Recognized as the research genius of the ninja world, Orochimaru possessed deep understanding and knowledge of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and various secret techniques.
Yet the techniques he now witnessed from Sasuke filled him with unprecedented novelty and confusion.
Through countless trials and refinement, true mastery was achieved through simplicity; although the strength of this systematic power Sasuke displayed was not particularly great at present, its internal logic and completeness were extremely rare.
This sparked Orochimaru's curiosity, compelling him to delve deeper into its mysteries.
"Hmph!" Sasuke did not respond to Orochimaru's inquiry, his expression remaining grim as cold stone.
"I find you more and more interesting, Sasuke-kun."
Orochimaru's laughter grew increasingly maniacal, his body once again lunging toward Sasuke with the fluid motion of a serpent.
"Shave!" Facing Orochimaru's fierce assault, Sasuke unhesitatingly employed "Shave" from the Six Powers, darting across the battlefield with astonishing speed to evade.
He knew well that against a formidable opponent like Orochimaru, ordinary ninjutsu posed no effective threat.
"Bang!" Their exchanges were swift and fierce, like lightning flashing, afterimages constantly appearing across the battlefield, dazzling to behold.
"Sasuke is this strong…"
Nearby, Naruto watched with wide eyes, stunned by the scene.
Only now did he truly grasp that Sasuke's strength had far exceeded his imagination.
"I have to fight too! I need to share some of Sasuke's burden!"
A fierce sense of frustration and fighting spirit surged within Naruto.
His fists clenched tightly, and unbeknownst to him, tendrils of malicious red chakra began to stir within his body.
It was the power of the Nine-Tails, seeping forth in the moment Naruto lost control of his emotions.
"Sasuke-kun, this level of power alone is hardly sufficient."
Orochimaru easily deflected Sasuke's barrage of attacks, a sinister smile on his face.
He anticipated that Sasuke would offer him further surprises and discoveries.
"Hmph!" Sasuke's expression darkened further, his eyes revealing unwavering resolve.
The next instant, his speed abruptly accelerated, closing in on Orochimaru like a black bolt of lightning.
"It's useless, Sasuke-kun." Orochimaru sneered, raising his hand to intercept Sasuke's strike once more.
Yet at that moment, he suddenly noticed a faint, blackish gleam flickering on Sasuke's right fist.
"Knuckle!" Sasuke roared, focusing a trace of weak Armament Haki onto his right fist.
This blow channeled all his strength and will.
"Bang!" The hand Orochimaru used to block was forcefully knocked aside upon contact with Sasuke's fist.
Sasuke's punch, carrying that faint black radiance, struck Orochimaru's face like a heavy bomb.
The force of the impact sent Orochimaru flying, his body arcing through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground in the distance.
"Amazing." Naruto muttered; Sasuke had become this powerful, even defeating that eerie enemy.
"Hah!"
Sasuke panted, his body showing signs of fatigue, yet his gaze remained stern.
He could clearly sense the presence of that man opposite him, still strong and malevolent, like a viper lurking in the abyss, sending chills down one's spine.
"Hehehe!" At that moment, a strange, grating laughter suddenly rang out. Orochimaru's form writhed like a twisted serpent, his battered face peeling away like shattered ceramic, revealing the true features hidden beneath.
"What a peculiar power, Sasuke-kun. You truly are a genius."
Orochimaru's voice carried a barely concealed avarice, his gaze fixed intently on Sasuke as if trying to see right through him.
The black substance on that punch had effortlessly breached his defenses—a power beyond imagination.
Moreover, he could sense something unique within this strength, a mystery he had never encountered before.
"I would so love to study it thoroughly." The corner of Orochimaru's mouth curled into an obsessed grin, his eyes burning with desire for unknown power.
"What a nuisance." Sasuke's voice was low as he gritted his teeth and charged once more, his limbs imbued with traces of Armament Haki that shimmered with steely hardness.
Orochimaru, his eerie smile intact, intensified his attacks, engaging Sasuke in fierce combat while attempting to analyze this newfound power and uncover his weaknesses.
"If only I had strength like Vice Admiral Garp's; I could crush a guy like this with one punch."
Sasuke lamented inwardly, continuing to employ Armament Haki as he tried to inflict greater damage on Orochimaru.
However, as the fight stretched on for half a day, Sasuke gradually felt his strength waning.
His double-tomoe Sharingan struggled more and more to track Orochimaru's increasingly swift movements.
To barely hold on, Sasuke had to incorporate Observation Haki, attempting to anticipate Orochimaru's attack trajectories.
Yet even so, he remained at a disadvantage.
Worse still, his Armament Haki was nearing depletion.
After all, he was still too young, his training too brief; against a formidable opponent like Orochimaru, his strength appeared woefully inadequate.
"Has Konoha truly rotted to the core? Why hasn't anyone come to assist?"
Sasuke's inner cry grew desperate, a glint of despair flashing in his eyes.
As time wore on, Sasuke finally reached his physical limit.
Just then, Orochimaru flashed his signature sinister smile, his body coiling swiftly around Sasuke like a serpent.
"Sasuke-kun, allow me to give you a special gift."
Orochimaru's voice dripped with amusement as he chuckled madly, preparing to bestow a curse mark upon Sasuke.
"Bang!"
At that critical moment, Naruto charged forward like an arrow released from its bow, his fist wreathed in searing red chakra as he violently struck Orochimaru, sending him flying.
"Oh?" In the distance, Orochimaru landed steadily, narrowing his eyes as he appraised the unusual red chakra radiating from Naruto, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful smirk. "So it's the Nine-Tails' chakra. It seems you're beginning to master that power too."
Meanwhile, Naruto swiftly helped Sasuke up, propping him to rest nearby before turning his back to him, speaking with unwavering resolve: "Don't worry, Sasuke. This time, I'll defeat him myself and avenge you."
Sasuke watched Naruto's back, a complex smile tugging at his lips. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he struggled to his feet. Though his body was battered, his eyes still blazed with unyielding spirit: "Hey, dead last, enough with the big talk. We fight together."
Naruto didn't look back, roaring as he charged at Orochimaru again. The boost from the Nine-Tails' chakra elevated his speed and power to an entirely new level.
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