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Kabuto tugged at the hood covering his head. "I'm not used to being stared at. That's not how schemers like me operate."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "A strategy against genjutsu, huh?"
Itachi quickly added, "Watch those snakes. They can sense our movements."
Sasuke nodded. "Snakes can detect body heat, and they use their tongues to carry scents into their mouths—basically, they can smell us."
"I did my research back when I was planning to take down Orochimaru," Sasuke said flatly.
Kabuto's hands flashed into a series of seals. "But a mere 'snake expert' like Orochimaru can't hope to beat me anymore!"
"This is my domain. Nature itself is my ally!"
Itachi frowned. "He's using the terrain. Sasuke, watch out—it might be a trap!"
Kabuto smirked and snapped his fingers. "A trap? Hardly."
The snakes behind him lunged forward, fangs bared. Sasuke and Itachi jumped back as four massive white serpents crashed toward them.
A huge red figure suddenly appeared—it was Susanoo. Its four arms reached out, grabbing the snake heads in an iron grip.
Kabuto's eyes widened. "So that's the power of Susanoo…"
A moment later, a towering purple Susanoo rose behind Sasuke. With one swift swing, two of the snake heads were severed, the cuts glowing violet.
"Too harsh," Itachi said sharply. "I told you not to kill him."
...
[Live Chat Feed]
Naruto: "Damn, Sasuke! You and your brother fighting side by side looks amazing!"
Kakashi: "Two people using Susanoo at once… that's terrifying."
Danzo: "Who would've thought those two evil brothers would ever team up?"
[On Screen]
Bathed in purple light, Sasuke watched Kabuto carefully. "Looks like he's inherited Orochimaru's power. He won't die that easily."
Itachi's red Susanoo yanked Kabuto forward. Sasuke's purple avatar charged in right after.
"Let's see what's under that hood!" Sasuke said with a smirk.
But the moment his Susanoo's hand brushed Kabuto's hood, the man's body burst apart into several snakes that slithered away.
Sasuke threw his blade—it pinned one of the snakes to the ground.
"You're seriously something else," he sneered. "First you hide your face, now you hide your whole body? What's next?"
"So that was just you shedding your skin to escape?"
"You're just a knockoff—Orochimaru's leftover trash."
Kabuto's voice echoed from the shadows. "Underestimating me, Sasuke?"
He chuckled. "Can't blame you, though. Even my bounty isn't as high as yours. And compared to Lord Orochimaru, I'm nothing, right?"
Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed menacingly. "If you think you can hide with that cheap trick…"
"Careful, Sasuke!" Itachi warned. "His chakra's everywhere—I can't tell which one's the real body!"
The snakes caught in Itachi's Susanoo began melting away, dripping into pools of flesh.
Kabuto's voice came again. "This is my flesh mutation technique. I can separate my body using fluids—it looks like I'm shedding, but it's all me."
"I developed this after studying the Hōzuki clan's body-fluid transformation. You know Suigetsu, right?"
"He can turn from human to water and back again. Combine that with the regeneration I obtained through another source… a woman from the Uzumaki clan."
"Your friend Karin."
Sasuke's eyes widened. "Karin's… from the Uzumaki clan?"
Kabuto laughed. "Red hair, stubborn life force—hard to kill, just like a cockroach. Typical Uzumaki traits."
"Which brings me to your other old teammate… Jūgo."
"Well, I suppose he's not really your teammate anymore."
"In any case, your team was well chosen, Sasuke. Sharp eye."
"In this world, the weak are erased completely."
Sasuke's face hardened. "So you've got Jūgo's abilities too. You got them from Orochimaru's curse mark, didn't you?"
Kabuto snapped his fingers, and more massive snakes slithered into view. "Wrong. That was just the starting point."
"This body—I cultivated it myself. Deep within Ryūchi Cave."
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Ryūchi Cave? Don't tell me…"
Several snakes began to coil together, their scales glinting.
"That's right. I found one of the three great sage lands—equal to Mount Myōboku and Shikkotsu Forest!"
"Lord Orochimaru never reached that level, but I did!"
"I trained under the White Snake Sage and mastered this power. I've surpassed Orochimaru!"
From a snake's gaping mouth, Kabuto's arm emerged, pale and glistening.
Sasuke's Susanoo shifted into a warrior form, drawing back a bow. The arrow released with a thunderous boom.
"Wait, Sasuke—don't rush!" Itachi shouted.
Kabuto's snakes coiled around a stone pillar, and he gave Sasuke a taunting wave.
"You dodged that?!" Sasuke exclaimed.
Kabuto smiled. "My sensory powers now are on another level. Even nature energy itself moves with me."
Itachi's expression darkened. "Nature energy… so it's true."
Kabuto stepped out of the snake's mouth, his skin glowing faintly. "Even Lord Orochimaru couldn't achieve this. I've become a perfect Sage."
Itachi muttered, "So he really has attained Sage Mode."
Sasuke sneered. "Doesn't matter. You're just another useless snake like Orochimaru."
...
[Live Chat Feed]
Kagome: "Ugh, this Kabuto guy is disgusting. Is he seriously calling himself a sage?"
Naruto: "Sage Mode?! He's using the same jutsu as my future self?!"
Kurama: "Hmph. A snake sage? Pathetic imitation of the real thing."
[On Screen]
Kabuto stood tall, his body radiating raw power. "You can call me 'snake doctor' all you want, but I've already shed that identity."
"With the full power of Sage Mode, I've transcended the snake—I've become a dragon."
...
[Live Chat Feed]
MetalSeadramon: "That's supposed to be a dragon?!"
Random User: "Worst-looking dragon transformation ever."
Naruto: "Man, I wish future-me could smack this guy down right now!"
Natsu: "You dare call that a dragon? The dragons who taught me would be offended!"
[On Screen]
A terrifying surge of natural energy burst from Kabuto, shaking the entire cavern.
His hands blurred through seals. "Sage Art—White Rage Technique!"
A white dragon roared from his mouth, clutching a black orb in its claws.
Itachi immediately reacted, but the white dragon began spiraling around the orb at insane speed. Sasuke froze in place as the black orb flashed blinding white.
The whole cave trembled.
Sasuke clutched his ears, grimacing in pain. "My ears… even the bones are shaking!"
Itachi winced, covering his ears as well. "He's using light and sound to disrupt our senses!"
"Air vibrations to paralyze our perception—he's sealing off our ability to move!"
Kabuto's voice echoed through the light. "Snakes can shield their eyes against blinding light and adapt to sound vibrations with ease."
"In this state, only someone in Sage Mode can fight freely!"
Sasuke gasped. "Damn it… I can't keep Susanoo up!"
Kabuto dashed forward. "Let's finish Itachi first—rewrite his sealing tag and make him my puppet."
He sneered. "But after that… Sasuke, you're next."
He lunged straight toward Sasuke—only for the red Susanoo to suddenly envelop Sasuke in its protection.
Kabuto froze, startled. "Itachi… you're quite good at tracking me. You sensed my chakra, didn't you?"
"..."
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