The white seal did not alter Sasuke's form like State Two. Instead, it manifested externally—a chakra robe, linked to his body, reminiscent of when Obito, in his past life, harnessed the Ten-Tails' power.
Orochimaru's voice hissed with triumph: "It appears. The White Cursed Seal, State Three—its unique 'Cursed Robe'!"
Zzt!
On the back of the robe, the Senju clan's emblem, darker than the white fabric, materialized. Beneath it, the Uchiha fan. Along the collar, fox-fire shaped tomoe in matching hues.
The surge in power was unmistakable under Sage Mode perception.
Fukasaku gasped. "His chakra… it's a completely different creature now!!!"
Shima shrieked. "We're finished if this keeps up! Use Toad Song again! Finish him!!!"
"Wait…"
Jiraiya cut off the two Great Toad Sages.
"Jiraiya-boy…!!!"
He had sensed something off.
"He sought me out. Fought me. I assumed—it was on Orochimaru's orders. That his intentions were malicious."
"But… thinking back, he never showed real killing intent in this fight."
He recalled the arrows from before he entered Sage Mode. The ones that came terrifyingly close, barely avoided.
"Were those arrows… truly off their mark?"
"Then, he kept using 'sir' as an honorific. Completely unlike the Sasuke I've heard about."
"If that's the premise… the two fingers he raised to his chest when I first entered Sage Mode. Maybe it wasn't a hand seal for a jutsu. It was… the 'Opposing Hand Sign' of shinobi combat etiquette!!"
"Most importantly, just now. He had a clean shot at my back. Yet he chose to speak those words about 'fighting with honor'."
These questions demanded an answer.
Jiraiya clenched his right fist. His voice boomed across the clearing.
"Uchiha Sasuke! What is your true purpose?!!!"
Sasuke smiled. Finally. He noticed.
But… the Fifth Bout wasn't over.
The experiences of his past life had instilled in Sasuke an unspoken rule.
"We talk… after the fight!!"
"I see…"
Jiraiya grinned. He bent down, picked up the sword Sasuke had thrown back. He slung it across his back alongside the giant scroll. His left arm, burned, hung limp. With his right hand, he raised two fingers to his chest.
The Opposing Hand Sign.
Fukasaku was baffled. "Jiraiya-boy… what in the world…?!"
Jiraiya chuckled. "Maybe I made the wrong call from the start. Jumping to conclusions… hurts everyone involved."
Shima's eyes widened. "You mean… Uchiha Sasuke isn't Orochimaru's accomplice?"
"Perhaps. In any case," Jiraiya's stance relaxed, a warrior's focus replacing the killer's edge. "This fight isn't over. But it's no longer a battle to the death."
Sasuke closed his eyes. The sensation was… profound. He could feel the seven basic chakra natures—Yin, Yang, Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Lightning. Within him, they collided and combined in pairs. A similar feeling had washed over him when he first awakened Wood Release. But this… this was vaster. Limitless.
"So this is it… the 'White Cursed Technique' Orochimaru encoded into State Three."
Orochimaru's lips curled. "The White Cursed Seal, State Three. Also known as the 'Cursed Adept' form. Its exclusive ability—Kekkai Harmonization. It allows the user to harmonize two basic chakra natures, producing new nature transformations."
Kabuto's jaw went slack. "Then… that means…"
Orochimaru's smile widened. "Yes. Not just Wood Release. Any kekkei genkai born from the fusion of two basic natures… he can now replicate through Kekkai Harmonization. Of course, given Sasuke-kun's caliber, he may not fancy them. He may not alter his core fighting style. But more tools never hurt. More options. And in a critical moment… a jutsu he never mastered in his past life… might just create a miracle."
"He's seen most of these jutsu. But performing them himself… must feel exhilarating. He must be itching to try."
Kabuto sighed, a mix of awe and envy. "Sasuke-kun… has taken another step forward."
From the moment Jiraiya formed the Opposing Sign, the tension drained from Itachi's face. He withdrew his left hand from his sleeve, settling fully into the role of a spectator.
Sasuke closed his eyes, rifling through memories. Shinobi with kekkei genkai from his past life.
The Sharingan's perfect recall meant even years-old hand seals were crystal clear.
Swish! His hands flew through the sequence.
"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Jutsu!"
Whoooosh!!!
A wave of corrosive, orange liquid erupted from Sasuke's mouth, flooding towards Jiraiya's position!
"What is this?!!"
"A Lava Release kekkei genkai?!!"
Whoosh!
Jiraiya leaped back, his good hand slamming the earth.
"Multiple Earth-Style Walls!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Layer after layer of thick earth walls rose, only to be melted and eroded by the advancing acid tide.
Swish!
Sasuke vaulted over the final crumbling wall. Seals in mid-air.
"Storm Release: Laser Circus!"
Zing! Zing! Zing…!!
From a ring of light before his hands, countless lasers shot forth!
"Storm Release this time?!!"
Jiraiya spat a Great Flame Ball.
But the lasers… they curved. Weaving around the fire, homing in on Jiraiya's figure!
Left with no choice, Jiraiya whipped the greatsword from his back. A whirlwind of steel met light.
But the lasers were too dense, too fast. One blade wasn't enough. One pierced his shoulder. Another grazed his chest. Blood welled.
Clang…!!!
Jiraiya planted the sword in the ground for support. He looked up at Sasuke, who landed before him. He pushed himself upright with a pained grin. "Continue."
Sasuke formed another seal. Five fingers aimed at the ground.
Rustle, rustle, rustle…! Black iron sand particles coalesced from the soil into his right hand. They compacted, sharpened. A lethal-looking katana.
Hmm… A stray leaf drifted onto the blade's edge. Sliced clean in two.
Jiraiya wiped blood from his lip. "Iron sand, shaped into a blade-like chain. 'Magnet Release' this time…!"
"My Kusanagi was taken by Obito. This might make a decent replacement…"
Sasuke charged, blade leading. Jiraiya met him with his own!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG…!!
"The edge is vicious…" Jiraiya grunted, parrying.
Swish! He disengaged, creating distance.
Sasuke chuckled, raising the sand-blade. "It can also be used… like this!"
Zwoop! The iron sand katana in his hand dissolved. It shot upward, curving and extending into an irregular, elongated blade. Lightning chakra crackled around it. He brought it down in a vertical slash!
CLANG…!!!
Jiraiya raised his sword to block.
CRACK!
The greatsword in his hands… shattered into two pieces.
A satisfied smirk touched Sasuke's lips. The iron sand dispersed from his grip.
Jiraiya tossed the broken hilt aside, his tone playful. "You look like a kid who just found a fantastic new toy."
Sasuke's expression turned earnest. "Everyone has that spark of a childlike heart. If my opponent weren't you… I'd probably keep it buried."
Jiraiya studied him. "You know the hand seals. But… those kekkei genkai just now. That was your first time using them, wasn't it?"
Sasuke nodded. "There are many more. Showing them all at once would just be tedious."
"Then," Jiraiya's grin held a challenge. "Give me one. A 'trump card' to end this fight."
"A trump card?" Sasuke mused. "To be honest, most of what I could use against you… I already have."
"Don't give me that." Jiraiya's smile faded into seriousness. "I can sense the level of chakra in this state of yours. It's not Sage Mode… but it might as well be."
"Fine. If it's a trump card you want… there is one."
Clap!
Sasuke brought his hands together.
ROAR…!!
A Wood Dragon coiled to life beside him. Before Jiraiya's gasp of amazement could form, black flames—Amaterasu—ignited along the dragon's body. They burned like scales of darkest fire.
Jiraiya's expression turned deadly serious. "A combination of Blaze Release and Wood Release? No… the flames don't burn the dragon. This isn't a simple tandem jutsu!"
Sasuke lowered his hands. "It's shameful to admit, but this too is thanks to the White Cursed Seal, State Three, and 'Kekkai Harmonization'. It allows for the organic fusion of seemingly conflicting natures. This jutsu… will end our 'Fifth Bout'."
"Blaze-Wood Release: Flaming Dragon Great Torch!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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