NOVEL WEB Chapter 45: CHAPTER 45
After entering the second stage of the Curse Mark, Sasuke's speed increased to a terrifying level. In an instant, he appeared in front of Uchiha Setsuna, who froze as if caught off guard.
Setsuna's fist struck without resistance and passed through Sasuke's body.
"Hey hey hey, die, brat!"
Although Setsuna didn't feel the sensation of striking flesh, his fist had clearly passed through Sasuke's form.
Orochimaru's eyes widened at the sight. He had believed that Sasuke, who had already defeated the Sound Four with ease, would never be taken down so swiftly by an incomplete product like Uchiha Setsuna.
"Damn."
He cursed under his breath and darted toward Sasuke. Orochimaru still had countless plans involving the boy—he couldn't allow Sasuke to die just yet.
"Sasuke!!!"
Itachi noticed the scene and his heart clenched as he saw his brother's form being pierced. His Sharingan spun violently, the three tomoe revolving faster and faster until they merged—forming a pinwheel-like Mangekyō Sharingan. Blood tears trickled from both corners of his eyes.
A moment later, black flames ignited at the focal point of Itachi's gaze—Amaterasu, the inextinguishable hellfire, burst forth and engulfed Uchiha Setsuna.
"Aaaahhhh!!"
Setsuna screamed in agony as the flames consumed him.
At that moment, the reanimated First Hokage swung his fist at Itachi—but it was blocked. Red skeletal ribs surged around Itachi, shielding him—the early manifestation of Susanoo. Hashirama's punch could not penetrate the defense.
"Calm down, Itachi! Sasuke won't go down that easily!" Shisui called out as he intercepted the reanimated Second Hokage's kunai strike with a short blade.
Even Shisui was stunned by Itachi's growth. To activate Susanoo right after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan—his talent surpassed even Shisui's.
Tobirama leapt back and quickly formed hand signs.
"Water Release: Severing Wave!"
A thin, razor-sharp jet of water shot from Tobirama's mouth. Though it looked unimposing, it easily sliced through Shisui's short blade. Just as the jet was about to strike him, green skeletal armor erupted around Shisui—Susanoo in its early form blocked the water blade with ease.
Reassured by Shisui's voice, Itachi looked again at the spot where Sasuke had been struck—only to see that Setsuna's punch had pierced nothing more than a fluttering white haori.
Sasuke now stood several meters behind Setsuna, his white haori gone—leaving only his black shinobi outfit and his customized Soul Reaper uniform underneath.
Shunpō Advanced Technique – Utsusemi (Empty Cicada).
By accelerating movement and leaving an afterimage, the enemy mistakenly believes they landed a fatal blow—when only the outer garment was struck. Sasuke had learned this advanced technique a week before the mission. He had trained extensively with Shunpō—his mastery of it had reached the level of using afterimage diversion techniques with ease.
Itachi breathed a sigh of relief seeing that Sasuke was unharmed. However, the strain of awakening the Mangekyō took its toll—he hunched over slightly, covering his eyes.
But instead of dispelling Susanoo, Itachi advanced to the next level. A complete red skeletal structure grew around him. Muscular tissues formed, wrapping the bones, and the half-completed face of a Tengu mask emerged. Behind it, golden eyes glowed ominously.
The red Susanoo wielded a gourd-shaped flask in its right hand and a spiral-patterned mirror-shield in its left.
Orochimaru, who had been sprinting toward Sasuke, came to a halt, feeling emotionally deceived.
Then, he saw it—two towering figures dominating the battlefield.
"The Totsuka Blade… So the spirit weapon I've been hunting all these years was with you all along!" Orochimaru hissed, stunned.
Sasuke exhaled slowly, watching Itachi's Susanoo evolve. His plan had worked.
Sasuke had long suspected that Itachi couldn't fully utilize the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror after first acquiring them. In the original timeline, they were housed within Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan. He theorized that only upon awakening the Mangekyō could the divine tools truly synchronize with Itachi.
Thus, Sasuke had orchestrated this battle to awaken Itachi's Mangekyō, allowing him to completely wield these artifacts.
He had also thought of a solution for the Mangekyō's side effects, ensuring Itachi wouldn't suffer permanent blindness from overuse.
Ignoring Orochimaru's astonishment, Itachi swung the sword formed from the gourd—Totsuka no Tsurugi—and struck the reanimated First Hokage, Hashirama.
The golden blade made contact, and a translucent soul was drawn from the decayed flesh—the true spirit of Hashirama Senju.
Freed from the Edo Tensei's control, Hashirama looked at the battlefield in confusion. One side flew the banner of Konoha; the other clearly belonged to enemy factions. He quickly understood who was defending the village.
"It seems I've become a burden to the Konoha shinobi," Hashirama said solemnly. "But you… you are a fine ninja. The Will of Fire burns strong within you."
He nodded to Itachi, as his soul was sealed into the gourd.
"We will protect it," Itachi replied quietly.
Then, Itachi turned to aid Shisui. The Second Hokage had just been restrained by the massive drill lance of Shisui's Susanoo.
"Now, Itachi!" Shisui called out.
Understanding the cue, Itachi slashed again with the Totsuka Blade. Tobirama's soul, too, was pulled from his resurrected shell.
Tobirama, now conscious, scanned the battlefield—seeing Konoha forehead protectors on every Uchiha around him.
"Hmph."
Crossing his arms and turning his head away, Tobirama scoffed. Despite his long-standing mistrust of the Uchiha, he could not deny—his own technique had brought disaster upon the village. He had no right to complain.
The battlefield transformed in an instant. Orochimaru's two strongest pawns—Hashirama and Tobirama—were sealed. Uchiha Setsuna, now writhing in Amaterasu's black flames, howled in misery. The Curse Mark dulled his pain receptors, but even that couldn't stop the agony of the inextinguishable fire.
The two towering Susanoos now turned their gaze toward Orochimaru.
Seeing the monstrous avatars of destruction staring him down, Orochimaru felt a rare sense of panic. This was far from anything he had anticipated.
Two Mangekyō Sharingan users... in one day? With full Susanoo manifestation?!
"How unlucky…" he murmured bitterly.
"After defecting from Konoha, you've committed countless atrocities," Shisui called out from within his green Susanoo. "Today, Orochimaru, I will bring you in—by the will of the Hokage!"
"Heh… let's see if you can back that up. Summoning Jutsu!"
Though cornered, Orochimaru didn't panic. Biting his thumb and smearing blood across his palm, he slammed his hand against the ground. Chakra inscriptions rippled outward.
A moment later, white smoke erupted, revealing a massive, violet-scaled serpent—equal in size to the two Susanoos. Orochimaru stood atop the head of the colossal beast.
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