Teizawa did not dodge.
He raised one hand, palm facing upward, to meet the lightning descending from the heavens.
The bolt, powerful enough to split mountains and shatter stone, stopped three feet above his palm.
It was suspended in midair, unable to advance another inch.
Then an invisible force took hold of it and changed its course.
The lightning curved through the air and struck an open patch of ground nearby, blasting out a crater dozens of meters wide.
Scorched earth, shattered stones, and charred grass...
Everything within the blast had been reduced to ash.
Sasuke knelt on the ground, gasping for breath.
His chakra was completely exhausted. His entire body trembled, and he could not even lift a finger.
His eyes were stretched wide as he stared at Teizawa.
The man stood amid the firelight without so much as a wrinkle in his clothes.
"How... How is that possible...?"
Sasuke's voice was as rough as though his mouth were full of sand.
"That technique... I prepared it for Itachi... How could you possibly...?"
Teizawa did not answer.
Kabuto had already set down his wooden ladle.
At some point, he had taken out a scroll and was rapidly recording something.
His face showed no emotion, but the gleam in his eyes was frighteningly bright.
Teizawa walked over to Sasuke and looked down at him.
"You've worked hard, and I respect that. But there's still a very long road between hard work and true strength."
He extended a hand.
"Take it."
Sasuke stared at the offered hand.
After a long silence, he refused it.
He planted his own hands against the ground and forced himself upright.
He staggered, then regained his balance.
His head remained lowered, and he said nothing.
Teizawa withdrew his hand and returned to the campfire.
Sasuke stared at his back and clenched his fists. His fingernails dug deeply into his palms.
He was still unwilling to accept defeat.
But this time, he had learned to hide it.
Kabuto closed his scroll and adjusted his glasses, the faintest hint of a smile appearing on his lips.
The Kazekage's combat power was far greater than he had anticipated.
That bizarre magnetic force, that terrifying defense, and those seemingly bottomless chakra reserves...
Every detail was worth recording.
He put away the scroll, picked up the wooden ladle again, and resumed stirring the soup as though nothing had happened.
Teizawa accepted the rice ball Temari handed him.
He took a bite and chewed slowly, his gaze resting on the figure disappearing into the darkness.
After walking a short distance, Sasuke suddenly stopped and turned around.
"I'll defeat you someday!"
His voice drifted through the night breeze, filled with a young man's stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
Teizawa swallowed his mouthful of rice, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.
"Whatever."
He paused and looked at Sasuke, an enigmatic smile tugging at his lips.
"Kid, watch yourself tonight. Don't die."
Sasuke's brows drew together.
He heard the seriousness behind Teizawa's words.
His tone might have remained casual, but "don't die" carried a warning that could not be ignored.
It was like a predator lurking in the darkness, warning him of approaching danger.
"What do you mean?"
Sasuke's voice turned cold.
His dark eyes remained fixed on Teizawa, searching his expression for an answer.
Teizawa did not respond.
He merely waved him away like an annoying fly.
"Go get some rest. We still have things to do tomorrow."
Sasuke remained where he was for a moment.
His gaze lingered on Teizawa's face for several seconds before he finally turned and left.
His figure vanished into the darkness, and the sound of his footsteps gradually faded.
Teizawa had not issued that warning without reason.
Orochimaru had been searching for a replacement body for a very long time, even before defecting from Konohagakure.
He had moved from one body to another, but none of them lasted very long.
Now, he had found a perfect vessel.
Sasuke.
He was young and powerful, with the Sharingan and the blood of the Uchiha Clan.
He was an ideal vessel for Orochimaru's soul and power.
Teizawa understood Orochimaru's plan all too well.
In fact, he knew every step of it even better than Orochimaru himself.
Orochimaru was still waiting.
Waiting for Sasuke to grow stronger. Waiting for his eyes to evolve. Waiting for his chakra reserves to expand.
Waiting for his body to fully mature.
But tonight...
Teizawa was not certain Orochimaru would continue waiting.
After all, the Reaper Mask was already in their possession.
The only thing preventing him from undoing the Reaper Death Seal was the lack of a suitable vessel.
Orochimaru's patience might be running thinner than Teizawa expected.
That was why he had casually warned Sasuke.
As for whether Sasuke could survive Orochimaru's attack, that was not Teizawa's concern.
Orochimaru truly could not be allowed to die, at least not before he undid the Reaper Death Seal.
But Sasuke...
If the kid lacked the ability to survive, then he could die.
It had nothing to do with Teizawa.
If Orochimaru truly made his move, Teizawa would not interfere.
As long as it did not disrupt his plans, he did not care.
Temari sat beside him, her gaze shifting between Teizawa and the direction in which Sasuke had disappeared.
Finally, she looked at Teizawa.
"What did you mean just now? Is Orochimaru going to attack Sasuke?"
She kept her voice low, as though afraid of disturbing something.
Teizawa looked at her and casually curled his lips.
"He isn't planning to attack him. He's planning to reincarnate into him."
"Orochimaru has been searching for a body he can use permanently."
"Every time he uses his reincarnation jutsu, his new body deteriorates even faster."
"He's already approaching his limit. He desperately needs a young, powerful vessel with a special bloodline. Sasuke..."
Teizawa paused.
"...is the most suitable candidate."
Temari frowned slightly.
"Then you aren't going to stop him?"
Teizawa shook his head.
"Why should I? What Orochimaru wants to do is his business. I only need to get what I came for. Besides..."
He looked at Temari.
"Do you really think Orochimaru can swallow Sasuke? That kid isn't some docile little lamb."
Temari asked no further questions.
Teizawa stopped paying attention to Sasuke's situation and accepted a second rice ball from her.
He took a large bite.
The night breeze drifted from the depths of the forest, carrying the scent of soil, grass, and trees.
Teizawa raised his head and looked at the starry sky, fragmented by the canopy overhead.
Countless thoughts churned through his mind.
In the distance, a light still burned inside Sasuke's tent.
It resembled a lonely firefly glowing in the darkness.
Farther away, Orochimaru's tent was completely dark.
There was no light.
There was no movement.
Teizawa knew...
Orochimaru was not sleeping.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the right opportunity.
But that was between them.
Teizawa brushed the grains of rice from his hands, stood, and stretched.
"Come on. Let's get some sleep. We still have to travel tomorrow."
Temari did not ask anything else.
She stood and followed him toward Sunagakure's tents.
After a few steps, she suddenly spoke.
"Tei... Were you trying to protect Sasuke just now?"
Teizawa paused, then laughed.
"Protect him? I wouldn't go that far. I just think it would be a little unfortunate if the kid died like this."
Temari asked no more questions.
(End of Chapter)
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