Chapter 285: Devouring Everything Orochimaru Has!
Sasuke opened his eyes.
Scarlet light burned within them.
The blood red hexagram of his Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed through the darkness while violent arcs of lightning crawled across his body.
Orochimaru's expression changed.
He stared at the lightning surrounding Sasuke, curiosity briefly overpowering even his killing intent.
"This nature transformation…"
His golden eyes narrowed.
"No. It is not entirely chakra."
Orochimaru remembered another technique.
Another blond Shinobi.
"Is this similar to the power Naruto used three years ago?"
Sasuke had no interest in explaining.
His hand closed around the hilt of Ryūjin Jakka.
The sword left its sheath.
Lightning surged along the edge.
His breathing shifted.
A sharp sound tore through the chamber.
"Thunder Breathing: First Form. Thunderclap and Flash: Sixfold!"
Sasuke vanished.
Crack!
For an instant, the entire chamber was filled with lightning.
One flash.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
By the time Orochimaru could react, Sasuke had already passed him.
Silence followed.
Then six wounds split open across Orochimaru's massive white serpent body.
The flesh separated.
Pieces of the enormous snake crashed onto the floor.
A strange gas began leaking from the severed remains.
Colorless.
Odorless.
It spread quietly through the chamber.
Asuramaru noticed immediately.
"The air is filled with a paralyzing toxin."
Sasuke glanced at the gas around him.
He was slightly surprised.
But he felt nothing.
No numbness.
No weakness.
No disruption in his chakra.
Asuramaru's protection had rendered the poison meaningless.
Sasuke looked toward Orochimaru's severed body.
"Stop pretending to be dead."
No response.
Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan remained fixed on the corpse.
"Your poison does nothing to me."
His voice carried open contempt.
"Didn't you want my body?"
Sasuke lowered Ryūjin Jakka.
"I'll give you the chance."
One of Orochimaru's severed heads stirred.
Its eyes opened.
"So you noticed."
His voice remained unpleasantly calm.
The detached head slowly rose.
Sasuke did not move.
Orochimaru studied him.
The boy was deliberately allowing him to use Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Arrogant.
Reckless.
But Orochimaru would never refuse such an opportunity.
Especially because Asuramaru had already promised not to interfere in their struggle for the body.
The white serpent lunged.
Its jaws opened.
Fangs sank into Sasuke's shoulder.
Then the world changed.
Sasuke and Orochimaru disappeared from the physical chamber.
They appeared within a twisted mental space.
There was no sky.
No earth.
Only endless masses of writhing flesh.
The entire world looked alive.
Pulsing.
Breathing.
Both Sasuke and Orochimaru were partially engulfed by the grotesque substance.
Behind Orochimaru hung three other figures.
Their bodies were bound within the flesh.
Motionless.
Broken.
They were the former vessels Orochimaru had taken through Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Their bodies had long since been abandoned.
Their remnants, however, had sunk into this place.
Then another figure appeared.
Asuramaru stepped into the mental world.
His crimson eyes swept across the endless flesh.
His expression immediately soured.
"This place is disgusting."
Orochimaru turned toward him.
"Asuramaru."
His eyes gleamed.
"You promised."
"You said you would not interfere while Sasuke and I fought over this body."
Asuramaru looked at him.
"Yes."
His answer was simple.
"I will not interfere."
He moved aside.
"I'm only watching."
Orochimaru's confidence returned.
He turned toward Sasuke.
"Then it is over."
His enormous form began shifting through the surrounding flesh.
"Give me your body, Sasuke!"
The living mass around Sasuke tightened.
Orochimaru stretched out his hand.
He was almost there.
Then something changed.
Darkness appeared beneath Sasuke.
At first, it was only a shadow.
Then it spread.
The writhing flesh covering Sasuke vanished wherever the darkness touched it.
Orochimaru froze.
"What?"
The darkness expanded violently.
It swallowed every strand of flesh restraining Sasuke.
Then it kept spreading.
Back toward Orochimaru.
The grotesque mental world began disappearing beneath the pitch black tide.
Orochimaru's expression changed completely.
His flesh was being consumed.
His control was being erased.
Sasuke stepped free.
His white clothing emerged untouched from the darkness.
The hexagram pattern of his Mangekyō Sharingan glowed within his crimson eyes.
He looked at Orochimaru without emotion.
"Orochimaru."
The darkness surged around him.
"Everything you have done…"
Sasuke's eyes sharpened.
"Every trick."
"Every technique."
"Every attempt to steal this body."
His voice became colder.
"They are useless before these eyes."
Orochimaru stared at the pattern within Sasuke's Sharingan.
Then realization struck.
His face twisted.
"You…"
His voice rose sharply.
"You awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
Sasuke did not answer the question.
The darkness continued consuming Orochimaru's mental world.
"This time…"
Sasuke stepped forward.
"I will take everything from you."
Orochimaru struggled.
The darkness bound him in place.
He could not escape.
His body began sinking.
First the tail.
Then the torso.
Then the arms.
Orochimaru's composure finally shattered.
"No…"
He twisted desperately.
"This cannot be where I fall!"
The black tide climbed higher.
"I still haven't obtained Asuramaru!"
His voice became hoarse with rage.
"I haven't uncovered the truth of this world!"
"I haven't learned everything!"
The darkness reached his neck.
Orochimaru's eyes burned with resentment.
"No!"
Then he disappeared.
The pitch black tide swallowed him completely.
Silence returned.
Everything Orochimaru had accumulated was absorbed by Sasuke.
His power.
His knowledge.
His techniques.
His accumulated abilities.
Sasuke stood within the darkness.
"So it's over."
He turned, preparing to leave the mental world.
Asuramaru spoke.
"Not quite."
Sasuke stopped.
He looked over.
Asuramaru continued.
"You absorbed everything Orochimaru possessed."
"But part of his soul still remains inside you."
For the first time since the battle began, genuine surprise appeared on Sasuke's face.
He could not sense Orochimaru at all.
But if Asuramaru said the soul remained, Sasuke had no reason to doubt him.
"Can you remove it?"
Asuramaru answered calmly.
"I can."
Sasuke waited.
"But Orochimaru attached the remaining fragment of his soul to your Cursed Seal."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"If I erase his soul…"
"The Cursed Seal disappears with it."
Sasuke fell silent.
That changed things.
The Cursed Seal still gave him a considerable increase in strength.
He had not endured everything Orochimaru had done merely to discard useful power on the eve of his revenge.
Itachi was still alive.
Until that man died, Sasuke had no intention of weakening himself unnecessarily.
After several seconds, he made his decision.
"Leave it."
Asuramaru looked at him.
"Orochimaru's remaining soul is insignificant."
Sasuke's expression hardened.
"He can't threaten me anymore."
Asuramaru did not argue.
"Your choice."
Sasuke left the mental world.
The physical chamber returned.
Broken serpent flesh covered the floor.
Kabuto stood nearby.
He had arrived sometime during the confrontation and now stared at the remains of Orochimaru's true form.
His expression was difficult to read.
Then Sasuke opened his eyes.
Kabuto immediately focused on him.
Sasuke stood.
Without acknowledging the corpse, he began walking toward the exit.
Kabuto watched him approach.
He could not hold back his question.
"Who are you now?"
Sasuke stopped beside him.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
"Orochimaru…"
His eyes narrowed.
"Or Sasuke?"
Sasuke gave a short, contemptuous laugh.
"Orochimaru is dead."
Kabuto's expression changed.
Sasuke continued walking.
"I took everything he had."
He disappeared into the corridor.
"Wait for me, Itachi."
His voice echoed through the darkness.
"I'll find you soon."
The revenge he had lived for was finally within reach.
But Itachi was a member of the Akatsuki.
Going after him alone was possible.
That did not mean it was wise.
Sasuke needed people.
Fortunately, after absorbing Orochimaru's knowledge, he knew exactly where to find several useful candidates.
There were people imprisoned or hidden throughout Orochimaru's bases.
People he could use.
Sasuke changed direction and moved deeper into the hideout.
Eventually, he entered a large experimental chamber.
Petri dishes covered several tables.
Massive culture tanks lined the walls.
Murky liquid filled them.
Sasuke ignored most of the room.
His attention settled on the large container in the center.
A human figure floated inside.
Sasuke approached.
He drew his sword.
Slash!
The container split open.
Liquid flooded across the floor.
The figure inside dropped with it.
A young man slowly emerged from the water.
Shoulder length white hair clung to his face.
Sharp teeth filled his mouth.
His appearance alone revealed his origin.
The Hōzuki Clan of Kirigakure.
Sasuke stared at him.
"Get dressed."
The young man looked up.
Sasuke continued.
"You're coming with me."
A pause.
"From today onward, you work under me."
The white haired young man's expression immediately became unfriendly.
He slowly stood.
"Just because you defeated Orochimaru doesn't mean you're"
A sword touched his throat.
He froze.
Lightning crackled along Ryūjin Jakka.
Sasuke stood directly in front of him.
His expression had not changed.
"I won't say it twice."
....