When several earthen spikes burst from the ground, Sasuke's eyes sharpened as he precisely tracked their trajectory using the Sharingan's superb dynamic vision.
He blurred and used the "Shave" technique to evade the earthen spikes.
Almost simultaneously, Kidomaru's spider legs thrust toward his face. Sasuke leaped high using "Moonwalk," dodging the strike.
Midair, he swiftly adjusted his posture, formed hand seals, and muttered, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, roaring toward Kidomaru with searing heat and tremendous force.
Kidomaru's eyes flickered with disdain as the metallic armor on his body flashed; he swung his spider legs and easily scattered the fireball.
Meanwhile, Jirobo again formed hand seals, sending more earthen spikes stabbing at Sasuke from all directions.
Sasuke dodged nimbly while observing Jirobo's movements. He noticed that before each earthen spike attack, Jirobo's hand seals paused briefly, that might be his opening.
At the same time, Kidomaru continued his assault. He manipulated his spider silk, weaving massive webs and flinging them at Sasuke, trying to trap him.
"You won't catch me that easily!"
Sasuke's eyes sharpened as he instantly activated "Shave," one of the Six Powers. Only blurry afterimages remained in the air, making his movements impossible to track.
He rapidly closed in, raised his right leg high, and covered his knee in a layer of black Armament Haki.
He slammed it down with tremendous force, crashing viciously onto Jirobo's shoulder.
With a thunderous crash, Jirobo's massive frame buckled slightly under the blow. Sharp pain shot through his shoulder, and his face twisted in agony.
The ground instantly swelled, and jagged earthen spikes shot toward Sasuke like bamboo shoots after rain.
Sasuke frowned slightly, using "Shave" again to swiftly evade the spikes.
But Kidomaru seized the opportunity, directing his spider silk to shoot toward Sasuke like black arrows.
A cold gleam flashed in Sasuke's eyes. He swiftly formed hand seals, coating his arms in black Armament Haki.
He swung his arms fiercely, slicing through the incoming silk strands.
At the same time, spotting an opening in Kidomaru's defense, he plunged downward, his hands cloaked in Armament Haki, striking toward Kidomaru's chest like twin blades.
Kidomaru hurriedly raised his spider legs to block. Sasuke's attack met the spider legs, sparking a fierce clash.
The force pushed Kidomaru back several steps. He frowned, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"This brat has that much strength."
Jirobo wasn't idle either. He launched another Earth Release attack, forming a massive earthen ball that rolled toward Sasuke.
Sasuke's gaze sharpened. He kicked off the ground with force, using "Moonwalk" to leap high and evade the earthen ball.
"Not bad, he's the one Lord Orochimaru wants."
The fact that Kidomaru and Jirobo had failed to subdue Sasuke only deepened Sakon's impatience as he watched from the sidelines.
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he resolved to land a devastating surprise blow on Sasuke.
Sakon and Ukon instantly activated their unique fusion technique, their bodies twisting and merging like specters.
Sakon growled low, and the moment he closed in on Sasuke, his arm shot forward, aiming straight for Sasuke's throat.
Sasuke's Sharingan spun rapidly, and he dodged Sakon's strike.
But Sakon's assault didn't end there. Seeing his first strike miss, his other arm also extended rapidly, coiling toward Sasuke's waist like a serpent.
Sasuke's heart sank. He tried to dodge again, but Sakon's attack came too fast.
In the nick of time, Sasuke quickly concentrated his Armament Haki, a layer of black light instantly covering his waist.
Sakon's arm coiled around Sasuke's waist but met what felt like solid steel, producing a dull thud.
Using the force of the impact, Sasuke flipped his body back and slammed his knee hard into Sakon's abdomen.
He spun midair and landed steadily on the ground.
From the battle so far, Sasuke was not only powerful and astonishingly fast but also highly skilled in combat.
And that strange black energy was remarkably effective.
Despite being cornered by the three of them, he could still counterattack with ease.
The three exchanged glances, each reading the gravity in the others' eyes.
They realized capturing Sasuke would not be easy.
But just as Sasuke was locked in a tough battle, shouts echoed from afar.
Hearing the commotion, Sakon and the others' expressions darkened. They knew if they kept fighting and got surrounded by Konoha's shinobi, there would be no escape.
They exchanged glances, frustration flickering in their eyes, and ultimately decided to retreat.
They quickly hoisted Tayuya and used their Cursed Seal power to vanish into the distance as black silhouettes.
Sasuke watched their retreating forms, breathing heavily, his emotions tangled.
Though the fight was over for now, he knew the conflict between him and Orochimaru was far from settled.
He clenched his fists and swore silently to grow stronger.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached. It was Asuma, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his expression urgent.
"Sasuke, are you okay? What happened here?"
Asuma walked briskly to Sasuke's side, scanning him for serious injuries as he asked.
Sasuke looked up at Asuma.
He took a deep breath, steadying his emotions, and briefly explained how the Sound Four had come to capture him on Orochimaru's orders and how the fight had unfolded.
"They said they took out two special jōnin before coming in. They're strong, especially in their Cursed Seal state…" Sasuke's voice was hoarse.
Asuma listened quietly, his expression growing more somber, his brow deeply furrowed.
He hadn't expected the Sound Village to be so audacious, openly infiltrating Konoha to abduct someone and killing two special jōnin.
As he pondered this, a dark shape flashed into view, an ANBU operative.
The ANBU knelt on one knee. "Confirmed. Two special jōnin have been killed."
"Is that so?"
Two special jōnin, pillars of Konoha's shinobi forces, had been taken down so easily by the Sound Four.
Asuma's gaze instinctively shifted to Sasuke.
Though Sasuke looked somewhat drained, he radiated the formidable aura of someone who had just survived a life-or-death battle.
Asuma couldn't help but marvel inwardly. This young man had held his own against the Sound Four and even killed one of them.
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