Off-screen, Uchiha Sasuke was quietly admiring his own power.
His Susanoo looked nearly invincible.
But just as he got cocky, the Sasuke in the video was sent flying.
[Video Footage]
Sasuke slowly stood up.
Every cell in his body ached.
That was the side effect of Susanoo. Prolonged use came with consequences.What had Itachi endured all those years ago?
Before Sasuke could process his pain, Mizukage Mei Terumi appeared in front of him, blocking his path with a swirl of Lava Release.
Mei Terumi:"Now it's just the two of us. A fully sealed chamber. No way out."
"I wield Fire, Water, and Earth Release... so I have two kekkei genkai."
"Boil Release: Art of Clever Mist!"
Sasuke had no choice but to hold his ground.
Mei completed her hand seals, and thick acidic mist began filling the room.
Sasuke's Susanoo started to melt.
Mei Terumi:"Seeing such a burly man dissolve makes me a bit reluctant."
"But... please die anyway."
Sasuke's power was undeniable, but his arrogance had peaked.
He hadn't even mastered the Mangekyō yet, and his vision was already fading from overuse.Susanoo remained unstable. His experience couldn't cover his pride.
If you draw Uchiha Sasuke in your team, don't give up.Once he's taken enough damage, he can carry you through every stage afterward!
Sasuke:"Acid mist again?"
He watched as a white substance spread rapidly across his body.What was this?
Even Mei looked confused.
Mei Terumi:"Is this... my chakra?"
The white goo absorbed her chakra and began to multiply, forming a humanoid head.It was ugly, but it worked.
Mei instinctively summoned her Lava Release to dissolve the White Zetsu-like mass.
(Actually... I wanted to wrap around my sister too. Sigh...)
The leftover goo hit the floor and slithered toward Sasuke.
At first, he resisted.
What was this thing?
Then... he started to feel better. His chakra was recovering.
"Sasuke's chakra is recovering!"
He was stunned. Mei was unintentionally helping him?
In the Five Kage Summit hall, others found themselves surrounded by the same white goo.
General Mifune tried to cut it away.
Then Sasuke burst into the room, panting. His chakra was low, but the goo had replenished him.
The enclosed chamber, Mei's Lava Release, and her Boil Release had drained the oxygen.
Konohamaru:"Sasuke, are you alright?"
He rushed up to him, eyes filled with concern.
Mei retracted her jutsu.
Mei Terumi:"This mist might affect others. I need to adjust the concentration."
On the rooftop, Ōnoki and the Second Tsuchikage floated upside down.
Even they couldn't escape the goo's grasp.
Their flashy stances meant nothing now.
Ōnoki:"Earth Release: Heavy Rock Technique!"
The white goo turned to mud and slid off his body.
Ōnoki slowly descended and stared down at Sasuke.
Madara Uchiha:"Huh? That brat can really show off. Back then, if you'd flown like that in front of me, I'd have punched you until I couldn't recognize your face."
Ōnoki:"..."
Sasuke Uchiha:"Only showing off now? If my ancestor were around, he'd have beaten you senseless."
Madara Uchiha:"Good boy. If anyone mistreats you today, I'll come back just to have a word with them."
Sasuke Uchiha:"Thank you, ancestor!"
Ōnoki:"...How tragic."
Meanwhile, in the Konoha hospital, Naruto slowly opened his eyes under Tsunade's care.
Curtains fluttered gently in the breeze. Outside, the Hidden Leaf basked in sunlight.
But Naruto's heart was heavy.
Naruto:"Sasuke... I'll bring you back."
That was his promise to Sakura. His duty as a friend.
He wouldn't let their bond be broken.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the image in his mind.
Was that really Sasuke?
[Video Footage]
Ōnoki hovered in the air, expression dark.
Ōnoki:"Though I bear you no ill will... all shinobi wish for your death."
Sasuke raised a hand to his left eye.
Ōnoki began forming hand seals.
White cubes of chakra lit up in his palms.
His tone turned frigid.
Ōnoki:"Farewell."
Dust Release: World Removal Technique!
A small white cube expanded into a massive glowing sphere, swallowing Sasuke.
Konohamaru:"Sasuke's chakra... gone..."
Karin Uzumaki stared blankly.
Konohamaru:"That's... natural."
Ōnoki lowered his hands calmly, not even looking back.
Ōnoki:"Break down the body at a molecular level. Next is your turn."
He turned toward Konohamaru.
The room filled with tension.
System:"Question One: Did Sasuke die in that video?"
A. DeadB. Not dead
"Correct answer wins 100,000 gold.Wrong answer forfeits items of equal value!"
"This is a shinobi-only question!If your personal value is insufficient, answering wrong will result in death. Choose carefully!"
The shinobi world shook in fear.
One hundred thousand gold could buy a Single Tomo Sharingan trial card.
Getting this right meant power.
Getting it wrong meant death.
Many hesitated.
Some laughed. For those from the Tsuchikage's village, it was a gift.
Everyone knew Dust Release was a kekkei tōta.
It surpassed ordinary kekkei genkai.
Madara Uchiha remained silent.
Mikoto Uchiha:"Sasuke!"
Sasuke Uchiha:"Mother, I'm still here."
Naruto Uzumaki:"Sasuke..."
Kushina Uzumaki:"Naruto!"
Minato Namikaze:"…"
Tsunade:"Naruto, you're awake! How do you feel?"
Hashirama Senju:"By the way, I thought you wanted to meet the family. That technique was brutal. World Removal? That's the peak of Dust Release, right?"
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