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The sky trembled.
A Divine Whale fell, returning to its burial in the Sea of Shichahai, transforming into a deluge that drowned the battlefield.
Drip. Drip.
Gengetsu Hōzuki flicked his wet sleeves. His thin mustache twitched. His shrewd, narrow eyes focused on Sasuke's clone.
"Satisfied?" he said, a mocking lilt in his voice. "That clone's chakra must be almost gone."
The clone simply formed another hand sign.
"My thanks for cooperating. This is exactly the stage I wanted."
Gurgle… Gurgle… Gurgle…
The water blanketing the earth seemed to gain a life of its own. Ripples danced across its surface, eager and alive.
"Hm…?" Gengetsu's eyes widened in surprise.
On Azure Moon Island, Orochimaru's low, raspy voice explained the phenomenon in the crystal ball.
"'When a whale falls, ten thousand creatures rise.' Sasuke-kun found inspiration in that adage. This Suiton is the result. Yes. The 'Whale Fall,' an attack on the scale of a meteor… that was merely the overture. An opponent worthy of matching it deserves to hear its interlude… titled 'Ten Thousand Lives.'"
Plop-plop-plop-plop-plop-plop-plop!
A joyous, rhythmic sound of water breaking surface. Countless globules of water bounced into the air. Within them, shapes formed. Animals. Crabs, shrimp, clams. Fish, seabirds, strange sea beasts…
Gengetsu scratched his head. "So, what, you built an aquarium? What a headache. A show this extravagant… and I didn't even buy a ticket."
The clone spoke calmly. "It's fine. You're one of the creators. The lifeforms in this water are born from the clash of our chakra. Of course… the control is mine."
Fwoosh.
A water sphere with a crab-shaped core floated to Sasuke's palm.
Gengetsu grinned. "Let me guess. Your 'Whale Fall' earlier absorbed the chakra from my Sea of Shichahai. Now you can recycle that water to make new projectiles to attack me."
"Correct."
Snap!
Sasuke flicked two fingers. The water sphere shot out.
Gengetsu shunshin-ed, evading the direct impact. But the sphere didn't just splash. Its outer membrane dissolved on impact. The water-crab inside scuttled across the ground—fast, shockingly fast—straight for Gengetsu!
Gengetsu's eyes widened. "Those seemingly pointless shapes… could it be…?!"
The clone raised two fingers. "Right again. A little trick I learned from a self-proclaimed artist. Explosions are efficient. The form… is to better capture the target."
BOOM—!!!
Gengetsu's entire right side disintegrated in a blast of water. His remaining half-face wore pure shock. "He… combined Suiton with Bakuton?!"
Whoosh.
Dust swirled. The destroyed half of his body regenerated. He looked up at the myriad floating water spheres. No longer an aquarium exhibit. A threat.
"Every single one of those… is a bomb?"
"The Whale Fall cost him enormous chakra. Now, he only needs a negligible amount to guide that entire mass of water… towards me. Endlessly. A different kind of 'Infinite Explosion Jutsu'!"
His body fully restored, Gengetsu smiled. Not his usual lazy grin. A genuine, appreciative smile. From this jutsu… he felt a kindred, mad soul.
"Uchiha boy with Byakugan and Senju power… to be honest, even if you'd used Mokuton on Hashirama's level, I'd have just thought 'impressive kid.' But this… this has my interest."
The clone accepted the praise. "Your enjoyment makes the effort worthwhile."
(Time rewinds slightly, to the night Sasuke conceived his plan to break the Eight Matches.)
Sasuke found Orochimaru.
"I've learned the basics about our opponents," he said. "Through Kabuto. Most of them died for their villages. On the battlefield."
"Even if our meeting is fleeting… I want to show them the highest respect. Not just use them as props for the Eight Matches."
"So, this month… I will create abilities that match their most proficient fields."
"I want to have a heart-to-heart talk with the departed. In a way only ninja can."
Orochimaru watched him. "And that will break the deadlock?"
"Call it wishful thinking." Sasuke met his gaze. "Think. They may not be the absolute strongest, but in their own fields… they had few equals. I believe… deep down, they were lonely. The loneliness of a master. Only another master understands. Before the Ōtsutsuki came… I knew that loneliness too."
"So… after a truly satisfying battle… I believe they will ascend content. That is my solution."
Orochimaru's lips curved. "And if the result is not as you imagine, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke smiled, open and unguarded. "The Ten Matches… victory or defeat is secondary. Growth is the main theme. At worst… I add another loss to my record and break the rule to use a sealing jutsu. It's not like they can actually kill me and waste all our progress."
Orochimaru chuckled softly. "I see. You truly are taking a path I hoped for."
Sasuke waited.
"You see," Orochimaru said, voice low and thoughtful. "Facing Edo Tensei opponents with the added restriction of no sealing… it wasn't just to increase difficulty. I wanted you… to explore something beyond pure combat. The greater one's power grows, the more humanity one tends to lose. The Ōtsutsuki are proof of that truth."
"Think like a human. Let only our bodies become like the Ōtsutsuki. Our hearts… must remain flesh and blood. That was my intent."
So that's it.
Sasuke understood.
"Ah, right," he added quickly. "If Kabuto or the others ask about my plan for the Eight Matches… tell them something else. Say… I'm going to beat them until they question their entire existence."
Orochimaru's smile turned playful. "And why would that be?"
"You know why."
"Indulge me."
Sasuke sighed internally. "I have to maintain… the image I've built so far. In front of everyone."
"Be more specific."
Sigh. "Simply put," Sasuke said, looking away slightly. "It's… embarrassing."
Orochimaru's face lit up with pure, undisguised enjoyment.
(Back to the present.)
Gengetsu bit his thumb and slammed a palm onto the wet earth.
POOF!
The Giant Clam appeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Very well, boy! I'll match you with everything I've got!"
—Magen: Kagerō Jigoku!
Fwooosh!
Vapor erupted from the clam, weaving an illusion—a mirage perfectly mirroring the surroundings.
And simultaneously… across every battlefield… the true confrontations began.
The Eight Matches… had now, in every sense of the word, truly begun.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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