Unlike during his battle at the Valley of the End, when he had only just awakened the Cursed Seal Level 2 and could barely endure its immense burden, Sasuke had now completely adapted to its power. Back then, the transformation had been unfamiliar, unstable, and tremendously taxing on his body. After several months of relentless training under Orochimaru's meticulous guidance, however, the seal had become an extension of himself.
For an ordinary shinobi, such progress would have been unimaginable.
For a genius like Uchiha Sasuke, it was only natural.
Compared to only a few months ago, Sasuke's overall combat ability had increased by at least twofold. His chakra reserves had expanded significantly, and his control over both the Cursed Seal and his own techniques had reached an entirely new level.
Although he was still some distance away from truly reaching the level of a Kage, his strength had unquestionably surpassed the limits of an ordinary jōnin. Among elite jōnin, very few could now contend with him head-on.
Cold killing intent spread across the battlefield as an overwhelming surge of chakra erupted from his body.
"Secret Technique: Insect Rain!"
Aburame Ryōma's expression turned solemn. Swinging both arms forward, he unleashed an enormous swarm of kikaichū. Countless insects surged into the air under his precise control before descending upon Sasuke like a living storm.
The massive black cloud blotted out the sky.
It was the kind of terrifying attack that most shinobi would never dare confront directly. Once those chakra-devouring insects latched onto their prey, escape became nearly impossible.
Sasuke merely sneered.
Boom!
His chakra exploded outward.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
His hands blurred through a series of hand seals.
A deafening roar echoed across the battlefield.
A massive dragon-shaped torrent of flames burst into existence, spiraling skyward before diving straight toward the incoming swarm. The surrounding air instantly became unbearably hot as the blazing dragon collided with the countless insects.
Hisssssssss !
The scorching inferno consumed everything in its path.
The kikaichū were burned alive in droves, their bodies crackling as they were reduced to ash before they could reach their target.
"Explode."
Sasuke calmly brought his palms together.
The fiery dragon abruptly swelled before detonating into a sea of flames.
Boom!
The explosion spread outward in every direction, engulfing nearly the entire insect swarm. Thousands of kikaichū disappeared within the blazing firestorm.
Without wasting the opening he had created, Sasuke vanished.
His figure blurred as his speed skyrocketed far beyond what he had displayed earlier. In the blink of an eye, he crossed the battlefield and appeared directly before Ryōma.
His movement was noticeably faster than before.
Crackle!
Blue lightning suddenly enveloped his right hand.
Ryōma's pupils contracted violently.
So fast!
There was barely enough time to react.
He instinctively twisted his body aside.
Crackle!
Even so, the Chidori grazed across his side.
The concentrated Lightning Release tore through his clothing, ripping open flesh while violent electrical currents surged into his body.
"…!"
An intense wave of numbness spread through every nerve.
Ryōma's expression changed dramatically.
"Secret Technique: Parasitic Insect Hurricane!"
His hands immediately formed another series of seals.
A massive number of kikaichū poured out from his body before gathering together at astonishing speed. The insects spun violently around him, forming a rotating vortex that acted as both offense and defense while forcibly widening the distance between himself and Sasuke.
Sasuke remained completely unfazed.
He had anticipated this.
"Chidori Stream!"
An even greater surge of Lightning Release chakra burst from his entire body.
Zzzzzzztttt!
Blue lightning exploded outward in every direction.
The expanding electrical field instantly engulfed the newly formed insect vortex before it could stabilize.
The countless kikaichū were paralyzed and scattered apart under the overwhelming electrical current.
The defensive formation collapsed almost instantly.
Taking advantage of the opening, Sasuke lunged forward once more.
His palm, still crackling with Chidori, drove mercilessly toward Ryōma's chest.
It was a killing blow.
At the last possible moment, Ryōma forcefully twisted his torso.
The strike narrowly missed his heart.
Bang!
The Chidori pierced through his shoulder instead, sending another violent burst of electricity tearing through his body.
Suppressing the agony, Ryōma gritted his teeth.
His kikaichū rapidly gathered around him once again.
"Explode!"
The insects instantly swarmed upward.
A sharp glint flashed through Ryōma's eyes.
The entire swarm detonated simultaneously.
BOOM!
The explosion erupted at point-blank range.
Even Sasuke's expression changed slightly.
If he chose to ignore the blast and finish Ryōma off, he could certainly kill him.
However, he would inevitably suffer severe injuries himself.
Although the Cursed Seal Level 2 greatly enhanced his physical resilience, he remained flesh and blood. More importantly, the subordinates he had brought with him were already being suppressed by the Root shinobi.
The battle had lasted only a little over ten minutes.
Within that short period, several of Orochimaru's subordinates had already fallen.
If he suffered heavy injuries now, the entire situation would spiral beyond recovery.
Without hesitation, Sasuke abandoned the finishing blow.
His chakra burst explosively beneath his feet as he retreated at maximum speed.
Even so, the explosion erupted far too close.
Boom!
His cloak was shredded into pieces.
Several sharp fragments tore across his chest, leaving deep cuts as fresh blood immediately seeped through his clothes.
Even Sasuke had not escaped unscathed.
Ryōma, however, suffered far worse.
Already struck twice by Chidori, he was caught directly within the center of the explosion.
His body was blasted backward.
Bang!
He crashed heavily into the ground, carving a massive crater into the earth.
"Cough!"
A mouthful of bright crimson blood sprayed from his lips.
His clothing was tattered beyond recognition, and numerous burns and lacerations covered his body. His breathing became ragged, while his chakra had clearly fallen to less than a third of its original level.
"Ahem…"
The outcome had exceeded every expectation.
Ryōma had never imagined that a mere thirteen-year-old boy could possess such terrifying strength.
Is this the power bestowed by Orochimaru's Cursed Seal…? What a sinister ability…
Slowly climbing to his feet, Ryōma steadied his breathing.
His gaze remained fixed upon Sasuke, whose transformed figure seemed enveloped in an ominous darkness.
He immediately realized one thing.
This opponent was no longer someone he could handle alone.
Fortunately, Ryōma had never been the type to stubbornly cling to personal pride.
"Jian! Shin!"
His commanding shout echoed across the battlefield.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
From two different directions, two Root operatives immediately disengaged from their respective battles and rushed toward Ryōma's location.
Their movements were swift and disciplined.
Their killing intent was cold and razor-sharp.
Judging solely by the chakra they released, both possessed the strength of elite jōnin.
One of them swiftly pulled a specially sealed scroll from his sleeve.
With a flick of his wrist, he spread it open.
"Release!"
Puff!
A cloud of white smoke burst forth.
The next instant, a massive Fūma Shurikenappeared in the hands of the Root operative codenamed Jian.
At the same time, the Root shinobi known as Shin rapidly completed a string of hand seals.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Several compressed spheres of razor-sharp wind shot toward Sasuke from the opposite direction, perfectly coordinating with Jian's attack.
A deadly pincer assault descended upon him from both sides.
Yet Sasuke's face remained completely expressionless.
He regarded the incoming attacks with utter indifference.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Leaping lightly into the air, Sasuke effortlessly avoided Jian's low-flying Fūma Shuriken while simultaneously completing his hand seals.
Drawing a deep breath, he expelled a volley of small yet extremely concentrated fireballs.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The flames shot forward in rapid succession, weaving through the air with astonishing precision as they intercepted Shin's incoming Vacuum Spheres.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The fireballs collided violently with the compressed wind bullets. Instead of being extinguished, the flames were fanned even larger by the wind, surging forward with even greater intensity as they swept directly toward Jian.
Not only had Sasuke's Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique neutralized Shin's Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, but the flames were further empowered by the rushing wind, becoming even more destructive as they surged toward Jian.
The counterattack came with impeccable timing.
An excellent tactical decision.
More importantly, Sasuke's chakra output completely overwhelmed the power behind Shin's Wind Release. A scorching heat wave swept across the battlefield, distorting the surrounding air.
Jian's expression immediately darkened.
He realized far too late that there was no longer enough time to evade.
Boom!
Several blazing fireballs slammed directly into his body.
The flames erupted instantly, engulfing him from head to toe.
"Arghhh!"
Jian crashed to the ground, unable to suppress his agonized screams as the fire relentlessly consumed his clothing.
"Jian!"
Shin's expression changed drastically.
Without hesitation, he formed another sequence of hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Crash!
A torrent of water surged into existence before crashing down over Jian's burning body.
Hissssss !
Steam billowed into the air.
Thanks to Shin's quick reaction, most of the flames were extinguished before they could become fatal.
Jian narrowly escaped death.
However, while Shin focused on saving his comrade, he unknowingly exposed a fatal opening.
Sasuke seized it without the slightest hesitation.
Whoosh!
Dropping from above like a hawk diving upon its prey, Sasuke drew the Sword of Kusanagi.
Blue lightning instantly spread across the blade.
Crackle!
Lightning Release chakra coursed violently along the sword's edge as Sasuke thrust it straight toward Shin's chest.
The killing intent behind the attack was chilling.
The distance disappeared in an instant.
"…!"
Shin's pupils contracted violently.
There was no time left to dodge.
At that critical moment
"Secret Technique: Insect Barrier Wall!"
Ryōma's calm voice echoed across the battlefield.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
A massive swarm of kikaichū surged forward, rapidly gathering into a dense defensive wall directly in front of Shin.
The Sword of Kusanagi struck the living barrier.
Sizzle! Crackle!
Lightning danced wildly across the countless insects.
The electrical current tore through wave after wave of kikaichū, but the densely packed swarm continued sacrificing itself to blunt Sasuke's attack.
Seeing that the barrier had momentarily halted his sword, Sasuke's gaze turned cold.
"Chidori Stream!"
An even greater amount of Lightning Release chakra erupted from his body.
ZZZZZT!!
The lightning expanded explosively.
Boom!
The insect wall finally shattered under the overwhelming current.
Countless kikaichū fell lifelessly from the sky.
Unfortunately, the brief delay had already allowed Shin to retreat.
By the time Sasuke broke through the barrier, Shin had already widened the distance between them.
Cold sweat trickled beneath Shin's mask.
He stared at Sasuke with lingering fear.
Is this really just a thirteen-year-old…?
The Uchiha bloodline… truly deserves its fearsome reputation.
Ryōma quickly arrived beside the two Root operatives.
His injuries were severe, but his expression remained composed.
His voice was calm and decisive.
"Do not engage him head-on. Stall him and force him to exhaust his chakra."
"Understood, Captain Ryōma."
"Yes."
Shin and Jian immediately acknowledged the order.
Neither of them doubted Ryōma's judgment.
They all understood one fact.
Even if the three of them joined forces, defeating Sasuke quickly would require risking their lives.
There was no need for such recklessness.
The overall battlefield already favored Root.
Although Shin and Jian had temporarily left the other battlefield to reinforce Ryōma, the remaining Root shinobi still possessed the numerical advantage over Orochimaru's subordinates.
Once Sasuke's followers were eliminated, everyone could surround him together.
Victory would become inevitable.
Ryōma's strategy was undoubtedly the safest.
The three Root shinobi immediately spread apart.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Maintaining a wide triangular formation, they continuously adjusted their positions, refusing to allow Sasuke another opportunity to close the distance.
"Lightning Release!"
"Water Release!"
"Secret Technique!"
Attacks poured in from three different directions.
Every offensive perfectly complemented the others.
Whenever one of them attacked, the remaining two covered every possible avenue of escape.
Not a single one attempted close-quarters combat again.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Sasuke answered with another powerful Fire Release technique.
A massive fireball roared forward.
Clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Kunai, shuriken, ninjutsu, and exploding tags collided endlessly across the battlefield.
Sasuke's figure flickered from one position to another as he continuously evaded the coordinated assault.
Yet no matter how hard he pressed, he could no longer force his way into close combat.
The seamless cooperation between the three Root shinobi completely denied him the opportunity.
A trace of irritation gradually appeared in Sasuke's eyes.
Then
Slash!
A Fūma Shuriken suddenly slipped through the overlapping attacks.
It sliced across his right arm.
Fresh blood splattered through the air.
The sharp pain made Sasuke frown.
At that very moment, another miserable scream echoed from behind him.
"Ahhh!"
Thud!
Instinctively glancing back, Sasuke watched one of Orochimaru's subordinates collapse lifelessly into a pool of blood.
His expression changed slightly.
Without realizing it, the dozen or so shinobi he had brought had already suffered devastating losses.
More than half of them had either been killed or seriously wounded.
Meanwhile, Root had lost only two operatives.
At this rate…
Within another twenty or thirty minutes, every one of his subordinates would be wiped out.
His own chakra consumption was equally alarming.
He had maintained Cursed Seal Level 2almost continuously while repeatedly using powerful Fire Release and Lightning Release techniques.
Even with his enhanced reserves, such expenditure could not continue indefinitely.
If he failed to break the stalemate soon
Defeat would become unavoidable.
"Damn it…"
Sasuke finally understood Ryōma's strategy.
The Root captain had never intended to defeat him through brute force.
Instead, he planned to pin Sasuke down while the rest of Root exterminated Orochimaru's forces.
Once Sasuke was isolated, overwhelming him through superior numbers would be effortless.
It was an infuriatingly effective strategy.
Realizing he could no longer afford to delay, Sasuke immediately made his decision.
He bit his thumb.
"Summoning Technique!"
Blood smeared across his palm.
A tremendous surge of chakra poured into the summoning formula.
Puff!
An enormous cloud of white smoke exploded across the battlefield.
"Hmph! It isn't Orochimaru? It's just you, brat? You actually dared to summon me?"
A gigantic purple serpent slowly emerged from the dissipating smoke.
Its massive body stretched for hundreds of meters, while its raised upper body towered over fifty meters into the air.
Its terrifying golden eyes overlooked the battlefield with arrogant disdain.
"…!"
Ryōma's pupils immediately narrowed.
"Manda…"
As one of Orochimaru's former comrades, he naturally recognized the legendary serpent.
Among the summons of Ryūchi Cave, Manda possessed one of the most violent and powerful reputations.
In terms of raw combat ability, he rivaled the strongest summon beasts in the shinobi world.
Ordinary shinobi often believed that Manda's power was comparable to that of a Kage.
However, Ryōma knew another truth.
Manda was also the most arrogant and difficult summon under Orochimaru's command.
Even Orochimaru himself could not truly command him.
Unlike Jiraiya's toads or Tsunade's slug, who willingly fought alongside their contractors, Manda demanded payment for every battle.
Should the situation become unfavorable, he would abandon the battlefield without hesitation by canceling the summoning contract.
Worse still, every summoning required a sacrifice.
Without sufficient compensation, Manda would refuse to lift a finger.
Standing atop the giant serpent's head, Sasuke looked down upon the battlefield with icy calm.
"One hundred human sacrifices."
"You may devour everyone here."
His voice remained completely indifferent.
As Orochimaru's disciple and the inheritor of the Ryūchi Cave summoning contract, this was far from Sasuke's first time summoning Manda.
He understood the giant serpent's temperament better than anyone present.
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