Back at the InYō HQ,
Izuna pays close attention to the battle of Sasuke, Itachi, and Kabuto.
'Hmm… this new form of Kabuto. There is no doubt about it. It's the third transformation of the Sage Mode or the Six Paths Sage Mode.'
Izuna analyses the several marking around Kabuto's body.
'No, it's Pseudo-Six Paths Sage Mode. He possesses the power and techniques of the Six Paths Sage Mode but lacks the necessary elemental proficiency to command all five elements to their full potential. He can't even fuse more than three elements in this form, much less the five elements.
Nonetheless, I am impressed by his attainments. Even for me, it took me several years to achieve a perfect balance of all elements and create 'Truth-Seeking Orbs' to mark complete mastery of the 'Six Paths Sage Mode'. Though my body was unable to bear the burden of such power, leading to a significant delay in the process.
However, Kabuto circumvented all these processes by stealing powers from others through body modifications. His current body is robust enough to bear the burden of his great power. Though he still lacks the insight in his power.'
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The clash of chaotic energy settles down to reveal a massive crater at the collision site.
Itachi's and Sasuke's Susanoo are buried deep in the ground. A multi-element barrier shimmers around his Susanoo.
At some distance from the duo, Kabuto is also shrouded in a dark green barrier of his own. The pseudo-Six Path Sage Mode has bolstered his defenses by a lot.
Swish… swish… swish…
Itachi and Sasuke make quick hand signs.
"Sage Art: Pheonix Sage Fire Bomb,"
Itachi spews out several dark crimson orbs of fire. The fire orbs rapidly fly toward Kabuto.
"Amaterasu,"
Itachi ignites the fire orbs with black flames changing their colour from dark crimson to black.
BOOM… BOOM…
The black fire orbs explode on contact with Kabuto and leaves behind a scorching trail of high-temperature flames. Black flames spread across the entire field and burn non-stop.
Sasuke also takes a deep breath.
"Sage Art: White Rage Technique,"
He uses a Ryuchi cave technique and spews out a massive red dragon of nature energy.
"Blaze Release: Amaterasu: Kagutsuchi,"
A layer of black flames envelops the massive red dragon and converts it into a giant, flaming black dragon.
ROARR…
A red gleam flashes in the dragon's eyes and it opens its giant maw and swallows Kabuto in black flames.
BOOM…
A five-meter-tall pillar of black flames rises from the ground. The temperature of the surroundings rises by several-fold as Amaterasu continues to burn the surrounding ground.
Swoosh…
Kabuto leaps out of black flames with his entire body covered in black flames.
Bleugh…
He opens his mouth and vomits some white liquid.
Bleurgh…
A white hand crawls out of his mouth. Kabuto's mouth expands and another hand crawls out of the mouth. Both hands grab a corner of his mouth and stretch it wide. Soon, Kabuto's hand crawls out of the mouth.
With a jerk of his hand, he jumps out of his mouth. His former body falls to the ground and burns completely from black flames.
Ayaka, who was also watching the battle alongside Izuna, is so grossed out by Kabuto that she almost pukes on his brother.
Izuna could only helplessly shake his head and continue to watch the battle.
'It's the reason I hate anything that crawls with a passion.'
Hmm…
Kabuto stares at his new body and nods. He clenches his fists and turns towards the Uchiha duo.
"Such great power! I am getting more and more fascinated by it."
Sasuke and Itachi's expression turns ugly as none of their jutsu dealt any damage to Kabuto.
The exhaustion from the previous battles has already started to pile up and even their chakra reserves begin to run dry.
Kabuto glances at the giant pillar of black flames in front of him.
Swish…
He claps his hands, and a figure appears on the snake latched onto his body.
"Sage Art: Multi transformation jutsu,"
The snake squirms and morphs into one of the Sound Four members.
"Sakon! Demon Twin Jutsu,"
The snake splits in half and morphs into Jirobo of the Sound Four.
"Jirobo! Earth Style: Terra Shield,"
The figure of Jirobo raises its hand and smashes to the ground.
Rumble… rumble…
The ground in front of Kabuto trembles and splits in half. A major chunk of earth rises from the ground and buries the black flame pillar into the earth.
"Kidomaru: Spiral Web!"
He throws a massive net toward the Uchiha duo.
"These threads can't be cut!" Sasuke and Itachi notice the dense chakra within the spider web.
"Amaterasu!"
"AMATERASU!"
Both of them use the black flames to burn off the spider web. They jump back and avoid a barrage of hardened organic fluid arrows.
"Our path behind is blocked!"
A massive earth wall appears behind the duo.
Bang…
Sasuke slams the fist of his Susanoo to break the wall. Both of them quickly dodge another barrage of arrows and take shelter behind the giant rock pillars.
"Hehe… you can run but not hide!"
The face of transformation changes again.
"Tayuya! Demon Flute: Chains of Fantasia!"
A powerful sound wave spread across the entire field.
"Are you okay, Sas-?"
Itachi's and Sasuke's bodies freeze in a spot as the sound waves hit them.
"It's a genjutsu, huh?"
Both of their Susanoo slowly dissipate and the brothers appear in a mirage of red eyes, piles of thousands of skeletons. Numerous white snakes bind their body like chains.
"Even your specialty, the Susanoo can't stifle sound and escape from jutsu."
Kabuto slowly walks towards the duo. The face of the figure on his stomach transforms into Orochimaru.
"Now, I will use Orochimaru-sama's power to assimilate you both and make your powers mine." Kabuto licks his lips.
"You both will then serve me as my perfect Edo Soldiers!"
Black clouds appear in the sky and it starts to pour, drenching the three shinobis.
"Kabuto, it's fine to mimic someone you respect, but taking it too far will lead to losing your sense of self." Itachi opens his mouth to engage Kabuto in a conversation to buy time to think of a solution.
"Hehe… my sense of self." Kabuto chuckles.
"From the very beginning, I was a nobody. I had no parents, no family, no friends, and in the end, I am left with no one to rely on."
"No, it's different. You mislead yourself with lies and failed to acknowledge your uniqueness. Thus, no matter what, you will eventually fail."
"Fail? The way I am now? HOWW?!!"
The Orochimaru face turns into a giant snake and leaps toward Sasuke with an open mouth.
'Sasuke… look into my eyes!'
'I understand!'
"Sasuke!"
"Itachi!"
Sasuke and Itachi glance into each other's eyes.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan,"
"Tsukiyomi,"
Both of them casts a genjutsu on each other and cancel out Kabuto's genjutsu.
Swoosh…
Whoosh…
Both Sasuke and Itachi activate their Susanoo at the same time and grab the neck of the giant snake Orochimaru. While Itachi slices and seals it with his Totsuka blade.
"DAMN YOU!"
Kabuto shouts in rage and his entire body suddenly squirms, twitches, and twists.
BOOM…
He turns into a gigantic nine-head snake monster with horns on its head.
"So, this is your true form!"
Sasuke and Itachi glance at Kabuto's current form. Both of them activate Full body Susanoo and leap into the air.
The giant snake monster Kabuto opens his nine mouths and fires several destructive beams of chakra at them.
The Susanoo flaps its wings and dodges the attacks. Itachi even summons his 'Yata Mirror Shield' to deflect Kabuto's attack.
HAAH…
Sasuke swings a giant chakra blade and beheads one of Kabuto's snake heads. The snakehead regenerates instantly and bites off Sasuke's Susanoo legs.
Bang… bang…
Sasuke fires several arrows inside the snake head and frees himself.
"His power has increased again!"
Itachi remarks as he notices a black halo slowly form behind Kabuto's snake heads.
"That thing behind him is dangerous. We have to stop him before he completes his jutsu." Sasuke flies beside Itachi.
"Nii-san, buy some time. I am about to use that jutsu. Alright, be quick!" Itachi assures him and flies toward Kabuto.
"Amaterasu!"
He activates Amaterasu to burn a snake head. The snake head winces in pain as black flames spread across its mouth.
Its skin cracks and the scales on its body sheds. The snake head molts to avoid the black flames.
The black halo behind the two snake fuses followed by the fusion of two snake heads. The new snake head looks more sturdy and powerful than before.
This new snake head opens its mouth and fires a much larger beam toward Sasuke.
Whoosh…
Itachi flies in front of the beam and blocks it with his Yata Mirror Shield. He successfully blocks the attack, but the impact sends him flying.
Another four snake heads fuse, leaving a central snake head and four side heads.
All five snakeheads open their mouth at the same time and charge a powerful attack.
"SHIMATA!"