Chapter 114: Possession of Sasuke! S-Level Forbidden Technique, Yaki Technique! Morkel!

Karin: "??"

That's right!

This Chakra—it's unmistakably Morkel's!

May all your wishes come true?!

"Hey, nice to see you guys again."

Morkel and Naruto stepped forward to greet Sasuke.

Sasuke felt relieved at the sight of Morkel. He didn't have the confidence to face Itachi alone. But with Morkel here, the situation was entirely different.

Morkel had destroyed the Rain Shinobi, taken down Pain's forces, and defended himself countless times. With him around, safety was no longer a concern.

"Have you found any clues about Itachi?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke nodded. "He showed up just before you came. He told me to meet him at the Uchiha base. He wants to settle things once and for all."

Morkel narrowed his eyes. "The Uchiha base…"

Sasuke continued, "It's hidden. Only members of the Uchiha clan know the location."

"Come with me."

The four of them set off to find Itachi. On the way, Morkel suddenly had an idea—he wanted to use the Three Tails to speed up their travel. He unsealed the giant turtle and invited everyone to ride.

Although everyone knew the Three Tails' prototype was a turtle and turtles are typically slow, it was still a tailed beast—surely it couldn't be that slow.

But in reality…

It was even slower than a normal turtle.

"It's really just a turtle," Morkel muttered, exasperated.

Karin, seated on the Three Tails' back, was excited. "Is this the legendary Three Tails, Isobu? It's so calm, it actually lets people ride it!"

The single eye of the Three Tails filled with tears of humiliation.

Meanwhile, in the sealed space inside Naruto, Kurama—the Nine Tails—was laughing uncontrollably.

"Hahahaha! There's nothing more embarrassing than being used as a mount! Poor Three Tails! I'm dying here..."

On the side, Morkel glanced toward Naruto and spoke thoughtfully.

"Naruto, can you release the Nine Tails? It has long legs and a fierce presence. Wouldn't it be cool to ride it?"

The Nine Tails:

The Three Tails:

Who's laughing now, huh?

But thanks to the Fourth Hokage's seal, Naruto couldn't release Kurama.

Morkel considered modifying the seal but figured it would be too complex.

So, the dream of riding the Nine Tails was put to rest.

After walking for several hours, they arrived at a small town. Sasuke pointed toward the barren hills up ahead.

"The Uchiha base is about ten miles from here."

Naruto clenched his fists in excitement. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Just as they were about to set off, Morkel and Karin, both sensitive to Chakra, froze.

Karin gasped. "That Chakra... It's massive! Is another Tailed Beast approaching?!"

Morkel shook his head. "No. I've felt this before—it's Kisame."

As if on cue, Kisame appeared on a nearby rooftop, resting his massive sword, Samehada, on his shoulder.

Suigetsu's eyes sparkled. "That sword... I want it!"

Karin rolled her eyes. "Don't get cocky. His Chakra is way beyond yours."

Kisame stood tall. Though nervous upon seeing Morkel—especially after hearing about his victory over Pain—he tried to maintain his composure.

Itachi only told me to stop everyone except Sasuke… but he didn't mention Morkel would be here!

Can I really stop him?

Swallowing his fear, Kisame said aloud, "Sorry, but I was ordered to stop everyone except Sasuke."

Morkel raised an eyebrow and stared him down.

Kisame began to sweat.

"Fine… everyone except Sasuke and Morkel can't pass!"

He mentally gave himself a thumbs up. That should keep me alive.

"This is ridiculous," Naruto grumbled. "You're just letting him through because you know you can't beat him!"

Kisame said nothing, feeling a bit awkward.

"Wait for us," Morkel said. "Sasuke and I will be back soon."

Though Naruto was annoyed, he didn't insist. After all, no one in the ninja world could threaten Morkel.

"All right."

Morkel and Sasuke headed into the mountains.

As they walked, Sasuke glanced at him. "Morkel, I remember you transplanted Danzo's eye. Where did the other one come from?"

Morkel smiled mysteriously. "Ask your brother."

In truth, he had received the second eye during the mission to rescue the Kazekage, when he encountered Itachi again. Itachi placed a crow inside his body as a gift. Later, after Jiraiya's death, Morkel awakened the second eye in rage. From there, his eyes began evolving.

Sasuke murmured, "Shisui was the one closest to Itachi… maybe he gave his most powerful illusion eye to him. And now, you have it."

He looked directly at Morkel.

"So… when the time comes, whose side will you take—mine or his?"

Sasuke immediately regretted asking. Morkel's power could easily tip the balance. If he didn't ask, Morkel might've helped him by default.

To his relief, Morkel smiled warmly.

"You're my family, friend, brother. Of course I care."

Sasuke's chest tightened with emotion—until Morkel continued:

"But Itachi helped me once too. So I won't help either of you. I'll just watch."

Sasuke froze. "Just watch" was better than helping the enemy, he supposed.

They continued walking until a grand, semicircular building appeared, made of stone and marked with the Uchiha clan emblem.

Morkel almost chuckled aloud. Why does that fan look like a ping pong paddle?

Sasuke took a deep breath and said, "Let's go."

When he turned, Morkel was gone.

"Hey! Don't run off like that! You're not Uchiha—what if you trigger a trap?!"

But Morkel had already disappeared into the shadows of the building.

Meanwhile, back at the town's edge, Karin sat cross-legged, attempting to sense Morkel's Chakra—but the base was too far.

Naruto, however, was calm and confident in Morkel.

What annoyed him now was Kisame's smug face.

Eventually, Naruto and Suigetsu grew fed up and decided to fight him together.

Kisame sneered. "Let me show you what a real ninja looks like."

He formed seals. "Water Style: Great Water Rush!"

—

Inside the Uchiha base, Sasuke entered the main hall and saw Itachi seated in the center.

Morkel stood to the side, expression unreadable.

He had clearly spoken with Itachi already.

When Sasuke entered, Morkel stepped aside and retreated into the shadows.

As he passed, he quietly sliced at the pitcher plant that had been spying—Zetsu.

Sasuke and Itachi locked eyes. The tension crackled in the air.

"You finally came, little brother," Itachi sneered.

Sasuke growled, "Time to settle the score!"

They stood motionless.

"It's an illusion battle," Morkel whispered.

Suddenly, Itachi coughed blood and staggered. Sasuke's eyes were bleeding as he smirked.

"Your Tsukuyomi is weak."

Morkel narrowed his eyes.

Wait. Sasuke beat Itachi's Mangekyō illusion with just a normal Sharingan? He's more talented in genjutsu than I thought.

The illusion gave way to ninjutsu, and the Uchiha base crumbled under their battle. Amaterasu flames scorched the ruins.

Morkel watched the black flames through his Sharingan, analyzing.

"Not difficult… but requires Mangekyō."

Nearby, the real battle escalated. Itachi was clearly ill—his movements slowed, his Chakra faltering.

He backed away, panting. "Sasuke, you've grown. But there's still a gulf between Mangekyō and standard Sharingan."

A red skeletal figure emerged beside him—Susanoo!

It grew muscle, armor, and weapons. Fully formed, it stood half-body tall.

Unlike Morkel's spiral sword, Itachi's Susanoo wielded a shield and a unique sword.

Morkel sensed the weapons' strange Chakra.

That shield… it can change its properties. Interesting.

Sasuke dodged frantically, his Chakra nearly gone.

But Itachi was running out of time.

Suddenly, Morkel felt something strange.

The cursed seal on Sasuke's back was changing!

Within the cursed space, Orochimaru stirred.

"Who created this seal?! Why is it so hard to break?!"

Despite being defeated, Orochimaru wasn't truly gone. He'd been sealed within the curse mark and now, with Sasuke exhausted, he seized the moment.

He forced the seal open and emerged as an eight-headed white snake above the ruins.

Morkel's eyes narrowed.

S-level Forbidden Technique—Eight Branches Technique.

Orochimaru loomed proudly.

"Itachi, thank you for weakening him. Now I'll possess Sasuke and gain new power!"

But then, all eight heads looked horrified.

Morkel?! He's here too?!

Before Orochimaru could act, Morkel smiled and raised his hand.

"Sage Art: Snake Archway!"

Massive wooden archways rained down, pinning the snake to the ground.

Orochimaru: ...

Morkel moved to finish it, but Itachi raised a hand.

"Let me. My Totsuka Blade can seal him."

Weak but determined, Itachi summoned Susanoo once more and advanced toward the struggling serpent.

One swing of the Ten Fist Sword, and the Yamata no Orochi was sucked into the gourd.

Sasuke tumbled out, gasping.

Itachi staggered. The sky grew darker.

"Forgive me, Sasuke," he whispered.

He stepped forward.

Sasuke panicked, scooting back.

"Don't come near me!"

He turned to Morkel for help, but Morkel looked away.

Cornered, Sasuke had no escape.

And Itachi raised his hand, slowly reaching for Sasuke's eye…

---