Crackle!
As deep blue arcs of electricity emanated from his body in controlled patterns, Sasuke's blood-red Sharingan remained fixed on his own form, analyzing every detail of the chakra flow and electrical manifestation.
"This isn't working," he muttered suddenly, his brow furrowing with concern as he immediately ceased his chakra release.
The moment Sasuke stopped the technique, the electric arcs that had been condensing around his body began losing their coherent structure. After several chaotic crackling sounds, they dissipated entirely, leaving only the lingering smell of ozone in the forest air.
Using his Sharingan's enhanced perception, he had been carefully observing the subtle patterns of his own chakra circulation, paying particular attention to the frequency and rhythm required for stable lightning chakra emission throughout his entire body.
Ninjutsu had always been a double-edged sword, and this principle applied especially to techniques under development. Without complete mastery and precise control, experimental jutsu could easily injure or kill their own user before affecting any enemy.
"As expected," Sasuke analyzed with clinical detachment, "attempting to release Chidori-level lightning from every point on my body simultaneously requires far more sophisticated form manipulation than I initially calculated."
Despite the obvious failure of his experimental technique, Sasuke felt no discouragement whatsoever. He understood that developing original ninjutsu represented one of the most challenging and demanding aspects of ninja arts, making immediate success both unlikely and unrealistic.
Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth as a particular memory surfaced.
"Mother mentioned that the Fourth Hokage had developed S-rank ninjutsu by the age of ten, didn't she?" he mused aloud, his competitive spirit sparked by the comparison.
The legendary accomplishments of previous prodigies served as both inspiration and measuring stick for his own development. When thinking of the Fourth Hokage's remarkable achievements, however, Sasuke inevitably found his thoughts turning to another individual.
"That idiot," he said with a mixture of affection and exasperation, shaking his head at the mental image of Naruto's perpetually confident grin.
Swoosh!
Just as Sasuke was preparing to resume his training, an ink-painted bird materialized in the sky above the forest clearing. The artistic creation descended with purposeful flight before landing directly in front of him, its form dissolving to reveal a message written in precise characters.
"Another mission already?" Sasuke murmured, scanning the contents with practiced efficiency.
Before he had even finished reading the full text, his form vanished from the training ground in a burst of speed, leaving only disturbed air and fallen leaves to mark his departure.
Two months later, Hokage's office...
Uchiha Yoruki materialized before Minato's desk, his usually composed demeanor replaced by obvious anxiety and barely contained anger.
"Minato," he began without preamble, "ANBU intelligence has confirmed that Orochimaru is the individual who secretly established and has been supporting the Hidden Sound Village."
His voice carried undertones of murderous intent as he continued. "That traitor has constructed numerous experimental facilities throughout the Land of Sound, using the village as cover for his forbidden research."
The revelation struck particularly close to home for Yoruki, who had been personally responsible for hunting down Orochimaru when the Sannin first betrayed Konoha. His failure to capture the rogue ninja—due to interference from the mysterious masked man—remained a source of professional frustration and personal shame.
Upon hearing this intelligence, Minato carefully set aside the document he had been reviewing and rose from his chair with deliberate gravity.
"What is the estimated scope of Hidden Sound's military capabilities?" he asked, his expression growing more serious as he processed the implications.
Yoruki reached into his equipment pouch and withdrew a detailed intelligence scroll, placing it on the desk between them.
After reading through the comprehensive report, Minato set the document down and fixed Yoruki with a determined look. "Given this information, mobilize every available ANBU operative not currently engaged in critical village security operations. Place Shisui in overall command of the operation."
His voice took on the authority of absolute command as he continued. "Have all participating forces assemble on the roof of the Hokage building as quickly as possible. I'll handle diplomatic negotiations with the Daimyo of the Land of Sound after we've dealt with the immediate threat."
"Understood!" Yoruki acknowledged before disappearing in a flicker of movement.
Alone in his office, Minato turned toward the window overlooking the rebuilt village, his expression darkening with resolve.
Although more than a year had passed since the devastating attack on Konoha, the village would never abandon its pursuit of those responsible for that tragedy. While Orochimaru had cooperated with Nagato's group during the assault, intelligence suggested he hadn't actually joined their organization as a permanent member.
Tracking down elite criminals like Sasori and Kakuzu would be nearly impossible if they chose to remain hidden, given their exceptional skills in concealment and misdirection. However, Orochimaru's extensive network of research facilities represented a more vulnerable target.
Experimental programs required substantial infrastructure that couldn't be easily concealed—specialized equipment, test subjects, supply chains, and secure locations. These practical necessities created patterns that Konoha's intelligence apparatus could detect and exploit.
Minato was well aware that Nagato's organization included individuals with extraordinary capabilities in information gathering and communication. Therefore, he intended to use the Flying Thunder God technique to transport the entire ANBU force directly to Sound Village, eliminating any possibility of advance warning or strategic preparation by their enemies.
Within an hour, dozens of ANBU operatives had assembled on the roof of the Hokage building, their animal-faced masks creating an intimidating array of predatory features under the afternoon sun.
Using the same mass transportation technique he had employed during the Third Great Ninja War, Minato placed his hands on the lead operatives and activated his legendary space-time ninjutsu.
Flash!
The entire strike force vanished from Konoha in an instant of yellow light.
That night, outside Hidden Sound Village...
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Konoha's ANBU forces materialized silently in the darkness beyond Sound Village's perimeter defenses, their sudden appearance as coordinated and precise as their departure had been.
The Sound ninja, despite having received systematic training under Orochimaru's instruction over recent years, were fundamentally outclassed by the elite operatives now surrounding their village. Even with improved organization and technique, they remained far inferior to ANBU's carefully selected and extensively trained specialists.
For this operation, Minato had deployed virtually every available ANBU operative not engaged in essential village security duties. With Shisui and Itachi providing tactical leadership, the complete subjugation of Hidden Sound's forces became a matter of execution rather than strategy.
Under the pale glow of moonlight, the true confrontation would occur at Orochimaru's primary research facility, where the traitor himself awaited discovery.
Outside Orochimaru's experimental compound...
Orochimaru's distinctive snake-like eyes fixed upon the two ANBU operatives who had emerged from the surrounding darkness. Even without seeing their faces behind the ritual masks, he recognized their identities immediately.
"Uchiha Shisui... Uchiha Itachi," he hissed, his serpentine voice carrying notes of both recognition and calculation.
His eyes flashed with dangerous intensity as he processed the implications of their presence. The speed and coordination of Konoha's response had exceeded his expectations, suggesting that his security measures had been insufficient.
While he might be able to handle either opponent individually, facing both Uchiha prodigies simultaneously represented a genuinely lethal threat. Their combined Sharingan abilities and tactical coordination could very well prove fatal.
Confronted by this traitor who had betrayed his village, participated in devastating attacks against his former home, and murdered countless innocent people, neither Shisui nor Itachi felt any inclination toward mercy or restraint.
The two exchanged a meaningful glance before attacking in perfect synchronization.
Flash!
In the darkness, their eyes simultaneously transformed into the blood-red of the Sharingan, brilliant light emanating from their enhanced pupils as their legendary abilities activated.
Faced with those two pairs of hypnotic eyes, Orochimaru's caution reached unprecedented levels. His current physical form, sustained through forbidden techniques and unnatural modifications, was particularly vulnerable to spiritual attacks that targeted the mind and soul rather than mere flesh.
The Sharingan's genjutsu capabilities represented exactly the kind of threat his modified body was least equipped to resist.
Rather than risk direct eye contact with either opponent, Orochimaru made the calculated decision to simply close his eyes entirely.
"What is he planning?" both Shisui and Itachi wondered simultaneously.
While they understood that Orochimaru was attempting to guard against their ocular techniques, fighting blind against two Sharingan users seemed like tactical suicide rather than effective defense.
However, their assessment of Orochimaru's capabilities was based on his previous demonstrations during the attack on Konoha. As one of the legendary Sannin, he undoubtedly possessed techniques and transformations that hadn't been revealed during that chaotic battle.
Even as they prepared to exploit his apparent disadvantage, both ANBU operatives noticed disturbing changes beginning to manifest in their opponent's physical form.
Orochimaru's naturally pale skin was rapidly darkening, taking on an unnatural coloration while strange black patterns began spreading across his visible flesh like living tattoos. Behind him, a serpentine tail emerged from his lower back, growing longer and more substantial with each passing second.
Within moments, the legendary Sannin had undergone a transformation so dramatic that he appeared to be an entirely different creature. His chakra signature had changed completely, radiating power that far exceeded anything he had demonstrated during previous encounters.
"Senjutsu: Dance of the Early Fern!" Orochimaru called out, his voice now carrying otherworldly resonance.
His lower body sank into the earth as if the ground had become liquid, while massive white bone spurs began erupting from the soil in front of his position.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each bone projection grew with explosive force, expanding rapidly in both size and number while the ground beneath them shook violently from the tremendous geological disruption.
"What kind of technique is this?" both Shisui and Itachi thought in alarm, having never encountered anything remotely similar to this display of power.
The experimental facility behind Orochimaru was being systematically destroyed by the forest of bone spears that continued erupting from the earth with increasing intensity and coverage.
Recognizing the immediate threat to their fellow ANBU operatives positioned throughout the area, both Uchiha prodigies acted without hesitation.
Brilliant chakra began manifesting around each of them as they prepared to activate their ultimate defensive techniques.
"Susanoo!" they called out in unison, their combined voices echoing through the night as legendary power awakened to meet this unprecedented threat.
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