Chapter 229 – Uzumaki Karin
"It seems the fight is about to end," said Hatake Yusuke, a faint, knowing smile curling at the edge of his lips.
Beside him, Itachi Uchiha nodded quietly. His face remained calm and composed as always, but a subtle flicker of worry still lingered in his heart. If Sasuke couldn't handle Deidara on his own, Itachi had already decided—he would intervene and end the battle himself.
"There's no need to worry too much," Yusuke said casually, glancing at him. "Sasuke may be slightly inferior in terms of raw strength, but in the end, the winner will still be him."
It wasn't an empty statement. Yusuke could sense it clearly—there was a latent chakra deep inside Sasuke's body, one that was quietly building, waiting for the perfect moment to erupt.
Indra… even though you already know the truth behind all of this, Yusuke thought, this life of yours must still be lived to its conclusion.
After all, you are one who once stood at the level of the Six Paths. I'm certain your future will be entertaining to watch. I only hope that you, Naruto, and Toneri won't end up disappointing me in the end.
That soft, amused smile lingered on Yusuke's lips. He had taken an interest in Naruto, Sasuke, and Toneri not merely because of their lineage, but because each of them carried potential of monumental scale.
Three beings with power approaching the Six Paths threshold—and the existence of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya—were more than enough to pique his curiosity.
"…This isn't good," Itachi murmured, his calm gaze sharpening suddenly. Through his Sharingan, he could see Deidara's chakra condensing into a single, massive point.
The manic look on Deidara's face told him everything—Sasuke was in grave danger.
"Stay calm," Yusuke said lightly, catching the subtle movement in Itachi's posture. "At this distance, you won't make it in time. Leave it to me."
Itachi hesitated for only a moment before giving a small nod.
Down below, a grotesque mouth opened wide in the center of Deidara's chest, devouring mouthfuls of explosive clay.
Meanwhile, Yusuke's body began to disintegrate into radiant motes of blue light. In an instant, he vanished from the mountaintop—his form streaking across the battlefield like a shooting star.
"Die! This is… my ultimate art!" Deidara screamed, his face twisting into pure insanity as his body turned semi-transparent. His network of chakra veins pulsed like glowing roots beneath his skin.
Sasuke reacted immediately, slamming his palm to the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
A burst of smoke exploded as the gigantic serpent Manda emerged, hissing violently.
"You again, brat?" Manda snarled, his golden eyes narrowing.
Before he could complain further, Sasuke's Sharingan flashed—and the mighty serpent froze, bound by genjutsu.
Within seconds, Manda could feel a horrifying wave of energy from Deidara's direction.
"How terrifying…" Yusuke said softly, his voice calm even as the air rippled under the immense chakra pressure. Standing atop Manda's head, he gazed down at Deidara with the expression of someone watching a candle flicker before its end.
"Lord Yusuke! Help me!" Manda roared in panic, his pride forgotten.
"Hatake Yusuke! You're just in time!" Deidara shouted, his voice a mixture of rage and madness. "Perfect! You can die together with my final masterpiece!"
If there was one person he despised even more than Itachi, it was Yusuke. His smug attitude, his absolute composure—everything about him infuriated Deidara beyond reason.
Then, with a blinding flash, Deidara's body detonated.
The explosion swallowed the landscape, an all-consuming inferno of white light and scorching air expanding in every direction.
"Barrier."
Yusuke's voice rang clear and steady. A massive, transparent wall of energy formed around Deidara's body, sealing the explosion within. The shockwave struck the barrier's interior like a caged storm, but not even a single spark escaped.
The world outside remained still, while within, light brighter than the sun blazed furiously.
"Alright then, little Sasuke," Yusuke said with a faint smile, turning his gaze to the boy standing on Manda's head. "You can release your control over Manda now."
But Sasuke didn't move. His eyes stayed fixed on Yusuke, wary and calculating. To him, anyone associated with Orochimaru was not to be trusted—and Yusuke's aura, calm yet overwhelming, made him hesitate.
"Fine," Yusuke said mildly, sighing. "I'll handle it myself."
He reached up, lifting the edge of his eyepatch. A surge of deep blue light spilled forth from the revealed eye, its brilliance piercing through the air like a blade.
The genjutsu holding Manda instantly shattered.
"Kh… cough!" Sasuke gasped, collapsing to one knee as the backlash of his own technique struck him full-force.
"Damn brat! I'll kill you!" Manda roared, lunging toward Sasuke, jaws wide.
But before he could strike, Yusuke's quiet voice cut through the chaos like a command from heaven.
"Stop."
Instantly, Manda froze in place. The serpent's immense body trembled as his eyes darted toward Yusuke, terror replacing his rage.
"L-Lord Yusuke… are you angry with me?" he asked nervously, his tone trembling.
"Enough," Yusuke replied flatly. "This is over. Return."
"Understood, Lord Yusuke! I'll obey immediately!" Manda said hurriedly, bowing his massive head.
Yusuke nodded approvingly, while Sasuke stared in shock. Even Orochimaru had never managed to make Manda submit this easily.
The truth was simple: years ago, Yusuke had encountered Manda during a visit to Ryūchi Cave. The serpent's arrogance had annoyed him—so he'd beaten Manda senseless and even sliced off one of his horns.
When Yusuke was about to finish him off and turn him into food, a much larger serpent appeared—fiery red and far stronger. Its name was Shin'ya, and it called Manda its prey.
Naturally, Yusuke wasn't about to back down. He crushed Shin'ya as well, tearing off the forbidden scale beneath its throat.
When both serpents still refused to yield, Yusuke conjured several Truth-Seeking Rods using Yin–Yang Release, then ignited an infernal flame hotter than molten rock.
As their scales began to melt, he hung them above the fire, ready to roast them alive.
From that day onward, both Manda and Shin'ya abandoned their pride completely—and swore never to defy Yusuke again.
So when Manda now spoke obediently, it was out of sheer terror, not loyalty.
"Good. When you return, sever your contract with Orochimaru," Yusuke ordered. "And one more thing—leave your subordinate, the small serpent named Aoda. Let him form the new contract with Sasuke. He's much more… reliable."
"Understood, Lord Yusuke," Manda said quickly, glancing at Sasuke with obvious irritation before his massive body dissolved into violet smoke and vanished.
A moment of quiet followed—until a familiar voice broke through the silence.
"Sasuke! Are you okay?!"
A red-haired girl came running toward them, her eyes wide with worry. She grabbed Sasuke's arm, revealing old bite marks on her wrist. Without hesitation, Sasuke bit down again.
Within seconds, the wounds on his body began closing, and his chakra reserves surged back to full.
"Oh… how fascinating," Yusuke murmured, studying the crimson-haired girl. "A redhead like you is quite rare."
The sight brought back memories of Uzumaki Kushina, his sister-in-law—fiery hair, fiery spirit, and a heart that burned with the same intensity. It made him feel strangely nostalgic.
"What are you trying to do?" the girl—Karin—asked warily, taking a cautious step back.
But as soon as she caught a clearer look at Yusuke's face, her expression faltered. His features were sharp, striking—handsome in a way that made her blink twice.
Then, without meaning to, her mind wandered absurdly. I wonder… does he have different-sized eyes under that eyepatch?
"Relax," Yusuke said with a calm smile. "I don't mean you any harm. But I must say, your body's structure is quite unique. Even someone with pure Uzumaki blood, like Kushina, didn't possess an ability like yours. And that sensory perception of yours—the Kagura's Mind Eye—it means your lineage underwent a very successful mutation. You could even say you're an evolution of the original Uzumaki clan."
Karin froze, her eyes widening. "I… I'm really from the Uzumaki clan?" she whispered under her breath.
Meanwhile, upon hearing the name Uzumaki, Sasuke's mind flickered for a moment—recalling a certain loud, grinning blond who always charged forward without fear.
A faint, involuntary smile tugged at his lips.
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