Late Night.
Inside Orochimaru's base, the lights were still bright.
Perhaps it was because candlelight could evoke a deep sense of oppression that Orochimaru liked to light rows of oil lamps within the base to solve the problem of lighting.
Plop… plop…
Footsteps echoed in the silent, dim base.
Uchiha Sasuke, dressed in a white robe that revealed his muscular chest, walked step by step into the depths of the base with his hand on the ninja sword at his waist.
Along the way, Sasuke encountered a figure he recognized as Yakushi Kabuto, an assistant of Orochimaru.
Of course.
As a member of Team 7 from Konoha, Sasuke knew Kabuto's identity and his connections with the Konoha Orphanage and Akihara Kagura.
Just as Sasuke and Kabuto were about to pass each other, Kabuto suddenly extended his hand, and a syringe containing a pale yellow liquid flew from his hand towards Sasuke!
"..."
Sasuke glanced curiously at Kabuto.
"Just an antidote."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, hiding his eyes behind the lenses, and lowered his voice: "Don't worry about it. It won't make much difference to you. It just makes your battle a bit quicker, so the noise won't keep me up at night."
"I understand."
Sasuke grabbed the antidote and added in a deep voice, "Don't worry, the battle will end quickly."
After speaking, Sasuke continued towards the depths of the base.
In the laboratory deep within the base, Orochimaru was still busy. The heavy iron door was slowly pushed open, and a robust figure appeared inside the laboratory.
"Is that you, Sasuke?"
Orochimaru's hands were still occupied, as if he had been expecting this moment: "Don't rush. Can you wait until I finish this experiment?"
"Fine."
Sasuke stood at the doorway of the laboratory, resting his hand on his ninja sword, showing remarkable patience as he nodded slowly at Orochimaru.
"You don't seem to be interested in experiments…"
Orochimaru gently shook a test tube containing a purple liquid and smiled: "Would you like to know what I've concocted?"
"You said it yourself. I'm not interested."
Sasuke didn't even glance at the test tube in Orochimaru's hand, showing no concern whether it was poison or medicine: "Is the experiment finished?"
"Almost."
Orochimaru nodded and suddenly smashed the purple liquid on the ground, filling the laboratory with a purple toxic mist!
"This is… a poison that disrupts visual nerves…"
Sasuke realized something was wrong!
At that moment, his eyes began to hurt, and his vision blurred. For him, visual nerves were crucial for using certain techniques!
But…
That bastard Orochimaru…
He had prepared a poison targeting him while Sasuke had been lenient!
Sasuke remembered the antidote Kabuto had given him. Quickly, he took out the syringe and injected the pale yellow liquid into his thigh!
As the antidote took effect, the pain in Sasuke's eyes rapidly eased, and his vision became clear again!
"That is…"
Orochimaru noticed the antidote in Sasuke's hand and saw his vision clearing. His pupils contracted: "That guy Kabuto… had already figured out my poison!"
Indeed, Kabuto, who had been monitoring him, possessed extraordinary medical ninja skills. Even before he had concocted the poison, Kabuto had developed an antidote and given it to Sasuke!
"Damn it…"
Orochimaru gritted his teeth and spat out a Kusanagi sword!
Sasuke slid his hand and drew his ninja sword, charging straight at Orochimaru!
Clang!
Sasuke and Orochimaru's swords clashed!
Both of their weapons were extremely hard Kusanagi swords, and when they collided, sparks flew!
"Uchiha's little fledgling…"
Orochimaru gripped his Kusanagi sword, staring intently at Sasuke's eyes: "Your swordsmanship was taught by me. Do you think you can kill me with it?"
"Hmph…"
Sasuke was unfazed.
Both of them were adept at the Kenjutsu style of Orochimaru!
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru raised his hand!
Sasuke slashed with his sword, cutting down the heads of countless snakes that flew at him!
However, amidst the falling snake corpses…
Orochimaru's Kusanagi sword pierced through, striking Sasuke's arm, causing a spray of blood!
"Chidori Sharp Spear!"
Lightning flickered in Sasuke's palm, extending like a spear, piercing through Orochimaru's shoulder and marking him with a Flying Thunder God seal!
"This guy…"
Orochimaru could only retreat, clutching his shoulder!
The figure of Uchiha Sasuke instantly vanished using the Flying Thunder God Technique, reappearing behind Orochimaru. With a swift swing of his ninja sword, the blade gleamed sharply as it slashed through Orochimaru's waist, slicing him in half!
"Flying Thunder God…"
"When did you leave a mark?"
Orochimaru squinted his eyes, and from the wounds on his upper and lower body, snakes surged forth, quickly rejoining his severed body. Uchiha Sasuke coldly observed Orochimaru, indifferent as he said, "How could you possibly see the speed of the Flying Thunder God Technique user..."
In the next moment, Uchiha Sasuke vanished again! Reappearing beside Orochimaru once more, a crackling Chidori appeared in Sasuke's palm, piercing through Orochimaru's heart, the electric light instantly penetrating his body!
"Your Flying Thunder God has gotten faster!"
Blood trickled from Orochimaru's mouth, and even with his heart pierced by Sasuke, he continued to smile, saying, "Your Flying Thunder God's speed has surpassed Akihara Kagura's already..."
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke let out a cold snort, "The fastest in the Flying Thunder God Technique is Konoha's Fourth Hokage, Minato. How does my speed compare to his?"
"Who knows..."
Orochimaru chuckled lightly, suddenly opening his mouth as a small white snake darted towards Sasuke's mouth!
"You!"
Uchiha Sasuke quickly turned his head!
The moment the small white snake fell to the ground, it transformed into a large white-scaled snake, covered with scales made up of numerous small white snakes!
"So this is your true form..."
Uchiha Sasuke frowned, raising his ninja sword without hesitation and charging at Orochimaru's form!
"Sasuke, surrender your body to me! Only by merging with me will you have a chance against Akihara Kagura!"
The white-scaled snake opened its mouth wide, charging towards Uchiha Sasuke!
The numerous small white snakes on the white-scaled snake's body also transformed into long snakes, rushing towards Uchiha Sasuke and wrapping around him! Uchiha Sasuke didn't dodge but wielded his sword, slicing the snakes into pieces. His speed caught Orochimaru off guard!
Before Orochimaru could react, the head of the white-scaled snake was already severed, and the massive snake was cut into seven or eight pieces by Sasuke, seemingly dead on the spot!
"So simple..."
Uchiha Sasuke found it somewhat strange and easy.
How could one of Konoha's Sannin, Orochimaru, be killed by him so quickly?
As Sasuke was still pondering, Orochimaru's voice suddenly appeared beside his ear!
"What terrifying talent..."
Despite being cut down, the white-scaled snake came back to life, softly praising, "You killed me without even using the curse mark... But the drug's effect will begin soon..."
"What drug effect?"
Uchiha Sasuke frowned.
From the mouth of the white-scaled snake, Orochimaru's voice came, "The body fluid of this white-scaled snake turns into an anesthetic upon contact with air. This anesthetic was meant to be a secret weapon against Akihara Kagura, but unfortunately, its strength is insufficient. However, it is enough to deal with you..."
"!!!"
Uchiha Sasuke's body suddenly stiffened!
In the next moment, the white-scaled snake eagerly swallowed Sasuke whole!
Inside the white-scaled snake's belly was Orochimaru's reincarnation space, the place where he performed his Living Corpse Reincarnation. When Sasuke opened his eyes, he felt nauseated, seeing masses of flesh...
"This is..."
"This is my reincarnation space."
Wrapped in flesh, Orochimaru gleefully looked at Sasuke, "Your body, knowledge, and those eyes will soon be mine... Once I gather enough power, I will eventually take Akihara Kagura's body!"
"Foolish..."
Uchiha Sasuke's brows furrowed tightly.
In the next moment, Sasuke stared intently at Orochimaru, coldly speaking, "Orochimaru, do you really like these eyes?"
"Of course…"
A hint of madness appeared in Orochimaru's eyes, recalling the fear imposed by Uchiha Itachi. However, he suddenly felt something was amiss!
"Have you forgotten..."
Sasuke's eyes turned blood-red, staring at Orochimaru, "When fighting an Uchiha, never look into their eyes..."
"Genjutsu..."
Despair gradually filled Orochimaru's eyes.
"Uchiha… you..."
Orochimaru's consciousness began to waver, and the entire reincarnation space started to crumble under Sasuke's control. Even Orochimaru's body and chakra were absorbed, gradually merging into the curse mark on the back of Sasuke's neck!
Thump, thump, thump...
The laboratory door quietly opened.
Kabuto walked in, adjusting his glasses. Seeing Orochimaru's body on the ground, he showed no surprise, as if he had already expected this outcome.
"Uchiha Sasuke, your trial is successful. You may return to the Root and report to Kagura."
"I want to kill Uchiha Itachi..."
Sasuke's brows remained furrowed, reluctant to obey Kabuto's orders.
After killing Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Sannin, who had caused the death of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Sasuke's confidence soared. He believed he now had the qualifications to kill Uchiha Itachi!
"Root ninjas must follow orders."
Kabuto glanced at Sasuke, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, "Do you mean to leave the Root?"
"..."
Sasuke hesitated for a second, recalling the soon-to-return Naruto Uzumaki.
"I'll go see Lord Kagura immediately."
~~~
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