Having pierced Jirobo with Chidori, Sasuke's gaze moved past Jirobo's body, assessing the situation on the battlefield.
At that moment, Naruto was locked in a fierce fight with Sakon and Ukon nearby.
With Multi-Shadow Clone Technique and Rasengan, Naruto held a clear advantage, seemingly overpowering Sakon and Ukon.
On the other side, Sakura was holding off Tayuya.
But Sasuke quickly frowned, instantly realizing that Tayuya wasn't taking it seriously, merely toying with Sakura.
"Naruto's side is fine for now, but Sakura won't hold out much longer. I need to take out the last one quickly and support her…"
As Sasuke's thoughts raced, he withdrew his right arm from Jirobo's body.
Of course, during his sneak attack, he had deliberately aimed ten centimeters higher, avoiding Jirobo's heart and piercing his left shoulder. In his view, if treated promptly, Jirobo might still survive!
Thud.
As Sasuke pulled out his arm, Jirobo collapsed.
Sasuke's gaze didn't linger on Jirobo for even a second. He immediately scanned the surrounding trees, searching for Kidomaru hiding within.
"Don't keep hiding. You've got one shot—make your move!" Sasuke's Sharingan shifted in his sockets, the tomoe spinning slowly.
Perhaps hearing Sasuke's words, a whoosh sounded as a golden arrow, wrapped in a piercing whistle, shot toward him.
Clang.
Sasuke didn't dodge. He drew a kunai, deflecting the arrow with ease.
Then, he looked toward the arrow's source, a smirk forming. "Found you!"
Just as he prepared to leap and deal with Kidomaru hiding in the canopy, his ankle was suddenly grabbed.
"!?"
Sasuke was startled.
Before he could look down to see what had seized him, he was spun into the air, whirling dizzily.
Only then did he realize that the one grabbing his ankle and swinging him around was Jirobo, whom he had just pierced through the shoulder with Chidori.
"How is that possible!?"
With such an injury, a normal person would barely be clinging to life, let alone standing and swinging him like this.
"No, his body…"
Sasuke's pupils contracted as he noticed Jirobo's body changing. Dark, ink-like patterns were spreading across his form.
Bang!
After swinging Sasuke several times, Jirobo slammed him into the ground, panting heavily. "Bastard, you didn't take me down!"
Diamond-shaped, ink-black patterns covered Jirobo's entire body, causing it to heat up. The wound on his shoulder healed at a visible rate, and his skin gradually turned deep red!
Lying on the ground, Sasuke's expression was icy. "That's the 'Cursed Seal,' isn't it?"
Exhaling a breath laced with hot mist, Jirobo sneered. "This is my true form. Regret not killing me earlier?"
Sasuke slowly rose. "So, you know who the mysterious person that planted the 'Cursed Seal' on me is, don't you?"
Jirobo smirked. "So what if I do?"
"Who is he?" Sasuke's tone grew colder.
Jirobo said, "A weakling like you doesn't deserve to know his name! Stop acting tough and die!"
In an instant, Jirobo, having activated the Cursed Seal and entered Gear Two, swung a fierce punch at Sasuke!
Thud.
With a low, muffled sound, Sasuke raised a hand, steadily catching Jirobo's fist!
Jirobo's arm trembled from the effort, but even so, his punch couldn't budge Sasuke's arm an inch. "H-How is this possible!?"
"Even if it's the same thing, the effect varies greatly depending on who uses it. That's the difference between you and me!"
Like Jirobo, dark, ink-like patterns surged from Sasuke's shoulder.
These petal-like patterns rapidly covered his body, even invading one of his Sharingan eyes, causing it to mutate.
Though altered, the transformation was unparalleled. A terrifying chakra, so powerful it made Jirobo's heart race, emanated from Sasuke. This change startled even Naruto, Sakura, Sakon and Ukon, and Tayuya, who were fighting nearby.
On a nearby tree.
Orochimaru, disguised as Koshi Shinji, leaned against the trunk with arms crossed, watching Sasuke's battle with Jirobo from afar.
When he saw Sasuke activate the Cursed Seal, his previously playful expression turned serious. "Huh, this chakra…"
Due to the complex and mysterious nature of natural energy, Orochimaru's research into the Cursed Seal was quite superficial.
In fact, developing the Cursed Seal was an accidental gain after acquiring Jugo.
Thus, when he saw the terrifying Yin Release chakra emanating from Sasuke's Cursed Seal—enough to unsettle even him—his shock was no less than that of those on the battlefield!
"As expected of a Mangekyo Uchiha. Though not as strong as Itachi, 'A,' or 'B,' he's still a whole tier above ordinary shinobi!"
Initially, when Sasuke was slammed into the ground by Jirobo, Orochimaru had planned to simply take his Mangekyo Sharingan. But now, he was growing intrigued by Sasuke's body. The Sound Four, who had survived the transformation fluid and endured the Cursed Seal, were already rare talents.
Compared to Sasuke, however, they suddenly seemed utterly mediocre.
…
At the other end.
On a tree branch, Shinji, Haku, and Karin stood side by side, also observing the battle between Sasuke's team and the Sound Four from a distance.
Haku asked, "Shinji-kun, do we really not need to help?"
Karin was also anxious.
Both knew Sasuke was "E" in the organization, and his current state seemed off, making them worry something might happen to him.
"Let's watch for now," Shinji said casually, but secretly activated Jikibi and Wazunagi, drawing a small amount of Cursed Seal chakra from Sasuke's body.
"So this is natural energy…"
Feeling the Cursed Seal chakra, which repelled his own chakra, Shinji was slightly intrigued.
The Cursed Seal chakra, infused with natural energy, was different from what he'd imagined. If he had to compare, it wasn't like the fiery Yang Release chakra or the somber Yin Release chakra but rather like a reclusive, aloof teenager who didn't care to engage.