Chapter 159: Kimimaro's and Sasuke's Techniques
Sasuke frowned, watching as the curse mark's formula gradually crawled across Kimimaro's entire body.
"This is trouble. He's gotten even stronger now..." Sasuke stared gravely at Kimimaro. This level of opponent is probably not much weaker than Zabuza was, right?
However, this was not the end.
"This is State One. Next..." Kimimaro said calmly, "is State Two, my strongest form!"
The chakra signature from Kimimaro's body continued to surge dramatically, and his physical form also underwent a huge change in the process: his skin turned a bizarre dark red, bone spikes and plates emerged from all over his body, and, even more strangely, a long tail grew from his waist!
The power boost from the curse mark is actually this strong! Sasuke was truly a little dumbfounded now.
To be honest, if he hadn't already embarked on the path of Lightning Style, perhaps Orochimaru's curse mark really could have tempted him.
"This is the power the curse mark has brought me, Sasuke. You also have a curse mark of the same level on your body. That is a gift bestowed upon you by Lord Orochimaru. It's a pity you were so foolish as to seal it away!"
Kimimaro said, while pulling his spine out from his back and generating a bone drill on his left hand.
Indeed, in the moment that power had erupted from Kimimaro's body, Sasuke had even felt his heart waver for an instant—regretting that he had chosen to seal it away.
However, the him of now trusted the power he had obtained through steady training even more. A gift bestowed by Orochimaru? There is no such thing as a free lunch. Sasuke wouldn't dare to casually touch such a gift. Who knew how many tricks Orochimaru had hidden inside it!
His improvement from Lightning Style was just as high! After having Lightning Style, this level of power no longer held much attraction for him, not enough to tempt him to abandon everything and defect to Orochimaru's side.
And besides, this appearance was just too ugly...
"Hmph, to turn into a monster that's neither human nor ghost like you just for this level of power? I'd rather not have such a gift!"
"Tch, how stubborn..." Kimimaro gave a faint smile.
A moment later, he finally completed his transformation into Curse Mark State Two and the Dance of the Clematis.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting... This is the Dance of the Clematis, which, after raising the hardness of my bones to the highest level, can pierce any defense and defend against any attack!"
A giant, sharp bone drill was thrust diagonally into the ground.
Kimimaro's presence, like a deep abyss, pressed down on the area.
But Sasuke just smiled unhurriedly.
"No need. I should also thank you for giving me so much preparation time for this ninjutsu. I'm still a little unfamiliar with this new jutsu..."
In his hand, without anyone noticing, the lightning-natured chakra of the Raikiri had once again condensed.
No, it wasn't the Raikiri. Compared to the calm, blue, flowing light of the Raikiri, which was like a gurgling stream, at this moment, the chakra in Sasuke's hand was emitting a violent, dazzling, and intense blue light!
The majestic, ferocious might of the lightning was actually a few cuts fiercer than Kimimaro's terrifying presence.
That restless lightning light, piercing and sharp, leaped and roared restlessly in Sasuke's hand, as if it would burst out and devour someone at any moment!
"This is the next stage of Raikiri, after taking the lightning nature transformation to its extreme..."
"Lightning Style - Raikiri Raging Stream!"
"I hope your bones can still stop my Raikiri Raging Stream this time!"
An arc of pride curved Sasuke's lips.
Konoha, Hokage's Office.
"Has it been confirmed that this is Orochimaru's doing?" the Third Hokage asked, looking at Tsunade with a grave expression. Although he was already disabled and had shed his armor, the presence of the great Shinobi God was on full display at this moment.
Without a doubt, his failure to take Orochimaru's life during the Chunin Exams, allowing him to continue stirring up trouble outside, was a sore point in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart.
And he had never expected that after only being quiet for a few months, that fellow Orochimaru would start making trouble again, coveting Konoha's last Sharingan bloodline—Uchiha Sasuke!
"Master, you don't need to worry. I've already dispatched the Anbu. Kakashi and Gai, and a few others, have also just received my order to go and support them. With their assistance, Orochimaru will not succeed," Tsunade said calmly, sitting behind the Hokage's desk.
"It's just that there are also traces of 'Root' making a move in this. Danzo has a foot in this as well..."
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe and took a drag.
"Hmph—!" He exhaled a cloud of smoke and said, "That fellow Danzo... has been overly active recently. We need to find a way to make him quiet down a bit!"
"I've been collecting intelligence on him, Master. When necessary, I'll find a way to teach him a profound lesson!"
"Tsunade, this matter is not that easy. Danzo is a very cautious person..." The pipe tapped against the windowsill. The Third pondered for a moment, then continued, "In any case, with Danzo involved in this matter, Orochimaru has likely already been intercepted by him. With his style, he wouldn't do something that would aid the enemy. But we must have the dispatched Anbu be careful. We cannot give Danzo the chance to get his hands on, or even eliminate, Sasuke!"
"Eliminate Sasuke? Why would Danzo do that?"
"With Danzo's style, that is likely one of his options! Tsunade, haven't you finished reading the Uchiha files yet?"
The Fifth Hokage gave a wry smile. "I've been so busy before. Where would I find the time to pay attention to something that happened several years ago?"
"You haven't been so busy recently, have you? Take this time to read all those classified documents. You absolutely must not neglect it, especially Itachi Uchiha's file... This is very important. You'll understand after you read it!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said seriously.
The matter of Uchiha Itachi was a top-secret among top-secrets. Even Jiraiya did not know the inside story. However, since Tsunade had become the Fifth Hokage, she naturally had the qualification to know all of Konoha's information.
It was just that this feeling of being able to master all secrets was not always a pleasant one, especially when Tsunade found that there were too many files, and reading these archives had become a burden—
She'd been giving Sakura homework every day, and now it was her turn to be given homework by the Third Hokage. Sure enough, what goes around comes around...
Tsunade was on the verge of collapsing inwardly.
But she couldn't refuse. The other person was not only the previous Hokage but also her master who had taught her. In either capacity, he had the qualification to guide her.
"Oh right, I also sent Anbu Squad 14 out to support Sasuke. They should have already made contact with the Sound ninja by now! Since Orochimaru isn't present, there probably won't be a big problem on Sasuke's side."
The Fifth quickly changed the subject, fearing that Lord Third Hokage would think of some other archive that she must read.
"That's Sakura's team, right?"
The Third said with a smile.
He had always paid close attention to this person, Haruno Sakura.
At first, he had just wanted to set an example in the Ninja Academy to motivate the other little ninja to study and train hard. Later, he had gradually discovered her extraordinary talent in developing ninjutsu, and only then had he begun to pay special attention to her.
This old man's enthusiasm and concern for Sakura probably also stemmed from a trace of regret for Orochimaru buried deep in his heart: it was the sorrow he felt for his most beloved disciple having gone down an evil path. Seeing this girl's talent being revealed more and more, he seemed to see the shadow of Orochimaru from back then in Sakura.
But Haruno Sakura was a more perfect Orochimaru—she had not experienced the death of both parents, had not been led astray by psychological trauma, had not come into conflict with the Third, and had not even joined the Root of his political rival, Danzo.
On the contrary, although she was just a girl, she had actually mastered a Kekkei Genkai at a tender age—this was something even Orochimaru had not done. Then she had successively developed ninjutsu like Sakura Rush and the Ice Clone. That stunningly brilliant air was, without a doubt, a second Orochimaru.
So even though Haruno Sakura was already Tsunade's disciple now, he was still silently watching over this girl, helping her, and at the same time, hoping that she would not also walk down an evil path like Orochimaru...
It seemed that in this old man's heart, Haruno Sakura's growth could make up for the regret of his failed education of Orochimaru.
A regret that he had always found difficult to let go of.
❃❃❃
⤑ Show your support with Power Stones!
⤑ Unlock a Bonus Chapter every time we hit 400 Power Stones!
❃❃❃
♕ Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
🔗 https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to open the link!)
💬 Enjoying the story? Drop a review!
Your support really helps the series grow—thank you!