Rampage

Anger, grief, hatred, resentment.

Violent emotions swept Sasuke away.

At the Critical Moment, the Cursed Seal on the back of Sasuke's left neck began to tremble violently.

Flame-shaped markings began to spread wildly from the Cursed Seal.

The ring of Evil Sealing Method surrounding the Cursed Seal seemed to shrink tightly in fright.

Before long, the markings broke through the seal and rapidly spread from Sasuke's neck, covering half his body and the left side of his face.

A powerful, violent aura coursed through Sasuke's body.

In an instant, the flames of his Flame Armor shifted from crimson to blackish-purple.

Sasuke's entire body shook, and the immense force left the Anbu ninja's arm numb and aching.

Guided by the animal instincts he had honed over years on the brink of death, the Anbu ninja knew true danger was about to strike.

He turned and fled.

Sasuke's figure flashed as he reached out and seized the man's head.

His killing intent soared to the heavens!

There was no trace of clarity left in Sasuke's mind. He only wanted to torture this man to death.

With a backhanded grab, he dislocated the Anbu ninja's shoulder.

He then held the man's right arm horizontally, bent his knee against the elbow, and snapped the arm backward at the joint as though breaking a wooden stick.

A piercing scream rang through the night sky, startling a flock of birds into flight.

Then came the right hand.

Then the left arm.

Then the left hand.

Then both feet and both knees.

The screams were unceasing. A cruel pleasure showed on Sasuke's face as he reached for the man's head.

"Ninja Art: Toad Binding!"

A long toad tongue shot out from the end of the street, wrapping Sasuke tightly and yanking him back.

Having survived the ordeal, the Anbu ninja wore an expression that said, Finally, you're here.

On the other side, Sasuke's eyes gleamed fiercely. Before the toad could fully release him, he gripped a kunai and lunged forward.

"Sasuke, don't you recognize me?!"

The newcomer shouted and leaped down from the toad's back.

Gamachu did not dare slack off either, hurriedly wrapping Sasuke up tightly once more.

Unable to break free, Sasuke's vicious aura lessened somewhat. Once he saw the newcomer's face clearly, he mumbled in a daze:

"Jiraiya... toad... master..."

Then his head lolled to one side, and he passed out.

Toad Master?

What kind of title was that?

Jiraiya had no time for idle thoughts. He motioned for Gamachu to look after Sasuke.

He himself headed to where the two had fought earlier to check on the Anbu operative's injuries.

Yet aside from several damaged patches of ground and a few bloodstains, there was no one left on the street.

Jiraiya found it strange, but worried about Sasuke, he turned and left.

In a dark alley at the street corner, the Anbu ninja leaned against the wall and watched the master and disciple depart. He panted heavily, with more breath leaving him than entering.

At this moment, he had returned to his original appearance.

If Sasuke had been there, he would certainly have recognized him.

This man was Orochimaru's trusted subordinate, the Sound Ninja Spy from the Chunin Exams who had once crossed paths with Team 7—Yakushi Kabuto.

He recalled the order Orochimaru had given him on the day the Kazekage was killed.

"...No matter what, he must be exposed to the influence of dark power as soon as possible. Otherwise, there will be endless variables later on."

"I want you to disguise yourself as an Anbu operative and falsely claim to be acting on the Third Hokage's verbal order to assassinate Uchiha Sasuke."

"Whether the Anbu took him away to investigate him or protect him, this is a good opportunity to drive a wedge between Sasuke and the village."

"Darkness and suspicion are like weeds. Give them only a little of the right 'nourishment,' and they will grow wildly in one's heart. Only then will he choose us after the Konoha Crush."

"You must make him feel the threat of death, but you absolutely cannot truly kill him."

"With your strength, you can certainly do it."

In his memories, Orochimaru had flicked out his tongue and smiled sinisterly.

But now? Lord Orochimaru, he had nearly beaten him to death!

Originally, Kabuto's plan had been simple:

Not getting killed by the other party would not be difficult at all.

Making Sasuke feel the threat of death should also have been manageable in a normal fight.

Only the condition of "not truly killing him" had troubled Yakushi Kabuto.

In an ordinary battle, either you defeated the opponent or the opponent defeated you. If he had to hold back midway, how exactly was he supposed to do it?

He couldn't exactly let himself be killed in return.

After thinking it over, the only option was to have Sasuke rescued at the last moment. That would maximize the effect Lord Orochimaru sought.

"Use the fear of death to bring about an infinite craving for power."

"Only panic makes one choose any road."

Thus, Yakushi Kabuto had repeatedly scouted locations over the past few days. At last, he found an alley with few pedestrians that Jiraiya passed through every night, and he put his plan into action tonight.

Who could have imagined that the one nearly beaten to death would turn out to be himself?

And Jiraiya, who had originally been meant to rescue Sasuke at the final moment, had instead become the key arrangement that allowed Yakushi Kabuto to escape with his life.

"Report!"

"Uchiha Sasuke fought an unidentified individual last night, and his Cursed Seal went out of control. He is currently at Konoha Hospital, and his life hangs in the balance."

"What?!"

Kakashi was shocked.

Yesterday? Hadn't that been after Sasuke trained with him?!

"What about the Anbu squad shadowing him? Why didn't they intervene?"

"R-Reporting, sir..."

"The four-man squad appears to have all fallen under genjutsu. According to their report, they only saw white feathers falling before they sank into a deep sleep."

"Damn it! How could they be so careless?!"

Kakashi cursed angrily and hurried to Konoha Hospital.

Inside the hospital room were Team 7 and Jiraiya.

"Sensei Kakashi!"

Tears filled Sakura's eyes.

"How is he?"

Kakashi hurriedly asked.

"I've reinforced the Evil Sealing Method for him, but the side effects are severe. He has injuries in many places across his body."

Jiraiya replied quietly.

"Also, the examination found traces of minor muscle lacerations on his hands and feet. They seem to have been caused during the earlier battle."

"Could the enemy be a Medical Ninja?"

Kakashi frowned deeply, unable to think of anyone in the village who fit that description.

"Damn it, I still wanted you to see the Summoning Technique I learned yesterday!

"Even though it can't compare to your big monkey, my tadpole's growing more and more legs! Sooner or later, I'll summon a cool frog just like Jiraiya Sensei—"

Naruto spoke through a huge mess of snot and tears.

"Hey, don't wipe your snot on my bed."

Sasuke opened his eyes and said weakly.

"You're awake!"

Everyone was delighted and crowded around him.

Looking at those familiar, worried faces, Sasuke felt warmth he had not experienced in a long time.

But in the next second, when he saw Kakashi's face, a layer of frost instantly settled over Sasuke's expression.

"What are you doing here?"

Sasuke looked at Kakashi and said.

"What are you saying, Sasuke-kun? Sensei Kakashi came to visit you too, of course!"

Sakura asked in confusion.

Sasuke ignored her and continued speaking to Kakashi:

"Did you come to see whether that old thief had managed to kill me? Sorry! I've disappointed you!"