Time flew by, and two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Deep within a subterranean hideout, Orochimaru's pupils constricted violently as he collapsed, vomiting uncontrollably.
"Just a little longer... just a little more..." Orochimaru hissed through a roar of frustration.
Kabuto, having finished administering the medication, spoke in a low, composed voice.
"The time has finally come. The Chunin Exams, the Forest of Death... three years have passed since then."
"That boy, who once trembled under the weight of your killing intent, has finally grown up."
Orochimaru let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"The child who once turned those immature Sharingan toward me... they've developed into a fine pair of eyes. To be able to wield the Sharingan to such an extent at that age, he has surpassed my expectations. No, if nurtured correctly, he is a genius who could even surpass Itachi."
He paused, a flicker of greed crossing his face. "Though, truth be told, Kanon's body would have been an excellent vessel as well."
As Orochimaru and Kabuto sat reminiscing about the past, they were oblivious to a pair of crimson pupils snapping open in the darkness, sensing every word.
Today was the day. Sasuke had made his decision: he would strike early and slay Orochimaru.
…
In his private chambers, Orochimaru laughed with manic excitement, convinced his plan for Reanimation was on the verge of success.
Suddenly, a sharp, crackling bolt of blue lightning, a Chidori Sharp Spear, pierced through the door, instantly skewering Orochimaru's hands.
"This chakra nature..." Orochimaru's expression darkened, momentarily suspecting Kanon had arrived.
At that moment, the wooden door was slashed open, revealing Sasuke's silhouette.
"So, you've finally made your move." Orochimaru spoke as if he had expected this betrayal all along.
Sasuke's voice was flat, devoid of warmth. "You have nothing left to teach me. Standing before you, it seems I, too, can become heartless."
With his hands pinned by the Chidori Sharp Spear, Orochimaru broke into a cold sweat as Sasuke drew closer.
"Orochimaru, you are weaker than I am. There is no longer any reason to give my body to you."
"You certainly talk big... you Uchiha fledgling!"
The corner of Sasuke's mouth quirked upward. "If I weren't a fledgling, you never would have stood a chance, would you? I am an Avenger. To achieve my revenge, I was willing to throw this body away. But all you ever wanted was the Sharingan."
"You simply couldn't get your hands on Kanon or Itachi. That's why you set your sights on me, the 'fledgling.' Isn't that right, 'Genius of the Sannin'?"
Sasuke intensified the chakra in his Chidori Sharp Spear, his tone remaining chillingly calm. "However, you are merely a genius of the mundane world. You don't even begin to compare to the name of Uchiha. Before that name, any so-called genius is nothing more than an ordinary man. Kanon and I have proven this time and again."
"Soaking your body in medicine jars, desperately hopping from vessel to vessel just to crawl closer to the power of the Uchiha... to one who actually bears this name, your actions are laughably shallow."
"Furthermore, I despise your methods. Constantly moving bases, repeating your experiments... Toying with lives and claiming you want to discover the 'Truth of the World.' What a boring, selfish reason. You treat people like playthings. It makes me want to vomit."
As he spoke, memories of the Night of the Uchiha Slaughter and Itachi's words flashed through Sasuke's mind.
He lunged forward, slashing with his Kusanagi Sword. As the blade struck, Orochimaru shed his skin, slithering from his own mouth to transform into a gargantuan white serpent behind Sasuke.
Sasuke remained unfazed. He cast aside his white robe and activated his Cursed Mark, unleashing a surge of power that shattered the white snakes surrounding him.
"A snake that crawls upon the earth, dreaming of soaring into the sky... it is an impossibility. Yet, you dared to try, setting your sights on a hatchling still in its nest. But in doing so, you became the prey."
"You are being hunted by the eagle soaring in the sky."
…
The Hidden Sound Village
Kanon sat cross-legged in the middle of a vast field of flowers. Tayuya sat some distance away on a chair, a table beside her laden with bento boxes and sweets.
Tayuya watched intently as Kanon, eyes closed, began to hover slowly off the ground.
"Dust Release: Rasengan Dust Dance!"
Suddenly, a massive Rasengan formed in Kanon's hand, encircled by the glowing rings of Dust Release. Terrifying chakra gathered in the air, instantly disintegrating any birds that flew too close into atoms.
Kanon dissipated the jutsu. If she were to actually test its destructive power here, the small Land of Sound would likely gain another wasteland.
"Kanon, aren't you going to test its power?" Tayuya asked.
"No need. I'll let Itachi test it for me when the time comes."
As she spoke, two Shadow Clones appeared beside her and began forming the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. Kanon had successfully mastered Naruto's signature technique. Once she understood the underlying principles, achieving it wasn't difficult; she only needed a few practice sessions to grasp the knack of it.
But this time was different. Pink eyeshadow appeared around Kanon's eyes as she entered Sage Mode.
"Sage Art: Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
Kanon hurled the technique with her right hand. The massive shuriken of wind shrieked through the air toward the distant wasteland.
A colossal explosion followed. If Naruto were here, his jaw would have hit the floor. Kanon had figured out how to throw the Rasenshuriken.
This refinement not only allowed for long-range attacks but also vastly increased the technique's AOE (Area of Effect). Most importantly, it overcame the flaw where a 50% completed Rasenshuriken would damage the user's own arm upon impact.
Watching the terrifying explosion, Tayuya's pupils shrunk. A jutsu Kanon threw out casually was dozens of times stronger than anything they could produce.
Kanon walked back to Tayuya with a wry smile and took a sip of hot coffee.
"So bitter..." Kanon stuck her tongue out, her twin tails swaying as she winced.
"Is it really that bitter? I don't feel anything," Tayuya said, puzzled.
"Ugh... I guess I'm just not suited for coffee."
"Listen, Kanon! Because of your mistake a month ago, we ended up stocking way too many coffee beans. You're going to drink them all, even if you have to do it crying!" Tayuya pouted.
"Ugh... my bad! I really thought we could flip them for a profit."
"That's not the point! Money doesn't grow on trees; that was the funding Pain and Kakuzu gave us. Now, be a good girl and drink your coffee."
Seeing Tayuya unmoved, Kanon puffed out her cheeks.
"I'll go brew you another cup. I'll put more sugar in this time."
Kanon let out a mock wail of despair. As Tayuya walked toward the wooden cabin by the flower field, Kanon "cursed" her from behind with puffed cheeks.
"Trip... trip... please trip..."
But no such mishap occurred. After Tayuya returned with the new brew, she sat down.
"It's already started, hasn't it?"
"What is?" Kanon asked, tilted her head.
"Your brother Sasuke's plan to kill Orochimaru. It's in motion, right?"
"Yeah..." Kanon nodded with a smile. This cup was indeed sweet; Tayuya had added plenty of milk and sugar for her.
"Kanon, aren't you worried?"
"Of course I am."
"Should Team Hana go and help?"
Kanon shook her head gently at Tayuya's offer.
"No need. Onii-chan has the pride of the Uchiha; he wouldn't allow me to help him. Besides, he is very strong now, stronger than Orochimaru, at least."
"He prepared extensively to defeat Orochimaru. Plus... I planted Amaterasu in his eyes. It is impossible for Orochimaru to win."
Listening to Kanon, Tayuya nodded slowly. Indeed, the power of trust was just as important as chakra.