Sasuke opened his eyes, and his Sharingan gleamed ominously in the dim light. A chilling aura radiated from his body, suffocating the air around him.
"Karin, it seems you don't know yet... Orochimaru is already dead."
Karin froze, staring at him in shock.
Her thoughts drifted as she gazed into his crimson eyes.
So beautiful…
The cold, detached expression on his face only made him look more alluring. Her heart pounded, and before she realized it, her face was flushed.
"Hey, Karin!"
Sasuke's voice snapped her out of her daze.
"Uh—what? What were you saying? Something about… a snake?" She quickly wiped the corner of her mouth and frowned.
Sasuke sighed. Her blank, distracted look left him speechless.
This girl…
Still, she had her uses. As a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, she possessed an immense chakra reserve and an extraordinary healing ability. Taking her under his wing would be beneficial.
Activating his Sharingan, he cast a genjutsu, allowing Karin to witness Orochimaru's final moments.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"He's really dead? That's amazing!"
A look of joy spread across her face.
Orochimaru had always been an ominous presence in her life. When she was a child, her special healing ability had made her a target for many rogue ninja. Among them, Orochimaru was the strongest, which was why she had reluctantly served under him.
But now…
She was free.
"Sasuke, you're really incredible!" Karin exclaimed, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around him.
From the corner of the room, Kabuto watched the scene unfold and decided it was best to leave.
Sasuke smirked and returned the hug. "Since you have nowhere else to go, why don't you follow me?"
Karin's face lit up with excitement.
"Of course, Sasuke! You were the one who saved me from Tentoji… from now on, I'll be by your side~"
She clung to him even tighter, using the excuse to stay close.
"H-Hey, not so tight. I can't breathe," Sasuke muttered.
"A-Ah! Sorry!" Karin quickly let go, laughing nervously as she stuck out her tongue.
---
"By the way, Karin… the main prisoner in this stronghold is Jugo, right?"
Sasuke's voice turned serious.
Karin's expression shifted.
"Yeah… but Sasuke, that guy is really dangerous. He loses control and goes berserk all the time. You need to be careful."
Sasuke nodded. "Take me to him."
Karin hesitated for a moment but ultimately grabbed a set of keys and led him deeper into the facility.
As they walked through the dark corridors, the sound of banging echoed from behind the iron bars of the cells they passed.
Sasuke frowned. "Who are these prisoners?"
"They're powerful criminals—those who refused to obey Orochimaru's orders. Many of them have been severely affected by the Curse Mark. Normal prisons couldn't contain them."
"Are they a threat?"
"Not really. They'll settle down once they exhaust themselves."
Before long, they reached a massive iron door, reinforced with thick chains. A single keyhole marked its center.
"This is it," Karin said, motioning towards the door.
"Open it."
Karin hesitated.
"But… Jugo is—"
"Open it."
Sasuke's voice was cold, leaving no room for argument.
Reluctantly, Karin obeyed, inserting the key and turning it.
The iron door creaked open, revealing a dark cell.
A low, menacing chuckle echoed from within.
"Heh… more prey has come straight to me."
With a deafening roar, Jugo lunged forward.
The chains binding him snapped apart under his sheer strength, and his body twisted as flesh spikes sprouted from his arms. His nails lengthened into razor-sharp claws.
His Curse Mark activated.
Boom!
A burst of chakra propelled him forward at terrifying speed, his transformed arm aiming directly for Sasuke's throat.
"Sasuke, move!" Karin screamed.
But Sasuke remained still.
At the last second, he calmly raised a single hand—
Boom!
With nothing but his palm, he caught Jugo's monstrous fist.
"Calm down. No need to be so worked up," Sasuke said coldly.
Jugo's eyes widened in disbelief.
"No one has ever blocked my attack this easily… not since Kimimaro!"
His Curse Mark flared, spreading like wildfire across his body.
"Hahaha! Fine then! Let's see if you can handle this!"
With a roar, Jugo unleashed his full power, his arms shifting into massive blades.
He swung at Sasuke with enough force to shatter a mountain—
But Sasuke didn't budge.
Boom!
Jugo's attack stopped mid-air.
A smirk crossed Sasuke's lips. He wasn't even using his Sharingan.
"Enough," Sasuke muttered.
Then, with a single punch to the chest, he sent Jugo flying backward.
His body slammed into the iron wall, leaving a deep crater.
Jugo coughed, gasping for air.
But as he looked up, his pupils shrank in terror.
From Sasuke's chest, something began to emerge—
Sharp, white bones.
"D-Dead Bone Pulse?!"
Jugo stumbled backward, his breath quickening.
"No… this is impossible! How do you have Kimimaro's abilities?!"
In a panic, he scrambled to the door and locked himself inside his cell.
Breaking the Stronghold
Karin was equally stunned.
"How… how do you have Kimimaro's bloodline?" she whispered.
Ignoring her, Sasuke raised his hand, and with a single swipe of his bone blade, the iron door was sliced into pieces.
"Jugo, Orochimaru is dead. You don't have to stay locked up here anymore. Come with me."
"No… I made a promise. Only Kimimaro could release me from this place."
Jugo's voice was trembling.
Sasuke frowned. This guy is a hassle…
Suddenly—
Boom!
The cells burst open, and monstrous figures rushed out.
Mutated prisoners, their bodies twisted by the Curse Mark, roared with bloodlust.
"Damn it! They're loose!" Karin shouted.
The creatures snarled, their glowing eyes locking onto her.
"You tortured us!"
"You used us like guinea pigs!"
"We'll kill you!"
A horde of them charged forward.
Sasuke sighed.
"Disgusting. To lose yourself to the Curse Mark… how pitiful."
As his golden markings flared to life, an overwhelming pressure filled the room.
Karin gasped.
So strong…
Behind him, Jugo stared in awe.
"This power… It's the final stage of the Curse Mark's evolution…"
Lightning surged across Sasuke's body.
"Sage Art: Tamiya-ryu!"
A massive golden thunderstorm erupted—
The cursed monsters disintegrated upon impact.
The room fell silent.
Jugo knelt down.
"Sasuke… I will follow you."
Sasuke glanced at him, then turned to leave.
As they exited the stronghold, he formed a hand seal.
Boom.
The ground collapsed, swallowing the fortress and burying its sins forever.
Then, with a flash of Flying Thunder God, the three disappeared—returning to Kirigakure.
----
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