Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou [281]

"Samui's Sage Mode is reaching its limit!"

At this moment, Yugito showed a serious expression, while Mabui, usually the analytical team leader, also turned her gaze toward Samui.

It was evident that the two would intervene in an instant to rescue Samui if danger arose.

Meanwhile, Sasuke, who had been continuously suppressed, noticed the shift in his opponent's state through his powerful three-tomoe Sharingan, and couldn't help but smirk coldly.

"Looks like you're about to reach your breaking point in that form!"

In response to Sasuke's taunt, Samui sneered as well, retorting:

"Even though you're a clansman of Lord Shirou, how long do you think you can keep this state up? We understand the Curse Mark far better than your world does."

As she spoke, Samui's confidence was palpable.

Shirou had not hidden the truth from them—they were aware of the general situation in the other world.

For example, in the other world, the Curse Mark was used by Orochimaru purely as a stepping stone for his forbidden reincarnation technique. However, in this world, the Curse Mark served as the prelude to mastering Sage Mode.

In other words, it was a simplified of Sage Mode.

"Using the Curse Mark to enter Sage Mode, I admit I can't last long. But that doesn't mean my power in the Curse Mark state is significantly weaker."

As Samui sneered, the markings around the corners of her eyes slowly faded, and before her Sage Mode timer fully ran out, she voluntarily deactivated it.

However, as Sage Mode deactivated, Samui transitioned into what was considered the Second Stage of the Curse Mark.

Her skin darkened, and her hair began to change and spread, making her appearance somewhat similar to Sasuke's state.

The difference was that Sasuke could feel the violent aura of her Curse Mark. Samui's energy was indeed weaker, but not by much.

More importantly, her aura had become even more ferocious!

"Brat! Lord Shirou said Sage Mode is the path to greater heights! The Curse Mark is just an entry point to Sage Mode. What I hate about this state isn't the power but how it looks—it's too ugly!"

As Samui roared, lightning flickered in her hands, and she was about to launch a wild offensive. Suddenly, a figure appeared between the two combatants.

"Lord Shirou!"

Shocked, Samui hurriedly restrained her Lightning Release, while Sasuke saw an opportunity and shouted, unleashing a powerful lightning strike.

Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!

"How is this possible?!"

In Sasuke's widened eyes, his Chidori Sharp Spear, a lightning lance known for its unparalleled sharpness, was blocked by the lightning chakra surrounding the figure.

Sasuke knew full well how powerful his jutsu was—it could pierce through anything.

Yet Shirou calmly smiled, lightly tapped Samui on the forehead, and said with a chuckle:

"I've told you before—this state will damage your body. Sage Mode is the correct path."

Under the astonished gazes of Sasuke and Suigetsu, the golden-haired, busty, and overwhelmingly powerful Leaf kunoichi, who had been using advanced Lightning Release techniques, suddenly turned into a meek and obedient figure.

"L-Lord Shirou…"

Samui instantly reverted from her Curse Mark state, her typically composed and mature demeanor replaced by a flushed face and an indescribable emotion in her eyes.

"You've done well, Samui."

With Shirou's praise, Samui's face turned even redder, and she nodded excitedly.

"Thank you, Lord Shirou!"

After all, in the ninja world, the main protagonists were Sasuke and Naruto. Even legendary figures like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha only reached their peak in adulthood.

For Samui to reach this level at her age was already impressive. Her Lightning Release techniques were at a quasi-Kage level, and with the Curse Mark or Sage Mode, she could fight on par with Kage-level opponents.

"Second Pillar…"

Shirou turned his head and casually referred to Sasuke by his infamous nickname, causing several people nearby to stifle smiles, especially Suigetsu, whose eye twitched in amusement.

This world had a knack for giving people nicknames.

Little Brat Shark tooth? And now Second Pillar?

Hearing the nickname, Sasuke's face darkened with anger.

"So, you're the Uchiha of this world!"

At that moment, Sasuke's emotions were complex. While he was annoyed at being called Second Pillar, seeing the Uchiha clan crest on Shirou's clothing filled him with a surge of excitement.

No one could truly understand his feelings.

When Sasuke was eight years old, he returned home from school one evening to find everyone—his parents, his entire clan—slaughtered. That night, he lost everything.

It's easier to endure never having something than to have it all and lose it.

That's why learning about another world with surviving Uchiha clansmen had such a profound impact on him, even if he didn't fully understand his actions.

However, before Sasuke could dwell on these emotions, Samui coldly snorted in disapproval and spoke firmly:

"Do you know who stands before you? This is Lord Uchiha Shirou, the strongest ninja in the Shinobi World and the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure!"

With Samui's declaration, not only Sasuke but also Karin and Suigetsu in the distance were stunned.

"The Fourth Hokage of Konoha? What nonsense is this?"

"When did Konoha's Hokage become a Uchiha?"

Even Sasuke was so shocked that he blurted, "Impossible!"

Shirou, however, only smiled calmly. "When your people from your timeline arrived here, I wasn't Hokage yet. But that was fourteen years ago."

"Fourteen years?! Our world has only been a little over a month…"

Sasuke was dumbfounded. According to the Mangekyō illusion triggered by Sakura, only about a month had passed in his world.

At that moment, a realization struck both sides like lightning.

The flow of time in the two worlds is different!

Shirou continued, his voice steady: "Uchiha Sasuke, right? I've already learned about you from the memories of the shinobi from your world. You're the last survivor of the Uchiha clan…"

His words left Konan, Samui, Mabui, and Yūkimura shocked.

From this single statement, they could infer that in the other world, Lord Shirou's clan had been wiped out!

"Who is it?!"

"Who would dare be so bold?!"

In an instant, Samui, Mabui, Yugito, and Konan all revealed killing intent. In their eyes, the Uchiha Clan was synonymous with power.

Especially since Lord Shirou was present—it was simply impossible!

"Shut up! Don't remind me of that man!"

As if his wounds had been touched, Sasuke instantly showed an angry expression. Wielding the Kusanagi Sword, he directly charged at Shirou.

"Such an ungrateful brat. It seems a little discipline is still needed."

Facing Sasuke's attack, Shirou simply smiled. In the next moment, his body transformed into lightning. Before Sasuke's pupils could constrict, and before he could even react—

The figure had already appeared right in front of him!

In the next instant, before Sasuke could respond, Shirou already delivered a crushing iron fist.

"Sasuke!"

Under the shocked gazes of Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo, they saw nothing—no figure, no movement! All they could perceive were faint electric sparks flashing in the air. Sasuke's body hung momentarily in midair, blood spraying everywhere as his figure twisted and contorted.

Due to the rapid movements and punches, Sasuke's body wasn't sent flying but remained suspended in the air. The sound of heavy blows echoed repeatedly.

"Speed! This is the pinnacle of speed! It's so fast that even the naked eye can't follow it!"

Suigetsu and Jugo watched in terror, while Karin broke out in cold sweat.

"I can't sense him! I can't sense the opponent's chakra at all—only Sasuke's chakra, and it's weakening!"

Boom!

Finally, with one last heavy punch, Sasuke's eyes bulged out, bloodshot, and filled with veins. His wide-open eyes stared, but his throat could only emit dry, choking sounds.

"How can there be such speed?!"

At this moment, one thought replayed in Sasuke's mind: his once-proud strength now felt utterly powerless.

This was an entirely different level of power!

"Too weak..."

Looking down at Sasuke lying at his feet, Shirou showed a disappointed expression and shook his head.

"How... how is this possible...?"

Lying in the crater, Sasuke spat blood, stubbornly raising his head, his face filled with humiliation and unwillingness.

"I abandoned my soul, gave up everything, just to gain the power for revenge. How could I lose so easily…?"

Sasuke's humiliation and unwillingness stemmed from his mission for revenge!

As he raised his head, he saw a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan—familiar yet foreign.

The Mangekyo! These eyes belonged to this world's Mangekyo Sharingan.

Facing such overwhelming power, Sasuke, who had made vengeance his sole purpose, began to wonder when he would ever see the hope of victory.

Shirou, seeing through Sasuke's current emotions, shook his head and said, "Your heart is wavering. Are you doubting the insurmountable gap of the Mangekyo? Do you think all of this is just the power of the Mangekyo?"

Looking into Sasuke's unwilling eyes, Shirou shook his head helplessly. Only by witnessing Sasuke's defiant and vengeful gaze could one truly understand the determination of the original Sasuke.

He wasn't Kakashi, who failed to see the darkness of the village as a child and couldn't let go of it as an adult.

Nor was he Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist who, even after being treated so poorly by the village, could still smile and forgive those who killed his parents.

He was Uchiha Sasuke! A ninja whose sole purpose was revenge!

A pure and more realistic person!

"Weakness and ignorance are not barriers to survival—arrogance is!"

Seeing the expression in Sasuke's eyes, Shirou sighed and shook his head.

"Have you never questioned it? The powerful Uchiha Clan, even in your world—based on what I've learned from the memories of Konoha's Wood-Style users—it's clear.

The Uchiha Clan's strength… Could a mere pair of newly awakened Mangekyo eyes truly destroy them? The Uchiha Clan, who sought to overthrow Konoha's authority, were wiped out by a thirteen-year-old child. Have you never doubted this?"

The soul-piercing words echoed, causing Sasuke's pupils to shrink rapidly.

Was the clan wiped out by Itachi?

Could a thirteen-year-old Uchiha Itachi annihilate a clan?

In that instant, the memory of the night of the massacre replayed in Sasuke's mind, causing him to let out a pained scream.

However, as his three-tomoe Sharingan spun wildly, ultimately—

Shirou sighed as he saw the result. Instead of awakening the Mangekyo, Sasuke's Curse Mark went berserk.

"Heh heh, how interesting..."

Suddenly, a hoarse voice came from within Sasuke, causing Karin and Suigetsu in the distance to turn pale with fear.

"O-Orochimaru!"

"Lord Orochimaru?!"

Unlike Karin and Suigetsu's terrified expressions, Konan and Mabui frowned in confusion.

From a distance, Sasuke let out a painful scream as the three-tomoe Curse Mark on his neck erupted, releasing a massive white snake.

"Ahhhh!!!"

Amid Sasuke's agonized cries, Orochimaru resurrected himself through the Curse Mark and unleashed the Eight Branches Technique.

In the massive Dragon Vein cavern, a terrifying eight-headed white snake appeared the next moment.

"Heh heh, how amusing. Another world, a new Mangekyo Sharingan... This world is truly fascinating..."

Emerging from the mouth of one of the eight-headed snakes, Orochimaru appeared, looking out at this new world with excitement.

"Orochimaru, it seems that the version of you from another world has taken a different path."

Seeing the Eight-Headed Serpent, Shirou smiled faintly. In the next moment, the Mangekyo in his eyes spun, and the crimson Susanoo appeared.

From skeletal structure to muscles, and finally its armor—

Susanoo: Third Stage!

The upper-body Susanoo wielded two divine weapons in its hands, immediately causing Orochimaru to reveal a look of fear.

"That sword… Could it be the Totsuka Blade?!"

Looking at Orochimaru, Shirou nodded calmly and said:

"Although we are not enemies, you are far too troublesome. If I don't show some strength, I doubt you from the other world will calm down enough to talk."

The Orochimaru from the other world had long been blinded by his obsession with the Sharingan, his mind consumed by it.

However, upon seeing the Totsuka Blade that could seal him, Orochimaru's expression turned wary.

Yet, as a major antagonist with undeniable composure, Orochimaru's fear gradually gave way to a raspy smile.

"Heh heh, it seems this world is even more interesting. From what you've said, the me of this world seems to have gotten along quite well with the Hokage."

Looking at Orochimaru, Shirou smiled and teased:

"I'm sure things will become even more interesting. The collision of your two minds will surely produce fascinating ideas, don't you think, my Root Division Commander?"

Upon hearing these words, Orochimaru's guarded expression softened slightly, and he even showed a hint of interest.

"Head of the Root Division? It seems the me of this world has replaced Danzo."

"No! It should be that we joined forces in a coup and took back Konoha together."

The exchange between ambitious individuals is always this succinct. Despite the seemingly ordinary words, they caused Orochimaru's emotions to shift—from greed at the start, to apprehension, and finally to a hoarse smile.

The Eight-Headed Serpent and Susanoo slowly dissipated, revealing the figures of Orochimaru and Shirou amidst the ruins.

"Heh heh, this is so interesting. I can hardly wait."

Beneath Orochimaru's excited smile, the earlier conversation had revealed several pieces of information.

The Orochimaru of this world seemed to have discovered a different path to immortality and was even willing to serve under this Hokage's command.

If they continued fighting now, while he wouldn't die—after all, he had made preparations in another world—being sealed in this world would prevent him from learning anything further.

No one could understand his pathological way of thinking!