The Madness of Sasuke, The Power of the Mangekyō

["No matter how far Orochimaru had fallen, there was still something fascinating about him..."]

["The Third Hokage must have felt the same back then. Now, I finally understand," Kakashi said quietly as he raised his headband, revealing his Sharingan.]

[The crimson Sharingan radiated an eerie glow, commanding attention.]

[In the Hokage's Office]

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned somber, while Jiraiya's face darkened with anger.

"It really was Orochimaru…" Jiraiya muttered, his voice heavy. "That guy's back, just as I suspected."

Jiraiya had already been suspicious ever since Naruto had trouble with water-walking training. He had sensed something off with Naruto's Eight Trigrams Seal and later discovered the addition of a Five Elements Seal.

"Orochimaru must have infiltrated during the Chūnin Exams, taking advantage of Konoha's open gates," Jiraiya concluded grimly.

[On Screen]

[Sasuke's gaze grew colder as he stared at Kakashi's revealed Sharingan.]

["Sharingan… the mark of the Uchiha clan…"]

["You're just a lowly outsider. Don't you dare flaunt that eye in front of me!" Sasuke snarled, leaping forward. He flung a flurry of shuriken from his arm.]

[But the shuriken weren't aimed at Kakashi. Instead, they were flying toward Sakura and Karin, who were hiding behind the bridge's remains. Kakashi noticed instantly.]

["Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" Kakashi shouted. Placing his hands on the ground, he caused the bridge to tremble. A sturdy wall adorned with dog-shaped carvings rose up to shield the two girls.]

[Thud! Thud! Thud! The shuriken struck the wall, falling harmlessly to the ground. Sasuke, meanwhile, rushed at Kakashi with his Chidori sparking brightly.]

[Kakashi dodged swiftly, landing gracefully on the lake's surface below.]

["Your Sharingan is impressive for a borrowed eye," Sasuke said with a disdainful smile. "But can your Sharingan do this?"]

[As Sasuke's eyes shifted, the tomoe in his Sharingan spiraled into a six-pointed Mangekyō pattern.]

[Kakashi's eyes widened in shock as he saw Sasuke's Susanoo forming—a towering, skeletal figure bathed in purple light.]

[The Susanoo's half-formed body wielded a massive bow and arrow, ready to strike.]

["This is the difference between our Sharingan," Sasuke sneered. "Let me show you."]

[Sasuke pulled back the Susanoo's bowstring, loosing an arrow straight at Kakashi.]

["Mangekyō Sharingan?"]

The ninja world collectively shuddered.

"Kakashi has a Mangekyō? But he's not an Uchiha!"

"Isn't the Mangekyō supposed to be rare? How does an outsider like Kakashi have one?"

[In the Hokage's Office]

Itachi and Sasuke exchanged startled looks.

Sasuke's expression was especially incredulous. "How can an outsider like him possess the Mangekyō?"

Sasuke, a pure-blooded Uchiha, had only recently unlocked his own Mangekyō. How could Kakashi, an outsider, achieve it before him?

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Don't look at me like that. I'm just as surprised as you are."

[On Screen]

[As Sasuke's arrow hurtled toward Kakashi, a strange distortion appeared in the air. The arrow twisted unnaturally before splashing into the lake, sending up a spray of water.]

["So that's the Susanoo…" Kakashi murmured, feeling a chill run down his spine.]

[Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "An outsider like you has no right to awaken the Mangekyō. You should thank the Uchiha for your power."]

["Sasuke," Kakashi said sternly, "you shouldn't only focus on your clan or your hatred. You need to take a good look inside yourself."]

["Here we go again…" Sasuke muttered, his face twitching with irritation.]

[For a brief moment, an image of Team 7's smiling faces flashed in Sasuke's mind.]

["They're laughing…"]

["All of them are laughing…"]

[Sasuke's expression twisted with rage. "That laughter… it was bought with Itachi's life. They don't know anything, yet they laugh so happily!"]

[The Susanoo began to change, growing darker and more imposing as it entered its armored form. The massive entity now resembled a demon clad in tengu armor.]

["To me, your laughter is nothing but mockery. I'll turn it into screams!" Sasuke roared.]

The ninja world was left in awe.

"So that's the Susanoo's power… It's terrifying even through the screen!"

"The Uchiha clan… they're monsters!"

"No wonder people fear the Uchiha. This power is beyond human comprehension."

The Konoha 12 were stunned into silence. Sasuke's strength had reached a level far beyond their own.

Even Naruko was left gaping. "Sasuke… is this how strong you are?"

Sasuke smirked, clearly pleased by her reaction.

"Just you wait! I'll get stronger than you, dattebayo!" Naruko said, puffing out her chest in determination.

Sasuke scoffed. "You? A loser like you? Not in a hundred years."

[On Screen]

[But Sasuke's triumphant moment didn't last. The Susanoo began to flicker and fade as Sasuke's chakra reserves dwindled. His vision blurred, and his Mangekyō Sharingan reverted to normal.]

["My vision… it's blurry…" Sasuke muttered, stumbling slightly.]

"Is he going blind?!"

"That Mangekyō drains the user's eyes too fast! No wonder the Uchiha feared it."

[On the bridge, Sakura hesitated with a kunai in hand. "I can't let Kakashi-sensei do everything…" she thought.]

[She crept up behind Sasuke, ready to strike. But just as she was about to stab him, she froze, unable to go through with it.]

["Thank you, Sakura…" Sasuke's voice echoed in her mind. It was from the night he left Konoha, whispering his gratitude as he walked away.]

["I thought I was ready…" Sakura murmured, her resolve crumbling.]

[Sasuke noticed her hesitation and quickly turned, grabbing her by the throat. He wrenched the kunai from her hand and prepared to strike.]

["Sasuke, stop!" a voice shouted just as the kunai was about to land.]

[A figure burst onto the scene, saving Sakura in the nick of time.]