The Hidden Cloud Village…
"Where is Killer Bee? Speak up!" Hozuki Suigetsu wrapped his arm around the Hidden Cloud ninja's neck and sneered.
"If you refuse, things are going to get a lot more painful for you!"
"Hmph — we Cloud shinobi never—"
Before he could finish, the middle‑aged ninja's head suddenly drooped, and his mouth fell silent.
"Let him go, Suigetsu." Karin looked at Sasuke with clear admiration. "He's already trapped in Sasuke's genjutsu."
Clad in his black cloak with red cloud patterns, Sasuke spoke coldly: "Tell me — where exactly is Killer Bee?"
"Thunderstorm Gorge…"
Completely under the spell, the Cloud ninja easily revealed the location. The power of illusion techniques was on full display…
"How familiar this scene feels!"
From his vantage point high in the mountains, Aoi grinned.
He didn't know exactly when Sasuke would head toward Thunderstorm Gorge, but from up here, the entire Hidden Cloud Village lay spread out beneath his gaze.
According to the original story, Sasuke would march into the gorge full of arrogance.
After Suigetsu and Jugo failed one after another, Sasuke would choose to face Killer Bee alone…
And the result would be a humiliating defeat!
First, Killer Bee would effortlessly shatter Sasuke's Kusanagi Sword using his Seven‑Sword Style.
Then, when their chakra‑charged blades clashed, the sheer force of Killer Bee's lightning‑infused strike would cripple Sasuke completely, forcing him to rely on Karin's bodily fluids just to heal his wounds.
Healing using bodily fluids…
Aoi couldn't help but wonder: If Sakura ever heard that line, would she punch Naruto so hard he coughed up blood?
And why Naruto and not Sasuke? Because Sakura would never bring herself to hurt her precious Sasuke, of course…
The tragedy of an unrequited admirer — who can truly understand it?
In short, after just two brief exchanges, Sasuke went down in record time, looking utterly outmatched. Killer Bee even found time to casually start rapping his favorite lines…
The next round was even more brutal. Before the fight had barely begun, Sasuke took a direct hit to the chest, his body pierced straight through.
He was left on the brink of death — and if Jugo hadn't sacrificed part of himself, merging his cursed‑seal flesh with Sasuke's to seal the gaping wound…
Sasuke would have died right then and there!
In less than a minute, three clashes, three losses — completely outclassed in every way. Yet even so:
Sasuke would still manage to turn the tables and strike Killer Bee down using the Amaterasu he had only just awakened…
How is that even fair? Where's the logic in that?
"Very well then — let me make a few adjustments to the script!"
Aoi smiled and flicked his finger. Instantly, a giant salamander dropped from the sky, blocking the path of Team Hebi.
"GRRRAAHH!!"
Roaring furiously, the salamander charged toward them, flicking its tongue and spraying streams of purple venomous slime like a mad beast.
"What in the world is this thing?!"
Everyone in Sasuke's group froze in shock. Why would a rabid giant salamander suddenly appear and attack them in the middle of the Hidden Cloud's territory?
"What do we do?!"
Suigetsu laughed wildly and swung Zabuza's massive blade. "I've heard the more poisonous the creature, the tastier its meat!"
"Stop fooling around — we don't have time for this!" Sasuke snapped. "If we cause too much commotion, the village will be alerted in no time."
"Then what should we do?!" Karin started panicking as usual…
"Suigetsu — stay here and hold it off. The rest of us will meet you at the village gates later."
Sasuke made the most logical choice: leave one member behind to delay the beast, and the mission could still proceed.
"Tsk, not good enough…"
Aoi shook his head with a grin. Leaving Suigetsu — the least useful one — won't change things enough. He raised another finger.
"In that case, let's send in another!"
"GRRRAAHH!!"
A second salamander, dripping venom, came crashing toward them.
"..."
Karin clenched her fists, seething with rage. "Is the Hidden Cloud running a salamander farm or something?! How can there be so many of them?!"
"Leave this one to me! Sasuke, Jugo — go and deal with that Eight‑Tails right now!"
When fully enraged, Karin's strength rivaled that of Tsunade or Sakura in their strongest moments…
"So it's still Karin stepping up to block the way?" Aoi chuckled. "Looks like Little Shinju and Great Roc can't stay idle any longer!"
"HISS — SCREECH!!"
One giant serpent and one enormous bird descended together, blocking Sasuke and Jugo's path.
"..."
"Karin got it wrong earlier," Jugo said, his face twitching. "This isn't a farm — it's a whole zoo!"
In the end, Sasuke had no choice but to continue alone…
Without Karin or Jugo there to save him, according to the original plot, Sasuke wouldn't even last long enough to activate Amaterasu — Killer Bee would have simply killed him outright.
But the mark of a protagonist is that as long as there is even a glimmer of hope, they will find a way to seize it.
And Sasuke did have that glimmer: the black flames of Amaterasu!
Without his team there to back him up, he might resort to using it far earlier than expected…
However, doing so out of nowhere would look too forced. That was why Aoi had decided to step in — to give Sasuke a more reasonable chance of victory.
"Sasuke — we meet for the first time."
Aoi appeared with a smile. The small‑sized Akatsuki cloak he wore looked less intimidating and more than a little cute on his young frame.
"Who are you?"
Sasuke drew his Kusanagi Sword, his expression cold and guarded. Having just gone through so many shocks, he was naturally wary and distant.
"Easy now — no need to be tense."
Aoi raised his thumb, showing off the Akatsuki ring marked North. "I'm a new recruit of the Akatsuki — sent here to offer assistance."
"Hmph — I don't need your help." Sasuke's prideful demeanor remained unchanged.
"And don't get in my way, or I'll kill you first."
"Got it!"
Aoi raised both hands in agreement, but inwardly made a silent promise: Just wait until Killer Bee beats you into the ground — I won't lift a finger to save you.
With the summoned beasts keeping the rest of Team Hebi occupied, Aoi and Sasuke soon arrived at Thunderstorm Gorge — the home of Killer Bee, jinchūriki of the Eight‑Tails.
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