Naruto stood amidst the smoke and flames, his skin charred, his clothes torn and burned through. For a moment, he seemed frozen in place—his arms slack at his sides, his body trembling faintly as if struck numb by lightning.
The arena was silent. Every spectator held their breath. Even Orochimaru and Tsunade were silent, their gazes fixed on the boy who should have collapsed long ago. Jiraiya, having rushed back from his mission, clenched his fists. And Kaede, watching from beneath the God Tree, narrowed his eyes.
Naruto finally raised his head. His eyes shone with determination. Slowly, his lips curved upward, revealing a row of white teeth.
"Sasuke… was that your big move?"
The words hit harder than any jutsu. Gasps rippled through the stands. Sasuke's last barrage had been devastating, the kind of ninjutsu only seasoned shinobi could unleash—yet Naruto still stood, smiling.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. His chakra still raged, the mark of the White Snake burning across his skin. He had embraced the power of Ryuchi Cave completely—his body shifting further into serpentine form, scales gleaming, white snakes spilling from his sleeves.
But before he could react, another Naruto appeared behind him. Silent as a shadow, a kunai poised at the back of his head.
"Too slow."
The real Naruto struck. A Bijuudama Rasengan exploded against Sasuke's back, the blast sending shockwaves across the arena.
For an instant it seemed finished—until Sasuke's body peeled away like discarded skin, a hollow shell collapsing into the dust.
Shedding skin. The same trick as Orochimaru. The legacy of Ryuchi Cave.
The crowd realized the truth—Sasuke was no longer fully human. His transformation was deeper, more complete than anyone had imagined. Horns pushed faintly at his hairline. Scales crept along his jaw. His very blood carried the essence of the White Snake.
He had not survived Ryuchi Cave unchanged.
And now, face twisted with fury, countless serpents burst forth from his sleeves, coiling toward Naruto even as he prepared his next strike.
The true battle was far from over.
(End of Chapter)
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