The room fell silent as Sasuke and Yoroi squared off. The air was thick with anticipation, but Sasuke could feel something else beneath it—a pressure coiling at the base of his neck.
The cursed seal.
He ignored it. This fight would be his, not Orochimaru's.
A Battle of Attrition
Yoroi smirked behind his glasses, flexing his fingers. "Let's make this quick."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. He had seen Yoroi during the second phase—his ability to drain chakra through physical contact was dangerous.
But Sasuke wasn't about to let him get close.
With a burst of speed, Sasuke darted forward, throwing a feint before pivoting into a spinning kick.
Yoroi barely dodged, bringing up his hands to counter. "Too slow!"
He lunged, his hand crackling with chakra as he reached for Sasuke's arm—but Sasuke twisted away, using his momentum to slam a fist into Yoroi's ribs.
Yoroi stumbled back, surprised.
Sasuke smirked. Not so easy, huh?
The Seal Awakens
But then—a searing pain shot through his neck.
Sasuke's breath hitched as his muscles tensed involuntarily. The cursed seal was reacting.
Orochimaru's voice slithered through his mind. "Use it. Let my power flow through you."
Sasuke clenched his teeth. No. He wouldn't.
Yoroi saw the hesitation and rushed in.
His hand reached Sasuke's shoulder—and immediately, Sasuke felt his chakra drain. His body weakened.
Naruto and Sakura tensed on the sidelines.
"Sasuke!" Sakura called out.
Sasuke growled in frustration, forcing himself to move. He twisted his body, slamming an elbow into Yoroi's jaw before jumping back.
A New Strategy
I can't let him touch me again.
Sasuke shifted his stance, recalling what he had observed in Rock Lee's taijutsu. He had seen it firsthand—speed, precision, impact.
Time to put it to use.
Yoroi charged again, reaching for him—but this time, Sasuke ducked low, weaving between his attacks with newfound agility.
Then, in an instant—Sasuke was behind him.
Before Yoroi could react, Sasuke launched into a spinning kick—Lee's move, but his own adaptation.
Yoroi was sent flying.
Sasuke didn't stop. He leapt after him, grabbing him mid-air. One clean motion.
And then—he drove Yoroi into the ground with a brutal dropkick.
A heavy thud. The floor cracked beneath the impact.
Silence.
Yoroi twitched but didn't rise.
Hayate coughed lightly before raising his hand.
"Winner: Sasuke Uchiha."
A Silent Warning
Sasuke exhaled, shaking his arm. He had done it—without the cursed seal.
But even as he stood victorious, he could still feel the mark pulsing beneath his skin.
He glanced toward the stands—Orochimaru was watching.
Their eyes met.
The snake-like grin widened.
Sasuke clenched his fists and turned away.
This battle was over.
But the real fight?
It had just begun.