Strolling through the shadowy underground palace, Kabuto Yakushi pushed up his glasses, a smirk playing on his lips.
He had just received news from the Hidden Leaf Village: Sasuke, who had activated Gear Two of the "Cursed Seal of Heaven," had been defeated by Uchiha Shinji.
"What Mangekyo Uchiha? Just a failed experiment, nothing more."
Sasuke's defeat secretly delighted him.
As Orochimaru's right-hand man, Kabuto was well aware of the high hopes Orochimaru placed in Sasuke, which only fueled his jealousy.
Before long, he arrived at Orochimaru's room. Adjusting his emotions, he knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
Orochimaru's distinctive raspy voice echoed from within.
Kabuto pushed the door open and saw Orochimaru, his body wrapped in bandages. He quickly asked, "Is your condition improving, Orochimaru-sama?"
Orochimaru nodded, his expression somewhat grim.
Just days ago, Orochimaru had injected himself with a transformation serum derived from an "Upper Moon Demon." Unexpectedly, his body couldn't withstand the serum's effects, nearly collapsing entirely.
Though he managed to suppress the disintegration with his vast chakra reserves and endured the serum's transformation, his body was severely weakened, leaving him in the battered state Kabuto now saw.
Kabuto couldn't help but muse inwardly, Perhaps this is why Orochimaru-sama is so obsessed with Sasuke's body!
Orochimaru was a genius, but his bloodline was rather ordinary. Not only had he failed to master the senjutsu of Ryuchi Cave, but he had barely survived the serum's transformation.
Knowing Orochimaru was in a foul mood, Kabuto avoided lingering on the topic and instead reported Sasuke's defeat by Shinji in the Hidden Leaf Village.
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened. "What?! Even after unleashing both 'Susanoo' and the 'Cursed Seal of Heaven,' Sasuke still lost to Uchiha Shinji?"
Kabuto nodded lightly. "Indeed."
"Uchiha Shinji," Orochimaru murmured, squinting before suddenly chuckling. "It seems I underestimated him before!"
"Indeed. Who would've thought that someone with only a three-tomoe Sharingan could defeat Sasuke, who possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan?" Kabuto paused, then added pointedly, "According to our informants, Sasuke was thoroughly dominated throughout the fight!"
Orochimaru asked casually, "How did he do it?"
Kabuto smiled. "It's said he mastered some secret taijutsu technique and stole and improved the 'Rasengan,' creating a new jutsu called the 'Rasenshuriken.' That technique pierced through Sasuke's 'Susanoo'!"
Orochimaru followed up, "And the effects of the 'Cursed Seal of Heaven'?"
Pushing up his glasses again, Kabuto replied, "The boost was significant, but Sasuke hasn't fully adapted to the seal's power. This exposure has also alerted the Hidden Leaf Village, and the seal you placed in Sasuke's body might end up being suppressed."
Orochimaru shook his head. "It seems Itachi's little brother's talent pales in comparison to Itachi's!"
Kabuto echoed, "For now, it certainly seems that way."
"Perhaps I should've taken his Mangekyo Sharingan last time," Orochimaru said with a hint of regret before ordering, "Keep an eye on Uchiha Shinji!"
Orochimaru knew Sasuke's strength well. For someone to defeat Sasuke while he used both "Susanoo" and the "Cursed Seal of Heaven," Uchiha Shinji was clearly a superior candidate.
"Understood!"
Kabuto quickly agreed, realizing Orochimaru had set his sights on Shinji's body.
Hidden Leaf Village.
The aftermath of Sasuke's challenge to Shinji continued to ripple.
After this battle, not only did no one dare challenge Shinji, but even Haku and Karin were left alone, granting the trio a temporary reprieve.
Sasuke, having overexerted his dojutsu and with his body heavily corroded by the "Cursed Seal," was hospitalized.
This defeat was a massive blow to Sasuke. To the outside world, he became the first Mangekyo Uchiha to lose to a three-tomoe Uchiha.
Beyond the hit to his confidence, his concealment of the "Cursed Seal of Heaven" gave some in the village leverage against him. While recovering in the hospital, he had to endure constant interrogations.
Due to the extraordinary nature of the "Cursed Seal of Heaven," the village tasked Tsunade with leading a temporary medical team to study it.
These were the direct consequences, but indirect effects were numerous as well.
Spurred by Shinji's display, Yakumo began special training, doubling her daily regimen.
Neji, Rock Lee, and even the typically laid-back Shikamaru started private training during the holiday, guided by their respective jonin instructors or families.
On the streets.
Shion and Sakura strolled, munching on snacks.
"What's with everyone? I couldn't get anyone to hang out! Yakumo, Shinji, even Ino wouldn't come shopping with us!" Shion complained, chewing on a meatball.
Sakura, preoccupied, responded absently, "Mm-hmm."
Noticing her mood, Shion asked, "Sakura, how's Sasuke doing?"
Sakura's face finally showed worry. "He's still in the hospital. He's pretty badly hurt. And…"
"And what?" Shion pressed.
"Sasuke seems to have offended Shinji this time. His hospital room has been crawling with Anbu lately. I'm worried the village might punish him." Pausing, Sakura suddenly grabbed Shion's hand. "Shion, you're closest to Shinji. Could you plead with him to forgive Sasuke?"
"Leave it to me!"
Shion confidently took on the task, knowing Shinji wouldn't care about such a minor issue.
"Awesome!"
Sakura sighed in relief.
In the past, she might've dared to ask Shinji herself, but after he disciplined Sasuke, she felt a bit intimidated by the academy's First Chair.
Shion asked, "By the way, where's Naruto? Isn't he always trailing you? How come he's not around today?"
Sakura pouted. "Who knows where that idiot ran off to! We agreed to visit Sasuke together today, but I couldn't find him anywhere. It's driving me crazy!"
Outside the village.
Naruto, carrying a backpack, glanced back reluctantly at the village and asked Jiraiya beside him, "Pervy Sage, why didn't you let me say goodbye to Sakura and Sasuke? Sakura finally agreed to a date with me today! If I stand her up, she'll kill me!"
Jiraiya laughed. "Women? Don't even worry about them!"
Naruto shot him a sidelong glance. "Then why were you peeping at the women's bathhouse yesterday?"