirked.
"So, it's just for show? That's kind of sad."
Suigetsu scowled.
"Hey, hey, don't get the wrong idea. I don't need it to take you down."
With that, he drove the massive sword into the ground beside him and cracked his knuckles.
"Let's make this quick. I want to finish this up before I get thirsty."
Ino raised an eyebrow, already forming a plan in her mind.
"Oh, don't worry. This won't take long."
Hozuki Suigetsu VS Yamanaka Ino Begins…
The battlefield was set, and the tension was palpable. Ino Yamanaka stood her ground, her sharp blue eyes locked onto the blue-haired swordsman before her. Suigetsu Hozuki, a cocky smirk playing on his lips, cracked his knuckles as he prepared for battle.
"Heh, I was hoping to fight the bastard who killed Zabuza-san."
Suigetsu scoffed, twirling his oversized sword lazily over his shoulder.
"But instead, I get the blonde chick. Guess I'll have to make this quick."
Ino rolled her eyes, unfazed by his arrogance.
"Big words for someone who's about to be beaten senseless."
With a burst of speed, Suigetsu dashed toward her, fist raised to strike. Ino's reflexes kicked in immediately.
"Aikido Munetsuki Ikkyo!"
She grabbed his outstretched arm and twisted it expertly, using his own momentum against him. However, instead of feeling the solid resistance of flesh and bone, her hands slipped through water. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"Mizu Bunshin?"
Suigetsu laughed as he reformed behind her and delivered a powerful kick to her back. Ino barely managed to flip in midair, landing gracefully a few feet away.
"No, not a clone. I am water! Mizudeppō no Jutsu!"
A high-pressure water bullet shot toward her at blinding speed. Without hesitation, Ino tilted her head to the side, dodging it effortlessly.
"That's your big technique? Let me show you what a real Suiton jutsu looks like."
She raised her arms, her chakra surging as the moisture in the air gathered around her.
"Suiton: Kajiki no Mai!"
A swarm of massive swordfish, crafted entirely from high-density water, materialized behind her. With a flick of her wrist, they surged forward like torpedoes, aimed straight for Suigetsu.
His smirk faltered slightly as he assessed the incoming threat.
"Tch. Guess I can't play around. Mizudeppō: Nichō!"
Suigetsu fired rapid, concentrated water bullets from both hands, shattering several incoming swordfish before they could reach him. However, the sheer number of attacks forced him to backpedal, unable to destroy them all.
"Phew, that was stressful."
"Was it?"
A voice whispered from his side. Suigetsu's eyes widened in alarm as he turned his head—only to see Ino standing right next to him, her calm blue eyes filled with deadly intent.
"Kesa-gatame!"
Before he could react, she swept his legs out from under him and locked him in a tight scarf-hold, pinning him against the ground. He gritted his teeth, struggling against her grip, but her strength was undeniable.
"Not bad. But let's see how you handle this."
His body began to shift, his head turning into pure liquid as he manipulated the resulting water to surround Ino's face.
"Suiton: Oboreru Mizu Katamari no Jutsu!"
A sphere of water enveloped Ino's head, attempting to drown her. Suigetsu grinned.
"Let's see how long you can hold your breath."
But Ino didn't flinch. She didn't even react.
Suigetsu's grin faltered.
"What the—?"
To his horror, the Ino he had been fighting suddenly flickered and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Genjutsu?! Damn it—"
"Too slow."
The real Ino's voice rang out from behind him. Before he could turn, she delivered a swift kick to his back, sending him skidding forward. Suigetsu gritted his teeth as he rolled to a stop, glaring at her.
"Fine, no more games!"
Suigetsu growled, pulling out the Kubikiribōchō. The massive cleaver gleamed menacingly as he charged at her, swinging with deadly precision.
Ino's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Finally, a real fight."
With a swift movement, she unsealed her weapon—a magnificent spear with a sleek, shimmering metal tip. The weapon, Starmetal, was a rare artifact given to her by Naruto himself.
As Suigetsu's sword came crashing down, Ino raised Starmetal, effortlessly blocking the attack. The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, kicking up dust and debris.
Suigetsu grinned.
"Not bad. But let's see how you handle—"
Before he could finish, Ino spun on her heel, kicking him in the gut and sending him stumbling backward. Without hesitation, she threw Starmetal straight at him with terrifying speed.
Suigetsu smirked.
"Seriously? Throwing away your only weapon?"
His body liquefied, allowing the spear to pass harmlessly through him. He laughed.
"Looks like you just gave up your—"
His words died in his throat as his eyes widened in horror.
The spear suddenly curved mid-air, turning around and impaling him right through the stomach before flying back into Ino's waiting hand.
"W-what…?"
Suigetsu gasped, blood dripping from his lips.
Ino twirled Starmetal in her hand.
"This isn't just any normal spear. No matter where I throw it, it always returns to me."
Suigetsu clutched his wound, staggering.
"D-damn it…"
He fell to his knees, then collapsed face-first onto the ground. His body convulsed for a moment before going still.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Ino exhaled, rolling her shoulders.
"What a waste of time."
She turned toward her team, stepping over Suigetsu's lifeless body without a second glance. The battle was over.
Hozuki Suigetsu VS Yamanaka Ino Ends…
Yamanaka Ino Wins…
With Kakashi…
Kakashi's single visible eye watched the figure before him, analyzing every detail—the way she stood, the calm in her posture, the sharpness in her gaze.
"It is an honor to meet you, Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi."
Kakashi sighed. He had grown tired of this. His reputation had long since become more of a burden than an advantage. It always led to people like her—strangers, enemies, those with vendettas or ambitions who sought him out simply because of the name he had made for himself.
"I can't say the same.I don't even know who you are."
The woman smirked, tilting her head slightly as she brought a pipe to her lips. She took a slow, deliberate puff before exhaling a thin stream of smoke, the scent of burning herbs mixing with the crisp night air.
"I am Yoshikage Kurokami."
Her crimson-painted lips curled into a predatory smile, her dark eyes gleaming with intent.
"And I am going to kill you."
Kakashi remained silent, his expression unreadable behind his mask. His fingers twitched slightly, ready to move at a moment's notice. He had faced countless threats before, but something about her presence unsettled him. This wasn't just arrogance or bravado—she truly believed in her words.
He slipped his hands into his pockets as his stance shifted ever so slightly.
"You wouldn't be the first to try."
The wind howled through the trees, and for a moment, the world stood still.
Yoshikage Kurokami VS Hatake Kakashi Begins…
The battlefield was silent, save for the rustling of leaves as the wind swept through the trees. The moon cast an eerie glow over the clearing where two powerful shinobi stood, facing each other, their chakra flaring like raging infernos.
Kakashi Hatake's single visible eye narrowed as he observed his opponent, Yoshikage Kurokami. She stood tall, her black cloak billowing behind her, the pipe in her hand still glowing faintly from the embers. She smirked, knowing full well that this battle was going to be one for the ages.
"Let's begin, shall we?"
She took a deep breath. Her hands blurred through seals at a speed that was almost unnatural.
"Katon: Gōryūka no Jutsu!"
A massive fireball erupted from her mouth, but as it traveled, it contorted and elongated, taking the form of a serpentine dragon, its fiery eyes locking onto Kakashi as it roared toward him.
Kakashi didn't flinch. His hands moved just as swiftly, his mind calculating the perfect counter.
"Suiton: Mizu Myakuhaku Myakuhaku."
The moment the dragon came within striking distance, Kakashi gathered the moisture in the air, condensing it into his palm. With a powerful thrust, he unleashed a concentrated pulse of water, sending a rippling shockwave outward.
The water collided with the fire dragon, steam bursting into the sky as the two elements clashed violently. Within moments, the flames were doused, and Kakashi stood unscathed.
Kurokami chuckled.
"Not bad. But let's see how you handle this. Katon: Hokitsune Suisei no Jutsu!"
Kurokami barely had time to react as a fireball shaped like a fox erupted from Kakashi's mouth. It raced toward her, its form flickering like a living entity, its flames licking at the air hungrily.
"Neton: Hankyō."
Kakashi's eyes widened slightly as Kurokami inhaled deeply, then let out a powerful scream. The sound waves rippled through the air, shattering the flaming fox into nothingness.
Kakashi let out an impressed hum.
Instead of answering, Kurokami's hands moved once more, lightning crackling around her fingertips.
"Raiton: Karasu Satsujin!"
She swung her arms outward, and a wave of lightning shot through the air. The attack split into countless streaks, each one shaped like a raven, their high-pitched screeches filling the clearing as they closed in on Kakashi.
Kakashi smirked.
"I see. But let's see how well your jutsu fares against this. Chidori!"
Lightning crackled violently around his hand as he dashed forward. The blade of pure lightning met the flock of ravens, cutting through them with precise, deadly efficiency. Sparks flew in all directions, illuminating the battlefield with a dazzling display of light.
Kurokami clicked her tongue in annoyance but immediately transitioned into her next attack.
"Katon: Kasai Karasu Bakuhatsu!"
She inhaled deeply, chakra flooding into her chest before she exhaled a swarm of fireballs. These weren't ordinary fireballs—they were shaped into precise, detailed ravens, each one flapping its fiery wings as they descended upon Kakashi.
Kakashi was already ready with a counter.
"Katon: Ichi Man-biki no Hotaru no Jutsu."
He brought his hands to his mouth and blew out a stream of tiny sparks. They floated harmlessly in the air at first, twinkling like fireflies. Then, with a single flick of his hand, the sparks converged on the fire ravens and exploded upon impact. The battlefield was bathed in an orange glow as both attacks were nullified in a violent eruption.
But Kurokami was relentless. She weaved another set of seals, her chakra surging to dangerous levels.
"Raiton: Sanmiittai Tomoe!"
Lightning danced in her palms as she manipulated it into three swirling tomoe, each connected by arcs of electricity. With a single motion, she hurled the formation at Kakashi's next attack.
"Suiton: Gosuiryūdan no Jutsu!"
Kakashi molded an immense amount of water, shaping it into a colossal dragon, far larger than the one he had used against Zabuza in the past. The beast roared as it surged forward, ready to crush anything in its path.
But the moment the tomoe made contact with the water dragon, a column of lightning shot into the sky, splitting the heavens apart. The entire area trembled from the sheer force of the impact, and the water dragon was instantly obliterated, its remains dispersing into the air as a fine mist.
Kurokami smirked.
"I hope you're not holding back, Kakashi."
The Copy Ninja's eye sharpened.
"Not at all. But I think it's time to finish this."
Kurokami gathered chakra into both hands, causing the air around her to ripple violently. The very ground beneath them seemed to shake as she prepared her final attack.
"Neton: Tatakiwaru!"
She slammed her hands together, releasing a powerful shockwave. The force surged toward Kakashi at terrifying speed, tearing up the earth and sending debris flying in all directions.
But Kakashi's Sharingan was already spinning. He anticipated the attack the moment she initiated it.
Kawarimi.*
A split second before the shockwave reached him, his body flickered out of existence, replaced by a log that was instantly shattered into splinters. Kurokami's eyes darted around, searching for him.
Then, she heard his voice above her.
"You're strong. But this is the end."
Kurokami barely had time to react as Kakashi raised his hands toward the sky.
"Raiton: Raisenkō: Kaminari!"
He sent a massive bolt of lightning into the storm clouds above them. Kurokami frowned and scoffed.
"You missed. Looks like you're getting desperate."
She prepared to counter when she felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. A crackle of energy filled the air, and before she could move—
A bolt of lightning as wide as a tree trunk came crashing down from the heavens, striking her directly.
Her screams were drowned out by the deafening roar of the thunder. The sheer force of the lightning sent shockwaves across the battlefield, kicking up dust and smoke. When the debris settled, Kurokami was sprawled on the ground, her body twitching from residual electricity.
Kakashi landed softly a few feet away, his Sharingan still spinning as he observed his fallen opponent. He exhaled deeply.
"I didn't miss. I never do."
Yoshikage Kurokami VS Hatake Kakashi Ends…
Hatake Kakashi Wins…
With Sasuke…
The air was thick with tension as the old warrior stepped forward, his presence alone exuding a lifetime of battle-hardened experience. His face was a map of old wounds, but none stood out as much as the deep, jagged scars that ran across both his eyes. He smirked, his voice deep and laced with years of unresolved hatred.
"I finally get to take my revenge against you, son of Fugaku. Your father was a formidable and powerful man—one of the few who ever truly challenged me in battle. He's the one who gave me these scars."
Sasuke's crimson Sharingan eyes narrowed, his gaze cold and unreadable. He had heard many stories of his father's enemies, but this man—this relic of the past—had never been among them.
He studied the warrior's stance, the way his muscles tensed with restrained aggression, the way his fingers twitched as if eager to grasp a weapon.
The old warrior chuckled darkly, sensing Sasuke's caution.
"Let's see if you're as strong as your father… or your brother."
Sasuke's lips curled into a smirk.
"You talk too much."
Sakebu Kanakirigoe VS Uchiha Sasuke Begins…
Sasuke stood firm, his crimson Sharingan eyes locked onto the old man. Despite his age, the man's presence exuded overwhelming strength, and Sasuke could tell from the very first attack that he was not to be underestimated.
"Katon: Ryūka no Jutsu!"
Sakebu roared, forming a series of hand seals in a blur. He exhaled, and a massive dragon-shaped fire stream surged forward, roaring like a living beast as it spiraled through the air toward Sasuke.
Reacting swiftly, Sasuke slammed his palm onto the ground after completing his own set of hand seals.
"Doton: Doryūheki!"
A formidable earth wall erupted from the ground, intercepting the fiery dragon. The flames crashed against the stone, sending embers flying, but the barrier held strong.
Sasuke, however, did not wait for the flames to subside. He had already begun his counterattack.
"Raiton: Zeusu no Kōgake!"
Lightning surged around his arm, forming a concentrated mass of pure electricity. With blinding speed, he burst through the very wall he had created, his fist glowing with power as he delivered an uppercut straight into Sakebu's gut.
The old warrior gritted his teeth in pain but reacted instantly.
"Neton: Kanagiri Ken!"
As Sasuke's fist connected, Sakebu seized his arm with an iron grip. Then, using a technique that created an immense sound-based shockwave, he slammed his own fist into Sasuke's stomach. A high-pitched screech filled the air as Sasuke was violently sent flying, crashing through several trees before regaining his footing.
Sakebu chuckled darkly, wiping blood from his lips.
"You could have been stronger than me if you had chosen to train under Orochimaru. That fool wasted his time on you, yet he still managed to pass on his teachings to me."
He smirked as he slowly opened his mouth.
"Mandara no Jin."
A horrifying sight unfolded before Sasuke. Hundreds of snakes slithered out from Sakebu's mouth, their beady eyes glinting with malice as they darted toward him. Each serpent was armed with deadly fangs, ready to tear into him.
But Sasuke was unfazed. He smirked, forming his next hand seals with precision.
"You think you're stronger than me? You're not. Katon: Hokitsune Daisuisei no Jutsu!"
A massive fox-shaped fire construct burst forth from Sasuke's mouth, far larger than any fireball technique. The flames twisted into the form of a snarling fox before lunging toward the sea of snakes. Upon impact, a devastating explosion of fire consumed the serpents, reducing them to nothing but ashes.
Sakebu's eyes widened slightly before he sneered.
"I did not think you would push me this far. But now, bear witness to my true power—The Cursed Seal from Hell!"
He let out a guttural screech as his body transformed before Sasuke's eyes. His skin darkened to an eerie shade of purple, jagged black markings spread across his flesh, and his muscles bulged with newfound power. Two twisted horns emerged from his forehead, his once-human face taking on a demonic visage.
The fire fox slammed into him, but he barely flinched. The attack that would have reduced any normal shinobi to cinders left him standing unscathed. He grinned, his voice now distorted.
"This is nothing to me. Katon: Chōshinsei!"
A massive fireball, far brighter than the previous flames, formed between his hands. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. He could feel the sheer intensity of the chakra radiating from it, but he had no intention of letting the attack land.
Smirking, he activated his own transformation. The black markings of his Cursed Seal Stage 1 spread across his skin, filling him with a surge of power.
"You're not the only one with that." With a burst of speed, he disappeared from sight.
Before Sakebu could react, Sasuke appeared behind him, his palm crackling with raw lightning.
"Raiton: Kaminari Tenohira!"
His electrified palm struck Sakebu's stomach, sending an immense surge of electricity coursing through his opponent's body. Sakebu let out a scream as his muscles convulsed, his transformation flickering under the intense pain. The force of the attack sent him hurtling backward, slamming into a tree with a sickening crunch.
Sasuke stood over him, his Sharingan spinning. He watched as Sakebu gasped for air, his once-powerful form now trembling.
Sakebu chuckled weakly, blood dribbling from his lips.
"It seems... you are even stronger than your father. He would have been... proud of you."
With those final words, his body fell limp. The battle was over.
Sasuke turned away, deactivating his Cursed Seal. The power receded from his body as he walked towards his awaiting teammates, leaving the past behind him once more.
Sakebu Kanakirigoe VS Uchiha Sasuke Ends…
Uchiha Sasuke Wins…