—Futsunomitama!
Whoosh! The Truth-Seeking Orb shimmered, and suddenly, human-like features—eyes, a nose, a mouth—appeared on its inky black surface. Everything was pitch-black, even the eyes, so it wasn't exactly easy to tell them apart. But one thing was clear: this Truth-Seeking Orb had a will of its own!
It blinked its shadowy eyes and spoke, "Father, please give your child a name!"
Naruto had granted nearly a hundred souls before, but this was the first time one had ever asked for a name. His curiosity was piqued.
He asked, "Why do you want a name?"
The orb answered solemnly, "A name is proof that I existed. Even if I can no longer serve you one day, my memory will remain in your heart, Father!"
Naruto nodded. "That's a good reason. Then your name will be... Kurotarō Uzumaki!"
"Hehe, I'm Kurotarō~!"
Kurotarō spun joyfully around Naruto.
From afar, Sasuke scoffed at the scene. "What a load of nonsense. This is just ridiculous!"
Naruto watched as Sasuke, cloaked in Susanoo and trailing the Flame Thunder God Black Rope Grand Tornado, closed in. He thought, Sasuke's probably planning something with that tornado. Is he trying to use Amenotejikara to swap me into the heart of it?
While Naruto was predicting Sasuke, Sasuke was analyzing Naruto just as intently.
"That black orb behind him is a real pain. I need to find a way to separate him from those orbs…"
Sasuke's gaze flicked to the ruins, where a lone Truth-Seeking Orb lay in a distant corner. It was the one he'd used as a transfer point at the start of the fight. Now, too far from Naruto, it was out of his control.
So, Naruto's effective range for manipulating those black spheres doesn't go beyond this…
After a quick estimation, Sasuke smirked. "That makes things simple."
Whoosh! A purple arrow formed in Susanoo's hand, nocked and aimed straight at Naruto.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "A normal Susanoo arrow? He's not trying to attack—he's setting up a transfer point for Amenotejikara!"
Thwip!
The arrow shot forward!
Sasuke's left eye flashed. In the blink of an eye, he appeared where the arrow landed.
Naruto thought, Just as I expected. But Sasuke's rushing in too fast—he can't swap me into that tornado from this distance!
Another arrow flew off to the side!
"The positions I can swap aren't limited to myself. I can swap any two points in space!"
Sasuke's left eye locked onto Naruto, then flicked to the tail of the second arrow.
—Amenotejikara!
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Naruto was swapped to the arrow's location—but the Truth-Seeking Orbs stayed behind. As the distance from their wielder grew, they dropped to the ground one after another with a soft thud.
To finish the job, Sasuke's left eye focused on the scattered orbs.
—Mogaribetsu Rei!!
BOOM!
A pillar of lightning crashed down, smashing the earth. The orbs were driven deep underground. Susanoo swung its great sword, sending rocks tumbling and burying the orbs completely.
Crack! Crack! With a satisfied shake of his head and a wild grin, Sasuke declared, "Now you can't use those black spheres to protect yourself!"
Whoosh!
Sasuke charged, sage chakra swirling into a white serpent that morphed into the dragon of the White Shock Technique!
The Flame Thunder God Black Rope Grand Tornado closed in, opening a gap to envelop Sasuke. The instant before it sealed shut, Sasuke's left eye locked onto Naruto!
—Amenotejikara!
Whoosh!
Naruto and Sasuke swapped places—the tornado's gap snapped shut!
Sasuke formed a two-finger seal.
—Six Paths: White Shock Technique!
BOOM…!
The white dragon inside the tornado exploded in a blinding flash, trapping Naruto inside and blocking any escape—even with the Flying Thunder God.
Sizzle!
At the same time, Sasuke's right eye gleamed as Kagutsuchi and Takemikazuchi activated together!
"Burn to ashes!!!"
The Flame Thunder God Black Rope Grand Tornado raged, dōjutsu power stirring it into a blazing thunderstorm that swept the sky!
Sasuke's eyes were cold. "With the Six Paths Sage cloak, this won't kill you, Naruto—but the sustained damage will leave you crippled. After that, I'll break your limbs and seal your power. Just accept your fate…"
Crack! Crack!
Suddenly, from the buried earth, a tiny black sphere burst free!
It was Kurotarō, charging headlong into the heart of the thunderous black flames. "Kurotarō will protect Father!!!"
Sasuke was stunned. "That thing's soul lets it ignore the manipulation range?!"
Of course, there was still a range limit. But now, Kurotarō could move on its own!
Kurotarō transformed into a sharp cone, pierced through the blazing thunderstorm, and reached the core. Instantly, it expanded into a full protective barrier, shielding Naruto inside!
Wrapping around Naruto, Kurotarō shot out of the black flames, then opened up and released him, reverting to a tiny black sphere.
Naruto grinned, "Kurotarō, nice job!"
"Hehe…"
Kurotarō blushed with pride.
"Unbelievable…!!"
Fury twisted Sasuke's face. Susanoo's armored bands stretched skyward, its core body towering above all. When the armor fully covered it, the ultimate demon was born!
—Susanoo: Perfect Form!
With dual Six Tomoe Rinnegan, Sasuke had mastered this ultimate state!
The Bow of Heaven formed, firing an arrow straight up!
Susanoo formed hand seals with both hands.
—Ame-no-Ohabari!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
A rain of purple arrows poured from the heavens, blanketing the land—no room to dodge!
Kurotarō panicked. "Father, I'll protect you again!!"
"No, you can't block this either. Get to safety—don't get hit!"
Naruto's eyes snapped upward.
—Ōmononushi!
Whoosh! Every arrow in his line of sight vanished into thin air!
The dual-eye power of Ōmononushi could erase objects from existence—but the cost in ocular power was steep!
The arrow rain kept coming!
Desperate, Kurotarō scanned the battlefield—then darted away!
Sasuke sneered, "Ha! That's your so-called 'good child'? The moment it realizes it can't help, it runs for its own life!"
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG…!
Arrows hammered the ground in a deadly grid, but the spot where Naruto stood remained untouched!
Whoosh!
Kurotarō, using its tiny, agile form, slipped out of the arrow storm and reached a distant ruin.
In one corner, another Truth-Seeking Orb lay—the very same one Sasuke had used as a transfer point at the start. It hadn't been buried with the others.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM…!
The arrow rain intensified. Naruto's pupils trembled as he erased arrow after arrow above him!
Even the strongest ocular power couldn't last at this rate!
Seeing this, Kurotarō clenched his teeth, grabbed the lone orb in his mouth, and raced back!
Spotting Kurotarō's return, Sasuke's eyes turned icy. "What a pest…"
Hiss! A white snake slithered from his sleeve. Sasuke caught it and squeezed!
His right eye locked onto Kurotarō weaving through the arrow rain.
"Anything with a soul can be punished by this technique. Die!"
—Ame-no-Sakate!
The injury dealt to the white snake was transferred to Kurotarō!
[Ame-no-Sakate can't transfer death directly—only chronic death after severe injury. That's why Sasuke never used it on Naruto at first: if he couldn't finish him in one blow, Naruto would recover quickly. Plus, Ame-no-Sakate has usage limits. Unless it's a sure win or a last resort, Sasuke rarely uses it.]
Crack…
Fissures split Kurotarō's body!
"Father, Kurotarō can't protect you anymore…"
Knowing his end was near, Kurotarō dashed forward with everything he had—until, at last, he faded away completely.
But he'd brought the orb in his mouth within 70 meters—back into Naruto's control!
Whoosh!
Responding to Naruto's will, the orb flew into his hand!
"Kurotarō, I'll remember you…"
Naruto gripped the orb, using it as a 'sample' for replication.
Then he looked skyward, eyes blazing with determination.
"And Sasuke—this farce ends now!"
—Ōmononushi Style: Truth-Seeking Great Black Heaven!
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