"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
Sasuke's face was filled with humiliation and anger before the sky full of flames.
He had thought that after these years of growth and awakening his Three Tomoe Sharingan, he had completely surpassed Kimimaro—surpassed the opponent who had once arrogantly humiliated him.
But after they exchanged blows, he discovered in horror that the other side surpassed him in speed, strength, and even the most basic taijutsu techniques!
"How is this possible?!"
"How can a ninja from some backwater village be stronger than me, someone born into the Uchiha Clan?"
"I'm a genius of the Uchiha Clan, the top student of my class at the Ninja Academy!"
"I refuse to accept this!"
Unwillingness and fury tangled together, constantly battering Sasuke's mind. As he tried to wipe away his past humiliation and hold his head high, he even began to doubt whether everything before him was real.
At that moment, blood from the wound Kimimaro's bone blade had cut across his cheek trickled down his face to the corner of Sasuke's mouth.
Tasting the bitter tang of his own blood, Sasuke glanced at the wound on his cheek from the corner of his eye. "Damn it... it's real. This guy really is stronger than me!"
The eleven wounds scattered across his cheek, left arm, ribs, back, and right leg clearly reminded him that he, even with his Three Tomoe Sharingan, had lost the taijutsu contest against Kimimaro.
And he had lost thoroughly—miserably!
If he had not used the "Summoning Technique" in time to summon Gamabunta, Kimimaro's bone blade would probably have already severed his neck!
Gamabunta, who had leaped into the air, landed on the ground. Amid a thunderous rumble that shook the earth, he asked in a muffled voice, "Hey, Sasuke, what kind of trouble