NOVEL WEB Chapter 40: CHAPTER 40
The rock wall exploded, revealing a deep tunnel leading underground.
Sure enough.
Looking at the passage in front of him, Sasuke confirmed his suspicions. This cave was unusually shallow, and by midday, sunlight could illuminate almost the entire floor. Under normal circumstances, such lighting, coupled with the slightly damp atmosphere—evident from the water droplets dripping down the rock walls—should allow plant life to grow. Yet, not a single sprout could be seen.
This abnormality could only mean one thing—regular human activity had disrupted the natural environment.
There was probably a hidden switch to open the rock wall, but Sasuke couldn't be bothered to search for it meticulously.
Seeing Sasuke discover something suspicious, Itachi gave a slight nod of approval.
The two Uchiha silently stepped into the underground tunnel. At first, the path was shrouded in darkness. But as they advanced, torches lining the walls began to flicker to life, casting shadows across the damp stone.
Suddenly, Itachi came to a halt.
"There's someone up ahead," he said calmly, his crimson Sharingan already active. Unless Sasuke encountered something beyond his capacity, Itachi would not interfere.
Sasuke also heard the distant, uneven footsteps echoing from around the bend.
He quietly unsheathed his Zanpakutō, eyes sharp. A humanoid creature staggered into view from around the corner.
"Roar!!"
A grotesque figure lunged forward. Its flesh warped and cursed, it no longer resembled a person.
Failed curse mark experimentation? Sasuke recognized the deformity immediately. These were once ordinary people, now twisted into monstrous forms through Orochimaru's forbidden research. Their strength lingered only around the level of a low-level shinobi.
"So pitiful," Sasuke muttered. "Let me put you out of your misery."
With a flash, Sasuke vanished.
The next moment, blood flicked from the edge of his Zanpakutō as he stood behind the collapsing creature, its body thudding lifelessly to the ground.
Itachi stepped forward and examined the remains. "Someone's been conducting human experimentation here…"
Sasuke hadn't yet explained Orochimaru's involvement to Itachi. As far as Itachi knew, this was just another mission—but now the details were growing grim.
After sealing the corpse inside a storage scroll, they proceeded deeper.
The passage widened significantly as they turned the corner, revealing an expansive corridor lined with cells carved into the rock walls. Inside the cages, more twisted beings stirred. Dozens of curse-marked monsters stood guard outside the cells.
The creatures snarled and rushed at the two intruders.
Sasuke raised his Zanpakutō without urgency.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
The blade in his hand dissolved into a thousand glimmering petal-like fragments. With a subtle motion, Sasuke commanded the cloud forward, each petal slicing through flesh and bone. In moments, the monsters lay in ruin, the air still with shimmering steel dust.
Sasuke hadn't hidden this power from Itachi—he knew his brother would keep the secret. Ever since that assassination attempt by Uchiha Seta when Sasuke was just six, Itachi had noticed the abnormality of his blade but never spoke a word of it.
With the area cleared, Sasuke examined the nearby cells.
Inside were children—many unconscious, some barely breathing.
"Nii-san, start evacuating them. I'm going further in."
After slicing the lock open with his Zanpakutō, Sasuke turned to Itachi.
He had sensed a powerful spiritual pressure earlier—much denser than usual. The source was ahead.
"…Be careful," Itachi responded, creating shadow clones to carry the children out.
Sasuke dashed forward, blade in hand.
"Hmph… So a filthy rat managed to sneak in?"
A sharp female voice echoed from the rock wall beside him. A hidden door slid open, revealing a red-haired woman holding a flute. Behind her lay a crude laboratory—glass tanks, syringes, and notes scrawled on scrolls.
Sasuke instantly recognized her: Tayuya, one of the Sound Four.
"Die, rat! Demon Flute: Illusion of the Demon Quartet!"
Tayuya raised her flute and blew. Haunting music reverberated through the chamber as three ghastly phantoms emerged, twisted and translucent, shrieking as they surged toward Sasuke.
"Bakudō #39: Enkōsen!"
A golden disk of energy spun into form before Sasuke, shielding him from the monstrous apparitions.
"I came to talk to Orochimaru," Sasuke said coolly. "Attacking me on sight is a bit much, isn't it?"
Tayuya narrowed her eyes, suspicion transforming into hatred.
"You know about Orochimaru-sama? Then you die here! Demonic Flute: Dream Sound Chain!"
Black curse lines began to crawl over Tayuya's skin as her body began its second-stage transformation, horns sprouting from her skull and her skin graying.
The flute echoed once again.
But nothing happened.
Sasuke frowned slightly. "Illusion-based attack… ineffective."
"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō!"
Six bars of golden light crashed into Tayuya, locking her in place before she could react.
"Damn you! What… what are you?!"
Tayuya strained against the glowing restraints, but they held firm.
"I told you," Sasuke said. "I want to negotiate with Orochimaru. You're the one overreacting."
"Liar! A Konoha ninja dares mention Orochimaru-sama so casually?! You think I'll fall for that?"
The curse mark spread fully. Six white horns sprouted from her skull. With a snarl, she shattered the light bonds.
"Summoning Jutsu: Doki Trio!"
A loud explosion rocked the base as Tayuya summoned her three Doki, grotesque demonic spirits that smashed through walls and stone pillars, their massive forms tearing apart the narrow underground space. Sunlight began to stream in from the collapsing ceiling.
"Tayuya, what are you doing?!"
The tremors attracted the rest of the Sound Four—Kidomaru, Jirōbō, and Sakon/Ukon—who arrived just in time to witness the chaos.
"That Konoha ninja—he knows Orochimaru-sama is here!" Tayuya screamed.
At her words, the three Otonin turned their attention toward Sasuke, their eyes gleaming with hostility.
Their killing intent filled the chamber.