Chapter 264: Sasuke's Defection Arc
With a casual wave of his hand, Asuramaru summoned Sasuke into the mental world.
Sasuke appeared at the boundary between the endless sky and sea.
His gaze swept briefly across Orochimaru, who was still restrained nearby, but he showed little interest in the former Sannin.
His attention went straight to Asuramaru.
"Asuramaru."
Sasuke's voice was serious.
"Is there a way for me to become stronger quickly?"
Asuramaru could easily sense the turmoil behind that question.
Sasuke's desire for revenge had never weakened.
If anything, Naruto's rapid growth had only intensified the pressure he placed on himself.
Asuramaru smiled.
"I like your determination."
Sasuke listened carefully.
"But you should understand one thing first."
Asuramaru's expression became more serious.
"Power always has a price."
"Even I cannot change that."
Sasuke immediately understood the implication.
There was a method.
He stepped forward.
"Then tell me the price."
His eyes were unwavering.
"If it lets me become stronger quickly, I'll pay it."
Nearby, Orochimaru's attention sharpened as well.
He was extremely interested.
Naruto's strength had already exceeded everything expected of someone his age.
Flying Thunder God.
Rasengan.
That strange sword.
Those bizarre transformations.
Orochimaru had long wondered exactly how much of Naruto's growth came from Asuramaru.
Now Sasuke was asking the question directly.
But Asuramaru had no intention of letting Orochimaru hear the answer.
He waved one hand.
Orochimaru disappeared.
Sasuke glanced toward the empty space where he had been, then looked back at Asuramaru.
Asuramaru spoke.
"There are many ways I can help you become stronger."
"But the simplest is slaughter."
Sasuke's expression changed.
"Slaughter?"
Asuramaru nodded.
"When you kill someone, I can extract a portion of the power gained through their death and return it to your body."
Sasuke stared at him.
Simply killing could make him stronger?
He had never heard of anything like it.
Asuramaru continued.
"However, the return is not equal for everyone."
"The stronger the person you kill, the greater the benefit."
"And if the target carries particularly strong evil or negative emotions, the amount of power I can return to you will also increase."
Sasuke fell silent.
For most Shinobi, such an ability would be horrifying.
For Sasuke, it immediately became something else.
Opportunity.
He had no intention of slaughtering innocent people merely to gain strength.
He still had his own limits.
But the Shinobi World was hardly lacking in people whose deaths would trouble no one.
Bandits.
Murderers.
Rogue Shinobi.
Criminals who had spent years preying on ordinary people.
If killing enemies like that could also make him stronger, then there was no conflict at all.
Excitement appeared in Sasuke's eyes.
Then another problem occurred to him.
Konoha.
As long as he remained inside the village, he could not simply wander around hunting criminals whenever he wished.
Missions were assigned.
Targets were controlled.
His movements were watched.
If he wanted to grow quickly through battle and killing, remaining in Konoha would restrict him far too much.
Sasuke frowned.
Asuramaru saw the change in his expression but said nothing.
Instead, he waved his hand again.
Orochimaru reappeared.
The former Sannin immediately looked displeased.
He had been excluded from the most interesting part.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"What method did you tell him?"
Asuramaru ignored the question.
He looked at Sasuke.
"I have already told you what you wanted to know."
"What you choose to do with that knowledge is your business."
Sasuke nodded.
"I understand."
Asuramaru dismissed him.
Sasuke's figure disappeared from the mental world.
The moment he was gone, Orochimaru looked toward Asuramaru again.
He had noticed Sasuke's troubled expression before the boy left.
That alone told him enough.
Whatever Asuramaru had revealed, it was likely something difficult to pursue while remaining in Konoha.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed.
Then another thought surfaced.
He smiled.
"Asuramaru."
Asuramaru glanced at him.
"What now?"
Orochimaru spoke carefully.
"If I take Sasuke's body…"
His smile widened.
"Would I also gain your recognition?"
Asuramaru's eyes sharpened slightly.
Finally.
He had been waiting for Orochimaru to ask exactly that.
Keeping Sasuke inside Konoha would limit his growth.
Naruto already had Jiraiya.
He had Konoha's resources.
He had Hiruzen's support.
Sasuke needed a different path if Asuramaru wanted him to grow quickly enough to become a worthwhile opponent for Naruto.
And outside Konoha, Orochimaru possessed knowledge, resources, enemies, laboratories, and countless dangerous opportunities.
Following Orochimaru would place Sasuke in a far harsher environment.
That was exactly what Asuramaru wanted.
So he gave Orochimaru the answer he had been hoping to hear.
"My consciousness currently resides within this body."
Orochimaru listened closely.
"If you truly seize Sasuke's body…"
Asuramaru's lips curved.
"And you can pass my trial…"
"Then naturally, I can recognize you as the Sword Master."
Orochimaru's smile became impossible to hide.
His desire for Sasuke's body increased immediately.
The Sharingan was already enough.
Now there was also Asuramaru.
A mysterious divine existence.
A path toward greater power.
Possibly even the immortality Orochimaru had pursued all his life.
Sasuke had become more valuable than ever.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru had another problem.
His current body was deteriorating.
After the battle with Hiruzen, his situation had become worse.
If he could not bring Sasuke to him quickly enough, he would be forced to perform another reincarnation first.
That would delay everything.
Orochimaru could not allow that.
Deep beneath Otogakure, Orochimaru's physical body opened its eyes.
His long tongue slid across his lips.
"Kabuto."
Kabuto Yakushi stood nearby.
White hair.
Round framed glasses.
Calm expression.
He immediately looked toward Orochimaru.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru?"
"Notify the Sound Four."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
"And Kimimaro."
"Send them to Konoha."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
Orochimaru continued.
"Bring Sasuke back."
Kabuto bowed.
"Understood."
He turned and left.
Orochimaru remained alone.
Scrolls were spread around him.
Many contained information related to the Uzumaki Clan and their sealing arts.
Unable to use his hands properly, he relied on his tongue to turn through the documents.
He was still searching for some method to reclaim what the Shinigami had taken from him.
Everything, however, was developing exactly as Asuramaru had hoped.
Several days passed.
With help from Jiraiya and the others, Tsunade gradually overcame her fear of blood.
Afterward, the group returned to Konoha.
Jiraiya and Tsunade headed directly toward the Hokage Building.
Naruto separated from them.
After being away for several days, he wanted to train.
Naturally, there was one person he expected to find at the training ground.
Sasuke.
Naruto entered the familiar clearing and soon spotted him.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Sasuke."
Sasuke turned.
Naruto approached.
"Long time no see."
His smile widened.
"Want to train together?"
Sasuke stared at him for several seconds.
There was something unusually serious in his expression.
Then he spoke.
"Naruto."
"Can I fight your real body this time?"
Naruto blinked.
Normally, Sasuke trained against his Shadow Clones while Naruto focused on his own cultivation.
This request was different.
"You want a serious match?"
Sasuke nodded.
"Yes."
Naruto studied him briefly.
Then smiled.
"Sure."
Sasuke's hand moved toward his ninja tool pouch.
"Thank you."
A kunai appeared in his grip.
He lowered his stance.
Naruto also drew one of his three pronged kunai.
Neither spoke.
The air between them became still.
Then both moved.
Clang!
Their kunai collided.
Sasuke twisted his wrist and immediately followed with a kick.
Naruto leaned away.
The kick missed.
Naruto stepped inside Sasuke's guard and drove an elbow toward his chest.
Sasuke blocked with his forearm.
The force pushed him backward.
He recovered quickly and attacked again.
Their movements accelerated.
Metal flashed.
Footsteps tore through the grass.
Sasuke's Sharingan tracked every motion.
But seeing Naruto's movements did not mean his body could always react fast enough.
Naruto began taking control of the exchange.
A feint drew Sasuke's guard aside.
Naruto struck his shoulder.
Sasuke retreated.
Naruto followed.
A kick forced Sasuke to block.
Another strike broke through.
Sasuke slid backward across the ground.
His expression darkened.
Even now.
Even after all his training.
The difference was still there.
His hand rose toward his neck.
The Cursed Seal reacted.
Dark markings spread across Sasuke's skin.
Power flooded his body.
His chakra intensified.
Naruto immediately noticed.
Sasuke disappeared from his previous position.
His speed had increased sharply.
Bang!
Their fists collided.
This time Naruto was pushed back half a step.
Sasuke pressed forward.
He attacked faster.
Harder.
The Cursed Seal amplified everything.
Yet Naruto still adapted.
He parried.
Dodged.
Countered.
Soon, Sasuke found himself being suppressed once again.
His frustration grew.
Why?
He had gained more power.
He had trained relentlessly.
He had even received Asuramaru's recognition.
Why was Naruto still ahead?
Sasuke gritted his teeth.
The Cursed Seal surged.
The markings spread farther.
His body changed.
The second state.
A pair of grey webbed wings erupted from his back.
His black hair lengthened and shifted toward blue.
A dark cross shaped mark formed across the bridge of his nose.
His chakra rose dramatically.
Naruto stopped for a moment.
"Sasuke."
Concern entered his voice.
"Are you sure you should be using that much of the Cursed Seal?"
Sasuke stared at him.
He could feel the power coursing through every part of his body.
The strength was intoxicating.
"I feel great."
Lightning suddenly crackled around his hand.
Chakra gathered.
The sound rose rapidly.
Chirp.
Chirp.
Chirp.
Then hundreds of overlapping cries filled the training ground.
Like a thousand birds screaming at once.
Naruto's expression became serious.
Sasuke lowered himself.
Lightning blazed around his hand.
"Chidori!"
He charged.
The ground tore beneath his feet.
His Sharingan locked onto Naruto.
Naruto felt the pressure immediately.
This was no longer an ordinary sparring attack.
He tightened his grip on the three pronged kunai.
Then threw it.
Sasuke continued straight forward.
His Chidori screamed through the air.
Naruto vanished.
Flash!
Golden light filled Sasuke's vision.
His attack passed through empty space.
The Chidori struck the ancient tree behind Naruto's previous position.
Boom!
The trunk snapped apart.
Wood exploded.
Sasuke's eyes widened.
A hand landed gently on his shoulder.
He froze.
Naruto stood behind him.
The three pronged kunai remained embedded in the ground nearby.
Naruto smiled.
"Looks like I won."
Then he added,
"But that was close."
Sasuke lowered his gaze.
He knew Naruto was trying to spare his pride.
A narrow victory?
No.
Naruto had avoided his strongest attack cleanly and appeared behind him before he could respond.
The gap was still there.
Perhaps even greater than Sasuke wanted to admit.
But that was precisely why he had asked for this battle.
Now he knew.
Sasuke slowly straightened.
"Thank you, Naruto."
Naruto blinked.
Sasuke turned toward him.
"I needed this."
The Cursed Seal began receding.
His wings disappeared.
The marks faded.
His hair returned to normal.
Naruto smiled brightly.
"You don't have to thank me."
He rested the three pronged kunai against his shoulder.
"That's what friends are for."
Sasuke said nothing.
But neither did he reject the word.
The two remained at the training ground until night.
Eventually, they parted ways.
Naruto headed home.
Sasuke returned to the Uchiha compound.
The streets of the clan grounds were silent.
Empty houses stretched around him.
No voices.
No lights.
Only memories.
Sasuke sat alone on the porch beneath the night sky.
His thoughts returned to the battle.
Naruto's speed.
Naruto's control.
That final use of Flying Thunder God.
Even with the second state of the Cursed Seal, Sasuke had failed to touch him.
His fists slowly clenched.
Then he sensed something.
Four chakra signatures.
Sasuke raised his head.
Figures appeared before him.
One after another, four Shinobi landed within the abandoned Uchiha compound.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
He recognized them.
The Sound Four.
....
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