"I'm so suffocating!"
As soon as the fortress landed, an old man wearing a black robe with red clouds walked out from inside.
The person who came was none other than Shinno, who had gone out to find work.
He was slightly injured during his previous battle against Gaara, and his partner, Daibutsu, was killed on the spot.
However, with Zero-Tails: Void as his backup, he quickly recovered upon returning to the castle fortress, though Zero-Tails had also consumed a significant amount of Dark Chakra.
Recently, he has been using the excuse of going out to recuperate to collect negative emotions from ninjas everywhere. These are all Zero-Tails' energy!
Sasuke was also somewhat surprised to see the fortress that had fallen from the sky. He had only been in seclusion for three years, and the outside world had developed to this extent.
"Hmm? You're really unlucky to run into someone in such a desolate place, young man!"
As soon as he stepped out of the fortress, he saw Sasuke standing not far away, watching. If Sasuke had been a little more discreet, Shinno might not have noticed him.
But Sasuke just stood there blankly, his face expressionless, which annoyed him.
"I think you're just unlucky. You only wanted to ask for directions, but now it seems unnecessary!"
As he spoke, Sasuke drew his katana from his back. The other person's attire left a deep impression on him.
The last time was when that man came back to the village wearing these clothes and beat him up.
In addition, the Zero-Tails 'Chakra also made him a little irritated. Regardless of the identity of the person in front of him, he would take him down first!
Zero-Tails creatures survive by absorbing negative emotions, and are therefore very adept at inducing negative emotions in people.
In the Original Work story, Naruto was provoked into unleashing the Four-Tails in a single encounter, and Sasuke, with his burning desire for revenge, was no different, as the attack affected him from a great distance.
"Heh... you young man, you've got quite the nerve! Don't you know there's a saying, 'Respect the elderly and cherish the young'?"
Before he could finish speaking, a thunderclap sounded from nowhere, and Shinno had already attacked Sasuke.
Sasuke was also eager to test the power of his Blaze Release technique, and now the opportunity had arrived!
The two quickly engaged in battle. Shinno wasn't particularly strong, but he was still able to hold his Sasuke.
To be honest, this whole thing was pretty messed up. In the original timeline, Sasuke was leading Team Hawk to the Uchiha Shrine when they ran into Deidara and Tobi on the way.
They had only intended to ask each other for directions, but unexpectedly, they started fighting over a single word.
Now, instead of encountering Deidara, we've run into Shinno, who's just out for a stroll.
Moreover, the two sides don't get along very well. Don't be fooled by Shinno's kind old man appearance; he's a madman who plans to start a war and destroy the Ninja World.
After fighting for twenty or thirty rounds, Shinno suddenly realized that he was gradually falling into a disadvantageous position, which surprised him greatly.
"When did so many monsters appear in the Ninja World? How come every single one I encounter is so strong?!"
Seeing that things couldn't continue like this, Shinno fought and retreated, and the battlefield quickly shifted from the jungle outside to the castle.
As the saying goes, skill breeds daring, and Sasuke had no intention of letting his opponent go either. Moreover, as he ventured deeper into the castle, the Chakra aura that he loathed grew stronger and stronger.
"Old man! You're so old, you should have lived long enough! Open your eyes wider in your next life!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a bolt of lightning rose from his hand, his signature Ninjutsu, Chidori.
At the same time, his eyes also turned into Three Tomoe, and he quickly lunged at Shinno.
Shinno perked up upon seeing the Chidori in Sasuke, but his heart skipped a beat when he met those scarlet Sharingan.
"The Uchiha Clan? Could it be that they have the same eyes as that guy?"
The thought had barely formed when Sasuke's attack was already upon him. Shinno narrowly dodged to the side, then delivered a powerful punch to Sasuke's abdomen.
Realizing his attack had succeeded, Shinno pressed his advantage and defeated Sasuke in just a few moves.
Just as the corners of his mouth were slightly turned up, and he was about to mock the other party for being too young, the scene in front of him suddenly changed.
A sharp pain shot through my chest, and the scene before me shattered completely.
"Genjutsu... how could it be... so fast!"
Unbeknownst to him, he had fallen under Genjutsu, and his heart had been ripped out by the other party.
After doing all this, Sasuke withdrew his hand, looking at the other party with arrogance, as if he had done something insignificant.
Shinno coughed up blood and staggered backward.
"It seems... I truly underestimated you! Your eyes have indeed surprised me... However... killing me... won't be that easy!"
As he spoke, Shinno retreated to the center of the fortress, his trembling hand already pressing on a mechanism.
"Awaken, Ancor Vantian!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the fortress trembled violently, and a serpentine creature wriggled out from the gate behind it.
It quickly entangled Shinno, which was the power source of the Sky Fortress, Zero-Tails: Void.
"Is this the Dark Chakra emanating from this monster? How disgusting!"
Sasuke didn't take the opportunity to interrupt the other's actions; instead, he wanted to see what the other was planning to do.
Moreover, after so many years of combat training, he still felt he couldn't go all out. This guy in front of him was different; he could go all out and kill him!
Seeing this disgusting creature only intensified his murderous intent, and he suddenly found Orochimaru and the snakes in the snake pit much more pleasing to the eye.
"Hmph... Uchiha brat! I must say you've successfully enraged me!"
Zero-Tails gradually released Shinno, and when he looked at the old man in front of him, he was no longer on the verge of death. The wound on his chest had healed completely, and even his skin was as good as new.
Sasuke glanced at the old man, then at the Zero-Tails behind him. Before he could make a move, the old man changed again.
Even if it costs me all my energy, I'll keep you here today!
Shinno unleashed his power once more, with Zero-Tails continuously channeling Chakra into his body, causing his body and appearance to visibly rejuvenate.
It was as if time had reversed; a man in his sixties or seventies had transformed into a man in his thirties or forties in the blink of an eye.
Moreover, his muscles were bulging and throbbing as if they were alive.
This is precisely Shinno's technique of Physical Activation and Body Regeneration Technique.
In his previous life, Orochimaru coveted Hashirama's techniques in order to study Hashirama Cells, and even sent Sasuke to steal them. In this life, the two met again by chance.
"Perfect! It would be really disappointing if it were too weak!"
Faced with this scene, Sasuke showed no fear whatsoever; instead, he smiled.
In the original timeline, he didn't really fight against Shinno; Naruto was the one leading the charge most of the time, and he only played a supporting role at crucial moments.
It is precisely because Naruto is charging into battle that he appears so relaxed. If he were to face Shinno and Zero-Tails alone, winning would not be so easy.
It is Tailed Beasts after all, and there is also Shinno who can open the Eight Gates without taking any damage.
"Can you feel it? This is the negative energy in people's hearts. I can feel the darkness in your heart. Quickly offer up your soul!"
"Even if time could be reversed, it wouldn't change your fate! I'm Arrogant, What Can You Do About It?!"
Human, beast, and creature clashed once more, and the Sky Fortress unknowingly floated into the air...