Sasuke spared no chakra, continuously channeling Lightning Release chakra to stimulate his body's cells, repeatedly using the Body Flicker Jutsu to close in on Orochimaru as quickly as possible.
With Orochimaru's cunning, he wouldn't leave obvious traces along his path.
But Sasuke, with his Sharingan on one hand and perhaps influenced by the Cursed Seal on his shoulder, could faintly sense Orochimaru's direction. The distance between them was steadily shrinking.
Swish. After bursting through another patch of forest, Sasuke's view suddenly opened up, and Orochimaru's figure finally appeared in his sight.
"Got you!"
A grin spread across Sasuke's face, his expression alight with excitement.
Unlike during the Chunin Exams, Sasuke had now recovered half of his Mangekyo Sharingan's power, and the Cursed Seal's corrosion on his body had been temporarily suppressed, putting him in peak condition.
In contrast, Orochimaru, though recently freed, still bore some unresolved seals from his imprisonment, significantly weakening his strength.
Despite knowing Orochimaru's formidable reputation, Sasuke was confident he could defeat the current Orochimaru and redeem his past humiliation.
Sensing Sasuke closing in, Orochimaru glanced back, his brows furrowing slightly.
Sasuke catching up so quickly was indeed unexpected.
"Orochimaru, how long do you plan to keep running? As one of the Three Shinobi, don't you feel the slightest bit ashamed looking so pathetic?"
Sasuke taunted brazenly as he pursued, mirroring how Orochimaru had toyed with him during the Chunin Exams.
"Hmph!"
Orochimaru let out a soft grunt, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.
Just as Sasuke opened his mouth to taunt again, he suddenly sensed someone behind him. Whirling around, his eyes widened in shock.
…
Inside the Village.
Haku, clad in a Hidden Leaf Police Force uniform, held a blade to Jugo's throat. "Don't resist!"
Jugo, covered in wounds and surrounded by Hidden Leaf shinobi, sighed and gave up resistance.
Haku sheathed the long blade, watching as two Anbu stepped forward to apprehend Jugo.
Unlike typical prison inmates, Jugo's strength was clearly a cut above. When in Sage Transformation, he rivaled an average Jonin, and many of the Hidden Leaf shinobi attacking him had been severely injured.
As a member of the Hidden Leaf Police Force and following the Leader's orders to weaken Orochimaru's forces, Haku had targeted Jugo.
Jugo's power, explosiveness, and recovery were monstrous, but his speed fell short of Haku's when in Mark state. After a fierce struggle, Haku, with the support of other Hidden Leaf shinobi, successfully subdued Jugo.
…
Another District.
Mumei glanced at the fallen Kidomaru and Tayuya, instructing the nearby Hidden Leaf shinobi, "Take them for treatment!"
Though the shinobi weren't under her command, they were intimidated by the skill she'd displayed in defeating Kidomaru and Tayuya. They nodded quickly, escorting the heavily injured pair to Hidden Leaf Hospital.
Kidomaru and Tayuya weren't weak, but their severe injuries from the Chunin Exams hadn't fully healed. Like Orochimaru, they also bore lingering seals that prevented them from activating their Cursed Seals. When Mumei intercepted them, they couldn't put up much of a fight and were swiftly taken down.
…
At the Outer Wall of Hidden Leaf.
Guren, fighting her way toward the village's outer wall, saw it within reach, a gleam of joy on her face.
The sounds of battle fading behind her filled her with growing unease—she knew every second spent in Hidden Leaf increased her danger.
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.
What forced her to halt was a figure blocking her path. Staring at them, her expression darkened. "Uchiha Shinji!"
Shinji didn't waste words, stepping slowly toward Guren. "This is as far as you go."
Guren was both shocked and enraged. She knew she likely wasn't a match for a Mangekyo Uchiha, but his dismissive attitude infuriated her.
"Arrogant fool!" Her face hardened, hands swiftly forming seals. "Crystal Release, Crystal Dragon Descent Jutsu!"
Rumble rumble rumble. In an instant, a pale red crystal dragon rose from the ground, roaring as it charged toward Shinji.
This was one of Guren's most destructive Crystal Release techniques, unleashed now to quickly overwhelm Shinji and seize her last chance to escape.
Facing the oncoming Crystal Dragon, Shinji didn't dodge. Fully activating the Twelve Palaces, he met the dragon with a single punch.
Boom! The collision of immense forces unleashed a deafening roar and a massive shockwave that rippled outward.
Following the shockwave came the relentless crack crack crack of shattering crystal!
No question about it—under Shinji's full-powered Twelve Palaces strike, even a Bloodline Limit like Crystal Release couldn't hold up.
After shattering the dragon's head with one blow, Shinji pressed forward, pummeling the Crystal Dragon with a flurry of punches, nearly dismantling it barehanded. Finally, under Guren's stunned gaze, he sent her flying with a single strike.
Swish swish swish. At that moment, the Hidden Leaf shinobi pursuing Guren finally caught up.
Seeing the street littered with crystal fragments and Guren unconscious on the ground, they exchanged astonished glances.
These shinobi had suffered greatly against Guren's Crystal Release. Many of their comrades had been gravely injured or even killed by it.
Yet, in a single exchange, the formidable Guren had been taken down by Shinji with one move.
Shinji ignored their reactions, merely waving a hand to signal them to take her away.
As the captain of the Hidden Leaf Police Force, his authority far exceeded that of an ordinary Jonin, and temporarily commanding regular Hidden Leaf shinobi posed no issue.
The shinobi saluted him and carried off the injured, unconscious Guren.
Once the crowd dispersed, Shinji leaped onto the outer wall, first surveying the situation inside the village. The fighting had mostly subsided, entering a cleanup phase. He then turned to look outside the village.
Ordering Haku and Mumei to intercept Orochimaru's followers was deliberate.
Jugo, Guren, Kidomaru, and Tayuya weren't weak. Together, they formed a significant force, so Shinji couldn't allow them to regroup with Orochimaru, lest he lose control over him.
Moreover, as the Police Force captain, with Orochimaru causing such a commotion in the village, pretending not to notice would raise suspicions. Both duty and propriety demanded he act.
This level of intervention was sufficient. Besides, Sasuke was already pursuing Orochimaru, representing the Police Force's efforts.