The midday sun beat down on the dusty road as Sasuke approached Kagero Village. A somewhat familiar aroma wafted through the air, drawing him towards a small, unassuming curry shop nestled just outside the village entrance. 'Ah, that place,' he thought, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He paused, a momentary respite from his relentless pursuit, and decided to indulge in a quick meal. The spicy curry, a nostalgic echo of his past life, provided a brief, grounding moment before the inevitable confrontation.
With renewed focus, Sasuke entered Kagero Village, his gaze scanning the surroundings. He had no time for pleasantries or distractions. The Kiba blades, legendary weapons of lightning, were his objective. He moved with purpose, his senses heightened, tracing the residual chakra signatures that led him towards the Katabami gold mines.
Approaching the mines, he concealed himself behind a rocky outcrop, observing the scene before him. A chilling tableau unfolded. Raiga Kurosuki, flanked by a motley crew of subordinates, stood over a freshly dug grave. The air was thick with a morbid tension. Sasuke watched, his eyes narrowing, as Raiga's men brutally forced a struggling figure into the earth. The victim's muffled cries were a stark counterpoint to the raucous laughter of Raiga's followers.
Then, an unexpected twist. Raiga, moments after the burial, fell to his knees, his face contorted in what appeared to be genuine grief. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he lamented the loss, his voice a mournful lament. Sasuke watched, his brow furrowed, a flicker of disbelief crossing his features. "Is this some kind of twisted performance?" he wondered, a sardonic amusement creeping into his thoughts. "He beats them, buries them, and then cries? What a clown."
He suppressed a snort, realizing the precariousness of his position. Thirty-odd opponents, and Raiga's unpredictable theatrics, made a direct assault a foolish endeavor. 'Patience,' he reminded himself, his eyes scanning the area for an escape route. 'Wait for an opening. Wait for him to be alone.'
He shadowed Raiga, maintaining a safe distance, careful to avoid the perceptive gaze of Ranmaru, the enigmatic child hidden within Raiga's cloak. The hours dragged on, the sun slowly descending towards the horizon.
Finally, as twilight painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, Raiga dismissed his subordinates, retreating to a secluded area within the mines.
"Now,"Sasuke thought, his heart pounding with anticipation. He emerged from his hiding place, his katana drawn, the blade shimmering with the raw power of Chidori. His Sharingan, with its three swirling tomoe, pierced the gathering darkness, revealing the intricate patterns of chakra flow.
He noticed, however, the faint, almost ghostly pallor of his curse mark, a stark contrast to its usual vibrant black. 'Is it Fading?' he wondered, a flicker of unease creeping into his mind. He pushed the concern aside, focusing on the task at hand. Raiga was within reach.
He initiated his attack, channeling his chakra into the earth, unleashing the Stone Pillar Prison, a technique he had mastered during his journey.
'Earth Style : Stone Pillar Prison'
The ground erupted, stone pillars rising to encase Raiga. However, the attack was deflected, a shimmering barrier of chakra deflecting the earth release. "Ranmaru," Sasuke realized, his eyes narrowing.
Raiga, alerted by the sudden attack, drew his Kiba blades, the serrated edges gleaming in the dim light. Ranmaru's eyes glowed red through the cloak, his own chakra swirling around Raiga.
"Who are you, brat?" Raiga growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble. He blocked Sasuke's Chidori-infused katana with the Kiba blades, the force of the impact sending a jolt through Sasuke's arms. Sparks flew, illuminating the tense standoff.
Sasuke, his eyes locked on Raiga, felt a surge of adrenaline. Ranmaru's presence, a constant, unseen threat, added an extra layer of complexity to the fight. He knew this would not be a simple skirmish. The Kiba blades were within reach, but so was danger. He would have to adapt, to push his limits, to claim his prize.