The timeline returns to before the battle began.
Some time had passed since Uchiha Sasuke learned the truth about Itachi and awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan.
He remained at Orochimaru's base, collecting intelligence and studying Danzo.
Sasuke knew clearly that Danzo Shimura was the venomous snake hidden deepest within Konoha—cunning, suspicious, and holding immense power. A rash attack would only lead to repeating past mistakes, or even being exploited by him again.
He utilized the powerful ocular and genjutsu abilities granted by the Mangekyo Sharingan to begin a secretive and highly efficient intelligence gathering operation.
His targets were primarily the captives and Rogue Ninja captured by Orochimaru, who came from Konoha or other ninja villages.
Under genjutsu interrogation, their memories were like open scrolls, allowing Sasuke to examine them freely.
From these fragmented memories, he pieced together information about the remaining strongholds of "Root," their operational patterns, and the spies Danzo might have placed externally.
He even risked infiltrating some underground Money Exchange Offices located near the borders of the Land of Fire, places teeming with shady characters.
That was a gathering spot for Rogue Ninja and information brokers. He concealed his identity, using genjutsu control or physical coercion to pry out any fragments of information related to Danzo from those who were greedy or fearful.
He heard too much about Danzo's deceit and power, but he also gradually sketched out the operational outline of that old fox.
Every confirmation of intelligence was like adding a bundle of dry firewood to the fire of hatred in his heart. But he endured, suppressing all his killing intent within the increasingly profound Mangekyo.
At the same time, Sasuke never stopped exploring and honing the power of the Mangekyo.
However, the immense power of the Mangekyo Sharingan came with clear side effects.
Blurred vision and mental exhaustion were gradually starting to appear. Although they were not yet obvious, Sasuke could feel that these eyes were steadily heading toward darkness.
Sasuke felt no fear; instead, it intensified his sense of urgency—he had to complete his revenge before he went blind!
He sealed himself off in the deepest part of the training ground, casting aside all distractions and immersing his entire spirit into the Mangekyo.
He recalled the despair and pain of the Night of the Clan Massacre, the heart-wrenching rage and hatred upon learning the truth, and the complex, unspeakable emotions he felt toward Itachi. These extreme emotions were the fuel driving the Mangekyo's evolution.
Sweat soaked his clothes, and his body trembled slightly from the excessive drain of Mental Energy. His vision was sometimes clear, sometimes blurred, but he ignored it all, like a mad gambler staking everything on these eyes.
Orochimaru seemed to notice his abnormality, and instead of stopping him, he "thoughtfully" arranged several sparring matches for him.
Sasuke felt his power, and he sensed that he could unleash a move unlike any he had used before.
Crack! Crack!
A solid, purple skeletal framework emerged, centered on him, guarding him firmly in the middle.
He had successfully activated Susanoo!
In the following days, he continued to stabilize Susanoo, gradually evolving it from its initial skeletal form toward one covered in flesh and clad in armor, while also focusing more intensely on organizing the final intelligence regarding Danzo.
He felt like a bow being slowly drawn to its maximum tension, the arrow already aimed at the target, just waiting for the optimal moment to release the string and act swiftly.
And that moment arrived very quickly.
It was a seemingly ordinary day. Sasuke had just finished a round of fine control training for Susanoo and was recovering his greatly depleted Ocular Power.
Suddenly, he keenly sensed a powerful Aura, which naturally belonged to Hinata.
She came to see Orochimaru again?
Sasuke's heart stirred, and almost instinctively, he approached the area where Orochimaru's Laboratory was located.
He didn't expect to completely fool the two keenly perceptive individuals inside; he just wanted to try his luck and see if he could hear anything.
Standing in the shadows, he intermittently caught a few keywords.
"...clansmen... missing... Danzo..."
"...cooperation? Byakugan..."
"...just kill him..."
"...You mean Shisui's eye? There won't be a chance to use it..."
"...Do you want to study it?"
Every sentence exploded in his mind like a clap of thunder!
The Hyuga clansmen had also fallen victim to Danzo's schemes, and Hinata and Orochimaru were actually planning to hunt down Danzo!
Furthermore, they mentioned Shisui's eye! Hinata seemed to have a way to deal with that thing!
The opportunity to hunt him was right before his eyes!
Sasuke's heart pounded violently, not from fear, but from extreme excitement and killing intent.
Sasuke retreated to his room. He quickly checked his condition, replenished his stamina, and polished the kusanagi sword until it gleamed. He was like a precise machine making final preparations for the impending battle.
When he sensed that Hinata and Orochimaru had left the base one after another, Sasuke knew that the long-awaited signal had arrived!
They have departed!!
Sasuke suddenly stood up, his Mangekyo instantly activating in his eyes, and a scarlet light shone in the dim room, like the eyes of a Vicious Beast ready to devour its prey.
Without any hesitation, he transformed into a black gust of wind and rushed out of the base, following Orochimaru all the way, speeding toward the end of his path of vengeance!
The wind whistled past his ears, trees rapidly receded, the Chakra inside him boiled, and the Mangekyo burned in his eye sockets.
All the preparation, all the endurance, and all the hatred would finally be unleashed in this upcoming hunt!
"Danzo, I'm fucking coming for you! Prepare to use your blood to pay tribute to the Uchiha!"
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