Every move was ruthless.
Aiming for vital points.
Unlike the inexperience and rustiness of a fresh graduate a few months ago, Sasuke was now an excellent ninja. This wasn't just reflected in his strength, but even more so in his awareness and technique.
An effortless opening assault.
This was definitely not a stance an ordinary ninja could display.
A look of admiration first flashed through Menma's eyes.
The next second.
With a flicker of his body.
He effortlessly dodged Sasuke's strong attack.
A missed assassination.
Sasuke wasn't surprised in the slightest.
In his pupils, the three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, and the chilling aura that permeated the air locked firmly onto Menma's figure at that moment.
Following like a shadow.
Menma's gaze focused.
Performing hand seals with one hand at close range.
"This is!?"
"Wind Style: Great Vacuum Sphere."
Hand seals completed in an extremely short time.
Followed by the rapid release of Wind Style jutsu.
Sasuke's expression changed slightly.
At close range.
Facing the incoming clusters of cyan hurricane spheres, every muscle in Sasuke's body tensed up at that moment.
"!"
This was clearly not an attack an average Genin or Chunin could evade or block.
In the blink of an eye.
The "Second Pillar" (Sasuke) couldn't afford any hesitation.
Buzz!
The pitch-black Cursed Seal on his neck trembled, and dark seal patterns spread rapidly.
In less than a second, they covered his entire body, and his form changed, entering Cursed Seal Level Two directly.
A terrifying chakra aura erupted.
Boom!
His speed skyrocketed in an instant.
Further stimulating his cells with Lightning Style chakra.
Secondary reinforcement of strength.
Whoosh.
In those few short seconds.
He perfectly evaded the assault of the cyan spheres.
The powerful aura permeating the air was already no less than any Elite Jonin.
'Unique natural energy? This indeed holds great research value.'
Looking at the expressionless Sasuke at close range.
Unlike the fleeting glimpse at the Valley of the End, where his attention was mostly on Kakashi and Naruto, now Menma could clearly sense how strong Sasuke was in Cursed Seal Level Two.
No wonder some Naruto fans in his past life said that from the Valley of the End onwards, Naruto and Sasuke truly possessed Jonin-level power.
'However, this is still not enough!'
A cold, menacing aura appeared between Menma's brows.
He didn't even need to use the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Bang!
With a burst of chakra under his feet.
He closed the distance rapidly.
Whoosh!
Right in front.
Sasuke's expression turned cold.
Swish.
He moved to meet the attack.
Clang.
Bang!
Amidst the crossing figures.
Sounds of violent collision rang out one after another, sparks flying, and cold glints exploding consecutively.
Bang!
Ding ding ding ding ding ding!
Extreme grappling and dogfighting.
Bang!
Dodging and parrying each other's attacks.
Side up, side down.
Constantly pulling back, engaging, and changing forms and moves—this battle had already far exceeded the height and range reachable by ordinary ninja.
Just the speed the two displayed at this moment was something the vast majority of ninja could never hope to match.
Jonin!
This was already a peak existence in the vast ninja world.
They represented the top-tier combat power in the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Between every move and stance, their dominance was fully displayed.
But outsiders couldn't tell.
Sasuke, at the center of the battle, grew colder in expression the more he fought.
The nine Tailed Beasts.
Jinchuriki.
These were things the old Sasuke didn't know.
But as events unfolded, especially after coming to Orochimaru's side with Menma, Sasuke took the initiative to ask and research relevant content to better understand Menma.
He knew clearly.
Sealed within Menma's body was the strongest Tailed Beast in the world today.
This was the source of Menma's power.
The proud Sasuke naturally wouldn't allow himself to be weaker than any peer.
Not even Menma.
But if it was a power boost from an external force, Sasuke could barely convince himself.
Menma wasn't relying on his own strength.
But what about the current situation!?
Even though Sasuke was effectively borrowing an external force himself...
Menma could fight him evenly without using the Nine-Tails' power!?
No!
To be more accurate...
Sasuke was slightly at a disadvantage!?
How could Sasuke accept such a discovery, such a situation!?
Sasuke bit his lower lip tightly, the look in his eyes growing even colder.
And this was Menma's true individual strength at this moment.
After experiencing multiple fierce battles.
And the personal training fine-tuned through the experiments during this period.
Menma's strength had been further enhanced.
Most importantly, the massive amount of knowledge on jutsu obtained from Orochimaru.
Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu.
This was a comprehensive personal strengthening.
And as he constantly adapted to the Nine-Tails' chakra, Menma's physical fitness was also continuously improving.
The improvement in comprehensive strength allowed Menma to solidly possess the power of a Jonin, or even a notch stronger, without using the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Sasuke, who had just obtained the power of Cursed Seal Level Two and had only trained under Orochimaru for such a short time, couldn't possibly be stronger than Menma.
Boom!
Bang!
In another direct collision.
Unable to suppress Menma, Sasuke was instead caught off guard, and Menma used a kunai to slash his clothes, leaving a shallow bloody mark on his chest.
Feeling the slight pain transmitted.
Sasuke's expression turned cold.
After using the force to pull away.
He clearly couldn't hold back anymore.
Clapping his hands together, he completed the seals rapidly.
"Chidori!!!"
Immediately after.
Under Menma's slightly raised eyebrows.
A terrifyingly majestic Lightning Style chakra raged instantly.
On this wide training ground, it sounded as if thousands of birds of different species were chirping loudly.
The ultimate form change of Lightning Style chakra.
Then mixed with nature transformation.
This combined S-rank Lightning Style jutsu.
Menma chuckled lightly.
Buzz!
On his upturned right palm.
A ball of azure chakra gathered and materialized at high speed in that moment.
"Rasengan!"
Leaping up simultaneously.
Meeting each other head-on.
Bang!
Boom!
Two jutsu bombarded each other violently.
Accompanied by the powerful airwaves bursting apart.
Feeling his Lightning Style chakra being nakedly canceled out and swallowed up.
"Bastard!"
Sasuke's expression changed involuntarily.
But this was no longer a situation he could control.
At close range.
Bang!
Boom!
Lightning covered him.
Menma's Rasengan also slammed straight into Sasuke's palm.
As bone-piercing pain transmitted instantly.
A look of agony appeared on Sasuke's face.
The next second.
The chakra seemed to dissipate instantly.
Bang!
Turning around.
Menma changed his palm into a fist and punched heavily onto Sasuke's chest, blasting him away by force.