"Susanoo... was actually crushed?"
"How is this possible?"
Uchiha Sasuke watched helplessly as his Susanoo's fist was shattered by Uzumaki Raiden's claws, freezing in place. Ever since unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan, he had relied on Susanoo as an unbeatable shield, but now, his technique seemed powerless before Uzumaki Raiden.
"Susanoo is indeed a powerful technique, but its effectiveness depends on the user."
"Boy, your Susanoo is still far too weak!"
Uzumaki Raiden grinned before instantly appearing in front of Uchiha Sasuke. Just as Sasuke raised his arms to defend himself, Raiden landed a powerful kick to his chest. Sasuke's Susanoo-clad body was sent flying, his sternum cracking from the impact. He crashed into the center of the battlefield, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.
"Is that all?" Uzumaki Raiden muttered as he gazed at the crater in the distance. Seeing that Sasuke hadn't stood up for a long time, he sighed in disappointment.
Despite having unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke's combat ability was lackluster. Fighting him felt like a turn-based game—his use of the Mangekyō was limited to basic ocular jutsu without any strategic coordination.
Raiden had initially held high expectations for Sasuke's strength, but after this battle, his opinion had changed. Even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, Sasuke was far from the level of elite shinobi.
Not only was he incapable of defeating Uzumaki Raiden, but even Terumi Mei, the Mizukage present at the scene, could overpower him—perhaps even Chōjūrō could put up a fight.
Uzumaki Raiden walked toward Sasuke. Though the boy was weak, Raiden had no intention of letting him escape. Now that he had been found, it was time to take him back to the village.
"Damn it... you bastard!"
As the dust settled, Sasuke's furious roar erupted from the crater. Raiden, who had been casually walking forward, halted in his tracks. His eyes gleamed with a trace of anticipation.
"Huff!"
A sudden burst of wind howled from the pit, accompanied by an immense surge of chakra. A towering purple figure emerged from the smoke, swinging a massive fist toward Raiden.
Uzumaki Raiden tapped the ground lightly, leaping back a few meters to avoid the strike. His gaze fell upon the newly transformed purple chakra construct.
"Power... power is surging through me!"
"So strong... my pupil power has grown even more!"
"Heh... hehehe... HAHAHAHAHA!!"
As Sasuke's emotions flared, his Mangekyō Sharingan's power erupted, intensifying to an unprecedented level. He could feel his strength increasing, and Susanoo, which once appeared skeletal, had now evolved into a more complete form.
Previously, his Susanoo was a half-body skeletal construct—the initial stage of the technique. But now, it had developed muscle and armor, though still only covering his upper body. Sasuke could tell that this form was far stronger than before.
Moreover, he noticed something crucial—Raiden had chosen to dodge his attack instead of blocking it head-on. What did that mean? It meant that his current Susanoo might actually be strong enough to make Raiden wary.
A wicked grin spread across Sasuke's face as he laughed maniacally, exuding the aura of someone reveling in their newfound power.
"So his pupil power has strengthened, and his Susanoo has evolved."
"I suppose that's to be expected from a protagonist—achieving a breakthrough mid-battle."
"This pattern... why does it feel so familiar?"
Uzumaki Raiden smirked as he observed the transformation. He wasn't particularly concerned.
If Sasuke were fighting an ordinary opponent, this power boost might have secured him victory. Unfortunately for him, Raiden was anything but ordinary.
"Did you gain strength through anger? There truly are many ways to enhance the power of the Sharingan."
"But if you think that alone is enough to defeat me, you're mistaken."
Raiden understood the Sharingan well. He spoke calmly, his words laced with indifference, as he watched Sasuke revel in his own power.
Sasuke's laughter abruptly ceased. He cast a cold glare at Raiden and scoffed.
"You wouldn't understand the power of the Uchiha!"
"Now, I can kill you with ease!"
Spreading his arms wide, Sasuke leapt into the air. Chakra surged through Susanoo's hands, forming three massive chakra-infused shuriken, which he hurled straight at Raiden.
As he watched Sasuke's arrogance, Raiden sighed.
"Ah... some nicknames really do fit."
"This boy has no sense of reality, does he?"
Raiden stood still as the chakra shuriken hurtled toward him.
A tremendous explosion erupted at the center of the battlefield, unleashing a powerful shockwave. Terumi Mei reacted swiftly, pulling Chōjūrō aside. As the flames subsided, she turned her gaze anxiously toward the spot where Raiden had been.
"Hahaha! HAHAHAHA!!"
Sasuke erupted in triumphant laughter upon seeing his attack land. He was confident in his destructive power—there was no way Uzumaki Raiden could have survived such a direct hit.
This was it. This was the moment he had killed his first major Konoha figure. Even Sasuke himself was exhilarated by the feat.
"Why are you so happy?"
"What exactly are you laughing at?"
A voice suddenly whispered into Sasuke's ear.
Every hair on his body stood on end. His eyes widened in horror as he turned his head—only to feel an overwhelming force slam into him before he could react.
"He wasn't even using his full strength?!"
The realization flashed through Sasuke's mind just before he heard the unmistakable sound—
"Crack!"
"Boom!!"
Once again, Sasuke was sent crashing into the earth. His Susanoo shattered completely, unable to withstand the sheer force of the attack. Blood dribbled from the corners of his mouth, and red streaks marred his cheeks as blood trickled from his eyes.
Uzumaki Raiden strolled over, crouched down, and grabbed Sasuke by the collar, lifting him effortlessly.
"Looks like you're not strong enough to take my head just yet," Raiden whispered mockingly into Sasuke's ear. The words snapped Sasuke back to his senses. He opened his weary eyes, struggling to focus on Raiden's face.
His vision blurred from exhaustion—his Mangekyō's power was nearly depleted.
"But..." Sasuke murmured weakly.
Despite his injuries, he refused to give up. Clutching his Kusanagi sword, he mustered the last of his strength and slashed at Raiden's arm—only for the blade to be effortlessly blocked by the latter's Lightning Armor.
"Tsk... what a stubborn brat. Still full of fight, huh?"
Raiden chuckled before tightening his grip on Sasuke's throat and slamming him into the ground.
"Boom!"
"Urgh!"
The impact sent a fresh wave of pain through Sasuke's battered body. Blood spurted from his lips as darkness overtook his vision, and he lost consciousness.
Raiden hoisted Sasuke over his shoulder and gave him a quick once-over. Though the boy looked pitiful, he was only seriously injured—nothing life-threatening. A bit of rest and medical treatment, and he'd be fine.
"Shhh."
As soon as the battle ended, Terumi Mei and Chōjūrō rushed to the battlefield. Terumi Mei glanced at Uchiha Sasuke, who was unconscious on Uzumaki Raiden's shoulder, and asked,
"You've captured Uchiha Sasuke. Are you taking him back next?"
After asking, she lowered her head slightly. Though her time with Uzumaki Raiden had been brief, she had a strange feeling about him. If love at first sight truly existed, then Terumi Mei was certain she had just experienced it.
"Of course. This kid is seriously injured and needs immediate treatment."
Uzumaki Raiden lightly patted Sasuke's back with a smile. However, upon noticing Terumi Mei's expression, he remained on guard. A Mizukage acting unpredictably was rarely a good sign.
"Terumi Mei, don't you want to ask for Uchiha Sasuke?"
"After all, I heard he killed many shinobi from the Hidden Mist Village. It's reasonable to demand justice for the victims."
"But handing Sasuke over is absolutely impossible—he's too important to Konoha."
Raiden thought to himself, his gaze sharp with a hint of inquiry.
"I see."
"That..." Just as Terumi Mei was about to speak, Uzumaki Raiden raised his hand and cut her off.
"Impossible. Uchiha Sasuke is coming back to Konoha with me. There's no way I'm handing him over to the Mist."
"Since you led me to Sasuke, let's leave it at that. Farewell."
Without waiting for a response, Uzumaki Raiden waved his hand and vanished from sight with Sasuke.
Terumi Mei stared blankly at the spot where he had disappeared. Her expression momentarily froze before she clenched her fists, her face darkening with frustration.
"I didn't even say anything yet, and he just left without listening?!"
"That bastard!"
She snorted in annoyance and turned away angrily, completely ignoring Chōjūrō.
Meanwhile, Raiden carried Sasuke away from the battlefield, muttering to himself,
"Good thing I left quickly. If the Mizukage wasn't going to demand Sasuke, she'd definitely want some other form of compensation. I'd rather let Minato deal with that headache."
"I don't have time for this nonsense."
Uzumaki Raiden brought Uchiha Sasuke to a remote wooden cabin, where Nagato and the others had once been buried. Initially, he had intended to return to Konoha immediately, but after thinking it through, he realized that bringing Sasuke back directly would cause unnecessary trouble.
Sasuke was the second son of Fugaku, a Konoha traitor. Under normal circumstances, the village's response to a traitor was simple—execution.
However, Sasuke's special status meant killing him wasn't an option. Even if his potential was ignored, his lineage alone made him politically sensitive. Moreover, with Itachi still alive, executing Sasuke would only cause more complications.
Even if Sasuke weren't executed, the village would likely imprison him for life to maintain order. But if Sasuke were locked away, he would be completely wasted. He was still young, with plenty of room to grow. If he lost the opportunity to hone his skills, he would never reach his true potential.
"The only way out for this kid is to atone for his crimes through great achievements."
Raiden placed Sasuke gently on the wooden floor, then gathered firewood and lit a bonfire in the cabin. After stabilizing Sasuke's injuries with chakra, he leaned against the wall, deep in thought.
"His straight Mangekyō Sharingan will definitely attract attention from certain people."
"Now, let's see if this kid has any sense."
Raiden pondered for a long time, made up his mind, and then stirred the fire absently, waiting for Sasuke to wake up.
As expected, young bodies recovered quickly. Before long, Sasuke's eyes flickered open.
The dim light of the cabin filled his vision. He blinked in confusion at the wooden beams above him, realizing he was no longer in the village street where he had fought.
Sasuke immediately tried to sit up, only for a sharp pain to shoot through his body. He gritted his teeth in agony, but despite the pain, his instincts remained sharp.
His eyes darted around the room until they landed on a figure sitting beside the bonfire. The moment he recognized the man, his muscles tensed, and he instinctively reached for the Kusanagi sword beside him. The weapon gave him a sense of security, and without hesitation, he lunged forward, stabbing directly at Uzumaki Raiden.
"Hey, hey. Just because you're Fugaku's son doesn't mean I won't kill you!"
"Calm down, kid."
Raiden turned his head slightly, raised two fingers, and effortlessly caught the blade between them. With a sudden tug, he yanked the sword from Sasuke's grasp.
Sasuke's expression twisted in shock. Losing his weapon, he immediately resorted to his next best move—
"Chidori!"
Lightning crackled as Sasuke's left hand surged with chakra. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, aiming straight for Raiden's heart.
Raiden frowned. In an instant, he let go of the Kusanagi sword and swung it downward, the hilt striking Sasuke's leg with force. The sharp edge of the blade cut through flesh, impaling his right thigh.
"Ahhh!"
Sasuke gasped in pain and collapsed onto the ground, clutching his wounded leg. Blood pooled beneath him, filling the air with the heavy scent of iron.
"Now, have you calmed down?"
Raiden's voice was cold as he watched Sasuke struggle.
Sasuke clenched his teeth, clutching his thigh as he lay on the floor, his breathing ragged. For the first time, clarity returned to his chaotic mind.
(End of this chapter.)