Shamu came to stand before Sasuke. "Could it be that Susanoo's side effects have intensified?"
Sasuke panted. "It didn't hurt this much when I activated the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Shamu considered it briefly. "It was probably because Indra's soul was inside you before, which reduced the side effects somewhat."
At that, Sasuke recalled what had happened in the Sacred Land.
Hagoromo Otsutsuki had injected a burst of energy into his body, and the side effects on him had lessened afterward.
He hurriedly told Shamu about it.
Shamu nodded. "Then that confirms it. That energy he gave you back then was meant to stimulate Indra's awakening."
"As Indra began to awaken, the side effects of your Mangekyō Sharingan decreased."
"Now that Indra's soul is gone, naturally, you've returned to your original state."
"This is how it is when you first awaken the Mangekyō. You're still young, and Susanoo places immense demands on both Chakra and ocular power."
"You need to be more careful when using Susanoo and Amaterasu."
After hearing Shamu's words, Sasuke's expression shifted uncertainly.
Shamu placed a hand on his shoulder. "What, do you regret driving out Indra's soul?"
Sasuke snorted. "How could I?"
He glanced at Naruto beside him.
"I was just thinking that Naruto is really strong now."
Sasuke was stating a fact. They had both used major techniques.
Naruto was the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki. After unleashing two moves, he had barely expended anything.
After using Susanoo, Sasuke not only suffered side effects, but also faced enormous consumption.
If Sasuke wanted to win with the Mangekyō Sharingan, he would have to compress the entire fight into just a few minutes.
But with Naruto's current strength, defeating him within a few minutes was practically impossible.
Still, Sasuke no longer bore a blood feud, nor was he influenced by Indra's soul.