"Karma."
This is what Sasuke named this ability.
The Misfortune Wolf possesses the power to absorb flames and calamities, which naturally includes misfortunes inflicted upon itself.
Simply put, any damage dealt to the Misfortune Wolf can enhance its own power. "The lower the HP, the higher the stats."
At the same time, Calamity Fire can promptly heal his injuries, preventing him from actually dying from them.
It could be said this was completely a "berserker" build.
Successfully transformed into beast-human form, Sasuke's size was similar to Karin's transformation, also around two meters tall.
This size was already quite frightening in the ninja world, where people averaged less than 1.6 meters.
Kurosuki Raiga was like a little chick in Sasuke's hands at this moment.
"Bastard!"
Kurosuki Raiga still wanted to counterattack, but Sasuke's movements were faster.
Crackle. The black-red Calamity Fire combined with Lightning Release's flash, wrapping around Sasuke's claws.
"Chidori: Karma Fire!"
Claw light flashed.
A dual attack on both body and soul instantly severed Kurosuki Raiga's life.
This level of character being able to serve as training practice for the current Sasuke was already putting in great effort.
"Hmm?"
Sensing the aura of that little guy called "Ranmaru," Sasuke was just about to directly finish him off as well.
But then he recalled the misfortunes he'd seen in the other party through his eyes.
"...Really troublesome."
After thinking about it, Sasuke still reached out his large hand, grasped Ranmaru entirely in his palm, then took a few large steps and jumped down from the cliff.
Sasuke didn't forget to take the two Lightning Swords from Kurosuki Raiga's corpse. He had a feeling they'd still be useful.
When Sasuke came down from the mountain, he saw the Kurosuki family minions lying all over the ground, and Naruto's group of three was already receiving thanks from the villagers nearby.
"So slow!"
Karin was tossing a fruit in her hands, given to her by some village child.
Against those thugs who could barely use some low-level ninjutsu, Karin's Garuda transformation could literally be called "beating up little kids."
If not for keeping them alive for questioning, a single volley of feathers during transformation would've already ended the battle.
Even without being able to use killing moves, the wind-controlling Garuda could freely maneuver among this group of enemies.
The opponents' attacks were either deflected by wind barriers or simply couldn't penetrate the metal feathers.
There was no comparison at all.
"So, who's this brat?"
Saying this, Karin pointed at Ranmaru.
Sasuke had already reverted from transformation to human form halfway down, and Ranmaru was currently being carried in his hand.
But this child neither cried nor made a fuss, not even showing a bit of sadness for Kurosuki Raiga.
"Just a war orphan who was being used by someone."
Sasuke didn't explain much more.
Actually, with his personality, not casually finishing off Ranmaru was already showing great mercy.
If not for Naruto's influence, he absolutely wouldn't bother with this kid's problems and would just let him fend for himself.
At this time, Naruto also walked over, smiling at Sasuke.
"How was it? You've finally completely mastered the transformation, right?"
"Hmph..."
Facing Naruto's inquiry, Sasuke just let out a light hum, but the slight upward curve of his mouth still revealed his inner emotions.
Then Jiraiya also came over, dragging a guy whose face was full of bumps and bruises from being beaten.
"This is Granny Sansho's son Karashi. This kid really is stubborn to the end."
Karashi, bound hand and foot by ink chains, was still shouting.
"Go back to that shop nobody visits and let those officials exploit us again?"
Actually, the reason Karashi chose to join Kurosuki Raiga's forces was because he couldn't stand the oppression from the corrupt officials here.
At that time, Kurosuki Raiga had just arrived at this small village that produced gold mines. Using his own military power, he'd easily driven away those officials.
But then he immediately began even more brutal oppression of the local residents.
Before it might've just been having little money and not enough to eat, but now one careless move could get you buried alive.
Thunk. Another knock on the head.
"Too afraid to resist those officials, so you chose to become an accomplice to those thugs?"
For this kind of idiot, Naruto didn't even have the mind to use talk-no-jutsu.
Waving his hand to signal the villagers to deal with the other bound Kurosuki forces themselves, he then dragged the unconscious Karashi toward the ink carriage.
"Matter resolved, let's go."
Karin and Sasuke looked at each other. They rarely saw Naruto show this kind of expression.
They'd originally thought Naruto would inevitably give another earnest lecture this time.
In Granny Sansho's curry shop, although her son had been beaten beyond recognition, Granny Sansho was still very grateful that Naruto could bring her son back.
At this moment, Karashi was staring at the ceiling with lifeless eyes, looking like he'd lost the will to live.
On the way back, Sasuke had already announced Kurosuki Raiga's death. This was confirmed by Ranmaru.
The "powerful" Kurosuki Raiga, in his eyes, had been killed single-handedly by a group of outsiders—even by Sasuke, who still looked like just a kid—this directly shattered Karashi's original convictions.
To thank Naruto and the others, Granny Sansho brought out her signature "Curry of Life."
The curry broth, black as ink, gave off a strong medicinal fragrance. Just by lightly smelling it, Naruto could detect many ingredients beneficial to the body.
"Mm mm, the taste... really not bad!"
Naruto didn't hesitate at all and began eating heartily.
Seeing this, the others nearby also suppressed their aversion to the curry's appearance and picked up their spoons.
The next moment—
"Ah!"
Cool-guy Sasuke's image lost control.
"Water! Water!"
The Toad Sage opened his mouth wide, uncontrollably sticking out his tongue.
Smack!
The worst off was still Karin. The little girl directly collapsed face-first onto the table, unconscious.
A small plate of curry could actually make Sasuke and the others, who'd been dominating the battlefield moments before, meet their match here.
"Whew... delicious! Boss, another plate!"
Perhaps only Naruto, with his legendary appetite, was truly capable of enjoying such deadly cuisine
After eating and drinking his fill, Naruto even asked Granny Sansho about the recipe with great interest.
Granny Sansho didn't hold back either, completely sharing her secret recipe step by step with Naruto.
Of course, whether Naruto's cooking skills were capable of replicating it was uncertain.
"Sigh, actually I can understand Karashi's thinking too."
After saying all that, Granny Sansho sighed again.
"We really are just an ordinary little curry shop here. It's normal that the child doesn't want to stay here."
Who would've thought Naruto would shake his head upon hearing this?
"You've got amazing skills here! The problem isn't your cooking—it's just business stuff."
"Listen, why don't you move east and set up shop near Konoha Village?"
"Call it a 'Ninja Curry Shop' and hire some of our genin as waiters. They could use the part-time work!"
"And forget 'boss'—you should be the 'Curry Master Chef!' That sounds way cooler, right?"
The business world in the pirate world was much more developed than here. Naruto spoke off the cuff, casually mentioning several ways to improve this little shop's business.
Whether it'd work or not was another matter, but Karashi lying on the ground had already turned his gaze over.
He thought this seemed to have potential.
And if they moved near Konoha Village, those officials probably wouldn't be able to harass them anymore, right?