Seeing Orochimaru still standing, Sasori secretly let out a breath.
This so-called "Flame Oni" of Konoha was outrageously strong. After only a short exchange, Sasori had already lost several puppets.
If Orochimaru went down first, Sasori knew he would be in serious danger facing Uchiha Yusuke alone.
"Cheating snake, is this all you've got?" Sasori mocked coldly. "If you can't handle it, step aside and watch me perform."
Sasori's mouth had always been stronger than his situation.
Even after losing most of his puppets in the fight with Tsunade, he still spoke as if he held the upper hand.
Orochimaru didn't argue.
Now wasn't the time for internal conflict. If he wanted to take Yusuke down, he still needed Sasori's support.
"You pressure him with puppets," Orochimaru said in a low voice. "I'll create the opening."
"Don't order me around," Sasori replied arrogantly. "Just worry about yourself."
His words rejected the plan—
But his actions followed it.
With a twitch of his fingers, three puppets instantly surrounded Yusuke.
"Red Secret Technique: Mechanical Triangle Kill!"
Poisoned hidden weapons burst from all angles, sealing off escape routes.
Carrying Tsunade, Yusuke had no choice but to leap upward.
Orochimaru's eyes lit up.
He slithered forward with snake-like footwork, closing the gap in an instant. His neck shot forward—
And his fangs sank toward Yusuke's throat.
"Secret Technique: Cursed Seal Binding!"
Orochimaru, a man obsessed with research, had studied Yusuke thoroughly. He knew the Hōzuki Clan's liquefaction technique had weaknesses under certain sealing pressures.
The curse mark spread rapidly across Yusuke's body in dark patterns.
For a moment—
Yusuke's movement stalled.
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"Heh… finally caught you, Yusuke."
"I'll take your young Uchiha body for myself."
Yusuke's three-tomoe Sharingan spun slowly.
"Orochimaru."
"Aren't you celebrating a little too early?"
Orochimaru immediately avoided eye contact. Now that Yusuke seemed restrained, he had no intention of risking genjutsu.
From the side, Sasori manipulated chains to bind both Yusuke and Tsunade together.
Tsunade burned with embarrassment and fury.
What kind of ridiculous position is this?!
"Uchiha Yusuke," she hissed quietly, "you're not seriously this weak, are you?"
Yusuke's lips curved slightly.
"I'm just letting them enjoy themselves for a moment."
"And honestly… holding you like this isn't unpleasant."
Tsunade's face flushed instantly.
At a time like this, he still had the mood to tease her.
Uchiha brats truly were insufferable.
Just as Orochimaru and Sasori moved in to finish it—
A terrifying chakra burst exploded outward.
Bones formed.
Armor grew.
Massive chakra condensed into the shape of a towering warrior.
Susanoo.
The moment it manifested, Orochimaru's curse seal shattered.
Sasori's chains snapped like threads.
Yusuke stood free—still holding Tsunade.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
"That… is…"
He had read about it in Uchiha records.
But seeing it in person—
Was different.
Hunter's greed ignited in his eyes.
"Attack together!" he snapped.
"Senbon Shower!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Sasori's senbon already carried terrifying penetration. Enhanced by Orochimaru's wind release, the barrage rivaled a Chidori-level thrust.
The combined attack struck Susanoo—
And did nothing.
Not even a crack.
Sasori's expression changed completely.
"What kind of defense is that?"
Orochimaru's voice dropped low.
"The Uchiha's legendary Power of the Gods."
"They say those who witness it… rarely survive."
Even Sasori felt a chill.
The Uchiha reputation had always been exaggerated.
But this—
Was not exaggeration.
Inside Yusuke's arms, Tsunade glared at him.
So you had this trump card the whole time?
You really were just taking advantage of me!
After absorbing their combined strike, Yusuke countered.
"One-Sword Style: Susanoo Spirit Blade Slash!"
A massive arc of chakra tore forward like a collapsing mountain.
Orochimaru's eyelids twitched violently.
"Summoning Jutsu: Triple Rashōmon!"
Three massive gates rose from the ground.
A defensive technique passed down from the First Hokage's era—said to withstand even a Tailed Beast Bomb.
BOOM—!
The explosion shattered all three gates.
The shockwave blasted Orochimaru and Sasori backward.
Even using his ultimate defense, Orochimaru failed to fully block the slash.
Smoke filled the battlefield.
Both Akatsuki members were battered and shaken.
So this… was Susanoo?
The power difference was unmistakable.
In that instant, Orochimaru decided.
Retreat.
A ninja could wait ten years for revenge.
Better to withdraw now and return stronger.
As the smoke thinned—
Orochimaru and Sasori were already fading away.
They had escaped.
Yusuke watched calmly.
Orochimaru might not always win—
But he was unmatched at survival.
If he decided to flee, very few in the shinobi world could stop him.
Tsunade frowned.
"You clearly had the advantage."
"Why didn't you chase them?"
Yusuke answered casually.
"Your hemophobia triggered."
"You were poisoned."
"If we delayed treatment, there might be complications."
Tsunade's cheeks flushed faintly.
So he hadn't chased…
Because of her?
She had intended to prove herself on this mission.
Instead, she became the liability.
The more she thought about it, the more conflicted she felt.
Meanwhile, Yusuke's true reasoning was simpler.
It wasn't the time to fully sever ties with Akatsuki yet.
And Orochimaru was too slippery.
Without Flying Thunder God, pursuit was unreliable.
After stabilizing Tsunade's condition, Yusuke signaled Genma's team.
"Flying Thunder God."
"Return to Konoha."
The formation activated.
In an instant, they arrived at the pre-set marker near Konoha Hospital.
Kakashi, Guy, and Kurenai were still in the Land of Wind—
A hawk would notify them.
This mission had been valuable.
They had all fought genuine Kage-level opponents.
That kind of pressure forged growth.
As for Yusuke—
His advancement was even clearer.
With a thought, he entered his system interface.
[Fire Release Chakra Mode — Proficiency 98.8%]
[Mangekyō Sharingan — Proficiency 99.6%]
[Extreme Body Technique: Gate of Scenery — Proficiency 48.7%]
[Great Swordmaster Swordsmanship — Proficiency 5.4%]
Overall Evaluation: Peak Super-Kage (Tobirama Senju level)
Both Fire Release Chakra Mode and Mangekyō Sharingan were on the brink of evolution.
His taijutsu had reached the "Extreme" branch.
Even without opening higher gates, his physical output rivaled Daytime Tiger–level shock pressure.
His swordsmanship had stepped fully into the Great Swordmaster realm.
After three great wars, the shinobi world's elite pool was thin.
At present—
Only one person could truly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him:
Akatsuki's leader — Nagato.
Obito's space–time ninjutsu was dangerous—
But against someone who understood its mechanics, its lethality dropped.
Nagato's legs were crippled due to Danzō and Hanzō's past trap.
In a direct confrontation—
Yusuke did not fear him.
At this moment, Uchiha Yusuke stood at the very peak of the shinobi world.
Of course—
That peak was temporary.
When the Fourth Shinobi World War erupted, true monsters would descend.
If he wanted absolute freedom—
He still had a long road ahead.
They had marked near the hospital for safety.
ANBU rushed over immediately.
"Lord Yusuke, what happened?"
Yusuke shot them an annoyed look.
"Tsunade is injured."
"Are you blind?"
"Notify the hospital. Inform the Hokage."
The ANBU vanished instantly.
Yusuke seated Tsunade gently while waiting.
After consecutive high-intensity battles—
Even he felt fatigue.
Yagura.
Sasori.
Orochimaru.
Three Kage-level enemies in succession.
Few in the world could endure that.
At some point—
Tsunade fell asleep in his arms.
After losing her lover and brother, she had lacked security for years.
Even when she drooled slightly—
Yusuke didn't wake her.
Only when the medical team arrived did he lay her down.
He didn't follow inside.
He wasn't family.
And he wasn't a medic.
Soon after, ANBU returned.
"The Hokage requests your presence in the conference room."
Yusuke nodded.
"Understood."
As the ANBU departed, Yakushi Nono quietly approached and slipped him a scroll.
He opened it—
And his eyes narrowed.
"Three days ago, new ANBU recruit Uchiha Itachi killed two teammates during a mission, sold village secrets, and defected…"
Yusuke closed his eyes slowly.
The Third Hokage truly was not simple.
While Yusuke had been away—
Hiruzen had already reshaped Itachi into a tool of the Will of Fire.
Stage a defection.
Plant him within Akatsuki.
A classic political move.
Yusuke exhaled softly.
The board had shifted again.
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